Flames
That expression of high alert. Fearful eyes fixed on me as I moved around the room. I knew what he thought.
It had happened before.
Carlisle had labeled it as Mania.
And maybe he was right to think it was happening again. I'd never known that I'd been in manic episode until after it passed.
And the thoughts in my head? Well, maybe they weren't so rational right now.
I pulled on my jeans, as he stood up. Keeping a respectful distance, from what could very well be a breakdown.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" He asked as I pulled my jacket from the closet.
"There's something I need to do" I told him hurriedly as I began searching the room for my shoes.
"Can I help?" He questioned carefully. Unsure of what he was offering assistance for, but still willing.
I shook my head. "I need to do this myself" I said far to quickly, my words stumbling over each other.
A complete mess.
I sat on the edge of the bed and put my shoes on. He followed suit.
He chased me down the stairs and into my truck. But he stopped asking what was going on.
As I drove through Forks his eyes stayed on me. Searching me for cracks, signs I was going to fall apart.
It wasn't until we approached the border of the reservation that he suddenly straightened up in his seat.
"Bella? What are you-."
"If you want to get out you can." I said calmly. "But I need to go."
Suddenly he looked anxious, and I couldn't blame him. It was the one place in this world he'd swore to never step foot on.
"What are we doing here, Bella?" he asked as I turned the head lights off and drove slowly down the roads.
It was late. The entire reservation was dark, but I knew my way around. I'd made the trip so many times before.
Too many times before.
Silence surrounded us.
No one noticing me pull into the garage. Not even Billy.
I flipped my headlights back on, lighting up the small space.
I didn't sit and cower before it. I didn't hide. I jumped from that truck without a second thought.
I'd taken barely two steps before I saw it there. You couldn't miss it.
Edward stayed standing behind me, his eyes caught. Locked on the blood that stained the room.
I couldn't just leave it here. Knowing one day it would change and fade, but still remain. Knowing one day it would be ignored and trod on. They would disregard what was buried here.
Even the truck, I couldn't stand the sight of it anymore. It just reminded me of him. Of that day. Of all the days that led up to it.
For the first time in months, I remembered who he was. Who I'd thought he was.
His smile. His warmth. All those times he'd made me feel important. Promises he'd made to me. Meaningless. Empty memories.
People just snatched things from you. Picked and ripped them from you, without any thought of the consequences.
How dare he.
My feet hit the ground heavily, as I stepped over the stains of my blood on the old panels.
It occurred to me then, as I picked up the jerrycan, that Edward still hadn't said a word. I turned back to look at him and found that his concern was gone.
He watched me now with a different kind of curiosity. Eager and inviting.
There was something in his expression that was almost hungry.
I started pouring it everywhere. Over the wood, the dirt and the blood. Over my truck.
Edward stepped over to a burnt-out candle on the work bench and picked up the matches. Handing them over as we walked outside.
He stood back slightly. Giving me space.
I'd read once that fire was cleansing. That it purified the negative energy. It seemed so fitting.
And maybe this was crazy. But what lied in that room had belonged to me, and I would do with it as I pleased.
I lit the match and tossed it in.
An explosion of flames erupted, eating everything up. Swallowing down the stained wood and everything around it.
I was hypnotised by the flames. Remembering everything that had happened in those walls. Good and bad.
He curled his fingers into mine and for a moment we stood there, ignoring the approaching wolves and the sounds of the voices growing louder.
For a moment we just let burn.
Watched those flames spread.
In a wave they all appeared. Billy, Sam, Leah and Seth, followed by the wolves.
"We're leaving now." I told them, pulling Edward's hand, to lead him towards the woods.
Billy started yelling. Sam started yelling. Throwing threats and accusations. Wanting answers for what I had done.
Edward's eyes caught on Billy. Clearly stuck on whatever he had found in his thoughts.
"We need to take care of the fire. Just let them go." Leah called out. But it was clear that they had no intention of letting this go. More focused on Edward's presence than the flames that engulfed the garage.
In the same moment that Sam phased, Edward pulled me behind him.
Ready for fight. Thirsty for one.
But his tight grip on me, disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
He stepped back slightly, and I watched as Emily appeared in the space between us and the wolves.
The tension in the air evaporated as I stepped passed Edward to meet her.
She was so beautiful.
How had I forgotten how beautiful she was?
She looked at the flames and I followed her gaze before her eyes fell back on me.
I'll never be able to explain it.
It was about so much more than scars or violence. Blood or tears.
We knew that no one else on earth would ever understand.
We'd fallen in love with them and their world. But in the end, after everything, we were just girls.
I wrapped my arms around her, and she did the same.
"You're going to be ok Bella". She whispered into my ear before pulling back and smiling.
She turned to face them, and they yielded. Backing down in an instant.
Retreating.
She squeezed my hand one last time before we broke apart and walked into opposite directions.
He smiled at me warmly as I approached, the flames dancing in his eyes.
I took his hand and walked into the darkness with him.
Safe.
Alive.
Free.