Chapter 4: Bella's POV
When I dreamt, it was always the same place—the ballet studio in Phoenix. The echoing sound of shattering glass, the heavy scent of dust and blood, and the paralyzing fear of those moments lingered no matter how far I tried to run. But this time, the dream was different.
Instead of Edward bursting through the doors to save me, it was Jacob. His warmth filled the room, chasing away the shadows. He smiled as he crouched beside me, his large hand gently stroking my cheek. Heat radiated from his body, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety. It felt like home.
"Bella," he whispered, his voice soft and steady. "You're safe now."
I wanted to stay there forever, wrapped in his warmth. But the dream faded as the sensation of the truck slowing to a stop tugged me back to reality.
I opened my eyes groggily, blinking at the fluorescent glow of a gas station sign ahead. The Shell logo loomed above us, the prices listed below. The faint hum of the engine disappeared as Jacob turned off the truck. I yawned and stretched, my stiff muscles protesting after hours of sitting.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Jacob said, glancing over with a tired but amused smile. "You wanna stretch your legs?"
I blushed, brushing stray strands of hair from my face. "Yeah, I think I need to."
His smile widened for a moment before he climbed out of the truck to start pumping gas. I grabbed my wallet and slipped out of the passenger seat. "Jake, I'm gonna get some snacks from the store," I told him, my voice still heavy with sleep.
"Sure," he replied, nodding toward the store. "Get something decent, not just junk."
I rolled my eyes but smiled as I headed inside, the cool blast of air conditioning hitting me immediately. The faint twang of a country song drifted through the air, the lyrics about heartbreak and long roads matching the mood of our journey. I wandered the aisles, scanning shelves filled with brightly colored bags of chips and rows of sugary drinks.
Grabbing a few bags of chips, a couple of sodas, and some supplies to make sandwiches, I made my way to the counter. My thoughts were on Jake—how tired he looked but how determined he seemed to make this work for both of us. I placed the items on the counter, and the cashier silently began ringing them up, bagging them one by one.
"Excuse me, can I use the bathroom?" a voice asked behind me.
The sound stopped me cold. Smooth and melodic, it sent an involuntary chill down my spine. My body tensed, the blood draining from my face as my instincts screamed at me to turn around. But I couldn't.
The cashier handed the bathroom key over the counter to the person behind me. My pulse thundered in my ears as I felt the stranger's presence grow closer. Then it happened—a touch so subtle and deliberate that it sent shivers through my entire body. A cold, smooth hand brushed against mine as they reached for the key, their icy touch lingering just long enough to make me freeze.
The air in the store seemed heavier, as if every sound around me was muffled. My throat went dry, and I forced myself to take a steadying breath, trying to ignore the way my heart raced.
"Thank you," the stranger said to the cashier, their voice like velvet, dripping with something too perfect to be real.
I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse from the corner of my eye. The figure was tall, graceful, and pale, their features sharp and unnervingly flawless. My stomach twisted as recognition settled in, though I didn't know their name. I didn't need to. There was no mistaking what they were.
I fumbled with my bag as the cashier handed me the receipt. My fingers trembled as I grabbed the bags, mumbling a quiet, "Thanks," before rushing back toward the truck. My legs felt shaky beneath me, but I didn't dare look back. The stranger's presence pressed against me like an invisible weight, a dark shadow lingering even as I stepped outside.
Jacob was leaning against the truck, his arms crossed as he waited. His brows furrowed the moment he saw me, his sharp instincts immediately picking up on my unease.
"Bella? What's wrong?" His voice was low, concerned, as he stepped toward me.
I shook my head, forcing a shaky smile. "Nothing. Just…some creepy guy in the store," I lied, not wanting to set him off.
Jacob's jaw tightened, his gaze flickering toward the gas station. "Creepy how?"
"Doesn't matter," I said quickly, brushing past him to toss the bags into the truck. "Let's just go."
He didn't look convinced, but he nodded, climbing back into the driver's seat. As we pulled out of the station, I glanced back one last time. The figure stood near the store's entrance, watching us with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Their cold, unnatural beauty was a stark contrast to the warm glow of the station's lights.
I turned away, my chest tightening. I didn't need to say it out loud to know the truth. We weren't as far from Forks—or the dangers of our past—as I'd hoped.