"Thanks for dropping me off," Bella said as she walked hand in hand with Flynn up the steps to the front porch. Spending the day with him had been a good distraction. A good way to think about nothing else but him and her. Flynn even got her to laugh every now and then while they waited for their burgers.

Despite everything, they were excited to be starting high school together a couple of weeks. It would be an experience, one Bella wasn't too against seeing as he would be there.

Flynn tugged on her hand to pull her closer to him. She let him wrap an arm around her shoulders before cupping her cheek. Warmth enveloped her at his nearness, making her heart pound a little harder.

His eyes warmed as he took her in, "Thanks for being with me."

"Who would say no to a free meal?" She joked dryly still embarrassed that he'd insisted on paying and she relented.

"You know that's not what I meant," he leaned down, close enough that they shared a breath. His lips skimmed hers and she could feel him smile, "Bella..."

"Flynn?"

He kissed her, once then twice. Stealing her breath, her mind and heart all at once.

"Be my girlfriend? Officially, I mean." He breathed.

She smiled as bright as the sun, the first genuine smile in a long time, "Yes."

Once they said their goodbyes for the night, Bella stood on the porch to see him drive away. Only dropping her smile when he was out of sight, driving beyond where her eyes could follow.

There was a stillness in her that hadn't been there with Flynn. It never was when it came to being around her only human friend—boyfriend. It was an all too familiar stillness that she'd somehow developed through living with a family of vampires.

For the first time in her life, she didn't think that was a good thing.

Bella turned as the sun began to settle over the horizon, dousing the skies in a deep orange. She knew she had to go inside eventually. Had to face whatever—whoever—was waiting for her to return. It was likely they all knew she was home now. But she couldn't bring herself to step towards the front door. Not yet.

So instead, she walked around the wrap around porch, her steps slow while her hand traced the white railing.

The conflicting emotions she felt threw her off.

There had never been a doubt in her mind that she was safe with the Cullens. Loved unconditionally. This was her home too and a haven for all of them. A place where none of them ever had to hide.

But why does she feel so scared?

She made it as far as the back porch when she caught movement to her left. Turning her head to the side, Bella blinked in surprise when she spotted Peter wandering into the forest, hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket.

She swallowed nervously, frowning while she watched the mysterious vampire go.

Was he leaving already?

Bella didn't know why she did it. Why a small sense of urgency coaxed her into walking down the back steps of the porch, but she quickly found herself following after him. She wasn't sure if fear was a good word to describe what she felt towards the nomadic vampire. At first, yes. She'd been incredibly frightened by the red eyes and unreadable expression he sported around her.

But now...

After what she'd seen. How he'd been so ferocious in his love—his loyalty—towards Jasper, not as a friend but as a brother. Bella saw beyond what a mere glimpse granted her when they'd first met.

Maybe she'd misjudged him...

Bella wandered into the forest, her eyes solely focused on Peter's broad back as he continued walking forward a few feet away. If he'd heard her following after him, he hadn't let on.

A gust of wind made her pause, shutting her eyes to shield herself from the leaves that swept past her in a flurry of greens and browns. Her long hair came loose from the low ponytail she'd tied it into, dancing around her shoulders. When she opened them again, Bella whipped her head from side to side.

Gone.

He was gone.

Before she could take another step forward, the toe of her boot snagged on a rock lodged deep in the soil. Her gasp caught in her throat, knowing she'd be unable to stop herself from falling when—

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, gently yet swiftly hauling her back until she was standing on her own two feet. Bella opened her eyes, surprised that she wasn't kissing the ground right now.

"He said you were clumsy. I didn't think he was giving you full credit up until now," A deep raspy voice said behind her. Bella bit her bottom lip, turning to face Peter for the first time since all those weeks ago. He was tall, possibly taller than Jasper she realized when she had to angle her head up slightly to be able to stare into those...those...

"Amber eyes..." She murmured out loud, surprised.

Peter's gaze lit with something akin to amusement even though he didn't so much as smile. He shrugged, "If I'm going to be around a bunch of vegetarians I might as well learn to be one."

She frowned, "You're...staying?"

Again, he was as unreadable as ancient writing.

"We won't be here long. Probably another day. I'm waiting for a friend of ours to get in touch with me on the whereabouts of...well, I'm sure you know who I'm talking about."

"James."

Peter nodded before motioning towards the house over his shoulder, "You should go home, kid. They'll be looking for you."

Kid.

Bella scrunched her nose, "I'm fifteen."

"And your point would be?" This time the corner of his lips actually lifted, as if he were fighting off a smile.

Was he—was he teasing her?

"Better a kid than an old man," She muttered under her breath. Setting her irritation towards his goading aside, Bella gathered the courage to speak up, "You..."

"Me?"

"It didn't happen but, I know what you would have done if Jas—if he'd—" She blew out a breath, grateful that he was letting her work through what she wanted to say. Not at all unnerved by the way he watched her this time. Curious to hear what she wanted to say to him. Bella rubbed her arms when a chill ran down her back from the next cool breeze that rushed between the trees, "You fought for him. Tried to defend him. I guess...I wanted to say thank you for trying to save my brother, even if it didn't happen."

Thank god it didn't happen.

In some odd way, Bella was more than relieved that none of them had died. Not Charlotte or Jasper, and not even this enigma of a young man before her. If she hadn't been so traumatized by what James had done in the past, then she might have even been willing to at least get to know the nomads who were Jasper's closest friends.

Although, maybe it wasn't too late.

Peter was quiet for a heartbeat before he said, "He's my best friend. The closest thing to a family I have. He would have done the same for me, and you matter more to him than anything in this world, apart from Alice. So you matter to both Charlotte and I as well."

The sincerity in his words made her flush for some reason. Hating that her cheeks were growing warmer by the second as she forced out the words, "Thanks."

Peter went wholly still when he realized her blood was rushing to the surface, coloring her pale cheeks in a soft pink. It was then that she noticed his chest was no longer moving. Like he'd stopped breathing all together.

He ran a hand through his short hair, murmuring something she couldn't quite hear. His gaze hardened when he looked at her again, his throat bobbing when he took two steps back. Putting distance between them.

"Go home, Bella. Get some rest," He said gently this time, completely contradicting the grim expression he was sporting, before he moved around her and continued heading in the direction he'd walked in.

Bella spun on her heel, wanting to ask him where he was going.

But by the time she turned around, he was already gone.

Disappeared without a trace.

Bella had been determined to go straight to her bedroom the moment she walked inside, but apparently her bothers had other plans.

Edward and Emmett snuck up behind her when she took one step up the stairs, hooking their arms under hers before lifting her up.

"Not so fast," Emmett chuckled as he and Edward turned with her practically dangling between them, a flat stare on her face. They led her into the the living room where Rosalie and Charlotte were perusing a shared laptop. Esme and Carlisle sat together on the L-shaped couch to watch a movie, smiling softly at Bella when they spotted her.

"Do you really have to haul her around like she's luggage?" Esme sighed.

They plopped her down into the couch beside her adopted father before Edward and Emmett sat on either side of her. Successfully locking her in.

Bella remained silent, crossing her arms as she tried to watch the movie—a classic comedy she'd loved watching as a child.

Emmett poked her cheek, earning a scowl as she swatted his hand away, "Stop frowning, you'll get wrinkles faster."

"I doubt it, I'm younger than you," she muttered but stopped frowning.

Edward and Emmett talked amongst themselves while Bella watched the movie, eventually relaxing enough to smile whenever the main character got into some trouble on the screen. She caught curiously relieved glances from Esme and Carlisle every now and then. A few from Rosalie too but they were more to check in on her.

Bella tried her best to reassure her sister that she was fine, and she was.

Until Jasper and Alice walked into the room hand in hand.

Flashes of his head being severed hit her like a truck again.

The look of crazed hunger on James' face when he pulled his fangs away from the poor woman's neck, blood coating his lips and chin like some painted mask.

Bella shot out of her seat, startling everyone as she kept her head down. The room went utterly silent as she murmured, "I have homework."

Lie.

A blatant, cowardly lie.

They all knew it too, but couldn't attempt to contradict Bella as she started moving for the open doorway.

"Bella," Jasper said her name as though he were pleading, begging her to at least look at him. To acknowledge him. He turned as she walked past him and asked the only thing that could come to mind, "are you okay, darlin'?"

Bella halted as she stepped through the threshold, hand on the doorframe. She'd clearly gone pale, paler than he'd ever seen. It unsettled him. This numb sort of fright intermingling with shocking dread. It only ever hit her like this when she saw him. It made him sick to his stomach thinking that he'd been the one to cause it.

Bella turned her head but still didn't look at him even when she forced a small smile, "Yeah. Fine. Good night."

And then she was running up the stairs, never once slowing until the door slammed behind her.

When he heard Bella gag seconds before the sounds of her throwing up into the toilet reached him, Jasper knew nothing was fine.

And it wouldn't be, unless he did something.

Drip, drip, drip.

Bella stirred awake, feeling something warm hit the side of her face. Frowning in annoyance, Bella swept her hand across her cheek. Feeling that there was indeed something wet dripping on her. Was there a leak?

Drip, drip, drip.

She blinked her eyes open at the same time the rest of her senses came to life. Her hands opened and closed on the soft sheets of her bed. The sound of the droplets of water falling on the bed made her sit up to avoid getting more of it on her face. Annoyed that her sleep was interrupted, Bella inched towards the edge of the bed.

Her hand blindly landed on the nightstand until the familiar click of the lamp's switch was heard.

It was barely bright enough to light the room.

"Great, the bulb must be burning out."

She stumbled out of bed, gasping when she felt a trail of something warm and wet on the carpet. Hurrying to the light switch by the door, Bella flipped it on and whirled, assuming there was a leak far larger—

Only to come face to face with the bloodied, pallid face of a woman with dark brown hair matted to her cheeks and neck. The neck that had a gaping wound. Blood spilling out like the water in a stream.

It was endless.

"Please," the woman whimpered, her eyes wide as tears gathered around her brown irises. "Help me..."

Bella stumbled back, gasping in horror. Her back hit the wall hard, hands splaying on either side of her. Her breaths turned shaky, eyes stinging at the sight of what had been done to her.

This woman. Bella knew her. She was the one who'd been slaughtered by James before Jasper ripped into the cruel vampire.

Bella started trembling uncontrollably, her heart pounding away hard enough that it hurt, "I...I don't know how. I'm sorry."

The woman staggered towards Bella, only stopping when she stood but an inch from her. She took in the woman's clothes, ripped and dirty from the blood that kept running down one side of her torso. She could feel the wet warmth of it seeping into her socks as it pooled around them. Bruises lined her arms, fingerprints.

"He won't stop, you know. Not until he has what he wants," The woman reached a bloodied hand towards Bella's face. Making her flinch when her cold fingers caressed her cheek. Smiling in a haunting way as the woman watched the tears stream down Bella's cheeks while she kept staring up at her in shock.

The woman whispered with a haunting smile despite the red flecks at the corners of her mouth. When she spoke again, Bella whimpered when she saw rivulets of blood spill from her lips next. The woman ignored the way Bella shook her head, not able to find her voice to tell the her that she was scared. That she didn't want her touch at all. The woman said, "He wants you, Isabella. He's always wanted you."

"No..."

"Yes."

"No!" Bella found the strength to pull away from the woman, shoving her away with her hands. They were trembling so badly that Bella's entire body started to ache.

I'm scared, please stop.

"Carlisle! Emmett!" Bella called, whirling around to reach for the door and call everyone here to save her from this woman.

She didn't want to see her. Didn't want to hear her words.

A strong hand gripped her shoulder, forcing her to turn and face her new tormentor once more.

Bella sobbed when she saw the terrifying face before her. A new face. One she knew like the back of her hand.

Herself. She was staring at herself only this version of Bella was covered in blood.

In her blood.

"There's no running from this." She said to her in a sad voice. Before lunging at Bella and shoving her straight into a room made of horrors she could never unsee.

"Carter says they're still staying in the townhouse," Peter said to the Cullens at the table. He lowered his cellphone and placed it beside Charlotte's hand. "It's likely they'll be moving again sometime tomorrow."

Jasper looked away from Alice, the two having a wordless conversation before he said grimly, "I can't go with you."

Peter nodded, "I wasn't even going to ask. I think it's in both yours and Bella's interest if you stay."

"So then, we'll go. Follow them closely and attack when the times right. If Carter's with us then it'll be a little easier. Maybe we can contact Garett too." Charlotte said.

Jasper nodded in gratitude, conveying it to his two friends. His eyes not leaving Peter's as he directed most of it his way. He knew it had to do with the protective bond that came naturally when it came to his mate. A concept he was still having trouble accepting but saw no use in fighting it when Peter didn't seem too inclined to get close to Bella.

He'd overheard his and Bella's conversation in the backyard. At first he'd been more than ready to rush out there when he noticed his sister was going after the vampire. Panic rising to the surface as he pictured Peter losing his cool and attacking her.

Shame hit him when he heard what was said.

Felt the acceptance pouring out of Bella, even if wariness was still laced in her emotions.

Peter's however...they were convoluted. Ranging from one emotion to the next. Not one of them romantic, thank god. Jasper didn't think he could handle feeling that without losing his mind and killing his best friend.

There was understanding and care for the girl, a sense of utter respect that had to stem from Bella's relation with the Cullens or Jasper. Resignation had also reached him but it was gone before he could analyze what had caused him to feel it. When he mentioned Flynn, there wasn't any jealousy either.

It was safe to say Peter didn't see Bella as anything other than a child. Rightfully so, in Jasper's opinion.

But despite all he heard and felt from the two, there was one thing that haunting him.

Bella had thanked Peter.

"You fought for him."

When she said it, Jasper couldn't help but grow more curious to know what she'd seen. How she'd seen him die.

Why, whenever she saw him, there was sorrow, fear, and anger.

Anger towards him...

Edward murmured, "Give her time, Jazz. Forcing her to talk will only push her away."

Jasper shot his brother a glance, "Isn't that what I'm doing?"

Everyone went quiet, taken aback by Jasper's clipped words.

Carlisle tried to diffuse the potential start of an argument when he said gently, "The night she "saw" you die, Jasper. It...it opened up a wound in her heart."

"It broke her," Edward said, looking right at him. Not in a manner that told him Edward held him responsible for it. Just in complete gut wrenching honesty. The pain in Edward's eyes spoke volumes of what he must have seen and heard that night.

If it was anything like what he'd heard over the phone, her begging for Jasper. Saying his name so many times...

He couldn't think about it.

Based on the grim expressions on the rest of his family's faces, Jasper blinked. They really thought that. That Bella had been broken. Because of him.

He found it difficult to swallow the knot in his throat.

"You can't ever forget a scream like that," Emmett admitted next. His own eyes seeming haunted as he stared at his hands on the table, "It was torture."

For her as much as it was for them, he suspected.

Jasper didn't miss the hostile emotions coming from somewhere in the room and he looked up to find the source when he caught Peter fixed Edward with a flat stare.

His brother scowling with his arms crossed—the source of hostility personified.

"You have something to say then say it already. Your scowling makes you look like you're about to shit your pants," Peter said.

Emmett and Alice smiled at his words though they quickly settled down when Edward confronted him, "What do you want from her?"

Esme chided gently, "Edward..."

"I don't think I ever implied I wanted anything from Bella. If you think I'd prey on a child then maybe there's something seriously wrong with you. I also don't see why you need to concern yourself," Peter said cooly. Jasper could see the cocky, carefree facade he was building up around him. Always making everyone see what he wanted them to see. A wall made of stone that no one, not even Charlotte or Jasper, could break through.

Jasper saw a lot of himself in Peter. A lot of the hollow shell he used to be before meeting Alice.

Peter is much more open towards others than Jasper was ever capable of being, but the wall kept anyone from seeing the true horrors of his past. The burdens he wore like scars on his flesh.

Edward didn't seem to have any access to his thoughts, based on his brooding expression. Frustration colored his words, "Bella is my sister."

Peter slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans, "Congratulations."

Edward growled in response to the sarcasm.

Jasper sighed. This was going to be a long night if they were going to have this sort of banter all night long.

Beside him Alice tensed, her hand holding his tightly. He looked over questioningly when his gift caressed his wife's stunned, far-away gaze. A clear indication that she'd been dragged into a vision.

If he hadn't been so focused on Alice, he probably would have heard the rustling of sheets coming from upstairs. He would have paid closer attention to the sound of Bella's increasing heartbeat.

A heavy, fast rhythm.

Edward started to sneer a retort back when Peter's head whipped up. A look of utter confusion and alarm replaced his flat stare before he was gone.

Rushing upstairs seconds before Alice gasped, startling out of her vision.

Jasper was up and running after him, after Bella and her heartbeat that beat irregularly.

It was too fast.

Jasper ran into Bella's room, not caring about the door that had been hanging off one hinge after Peter ripped it open. He stopped dead in his tracks when he found him kneeling over Bella's sleeping form.

No.

Not sleeping.

She was seizing again.

Peter carefully cupped her face with his hands, a gesture that was so gentle Jasper was at a loss for words.

"Wake up," Peter murmured.

Footsteps hurried down the hall and soon the room was filled with everyone. Carlisle appeared like a blur next to them, sharing a look with Peter when the latter shot him a animalistic glare. Protecting his mate even if he didn't realize it.

Carlisle raised his hands, his voice placating as he said, "Please. I mean no harm."

Peter seemed to ignore Carlisle when he turned and looked to the convulsing girl. Tears rolled down the sides of her flushed face as Bella continued battling through the Jump she'd been pulled into.

Jasper felt his knees go weak at the sight of his little sister—knowing he can't reach her. Can't save her from whatever she was seeing.

Except Peter did something he didn't expect. Leaning forward, everyone including Charlotte tensed as Peter bent down to her ear and whispered something soft and searching, "Wake up, Bella."

The screams finally stopped.

Her heart was still in her throat but at least the screams had finally stopped.

He must have killed him. Put him out of his misery.

Bella couldn't move though. Didn't dare inch closer to the cracked door to peer through it to see if it was really over. If James had finally left, moved on to torment someone else.

Wake up.

A voice said to her from some deep, dark recess of her mind. A calming shroud that warmed her soul. Calling to her, she knew deep down.

"They can hide her all they want. I'll get my prize sooner or later. I always do," James said, footsteps echoing across the hardwood floors. Closer. They were getting closer.

Bella whimpered, inching farther away from the shadows that danced between the light. The silhouette of a man appearing beneath the door until the light was no more. Only darkness.

It's not real, Bella.

"Not real...not real, not real, not real," Bella said the words spoken to her by her only savior. Again and again and again. When the footsteps grew closer and louder, Bella slapped her hands over her ears and shut her eyes. Willing herself to be swept out of this place of nightmares. To be saved. "Not real—"

"There you are," James murmured, his voice like sweet sin.

Bella's heart stopped beating, her breath a quivering mess as she waited for her monster to yank the door wide open and see her sitting on the floor with her knees tucked to her chest. Setting his red eyes right on her. His prize.

But that didn't happen.

A feminine voice giggled and a softer, new rhythm of footsteps followed. Coming to step beside his shadow, a woman said, "You miss me already?"

A low growl echoed across the room full of mirrors she'd awoken in before James brought his victim inside. Never once seeing her as she stared at him wide-eyed, seeing the man she feared more than anything standing a few inches away. Putting a face to her monster for the first time.

When he started torturing the vampire named Carter, Bella finally ran into the closet on the other side of the room. Hiding in the corner until the screams stopped.

Wake up.

"What are you going to do now, babe?" Victoria asked him.

Bella's whole body trembled uncontrollably when she saw him walk past the door, his sharp grin revealing itself as he left the room with the redhead, "We're going hunting."

Bella's lurched forward, a strangle sob spilling from her lips. Strong arms caught her before she could fall off the bed as her scream caught in her throat.

Someone was whispering reassuring words into her ear, keeping her together as she trembled uncontrollably. Still sobbing, still gasping for air. Her hands clutched the strong arms that gently wrapped around her, hoping they'll stay there. Keep her safe.

Safe from him.

Voices reached out to her, all belonging to her adoptive parents and siblings. Bella's heart pounded against her chest and maybe even against the person who held her close.

Holding her breath, Bella pulled back to peer up into Peter's calm face. Into his amber eyes that seemed to search for an answer he needed.

"You're okay," He murmured, sounding almost relieved.

That voice...

She's heard him in that dream that wasn't a dream at all. Saving her from losing her mind.

Tears flooded her vision as she looked at him. Peter's brows furrowed like he didn't quite understand the tears.

Didn't have to understand after being immortal for so long. But he said reassuringly, "You're alright. You're safe now." He gently eased her back down onto the bed, her hand still clutching Peter's shirt as she looked up at him.

She searched the room and found Jasper's pained expression along with her siblings'. His hands closed into fists at his sides.

"Jazz..." She whimpered and he was beside her in an instant. As if he'd been waiting for her to call on him. To need him again. When her brother was finally beside her, touching her hand and whispering her name reverently, Bella didn't hold onto Peter anymore. He took that as his cue to stand from the bed.

He'd brought her back somehow, and now she was safe. That seemed to be enough for him.

Jasper cupped her face in his hands, smiling in a heartbreaking way when he said, "I'm here, darlin'. I'm right here."

Tears continued rolling down her cheeks when she looked back to Peter right as exhaustion swept over her, dragging her down without a chance to fight it. Either from Jasper's desperate attempt to calm her or her own mind shutting down.

The last thing she could say before she fell back into a dreamless sleep was, "Carter is dead. James is coming...here."

Thanks for reading x