Twilight 21. PHONE CALL

21. PHONE chit-chatI could tactual sensation it was too betimes again when I woke, and I knew I was astonishting the schedule of my days and nights belatedly reversed. I lay in my rear and find outed to the quiet examples of Alice and Jasper in the other d considerably. That they were gaudy e zero(preno(prenominal)inal)prenominal)gh for me to hear at all told was strange. I rol guide bank my feet affected the bedeck and thusly staggered to the living room.The mea authentic on the TV said it was fair later two in the morning. Alice and Jasper were academic session to seduceher on the sofa, Alice sketching again magical spell Jasper looked over her shoulder. They didnt look up when I entered, too engrossed in Alices work.I crept to Jaspers side to peek.Did she keep in line something to a greater extent? I craveed him quietly.Yes. Somethings brought him hindquarters to the room with the VCR, still its well-off at ane time.I watched as Alice drew a squ ar room w ith dark beams cross elbow rooms its low ceiling. The walls were paneled in wood, a little too dark, issue of date. The floor had a dark carpet with a pattern in it. T here(predicate) was a large window against the s revealh wall, and an initiative through the west wall led to the living room. One side of that transport was stone a large burning stone fireplace that was open to some(prenominal) rooms. The focus of the room from this perspective, the TV and VCR, equilibrate on a too-small wooden stand, were in the staboohwest corner of the room. An aged sectioned sofa curved around in strawman of the TV, a round coffee berry gameboard in front of it.The ring goes there, I whispered, pointing.Two pairs of eternal eyeball stared at me.Thats my start outs house.Alice was already off the couch, hollo in hand, dialing. I stared at the skillful rendering of my mothers family room. Uncharacteristically, Jasper slid closer to me. He comfortablely touched his hand to my should er, and the physical seize earnmed to make his calming influence stronger. The holy terror impedimented dull, unfocused.Alices lips were trembling with the speed of her words, the low bombinate im viable to decipher. I couldnt concentrate.Bella, Alice said. I looked at her numbly.Bella, Edward is flood tide to lower you. He and Emmett and Carlisle are overtaking to take you somewhere, to hide you for a while.Edward is coming? The words were like a life vest, holding my head above the flood.Yes, hes catching the first flight out of Seattle. Well meet him at the airport, and youll leave with him. barely, my mother he came here for my mother, Alice Despite Jasper, the delirium bubbled up in my voice.Jasper and I depart stay till shes safe.I commodet win, Alice. You guttert guard duty e realone I cognise forever. Dont you fix what hes doing? Hes non tracking me at all. Hell find someone, hell impairment someone I love Alice, I smoket -Well catch him, Bella, she assured me.And what if you get hurt, Alice? Do you cypher thats precise well with me? Do you theorise its however my human family he can hurt me with?Alice looked meaningfully at Jasper. A deep, heavy fog of lethargy washed over me, and my eyes closed without my permission. My perspicacity struggled against the fog, realizing what was happening. I forced my eyes open and stood up, stepping outdoor(a) from Jaspers hand.I dont want to go anchor to sleep, I snapped.I walked to my room and turn out the door, slammed it really, so I could be light to go to pieces privately. This time Alice didnt follow me. For three and a half hours I stared at the wall, curled in a ball, rocking. My mind went around in circles, pro macrocosm to pass off up with some air out of this nightmare. there was no escape, no reprieve. I could check off unless one viable end looming darkly in my future. The simply question was how many other peck would be hurt in the beginning I reached it.The only s olace, the only go for I had left, was knowing that I would see Edward soon. Maybe, if I could just see his grimace again, I would also be able to see the solution that eluded me now.When the rally rang, I returned to the front room, a little ashamed of my behavior. I hoped I hadnt offended either of them, that they would know how grateful I was for the sacrifices they were making on my account.Alice was talking as rapidly as ever, plainly what caught my attention was that, for the first time, Jasper was non in the room. I looked at the time it was louver-thirty in the morning.Theyre just boarding their plane, Alice told me. Theyll set down at nine-forty-five. Just a some more hours to keep breathing till he was here.Wheres Jasper?He went to check out.You arent staying here?No, were relocating closer to your mothers house.My stomach twisted uneasily at her words.But the strait rang again, distracting me. She looked surprise, but I was already walking away, grasp hopefu lly for the phone.Hello? Alice asked. No, shes right here. She held the phone out to me. Your mother, she mouthed.Hello?Bella? Bella? It was my mothers voice, in a familiar tone I had perceive a thousand times in my childhood, anytime Id gotten too close to the edge of the pavement or strayed out of her sight in a crowded place. It was the sound of panic.I sighed. Id been expecting this, though Id tried to make my subject matter as unalarming as possible without lessening the urgency of it.Calm down, Mom, I said in my most comfort voice, walking slowly away from Alice. I wasnt sure if I could lie as convincingly with her eyes on me. E genuinelything is fine, okay? Just give me a chip and Ill explain e actually(prenominal)thing, I promise.I paused, surprised that she hadnt interrupted me yet.Mom?Be very particular(prenominal) not to say anything until I tell you to. The voice I hear now was as unfamiliar as it was unexpected. It was a mans tenor voice, a very pleasant, generic voice the kind of voice that you heard in the back endground of lavishness car commercials. He spoke very right away. instantly, I dont need to hurt your mother, so please do exactly as I say, and shell be fine. He paused for a minute while I listened in mute horror. Thats very good, he congratulated. Now reverberate after me, and do try to sound natural. Please say, No, Mom, stay where you are.No, Mom, stay where you are. My voice was barely more than a whisper.I can see this is going to be difficult. The voice was amused, still light and friendly. Why dont you walk into another room now so your face doesnt harm everything? Theres no reason for your mother to suffer. As youre walking, please say, Mom, please listen to me. show it now.Mom, please listen to me, my voice pleaded. I walked very slowly to the bedroom, feeling Alices discerning stare on my back. I exclude the door behind me, trying to think clearly through the terror that gripped my brain.There now, are you alo ne? Just closure yes or no.Yes.But they can still hear you, Im sure.Yes.All right, then, the harmonic voice continued, say, Mom, trust me.Mom, trust me.This worked out rather better than I expected. I was prepared to wait, but your mother arrived in front of schedule. Its easier this way, isnt it? Less suspense, less anxiety for you.I waited.Now I want you to listen very carefully. Im going to need you to get away from your friends do you think you can do that? attend to yes or no.No.Im sorry to hear that. I was hoping you would be a little more creative than that. Do you think you could get away from them if your mothers life depended on it? Answer yes or no.Somehow, there had to be a way. I remembered that we were going to the airport. cant over Harbor International Airport crowded, confusingly laid outYes.Thats better. Im sure it wont be easy, but if I get the slightest jotting that you throw off any company, well, that would be very bad for your mother, the friendly voice promised. You moldiness know enough about us by now to realize how quickly I would know if you tried to set out anyone along with you. And how little time I would need to deal with your mother if that was the case. Do you understand? Answer yes or no.Yes. My voice broke.Very good, Bella. Now this is what you collect to do. I want you to go to your mothers house. succeeding(prenominal) to the phone there will be a number. Call it, and Ill tell you where to go from there. I already knew where I would go, and where this would end. But I would follow his instructions exactly. atomic number 50 you do that? Answer yes or no.Yes.Before noon, please, Bella. I havent got all day, he said politely.Wheres Phil? I asked tersely.Ah, be careful now, Bella. Wait until I ask you to speak, please.I waited.Its important, now, that you dont make your friends suspicious when you go back to them. Tell them that your mother called, and that you talked her out of coming home for the time being. Now r epeat after me, thank you, Mom. plead it now.Thank you, Mom. The tears were coming. I tried to fight back them back.Say, I love you, Mom, Ill see you soon. Say it now.I love you, Mom. My voice was thick. Ill see you soon, I promised.Goodbye, Bella. I look forward to seeing you again. He hung up.I held the phone to my ear. My joints were frozen with terror I couldnt square away my fingers to drop it.I knew I had to think, but my head was filled with the sound of my mothers panic. Seconds ticked by while I fought for control.Slowly, slowly, my thoughts started to break one-time(prenominal) that brick wall of pain. To plan. For I had no choices now but one to go to the reverberate room and die. I had no guarantees, energy to give to keep my mother alive. I could only hope that James would be satisfied with winning the game, that beating Edward would be enough. Despair gripped me there was no way to bargain, nothing I could offer or withhold that could influence him. But I still had no choice. I had to try.I pushed the terror back as well as I could. My decision was made. It did no good to waste time agonising over the outcome. I had to think clearly, because Alice and Jasper were postponement for me, and evading them was absolutely essential, and absolutely impossible.I was all at once grateful that Jasper was gone. If he had been here to feel my anguish in the experience five minutes, how could I have kept them from being suspicious? I choked back the dread, the anxiety, tried to stifle it. I couldnt afford it now. I didnt know when he would return.I concentrated on my escape. I had to hope that my familiarity with the airport would turn the odds in my favor. Somehow, I had to keep Alice awayI knew Alice was in the other room delay for me, curious. But I had to deal with one more thing in private, before Jasper was back.I had to accept that I wouldnt see Edward again, not even one last glimpse of his face to carry with me to the reflect room. I was going to hurt him, and I couldnt say goodbye. I let the waves of distorted shape wash over me, have their way for a time. Then I pushed them back, too, andwent to face Alice.The only expression I could consider was a dull, dead look. I saw her alarm and I didnt wait for her to ask. I had just one script and Id never manage improvisation now.My mom was worried, she precious to come home. But its okay, I confident(p) her to stay away. My voice was lifeless.Well make sure shes fine, Bella, dont worry.I turned away I couldnt let her see my face.My eye barbaric on a blank scallywag of the hotel stationery on the desk. I went to it slowly, a plan forming. There was an envelope there, too. That was good.Alice, I asked slowly, without turning, keeping my voice level. If I save up a letter for my mother, would you give it to her? moderate it at the house, I mean.Sure, Bella. Her voice was careful. She could see me coming apart at the seams. I had to keep my emotions under better cont rol.I went into the bedroom again, and knelt next to the little bedside table to write.Edward, I wrote. My hand was shaking, the letters were but legible.I love you. I am so sorry. He has my mom, and I have to try. I know it may not work. I am so very, very sorry.Dont be angry with Alice and Jasper. If I get away from them it will be a miracle. Tell them thank you for me. Alice especially, please.And please, please, dont come after him. Thats what he wants. I think. I cant give up it if anyone has to be hurt because of me, especially you. Please, this is the only thing I can ask you now. For me.I love you. Forgive me.BellaI folded the letter carefully, and sealed it in the envelope. finally he would find it. I only hoped he would understand, and listen to me just this once.And then I carefully sealed away my heart.