Chapter 8

Jake reaches out and grabs my shoulders, a dark look on his face, mixed in with emotions that are trying to gain dominance.

“Victoria’s here. Embry’s on her trail,” he says, his voice strained.

My heart starts thumping madly, this time out of fear.

He looks away for a second.
Then adds, “Edward’s on his way.”
My heart starts stuttering, flickering. Oh no. I look up at Jake, trying to reassure him. All he must see is fear.

He shakes his head.

“I got to go,” he says.

“Jake-wait. Please,” I call as he was on his way to his room, to report to Sam.

He turns slightly towards me.

“Jake…please…make sure you come back,” I gulp, “And Edward too.”

My eyes find the floor. It takes him a while to answer.

“Sure,” he says gruffly, and then walks to Sam.

I slump onto the couch, listening to the muffled voices, trying to slow down my pulse. Too soon, Jacob walks out of the room, looks at me quickly. I sit up.

“Jake-“I start.
He runs, fast, bursting as he gets out the door.

I slide back down, tears starting to swim down my cheeks. I hope they’re all ok. I get up slowly, wiping my face. I open the door, wondering what kind of state Sam is in. He’s lying there, face towards the ceiling, breathing heavily. His mind must be pretty far out not to hear me coming. I knock, hanging by the open door. His face turns towards mine. My face falls.

“You ok?” I ask.

“Yeah. I just- I just wish that I could at least know what’s going on,” he opens up.

“Can you change?”

“Are you kidding me? If I could change, I’d be out there chasing Victoria, no matter what condition I’m in,” he pipes up.

“Well, I guess we can wait here together,” I say, and sit on the non-existent space left on the bed next to him. Silence fills the room.

Five hours later, we still haven’t moved. However, Sam hears footsteps in the distance, but his face is grim. He glances at me, and then looks away. I run out of the room, to the front door. I wrench it open, my head throbbing in my ears. Quil runs up to me, his eyes frenzied.

“Bella,” he gasps.

“What? What happened?” I ask; my heart in my chest.

“Jacob – he’s really hurt,” he chokes out.

My heart threatens to fly out of my chest. I start hyperventilating.

“And Edward…he’s…dead.”
That’s it. I fall on the floor. Blackness swallows me whole.