“Bella, please. You’ll hurt yourself more than you’ll hurt him. Please …”

“Shut up! Just shut the fuck up!”

“I deserve it, Carlisle.” Edward whispered and I begun again.

“You all fucking told me that if ever I needed any protecting or help you would fucking be there!” The tears came more freely as I spoke, and continued to bruise my fists on his marble chest. “Where the fuck were you! I needed you! I needed you so much; I waited. I waited to be rescued, I waited for you!” I screamed the last word and slammed my fist into his stomach. My hands throbbed and were severally bruised, but this didn’t stop me. I got onto my tiptoes and looked him straight in his deep emerald eyes.

“I swear to you, if I lose Cain,” I swallowed at the thought, but used what hurt and pain I had in me and converted it into anger. “I will never, never speak to you, see you or so much as even think about you for as long as I shall live. You’re just lucky, so fucking lucky you can’t die!” I began to lash out again, but I had no energy left. I simply collapsed on the soft grass beneath me. I could see through my tears that strong, porcelain arms started to reach out to me, but big, warm arms beat them to it.

Jake.

He held me tightly and pulled me back to rest against his exposed chest. I extended my arms to fasten them securely around his neck as I had no shirt to grip on to, as he began to walk away from the Cullens.

“Shh,” He said in a low, hushed voice, “It’s okay, I’m here. I’ve got you. We’re gunna go take you to see Cain now, okay?” I mumbled through my cries of both pain and anger, as I was placed in the back of a police car. Jake got in after me, and I snuggled in to his chest and cried. I felt the car dip as Charlie loaded Billy’s wheelchair and they both got in. I could hear the Cullen’s cries and pleads for me to listen and for me to let them explain, to stay but the engine revved and we speeded away from the house.

“Bella, babe? You awake? We’re here.” I could feel being lifted out of the car, but as soon as my feet touched the hard black concrete beneath me, I sprinted towards the entrance of Forks General Hospital. I could hear shouting and screeching tires as I ran through the car park and oncoming traffic, but I didn’t care. I through the double automatic doors and ran up to the lady on the front desk, who gave me a questioning look.

“You have to help me!” I almost screamed, causing people around us in the waiting room to look at me curiously.

“Ermm, of co …”

“Cain, Cain Swan. He was brought in here via emergency. He was shot.” I felt a warm hand grip mine and I looked up frantically to see Charlie beside me. “Please hurry!”

“Ermm, room 173, 4^th floor.” I was off again, running down the halls of Forks General Hospital, probably looking like a crazy woman on drugs who had escaped from the Mercy Mental Institution next door. I could hear Charlie shouting back at Billy and Jake to stay put and he will come and get them once things settle down.

168 … 169 … 170 … 171 … 172 … 173 … I stopped dead in my tracks outside room 173 on the 4^th floor. I looked to see the blinds drawn and wondered if that was good or bad. I heard Charlie wheezing behind me, and felt him snake his hand with mine. I could hear Mum and Phil muttering to each other and the occasional whimper or sniff. I don’t know how long we just stood there, staring at the door, before he reached for the door handle, twisted it, and pushed the door wide open. I dared a look in, and an empty bed.