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were in the southwest corner of the room。 An aged sectional sofa curved
around in front of the TV； a round coffee table in front of it。
〃The phone goes there；〃 I whispered； pointing。
Two pairs of eternal eyes stared at me。
〃That's my mother's house。〃
Alice was already off the couch； phone in hand； dialing。 I stared at the
precise rendering of my mother's family room。 Uncharacteristically；
Jasper slid closer to me。 He lightly touched his hand to my shoulder； and
the physical contact seemed to make his calming influence stronger。 The
panic stayed dull； unfocused。
Alice's lips were trembling with the speed of her words； the low buzzing
impossible to decipher。 I couldn't concentrate。
〃Bella；〃 Alice said。 I looked at her numbly。
〃Bella； Edward is ing to get you。 He and Emmett and Carlisle are going
to take you somewhere； to hide you for a while。〃
〃Edward is ing？〃 The words were like a life vest； holding my head
above the flood。
〃Yes； he's catching the first flight out of Seattle。 We'll meet him at
the airport； and you'll leave with him。〃
〃But； my mother… he came here for my mother； Alice！〃 Despite Jasper； the
hysteria bubbled up in my voice。
〃Jasper and I will stay till she's safe。〃
〃I can't win； Alice。 You can't guard everyone I know forever。 Don't you
see what he's doing？ He's not tracking me at all。 He'll find someone；
he'll hurt someone I love… Alice； I can't —〃
〃We'll catch him； Bella；〃 she assured me。
〃And what if you get hurt； Alice？ Do you think that's okay with me？ Do
you think it's only 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 mind struggled
against the fog； realizing what was happening。 I forced my eyes open and
stood up； stepping away from Jasper's hand。
〃I don't want to go back to sleep；〃 I snapped。
I walked to my room and shut the door； slammed it really； so I could be
free to go to pieces privately。 This time Alice didn't follow me。 For
three and a half hours I stared at the wall； curled in a ball； rocking。
My mind went around in circles； trying to e up with some way out of
this nightmare。 There was no escape； no reprieve。 I could see only one
possible end looming darkly in my future。 The only question was how many
other people would be hurt before I reached it。
The only solace； the only hope I had left； was knowing that I would see
Edward soon。 Maybe； if I could just see his face again； I would also be
able to see the solution that eluded me now。
When the phone rang； I returned to the front room； a little ashamed of my
behavior。 I hoped I hadn't 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； but what caught my attention was
that； for the first time； Jasper was not in the room。 I looked at the
clock — it was fivethirty in the morning。
〃They're just boarding their plane；〃 Alice told me。 〃They'll land at
ninefortyfive。〃 Just a few more hours to keep breathing till he was
here。
〃Where's Jasper？〃
〃He went to check out。〃
〃You aren't staying here？〃
〃No； we're relocating closer to your mother's house。〃
My stomach twisted uneasily at her words。
But the phone rang again； distracting me。 She looked surprised； but I was
already walking forward； reaching hopefully for the phone。
〃Hello？〃 Alice asked。 〃No； she's right here。〃 She held the phone out to
me。 Your mother； she mouthed。
〃Hello？〃
〃Bella？ Bella？〃 It was my mother's voice； in a familiar tone I had heard
a thousand times in my childhood； anytime I'd gotten too close to the
edge of the sidewalk or strayed out of her sight in a crowded place。 It
was the sound of panic。
I sighed。 I'd been expecting this； though I'd tried to make my message as
unalarming as possible without lessening the urgency of it。
〃Calm down； Mom；〃 I said in my most soothing voice； walking slowly away
from Alice。 I wasn't sure if I could lie as convincingly with her eyes on
me。 〃Everything is fine； okay？ Just give me a minute and I'll explain
everything； I promise。〃
I paused； surprised that she hadn't interrupted me yet。
〃Mom？〃
〃Be very careful not to say anything until I tell you to。〃 The voice I
heard now was as unfamiliar as it was unexpected。 It was a man's tenor
voice； a very pleasant； generic voice — the kind of voice that you heard
in the background of luxury car mercials。 He spoke very quickly。
〃Now； I don't need to hurt your mother； so please do exactly as I say；
and she'll be fine。〃 He paused for a minute while I listened in mute
horror。 〃That's very good；〃 he congratulated。 〃Now repeat 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 don't you walk into another room now so your
face doesn't ruin everything？ There's no reason for your mother to
suffer。 As you're walking； please say； 'Mom； please listen to me。' Say it
now。〃
〃Mom； please listen to me；〃 my voice pleaded。 I walked very slowly to the
bedroom； feeling Alice's worried stare on my back。 I shut the door behind
me； trying to think clearly through the terror that gripped my brain。
〃There now； are you alone？ Just answer yes or no。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But they can still hear you； I'm sure。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃All right； then；〃 the agreeable 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 ahead of schedule。 It's easier this way； isn't
it？ Less suspense； less anxiety for you。〃
I waited。
〃Now I want you to listen very carefully。 I'm going to need you to get
away from your friends； do you think you can do that？ Answer yes or no。〃
〃No。〃
〃I'm sorry to hear that。 I was hoping you would be a little more creative
than that。 Do you t