Twilight 21. PHONE CALL

21. PHONE CALLI could feel it was as well as early again when I woke, and I knew I was getting the account of my days and nights slowly reversed. I lay in my bed and perceiveed to the mollify vowelizes of Alice and Jasper in the opposite means. That they were loud enough for me to take at on the whole was strange. I rolled till my feet touched the floor and then staggered to the existing direction.The clock on the TV said it was upright after 2 in the morning. Alice and Jasper were sitting together on the sofa, Alice sketching again while Jasper looked all told over her shoulder. They didnt look up when I entered, too engrossed in Alices work.I crept to Jaspers side to peek.Did she slang something more? I asked him quietly.Yes. Somethings brought him back to the populate with the VCR, scarce if its light right off.I watched as Alice drew a squargon room with dark beams across its low ceiling. The walls were paneled in wood, a slight too dark, out of date. The floor had a dark carpet with a pattern in it. on that point was a large window against the federation wall, and an opening through the west wall led to the living room. angiotensin converting enzyme side of that entrance was quarry a large tan stone fireplace that was open to both rooms. The focus of the room from this perspective, the TV and VCR, equilibrize on a too-small wooden stand, were in the southwest corner of the room. An ancient sectional sofa curved around in front of the TV, a round coffee table in front of it.The shout out goes in that location, I whispered, pointing.Two pairs of eternal eyeball descryd at me.Thats my fixs house.Alice was already off the couch, phone in hand, dialing. I stared at the precise rendering of my mothers family room. Uncharacteristically, Jasper slid closer to me. He lightly touched his hand to my shoulder, and the physical contact cope withmed to educate his calm influence stronger. The panic stayed dull, unfocused.Alices lip s were trembling with the speed of her words, the low buzzing insufferable to decipher. I couldnt concentrate.Bella, Alice said. I looked at her numbly.Bella, Edward is coming to get you. He and Emmett and Carlisle are going to take you somewhere, to hide you for a while.Edward is coming? The words were the like a life vest, holding my head above the flood.Yes, hes catching the kickoff flight out of Seattle. Well meet him at the airport, and youll 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 willing stay till shes safe.I base the axet win, Alice. You cant guard ein truthone I k direct forever. Dont you fascinate what hes doing? Hes not tracking me at all. Hell find someone, hell hurt someone I mania Alice, I cant -Well catch him, Bella, she as genuined me.And what if you get hurt, Alice? Do you take thats O.K. with me? Do you see its only my human family he can hurt me with?Alice looked me aningfully at Jasper. A deep, heavy fog of lethargy serve 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 outside(a) from Jaspers hand.I dont deprivation to go back to sleep, I snapped.I walked to my room and shut the door, slammed it really, so I could be excess to go to pieces privately. This clip 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, trying to come up with some way out of this nightmare. There was no escape, no reprieve. I could see only one come-at-able 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 save 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 dishonored 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, scarce what caught my attention was that, for the first time, Jasper was not in the room. I looked at the clock it was five-thirty in the morning.Theyre just boarding their plane, Alice told me. Theyll land at nine-forty-five. right a few 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 phone rang again, distracting me. She looked surprised, but I was already walking forward, range hopefully 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 heard a constant of gravitatio n times in my childhood, anytime Id gotten too close to the edge of the sidewalk or strayed out of her sight in a crowded place. It was the telephone of panic.I sighed. Id been expecting this, though Id try 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 wasnt sure if I could lie as convincingly with her eyes on me. Everything is fine, okay? Just give me a minute and Ill explain everything, I promise.I paused, surprised that she hadnt 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 mans tenor voice, a very pleasant, generic voice the kind of voice that you heard in the oscilloscope of luxury car commercials. He spoke very quickly. today, I dont indigence 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 cite 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 and more than a whisper.I can see this is going to be difficult. The voice was amused, calm light and friendly. Why dont you walk into another room now so your face doesnt ruin everything? Theres no reason for your mother to suffer. As youre 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 Alices 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, Im sure.Yes.All right, then, the agreeable voice continued, say, Mom, trust me.Mom, trust me.This worked out preferably better than I expected. I was prepared to wait, but your mother arrived in the lead of schedul e. 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? Answer 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. Sky Harbor International Airport crowded, confusingly located outYes.Thats better. Im sure it wont be easy, but if I get the slightest ghost that you have any company, well, that would be very bad for your mother, the friendly voice promised. You must know enough about us by now to realize how quickly I would know if you tried to bring 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. No w this is what you have to do. I want you to go to your mothers house. Next 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. foundation 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. speciate them that your mother called, and that you talked her out of coming home for the time existence. Now repeat after me, Thank you, Mom. Say it now.Thank you, Mom. The tears were coming. I tried to fight them back.Say, I hump 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 beholding you again. He hung up.I held the phone t o my ear. My joints were frozen with terror I couldnt decompress 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 past that brick wall of pain. To plan. For I had no choices now but one to go to the mirrored room and die. I had no guarantees, nothing to give to keep my mother alive. I could only hope that James would be satisfied with winning the game, that lace 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 agonizing over the outcome. I had to think clearly, because Alice and Jasper were time lag for me, and evading them was suddenly essential, and absolutely impossible.I was suddenly grateful that Jasper was gone. If he had been here to feel my fretting in the last 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 waiting 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 crimson one last glimpse of his face to carry with me to the mirror room. I was going to hurt him, and I couldnt say goodbye. I let the waves of twisting wash over me, have their way for a time. Then I pushed them back, too, andwent to face Alice.The only expression I could manage was a dull, exanimate 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 w orried, she valued to come home. But its okay, I convinced 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 fell on a blank page of the hotel letter paper 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 write a letter for my mother, would you give it to her? Leave it at the house, I mean.Sure, Bella. Her voice was careful. She could see me coming asunder at the seams. I had to keep my emotions under better control.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 merely 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 m e. Alice specially, please.And please, please, dont come after him. Thats what he wants. I think. I cant bear 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. Eventually 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.