Safe and Sound • Jasper Hale • 2

ᴄʜαᴘᴛєя 10

"Yeah, yeah. I know." Emmett waved her off as she turned to grab her jacket and wallet. "Bring me back some gummy bears."

"You don't eat." Willow laughed and turned back to face him but he was already asleep. "Sleep tight." She whispered and shut the door behind her quietly.

****

The mall was jammed packed with people and Willow felt completely at ease. She stopped in a few stores, buying a few things. Thirty minutes later she had settled herself in the food court with a bowl of sweet and sour chicken and a lemonade.

Maggie called her five minutes later.

"Charlie is extremely worried." Maggie sounded worried. "Are you okay?"

"Is he mad at me?" Willow moved a piece of chicken around with her fork. Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach as she waited to hear what Charlie thought of her.

"No. He's sad but he's not mad at you." Maggie sounded compassionate. "Maybe you should call him. Let him know you're okay."

"You're probably right." Willow let her fork fall and grabbed her lemonade. "I'm sorry I cut your trip short."

"Don't apologize." Maggie brushed her off with a scoff. "We're not even back to Forks yet."

"Have you heard from anyone?"

"Yesterday Carlisle called, Jasper and Edward were still hunting." Maggie explained while Willow turned her attention back to her food. "Where are you at now anyway?"

"We're in Wyoming right now." Willow looked up from her food at the sound of a chair being pulled out across from her.

Her heart began to beat rapidly at the sight of Alex now sitting in front of her.

"Well, sit tight okay? It shouldn't be too much longer before Jasper catches him." Maggie's voice seemed to fade in the background and when Willow didn't respond Maggie became worried. "Willow?"

"Hello beautiful. Looks like little bird has left the nest." Alex lowered his sunglasses, his blood red eyes focused on her. "Hang up the phone."

"Willow?"Maggie sounded slightly frantically.

"Maggie, I- I have to go." Willow stuttered without looking away from Alex.

"Willow? What's wrong?" Maggie was demanding on the other end of the line.

"I'm getting impatient. Hang up the phone." Alex relaxed back in his chair pushing his sunglasses back up. "I wonder how many people I could kill before you hang the phone up?"

He made it a point to look around the food court before focusing on a young boy, no older than two.

"Willow is someone there? Is he there?" Marshall was now on the other end of the line with a calm demeanor. "Don't hang up." The words were barely out of his mouth before Willow hung up the phone.

Willow timidly sat her phone done on the table with a shaking hand before she pushed her food away. Alex was wearing a different clothes from the last time she had seen him. Jeans and a white long sleeve shirt with his sand blonde hair styled back and a smirk on his face.

"How did- how long- long have you been following us?" Willow was too nervous to speak without stuttering.

"After I tricked the Soldier into following a wild goose chase." Alex's smirk grew as she spoke. "I saw through his game the moment I saw blonde hair instead of red."

"Why are you doing this?" Willow's foot began to tap as her anxiety spiked.

"I enjoy games." Alex held his hand out to her. "Give me your phone." Willow timidly compiled before jerking her hand away before he could touch her.

"Is that a video camera?" Willow asked, gesturing to the small box latched on to his shirt like a body camera.

"It was James' idea." Alex smiled brightly at the mention of James. It was then that Willow realized the camera was on. "Something this fun should be kept for memories."

"You're sick." Willow spat.

"You have no idea. Get up." Alex gestured for her to stand up as he did. "You cause a scene and I will kill whoever is brave enough to help you." When she was on her feet he rounded the table with his hand enclosing hers.

"You're hurting me." Willow complained as he squeezed her hand half dragging her towards the exit.

"The pain is half the fun." Alex stopped just outside the door to tap on her phone. After a moment before he pressed it to his ear. "Game on Soldier." He crushed her phone, shattering it before he threw it into the bushes.

The sun was setting in the horizon as he dragged her to the end of the parking lot where there was only one car. Willow tried pulling away a few times in vain and a part of her debating whether to scream or not.

When they reached the black mustang Alex shoved her against the vehicle. Willow let out an audible gasp of pain. Alex reached through the open driver side window and pulled out a metal bracelet.

"What is that?" Willow questioned but Alex ignored, grabbing her arm. He forced the bracelet around her wrist, tightening it to the point that the metal cut into her wrist. "Fuck." In the center of the bracelet was a black jewel.

"You won't be able to claw that off." Alex reached back into his car and pulled out a change of clothes."Stay still." He harshly grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over head leaving her torso exposed.

"Fuck you." Willow yelled in his face and in an instant he had his hand wrapped around her neck.

"I could kill you." Alex was remarkably calm as he spoke, applying more pressure with every word. "Your little human life is in the palm of my hands. From here on out every breath you take is one that I allow. Do you understand?" He leaned his face down closer to her waiting for her to respond.

With the nod of her head he let her go and proceeded to slip a different shirt over her head. It was clear that the shirt belonged to him with it swallowing her. She gasped for air, her eyes avoiding him.

"He- he's going- to kill- you." Willow had to force the words through grit teeth. Alex simply laughed and proceeded to zip tie Willows wrists together. When he was done he gripped her chin harshly and forced her face up to look him in the eye.

"Maybe so. But can he save you little bird?"Alex smirked with every word, giving her face a squeeze hard enough to make her flinch.