Alissa Swan

Part 67

I tore through the forest, looking for Edward. I found him, but when I ran toward him, his face morphed into Jacob's. He tore through the forest, away from me.

"Why?!" I yelled, running toward him.

He retreated further, disappearing until I was alone.

Blackness encroached, the moonlight becoming a tiny spotlight on me. I searched the dark and saw a pair of blood-red eyes. The eyes were coming toward me. I screamed.

I tossed myself awake, realizing it was only a dream. I heard a screeching noise. There were fingernails on my window! I bolted upright, looking for a weapon.

"Alissa! Ouch - damn it; open the window," a voice whisper-shouted outside at my window.

I cautiously moved over to my window to see shirtless Jacob, clinging to a tree, which was leaning with his weight.

I opened my window. "What the hell are you doing?!" I whisper-shouted.

"Get out of the way," Jacob told me. I moved, and he jumped into my room.

I was stunned.
He freezed, listening for Charlie. Nothing. A bitter, self-satisfied grin spread on his face. It pissed me off. He took in my room. "I pictured your room more... cluttered."

"Why are you here?" I asked him.

"I had to talk to you. Alone."

"To kick me in the gut again? It was bad before, but you made it so much worse."

"I know. And I want to explain. But... I can't."

"Then leave."

He stayed put.

I tried to push him out, but he was immovable.

"You're done with me, remember?" I said. "Get. Out!"

"Bella, I literally can't explain."

I became aware of my hands on his bare skin and muscular chest. The intimacy of our touch. I pulled away.

Jacob continued. "I broke my promise not to hurt you, I know. But I'm trying to keep it now. I need you to understand... even if you don't want to see me when you find out."

"Find what out?"

He started to speak, but couldn't. It was agonizing. He was in pain.

I was concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I can't do it."

"Yes, you can. I'll help you. We can... we can leave. Leave home, leave Sam."

"It's not something I can run away from. I would run with you though. If I could." He realized something. "Wait. Wait, I already - I told you. You know this - you can guess."

"I don't want to play games with you-"

"You have to! I can't tell you, but if you remember - it was that day I ran into you at the beach. I told you a story - come on! I told you a story... about?"

"... about... "The Cold Ones?" You said it was a stupid tribal myth."

"Was it? Are the Cold Ones a myth?" he asked pointedly.

I didn't answer.

"What else did I say?" he asked.

"That... the tribe made a treaty with them. They can't come onto your land and... I don't know, I don't remember."

"Try, Alissa."

"You have to give me more. Tell me where to look. Is there something I should see?"

"No, that's too dangerous."

"I'll take the risk. Jacob, show me."

He looked at me. "Where was the last place you saw me... the way I used to be?"

"The motorcycles - that clearing in the woods."

He nodded slowly, then turned to go.

I stopped him. "Don't go. There are dangerous things out there; more than you know."

He looked at me with a wry smile. He pulled me into a hug. My cheek was against his bare chest. I took in the closeness... then he soundlessly headed out my door. I started pulling on clothes.