The next day, just after breakfast, Dad drives me to the airport to pick up Harry and Hollie because they are staying for a week.
When me and Hollie see each other, we run to each other and hug before I move over and hug Harry.
"So what have we missed?" Hollie asks and I smirk.
Back at the house, me, Bella and Harry play on the Super Nintendo until 1pm when there's a knock at the door.
I leave it for Dad to answer.
"Hey Edward," I hear Dad say so I go to the door.
"Hello, Charlie I'm wondering if Bella, Harry and Hollie would like to play baseball with my family?"
"Baseball? Bella?" he asks.
"You guys wanna play baseball?" I ask my siblings.
"We've never played," Hollie says.
"Oh, you've missed out," Dad smiles.
"Let me get my jacket," I say
Once I've got my jacket we follow him out and I see Alice in the driver's seat.
Hollie and Harry climb into the car.
"Since when did vampires play baseball?" I ask as he places his cap on my head.
"Well, it's the American past time and there's a thunderstorm coming... and you'll see why," he smiles.
"Don't you think you should tell Harry and Hollie about you before you play vampire baseball?"
"Carlisle says we'll tell them when we get there."
Once we get into the car Alice gets out and vanishes. Edward gets into the driver's seat and drives up to a field where the other Cullens have already set up.
"Right," Carlisle says. "Harry, Hollie, we cannot give you details and you have to swear not to tell a soul because it could be dangerous for all of us but we're not just witches and wizards."
"We know," Harry says. "It wasn't hard to figure out with everything that went on at school last year."
"And don't worry, your secret's safe with us."
"Thank you," Carlisle says.
"So are we going to play or not?" Hollie asks.
"Okay," Edward says. "If you're going to play, there is one rule and that is DO NOT, under any circumstances, try and catch one of our balls."
"Why?" Hollie asks.
"You'll see," Emmett smirks.
There is a clap of thunder and Alice smiles.
"It's time," she announces.
She gets ready to throw and tosses the ball and Rosalie hits and it's very loud like thunder.
"Okay now I see why you need the thunder," I laugh.
"And why we shouldn't go for the ball," Hollie grins.
I watch as the ball goes flying into the woods and Edward speeds off to get it.
"That's going to be a home-run right?" I ask.
Esme shakes her head. "Edward's very fast," she says.
After she says that she catches the ball and Rosalie dives to home.
"You're out."
Next it's Carlisle's turn. The game is pretty fun and fast to watch. When Rose bats again, the ball flies towards me and despite the warning, I don't want her getting a home run.
"Bella, no," Edward shouts but I ignore him and jump for the ball, catching it.
Searing pain rips through my hand and I drop the ball.
Edward gets to me first.
"Why did you do that huh? I told you all not to go for one of our balls."
Carlisle is next to me quickly.
"Bella, let me see your hand."
I'd screwed up my hand and am now holding my arm against my chest. I am reluctant to move it.
"Bella, sweetheart, I need to see."
Slowly I stretch out my arm and open my hand as I wince in pain.
It's then I see my hand is red raw and I now realise why we were told not to go for their balls.
"Let's get you back to the house," Carlisle says.
"Can't you fix it here? I don't want to go home yet."
Carlisle looks at Edward who nods.
"Okay," Carlisle says before he pulls out his wand. "Vulnera Sanentur."
My hand heals and the pain fades.
"Come on," Emmett says. "I was winning."
Carlisle and Edward shake their heads before we keep playing.
Rose gets to take her go again but while she's running, Alice has a weird expression on her face and turns.
"Stop!" she calls and we all look at her.
"Kids, get over here, quickly," Esme says and we all race over to them as the rest of the Cullens join us and we begin to leave the field.
"They were leaving, then they hear us," Alice says.
"What's going on?" Harry asks.
"Get in the van," Edward says.
"It's too late," Carlisle says so Edward stops and we all turn just as three people appear from the trees - a man with blonde hair down to his shoulders, a dark man with dark dreadlocks, and a red-headed woman.
"Hollie, Bella, get your hair down," Edward directs and we do what he says.
"Like that will help I can smell them across the field," Rosalie says.
"I shouldn't have brought you here, I'm sorry," Edward says.
"What?"
"Just be quiet and stand behind me."
The three people, or vampires, approach us.
"I believe this belongs to you," the dark man says as he holds up the ball.
He throws it to Carlisle.
"Thank you."
"I am Laurent," he says. "And this is Victoria, and James."
"I'm Carlisle, and this is my family."
"Hello!"
"I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us."
"Our apologies. We did not realise the territory had been claimed."
"Well, yes, we maintain a permanent residence nearby."
"Really? Well, we won't be a problem anymore. We're just passing through."
"The humans were tracking us but we led them east," the woman says. "You should be safe."
"Excellent!" Carlisle says.
"So, could you use three more players?"
There's silence.
"Oh come on, just one game?"
"Sure, why not? A few of us are leaving. You can take their place. We'll bat first."
He tosses the ball back to Laurent and Victoria catches it.
"I'm the one with the wicked curve ball."
"Oh, I think we can handle that," Jasper smirks.
"We shall see," Victoria says.
Edward and James look at each other - James with interest and Edward with a glare. We turn then a breeze blows passed me.
I hear James inhale deeply. "Ahhh, you brought snacks," James says as he comes at me and my siblings but Edward pushes us back and all the Cullens take a protective stance in front of us.
"Witches?" Laurent asks.
"The children are with us," Carlisle says. "I think it best if you leave."
"I can see the game is over," Laurent says. "We'll go now."
He backs away but James and Edward continue to hiss at each other.
"James..."
James stands and the three of them turn and walk away.
"Get them out of here," Carlisle orders so Edward takes my hand and we jog to the car.
We get into the car. "What's going on, Edward?" I ask before he starts the engine and drives off the field.
"James is a tracker. The hunt is his obsession. I read his mind. My reaction on the field set him off. I just made this his most exciting game ever. He's never gonna stop."
"What do we do?" I ask.
"We have to kill him. Rip him apart and burn the pieces."
"Where are we going?" Hollie asks.
"Away from Forks, we're going to ferry to Vancouver."
"I have to go home now," I tell him. "You have to take me home."
"You can't go home. He'll just trace your scent there... it's the first place he's gonna look."
"But my Dad is there."
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does, he could get killed because of us. I've already lost one set of parents."
"Just let me get you out of here first, alright."
"He's the only father I've known, we have to go back. We'll figure a way to lead the tracker away somehow. I don't know but we have to do something."
Edward drives me to my house.
"Okay, you ready?" he asks.
I nod before I slam the door open.
"Edward, I said leave me alone!" I yell.
"Bella please don't do this," he pleads.
"It's over get out!" I scream, slamming the door shut, and run up to my room.
"Bella?" Charlie calls. "Where are Hollie and Harry."
He follows me up the stairs.
"They're at the Cullens. Carlisle is giving them something to eat then he'll bring them back. I gotta get out of here, I'm leaving now," I say before I go into my room and slam the door shut.
Edward is there and he is packing my clothes into a bag as I begin to help.
"Go," he urges.
I nod.
"Where are you gonna to go?" Dad asks.
"To Phoenix'," I say.
"How are you going to get there?"
"With the enchanted truck you got me for my birthday," I say.
"No you're not. I know I'm not much fun to hang around but that can change."
"Like what? Watch baseball on the flat screen? Eat at the diner every night steak and cobbler? Dad that's you that not me," I say.
"Bella please you're the only daughter I've ever had and if you leave I'll have no one," he says.
"You're not my father," I say and slam the door in his face.
I put my bags in the back of my truck and get into it. I start it up and drive it away from the house I grew up in.
Halfway to the Cullens, Edward scares me by appearing at the driver's window.
"Better let me drive."
I scooch over as he gets behind the wheel.
"Charlie will forgive you."
"He won't. I told him he wasn't my father. I've never ever said that to him before. You should have seen his face. First Mom leaves and now I do this to him."
"It's the only way he'd let you go. Just don't worry about him now. He's safe. The tracker's following us."
I jump at a loud bang on the top of the car, Hollie screams and Edward sighs.
"It's just Emmett."
Emmett slides in through the open back window next to Harry but stays silent.
"Alice is in the car behind us," Edward says.
When we stop outside the Cullens, Edward leads us into the garage.
"I've had to fight our kind before," Jasper says. "They're not easy to kill."
"But not impossible," Emmett says as he and Jasper go to the cupboard. "We'll tear them apart and burn the pieces."
"I don't relish the thought of killing another creature," Carlisle says. "Even a sadistic one like James."
"What if he kills one of us first?" Rose asks.
"I'm gonna run Bella, Harry and Hollie south," Edward says. "Can you lead the tracker away from here?"
"No, Edward. James knows you would never leave Bella," Carlisle says. "He'll follow you."
"I'll take them," Alice says. Jasper and I will drive them south. I'll keep them safe, Edward."
"Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?" he asks.
She nods. We follow her to the Mercedes and get into the back seat. Edward comes over to me and touches my face.
"If anything happens," I gasp.
"Nothing is going to happen. When this is all over I'm going to come and get you. Bella you are my life now. I love you."
"I love you too, Edward."
Alice starts the car and we leave the garage.
When we reach Phoenix, Alice and Jasper book us into a hotel.
Up in the room, me and Hollie start doing each other's hair and Harry is standing by the window when Alice gasps so we all look at her.
"What is it?" Jasper asks. "What do you see?"
"The tracker, he just changed course."
"Where will it take him, Alice?" Jasper asks.
"Mirrors! A room full of mirrors."
Jasper grabs a nearby sketch pad and places it in front of Alice, who begins to draw.
"Edward says the visions aren't always certain," I say.
"She sees the course people are on while they're on it," Jasper explains. "If they change their minds, the vision changes."
"Okay, so the course that the tracker's on now is gonna lead him to a ballet studio?" I ask.
They look at me.
"You've been here?" Alice asks.
"I lived here for two years as a kid and took ballet lessons. The school I went to had an arch just like that."
"Then we need to leave, now," Alice says. "Stay here while we check out."
They leave the room and a few minutes later, my phone rings and it says 'Mom' so I answer it.
"Mom?"
"Hello, Bella," a male voice says and I realise its James.
"What are you doing with my mother's phone?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"Bella? Bella?" I hear my mother's voice and fear washes over me.
"Don't touch her! Don't..."
"You can still save her."
"Don't..."
"But you and your siblings are gonna have to get away from those friends of yours. Can you handle that?"
"Where should we meet you?"
"How about your old ballet studio?"
He hangs up and I put my phone down on the table.
"What's going on?" Hollie asks.
"That was the tracker, he has my Mom."
"So what do we do?" Harry asks.
"When Alice and Jasper get back, we'll go after him. I'm just going to the toilet."
I go into the bathroom and sneak out the window and down the fire escape before I catch a cab and tell the driver to take me to the ballet studio.
The studio is seemingly empty when I walk in.
"Bella?" I hear my mother's voice.
"Mom?" I call.
I run across the shiny floor and find a video playing of when my mother lost me in this studio when I'm six.
I hear chuckling and turn to see James standing right behind me, laughing.
"That's my favourite part. You're a stubborn child, aren't you?"
"She's not even here."
He pins me against the wall.
"I thought I told you to bring your siblings."
"And I decided not to."
"No matter, I'll just deal with you first - you made it too easy. So to make things more entertaining, I'm gonna make a little film of our time together. I borrowed this from your house. I hope you don't mind."
He holds up my video camera and turns it on.
"Let's make a video that'll break Edward's heart... oh right, he doesn't have one."
He laughs.
"Edward has nothing to do with this!" I shout.
"His rage will make me laugh and his lack of protection on you is pathetic."
I pull out my wand but he grabs it.
"Nice try."
I spray him with the pepper spray and make a run for it. He grabs me and throws me across the floor where I hit my head on the wall.
"Beautiful. Very visually dynamic."
I check the back of my head and then look at my hand – there's blood.
James comes over to me and snaps my leg so I scream in pain.
"Tell Edward how much it hurts; tell him he has to avenge you."
"No, Edward don't...!" I cry.
He growls at me before he's knocked away from me and I see Edward staring at me with pure guilt on his face.
James attacks him and Edward is pinned against the wall.
"You're alone 'cause you're faster than the others."
He smashes Edward's head against the mirror, breaking the glass.
"But not stronger."
"I'm strong enough to kill you."
He manages to push James across the studio, into another mirror and hurries to my side before picking me up.
"I'm sorry," he says to me but as we head to the door, James attacks again, making me slide across the floor and land on the broken glass.
I pull a large piece of glass out of my leg and toss it to one side.
I watch in horror as James and Edward fight.
Suddenly James is beside me and he looks at Edward before he takes my hand and bites my wrist.
Edward attacks again but the damage has already been done. The pain becomes unbearable as the others race to me and we watch as Edward and James continue fighting. The pain is like a fire - a raging fire burning me from the inside. All I want is for someone to kill me and take the pain away.
Alice is beside me first but when she realises there's blood, she starts gasping.
"Carlisle? Her blood," she says.
There's alot of commotion before Carlisle and Edward drop down beside me and the others move back.
"Her femoral artery's been severed. She's losing too much blood," Carlisle says.
"No, no, my head is burning," I scream.
"It's the venom," Edward says.
"You have to make a choice, Edward. You could let the change happen."
"No," Edward protests. "No way!"
"It's gonna happen, Edward. I've seen it," Alice says.
"It doesn't have to be that way," he replies.
"She's still haemorrhaging. Alice, make me a tourniquet. Your belt," Carlisle says.
"Carlisle," Edward says. "What's my other option?"
"Tie it above my hand," Carlisle says to Alice and she wraps her belt round my leg.
"Carlisle," Edward says with more urgency.
He sends Alice out and turns to Edward.
"We could try to suck the venom out."
"You know I won't be able to stop."
"Then find the will to stop. But choose... she only has minutes left."
"I'm gonna make it go away, Bella," Edward says before he takes my wrist to his mouth and begins sucking.
Slowly the pain starts going away but then I start feeling drowsy.
"Edward, stop," Carlisle orders. "Her blood is clean, you're killing her."
Edward sucks even more and I soon lose consciousness.
Death is peaceful... Easy. Life is harder.