Falling for a Dark Soul

Chapter Thirty-One

Disclaimer: None of this mine, nor do I claim to be Stephenie Meyer. I just like to dabble in the playground that she created with Bella, Edward and her Twilight characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

We're also getting close to the end of this story, too. I'm thinking we've got two, maybe three more chapters. We do have to wrap up the drama between Grinchward and Angelella ... that will be addressed in the next chapter. We're also going to find out what happened with Lauren and the home sale and what will happen with James?

Chapter Thirty-One

Bella

By ten o'clock, the doorbell rang and I shot up. I told him not to ring the doorbell. I threw open the door, ready to ream him out, but I saw Deputy Mark Burke darkening my doorstep. His eyes were impossibly sad.

"No ..." I croaked. "Not again ..."

"Bella, I need you calm, sweetie," he breathed. "My wife is in the cruiser and will stay with Katie."

"What happened?" I asked, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"There was an accident," he explained. "You were listed as Mr. Cullen's emergency contact. He's been taken to Olympic Medical Center. I'll drive you there."

"Let me grab my coat," I said shakily, swiping my rain coat and purse. Mark's wife, Melinda hugged me as she walked passed me. "Do you need my number? When Katie wakes up, she'll be confused."

"Mark gave it to me," she said.

I nodded stiffly. Mark gestured out to idling cruiser. I followed him into the rain and got into the cruiser. He backed out of the driveway, heading toward town to Port Angeles. "What happened, Mark?"

"The rain has been awful and you know how people don't really care or pay attention," Mark grumbled. "Well, this time it was one of the logging trucks."

"Mark," I choked. "Is he dead?"

"No, Bella," Mark breathed. "He's in bad shape, but still alive. Several logs smashed against the driver's side and he was pinned. He managed to call 911, but when emergency personnel arrived, he was unconscious. They got him out, airlifting him to Olympic Medical Center."

I wiped my tears away, my heart breaking as I listened to Mark describe the accident. He also drove on the curving roads to Port Angeles with practiced ease despite the slick conditions. We arrived at the medical center and ran into the emergency room. Mark took charge. "I have Edward Cullen's fiancée. She's here to make medical decisions."

The nurse nodded, opening the sliding doors into the treatment rooms. A nameless, faceless doctor approached us and he explained that Edward was stable, but needed surgery to correct a broken hip and leg. I wasn't hearing the doctor. I was just staring at Edward on the gurney. His pale skin was even more pale, almost grey, covered in scratches, cuts and bruises. He had a tube breathing for him along with several other tubes coming out of his body.

"Can I touch him?" I whispered. "Does he know I'm here?"

"He's heavily sedated and he does have a significant concussion," the doctor said. "You can hold his hand."

I walked over to his right side since the damage to his body was on the left, on the driver's side. I sat down on the stool, taking his hand into mine. It was cold, limp. I let out a sob. "Edward ... come back to me ... please?"

"Miss Swan? Do we have your permission to perform the surgery?" the doctor pressed.

"Yes," I nodded, kissing his torn up knuckles. "I love you, Grinch. I'm sorry. Please ... I can't lose you." I stood up, nodding to the doctor. He sprang into action and within a few moments Edward was being rolled to the surgical suite. I sat back down on the stool, feeling completely lost.