Heal Me | Jacob Black

Chapter 4 - New Friend

Selene and Bella sprinted through the dense woods, their breathing ragged and heavy. The trees blurred past them, and the forest floor, littered with roots and rocks, seemed determined to trip them up. Bella stumbled again, and Selene, with surprising strength for someone so petite, yanked her back to her feet.

"Honestly, Bella," Selene muttered, half-exasperated, half-amused. "Do you have two left feet?"

"Sorry," Bella panted, her face flushed with exertion and fear. "I'm not exactly... athletic."

"I see that," she teased. They bolted through the dense forest, the shadows cast by the towering trees stretching and elongating in the fading light. Each breath Selene took was a sharp inhalation of the earthy scent of pine and damp moss, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The forest floor was uneven, and Bella's clumsiness was quickly becoming a liability.

They pushed on, the eerie howls of the wolves echoing behind them.

"Come on, Bella, we have to keep moving!" She urged, her voice small but laden with urgency. Selene glanced back and saw her sprawled on the ground once again, having tripped over an exposed root.

"Sorry!" Bella exclaimed, scrambling to her feet with a wince.

Selene reached out, grabbing Bella's arm and pulling her up again. "We're almost there. Just a little further," she reassured her, even though she wasn't entirely sure where "there" was. Her knowledge of Forks' geography was limited, but Bella seemed to have a sense of direction, even if her feet didn't always cooperate.

Selene's mind raced. She had broken the Statute of Wizarding Secrecy by using magic in front of a Muggle, but Bella clearly knew about vampires. She wasn't surprised by Laurent's presence, nor by the fact that he intended to kill her. It was clear that this town held secrets of its own, secrets that perhaps made her transgression less severe. Did that also mean she was aware of the wider supernatural world? If so, Selene might not be in as much trouble as she feared. She sighed inwardly, hoping MUCASA, the American counterpart to the Aurors, wouldn't come knocking on her door.

Finally, they burst out of the woods onto a paved road. Bella's house was in the distance, a welcome sight after their frantic escape. They slowed to a walk, chests heaving, as they approached the safety of Bella's home.

Bella leaned forward, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. "Thank you," she panted, her voice shaky. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there."

Selene nodded, still trying to steady her breathing. "You're welcome." She was just glad nobody died today.

"Alright, I need you to be honest with me." Selene paused, waiting until Bella's eyes met hers. "How do you know about vampires? And why was he trying to kill you?"

Selene glanced at Bella, noting the girl's hesitance and the wary glances she cast in her direction.

The stillness of the evening settled around them, and Selene felt the adrenaline begin to ebb away.

"My name is Selene, Selene Lovegood. You can trust me, Bella," she persuaded gently.

The girl bit her lip, her eyes darting away. She seemed to be weighing her words carefully. Selene could see the conflict in her expression, the struggle to decide how much to reveal. Finally, Bella's gaze met Selene's.

"I'll tell you," Bella said slowly, her voice trembling slightly. "But you also have to tell me what you did back there. That... whatever it was that made Laurent fall back."

Selene nodded, "I will."

Bella's gaze flickered and took a deep breath, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her shirt. "Laurent... he's part of a group of vampires. They're... they're after me because of something that happened last year. It's a long story, but the short version is, I got involved with vampires, and not all of them are as friendly as the Cullens. Victoria, the one Laurent mentioned, wants revenge."