Unforgivable Lacerations

Chapter Fifty-Three

The basement door slammed open, smashing against the living room floor above with a startling, brutal bang, streaming raw light down the cement stairs and piercing through the dark we were surrounded in. Alice stepped forward, growling menacingly at the wolf stalking down the stairs, preparing itself to kill me and finish the deed that was placed by Jacob long ago. 

*_*_*_*_* 

Earlier that day, at quarter-past six, to be exact, I was awoken by Edward, as he whispered my name in my ear, occasionally kissing me. "Bella, time to wake up," he murmured before kissing my ear, making me squirm due to me being ticklish. He chuckled and pulled back.

"Morning," I said groggily, trying hard to prevent a grumble. I really hated mornings, especially mornings that started at quarter-past six in the morning. Unlike Forks, the morning light was a light golden as it lit the room, modifying my mood positively while doing so. 

"Good morning, love," Edward answered chirpily; only someone who didn't sleep could be so happy in the morning, I was sure. However, as much as Edward's acting skills had progressed over his years, and that I had fallen for them the first time, this time, it was beyond clear that fear was nestled into his voice, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. 

Knowing there was no point in trying to grasp five more minutes, I sat up quickly as if I was the fictitious vampire who slept in a coffin and who also, in addition, looked dead in the morning.

"Coffee," I stated, needing the caffeine to help me through the day; apart from Edward, coffee was one of my first thoughts every morning. After a night full of terror and lack of sleep, caffeine was the only answer to a wake-up call and someone who didn't have an appetite.

"Tired?" Edward asked softly, to which I briefly nodded. 

Today would be the day that anything could happen. A fight was apparently inevitable, thus why I was scared, petrified, of the outcome. There was a possibility that one of them could lose their lives...and it would be my fault. 

The thought of one of them not being here, the void which would be created, the lover who would have to mourn...a massive part of me just wanted to turn myself into them so they wouldn't touch my family.

But that would hurt Edward, torture him, and I didn't have the heart to do that.

"I'm just going to have a shower, wake myself up a bit," I told Edward, dragging my legs off of the bed to the cold wooden floor and ignoring the feeling of wanting to wrap myself in a blanket. I stretched when up, my legs and arms stiff from staying situated in one place for too long. 

"Okay, would you like a mocha or latte?" Edward asked, standing up too and fixing the bedding. 

"Latte, please," I responded as I pulled out a pair of jeans and flung them over my arm with my underwear.

"Coming right up," Edward said, kissing my forehead before leaving the room. After collecting a long sleeve top and socks, I stepped into the shower and attempted to calm my nerves. The eight different shower heads on the setting stress relief, where the water pressure was stronger, didn't help at all. 

No matter what 'shower setting' on this fancy thing I put it on, I would always be taken back to Forks, where I was completely out of control. Unlike then, though, this time it wasn't only me who was in danger, but the family too. 

Was I really worth it? No. 

I held the tears in place and shut the water off, wrapping myself in a towel and drying myself off. Throughout the time I was in the bathroom, I ignored the mirror, as strangely, whenever I was upset and looked in a mirror, I would breakdown. My reflection only reminded me of what I had lost, how far I had sailed into insanity as my eyes held the tides I swam in.