Storming Sky

ESCAPE

We pulled up to Bella's house  and carefully. Everyone was on high alert.

"He's not here," I heard Edward say, "Let's go."

"Don't worry, Bella," Emmett said. "We'll take care of things here quickly."

"Alice, Emmett," Edward commanded. I felt cold hands trying to undo my harness. I tensed.

"We need to go, I'm sorry" Alice said, urgently, but with a sad tone. She knew how much this was hurting me. Emmett picked me up and swung me onto his back. He held onto me extra tight, because I couldn't bring myself to do much of anything.

"What's wrong with her?" I heard Dad say, urgently, pulling me out of Emmett's arms. He cradled me and tried to get answers, but I couldn't speak.

"I think she's in shock," He said. Dad ran his hand down the side of my face. I looked up and saw Laurent, and shrank back into Dad's embrace.

"This will all be over soon, my dear, it's okay. I know it is hard now, but it will be okay," he murmured. Alice brought me some water, and Dad made me drink.

"She threw up in the car," Alice pointed out.

"She's not sick, she's scared and overwhelmed. She's shutting down," Jasper said. "Give her to me, Carlisle. You need to be with Laurent," I was passed onto my big brother. Emmett and Alice left again to go get Bella. Jasper continued to hold me and attempted to calm me down while Dad spoke with Laurent.

Minutes later, Edward, Alice, and Bella burst into the room. Everyone was back on their feet.

"He's tracking us," Edward announced.

"I was afraid of that," Laurent said, unhappily.

Alice came and whispered something in Jasper's ear. He called for Rosalie to come over and passed me on to her. Edward waved her off and came and sat next to me on the couch.

"Danielle, I need you to listen and listen well," he said, sternly. "I know what you're thinking. I know you're scared, and I know you're overwhelmed. I am so sorry about that. I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. You are being so brave, so very, very brave. You are my little sister, and I love you." He grabbed my hand.

"You are going to go with Alice, Jasper, and Bella to Phoenix. We've already made arrangements. They will keep you safe."

"I want to stay here," I said, at last. Edward let out a deep breath.

"If he finds you, he will kill you. He's playing the game to get to Bella, but he has no qualms with making it interesting. The only way to keep you safe is to keep you with Bella. If we can keep him from her, we can keep him from you."

Dad came back into the room with Laurent, and showed him out. Then, Dad came back over to where Edward and I were.

"How close?" He asked.

"About three miles out past the river; he's circling around to meet up with the female," Mom answered.

"So what's the plan?"

"We'll lead him off," Edward said, "and then Jasper and Alice will run the girls south."

"And then?"

"As soon as they are clear, we hunt him."

"I guess there's no other choice," Dad agreed.

"Esme, Rosalie, give Bella and Danielle your clothes. It will confuse their smell long enough to get them out." Edward turned to me, "Sorry, love, you're going to need to sit up."

Mom helped Bella while Rosalie helped me. "I don't think I'll fit..." Bella hesitated, but Mom didn't give her much of a choice. She pulled the clothes over her head and promptly dressed herself in Bella's clothes.

We went to the garage where everything had already been settled. Edward and Emmett were ready to leave, and Dad was handing something small to Mom. He handed the same item to Alice – a cell phone.

"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella," Dad said to her as he passed.

"Alice, Jasper – take the Mercedes. You'll need the dark tint in the south. Edward and I are taking the Jeep."

"Alice?" I asked tentatively. She looked at me quickly. "Will they take the bait?" Everything stopped while Alice looked into our futures.

"He'll track Carlisle and Edward. The woman will follow the truck. We should be able to leave after that." Her voice was certain.

"Let's go," Dad said, walking towards the kitchen. He came to me and made me look at him. "I will see you so very soon, Dani. You are my daughter and I love you. Everything will be okay." I believed him. Edward had a moment with Bella, then he looked at me and pointed to his head. Soon, they were gone.

There was silence, and then Mom's cellphone buzzed. She nodded to Rosalie. "Now," she said. She too came and hugged me, telling me everything would be alright. "Be safe," she told Bella.

We waited with Jasper and Alice. Finally, Alice's phone buzzed. "Edward says the woman is on Esme's trail. I'll get the car," she said and disappeared. Jasper stared at Bella.

"You're wrong, you know," he said quietly.

"What?" Bella gasped. She still wasn't used to the lack of privacy.

"I can feel what you're feeling now – and you are worth it."

"I'm not," she mumbled. "If anything happens to them, to you guys, it will be for nothing."

"You're wrong," I said.

Alice came back and stepped towards Bella, holding her arms out. "May I?" She asked.

"You're the first one to ask permission," Bella smiled. She lifted Bella into her arms and they went out the door.

Jasper opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't want to hear it.

"Don't you dare tell me what I think you're going to tell me," I warned him. He just laughed and picked me up, running me to the car.

Bella didn't really look at me once we got in the car. "Is it always like this?" She asked at one point.

"Never," I responded.