XXXV. Ballet studio.

A day had passed and it was now Sunday. I slept most of the day. When I finally got up, the sun was still out and shining over the city. I went to take another bath. A long one again, because the bathroom was the only place Alice would leave me be. Again I lay there until scorching hot water turned ice cold. Afterward, I wrapped myself in my towel and sat there for a while.

I changed into another pair of Alice's clothes. Black sweatpants with a pink long-sleeved shirt for me to sleep in. I was exhausted and planning on returning to bed. It was doubtful that I would get any sleep, no matter how tired I felt. Jasper's mood effect didn't last long and all my emotions creeped back out of my chest.

The second I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Alice sitting on the couch, suddenly going rigid as she stared ahead of her. Jasper rushed to her, sitting down next to her and placing his hands on her arms. "What do you see?" He asked.

"The tracker," Alice whispered, her eyes still staring ahead, looking dazed. "He just changed course..." She added as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Where will it take him, Alice?" Jasper asked as he grabbed a notepad and pen from the small wooden coffee table. He put the pen in her hand and guided it towards the notepad.

Alice's hand began furiously scribbling around the yellowish paper as she continued to stare ahead. "Mirrors. It's a room of mirrors." She uttered softly as she still drew what she saw.

I approached the coffee table, kneeling down on the opposite side. "How do the visions work?" I asked as my eyes drifted towards Jasper, my eyebrows furrowing. "Edward said they weren't always certain."

He nodded in confirmation of what Edward had told me. "She sees the course people are on, while they're on it." He explained as Alice continued to draw in a complete daze. "If they change their minds, the visions change." He added and I nodded in understanding.

I glanced down at the notepad, my eyebrows furrowing as I made sense of what Alice drew. The room of mirrors looked familiar. When she drew an arch on one side and metal cupboards on the other side, realization dawned on me. It looked exactly like my old ballet studio.

"So the course James is on now will lead him to... a ballet studio?" I asked softly as I quirked an eyebrow, looking back up at Jasper. His head snapped towards me and Alice's hand came to an abrupt stop as her eyes focused and she also looked at me.

"You've been here?" Jasper asked as his eyebrows furrowed, taking the notepad from Alice and handing it to me.

I took the notepad, looking at the picture to make sure it was my ballet studio. A look of horror crossed my face. "Yeah," I replied softly as I nodded my head. "This is my old Ballet studio," I informed them. "The arch and everything, it's the exact same." I insisted as I placed the notebook on the coffee table. This meant the path James was on right now, would lead him straight here.

"Was your studio here in Phoenix?" Jasper asked softly as he stared at me.

"Yeah," I whispered with a nod of my head, and a look of horror, similar to mine, crossed Alice's face. I lowered my eyes as my eyebrows furrowed. "But it's been shut down for a long time now," I told them. I couldn't understand why James would go there of all places.

"He knows we're in Phoenix," Jasper muttered as he shot up to his feet and both me and Alice followed, standing up as well. "He knows you're here." He said as he turned to look at me.

"Why would he go to my old ballet studio and not my old house or apartment then?" I asked in confusion, placing a hand over my stomach as a painful knot of nerves and anxiety formed there.

Jasper pursed his lips and I could feel a calmness spread over my chest. I couldn't even bring myself to feel worried about why he needed me to be calm for what he had to say. "Because you're ballet studio is probably more abandoned than your old house." He informed me.

Right. It's abandoned. It's private and no one would see any possible fight or murder happen there. But why would he go there? Why would he think we would go there? It didn't make sense that he'd go there, even if it was abandoned. Did he think I was going to take a stroll down memory lane and visit all my old after-school activity spots?

"I'm calling Edward," Alice said as she grabbed her phone and stepped into the bedroom. I began pacing again, listening to her hushed conversation on the phone. A second later she came out of the room, gathering all the bags we brought with us. "Ana, me and Jasper are gonna book out, then we're going to the airport." She informed me.

Mere seconds after Alice and Jasper left, my phone rang in the bedroom and I went to grab it, sighing in relief when I saw Edward's name. I sat down on the edge of the bed as I answered. "Edward," I whispered. " Are you alright?" I asked softly and he only let out a hum in response.

"I'm coming to get you." He informed me and I lowered my head, running a hand over my face. "We lost the tracker. The woman is still in the area. Rosalie and Esme are protecting your mother." He continued and I nodded my head absentmindedly, just thankful my mom was safe.

"When will you get here?" I asked him softly as I ran a hand through my hair.

"Less than an hour," he informed me and again I nodded my head, even though he couldn't see me. "Then you and I will go somewhere. Together. The others will keep hunting." he informed me.

I briefly closed my eyes. My mom was truly going to lose her shit if I wasn't home by Wednesday. I opened my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. I slowly shook my head before looking ahead of me. "Well if this guy doesn't kill me, my mother sure as hell will," I muttered softly. If I couldn't go back by Wednesday, I wasn't going home at all to face the wrath of that woman.

"No one will hurt you," Edward assured me softly. He'd stand between me and anyone who would try to hurt me. He didn't care who it was, I'd always come first. "Ana, I swear to you, I'll do whatever it takes to make you safe again," he promised me softly, and again I believed his sincere words.

Seconds after ending my phone call with Edward, my phone rang again. Mom, flashed across the screen and my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I took a deep breath before answering. "Mom, I'm fine-" I immediately began, wanting to spring into an excuse of why I haven't texted or called yet.

"Ana?Ana?" My mom's soft voice called out, she didn't sound panicked or distressed. "Where are you?" She called out and her voice sounded almost distant from the other side of the line.

"Mom, I'm with Rosalie and Alice." I lied to her as my eyebrows furrowed. "We just got to the cabin." I continued on as I got up from the bed, running a hand through my hair. There was silence on the other side of the line and my eyebrows furrowed even more. "Mom? Are you there?"

"If you're a smart girl, you'll meet me at the ballet studio." A chilling cold voice spoke through the other side of the line and my blood ran cold as my face fell. "I know you're in Phoenix, and I know you know which studio I'm talking about," James muttered in a bitterly harsh voice.

Tears pooled in my eyes as I let out a shaky breath. "How did you get to her?" I asked softly, my voice quivering as I slowly lowered myself to sit on the edge of the bed.

"The women watching her got turned around when they spotted Victoria lurking around." He informed me, his voice filled with amusement and I could nearly imagine the sadistic grin that was spread onto his lips.

"Leave my mother out of this," I demanded as my breathing sped up a little, my heart pounding harshly inside my chest and I placed my hand over it.

"You're protective of her. That's nice." James mused and my jaw clenched. "You can still save her. But you'll need to get away from your friends." He told me and I sighed. This was how he'd get me to the abandoned ballet studio. And I'd go because I wasn't going to let my mother get hurt. "Can you do that?" he asked harshly.

"I'll be at the studio," I muttered softly in agreement and he ended the call. I lowered my phone onto my lap, a tear rolling down my cheek as I stared ahead of me. If I went to that studio, I was going to die. I was terrified, but I was okay with the thought of dying to save my innocent mother. I closed my eyes, sniffing. I could picture those golden eyes I loved so much. I was going to hurt him. But I had no choice. "Edward...I'm so sorry." I whispered as I wiped my tears away.

I got up from the bed. I knew I couldn't sneak out of the hotel, Alice would catch me. I made no decision on when or how I'd get to the studio. I didn't want Alice to see my path just yet. For now, I'd go with her and Jasper to the airport.

I walked into the small sitting room, my eyes falling on the notepad that still had the ballet studio on it. I kneeled down by the coffee table, ripping the page off and crumbling it up. I grabbed the pen next to the notepad and began writing.

Edward, I can't begin to explain how sorry I am. Please don't be angry with Alice and Jasper. They did their best to protect me. But I had to go. I had to help my mother. If she survives this, please take care of her.

I know you wanted me here in Phoenix to protect me, but please understand why I have made the choice I've made. You'd do anything for Esme, wouldn't you?

Don't blame yourself for this, because I know you will. It's not your fault. I knew what I was doing all this time, I knew what I was getting myself into. I don't regret my decision of being with you. I don't regret you.

Please forgive me.

I love you, Ana.

I watched as a tear dropped onto the paper when I was done. I put the pen down and carefully ripped the paper off the pad. I folded it neatly and set it aside before picking up the pen and beginning to write again.

Mom, I am so sorry for what I have put you through, for what I am going to put you through. Please forgive me for what I have done, but know I did it for you. You would give your life for mine in a split second, and I would do the same for you without hesitation.

There are things you have seen and heard, things unexplainable. I've kept these things from you for a long time, because of love and loyalty. Edward and the rest of the Cullen's will take care of you.

Please, don't talk about what you may have witnessed. It will only put you in more danger. Do it for me, out of love and loyalty. Don't ask questions either. I know it may be hard, but the less you know, the better.

Thank you for the extraordinary life you have given me. For all your love and time. You were right in the end, Forks was good for us. I don't regret where my decisions have brought me. I was happy and loved. I was content.

I love you so much, your Ana.

As I put the pen down, more tears fell and stained the paper. I sniffed, carefully ripping the paper off and folding it together with Edwrad's so that it would look like one. I wiped my tears away. I couldn't let Alice or Jasper see something was up.

I changed out of my supposed sleepwear, pulling on one of Alice's white t-shirts, blue jeans, and a warm brown coat. When the two returned, we grabbed our stuff and got in the car, driving to the airport. Luckily for us, it was cloudy outside and Alice and Jasper could move around easily.

We waited in the lobby of the airport, waiting for Edward to arrive. I knew I had to move fast before he arrived. otherwise, I had no escape. I didn't think about the studio, or going there. I made no decision as I sat there next to Alice.

I pulled the letters from my pocket, fiddling with them before I turned to face Alice. "Hey Alice, can I ask you a favor?" I asked her softly as I picked at the paper in my hand.

She turned to face me, offering me a small smile as she nodded her head. "Yeah of course." She replied softly.

"Can you give this letter to my mom, if I don't get back home before Wednesday?" I asked her as I handed her the folded letters. I didn't mention there were two, and I didn't mention it was for Edward. They'd notice soon enough.

"Of course I will, Ana." She assured me with a nod of her head as she took the papers from me and carefully placed them in her handbag.

I sat there for a while, sending a quick glance at the clock. We've been here for twenty minutes now. I turned to Alice, offering her a smile. "You know, I'm starting to get hungry now," I told her as I got up to my feet.

"I'll go with you," Alice said as she put her bag aside and went to stand up, but I stopped her by waving a hand.

"Actually, can Jasper go with me?" I asked softly and both of them turned to me with furrowed eyebrows. Alice would notice when I grew more worried and scared, and she'd see me make my decision. But if Jasper made me calm, my emotions wouldn't spike and Alice wouldn't be close enough to stop me once she saw me make the decision of my path. "I'm just feeling a little anxious," I explained with a shrug of my shoulders.

"Of course." Jasper agreed with a nod of his head. He clasped his hands together behind his back and walked side by side with me. He kept close as we made our way through crowds of people, heading for the food court. I didn't make any decisions yet, but my plan was forming in my head.

"Do you mind if I go use the bathroom?" I asked Jasper as we came to a stop near the busy food court, nodding my head at the bathroom sign that pointed down a long hallway.

Jasper nodded his head at me. "I'll wait right here for you." He said as he stepped into the long line of people waiting to get something to eat.

I flashed him a small smile, nodding my head. "I'll be quick," I said before disappearing into the crowds of people. The second I passed the hallway of the bathroom I sped up. I knew it would be a minute before Alice caught up to Jasper and a minute before they caught up to me. They wouldn't be able to use their speed in here, so I had the advantage.

My footsteps only sped up more and more. I didn't think about the studio. My only decision now was to get out of the airport and find a cab. I couldn't risk them catching up or following me before I made sure my mom was out of that place.

When I got into the cab, I raked my brain for a street close enough to the studio and gave it to the driver. This decision would throw Alice off for at least a little while longer.

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I honestly feel so bad for putting Ana through this, but it's just something that has to happen.