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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

    𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 important piece of detail that neither the Cullen's, Bella or even Liz herself had taken into consideration once they set on to their long journey. One thing that has been a problem for the young blonde for several months due to a terrible trauma were several civilians were killed, including her parents.

    Liz's utter fear of highways.

    But how was anyone supposed to remember such a thing when they were being hunted by two psychotic vampires? Not even Liz herself remembered this very important detail, not as Alice drove fast as she possibly could out of Forks and then out of Washington, damning the speed limits like they were only suggestions. Liz's mind was too distracted with everything that had gone wrong.

    One minute, she was in pure bliss. Watching the man she is pretty sure she was already in love with despite having only been together for a short time, play baseball with his family and watching in awe the speed they used during the game, envious she wasn't able to join in, not really caring that she was only human. It was the principle.

    She was finally happy. For the first time since waking up in that hospital, not being able to see for a short time and her knee being completely ruined, she was finally starting to enjoy life again. She was on good terms with her sister, despite the hidden resentment Liz still holds towards Ester for the way she treated their parents for so long that she refuses to acknowledge. She was doing better in school, with the wonderful help of someone she never thought she would view as a best friend, but Emmett ended up becoming that someone to her.

    She finally started to get used to a life without track. Realizing she will never get a scholarship or become an Olympic gold medalist like her father always used to claim she would be one day with so much conviction behind his words, she actually believed him. But she learned to become okay with it, because she still had her old friends, even though things are not the same like they used to be and even though the one person she thought would always stick by her side, who always had since they were kids, is the one who let her down the most.

    Most importantly, she learned that the impossible was possible and surprisingly, she did not fear it. Liz realized the world was not what she thought it was and she was grateful for it, because if this was a normal world where vampires were just myths that only existed in movies and scary stories, then she never would have met Jasper. She never would have fallen in love with him.

    For the first time since the accident, Liz could finally say she was content with what the future has in store for her, just as long as Jasper Hale was in it. Even now, as they were forced to separate and that future was at risk because two nomad vampires want her and one of her closest friends dead for sport. Liz, the pessimist, was now becoming the optimist. Because she knows everything is going to work out in the end. Jasper and Edward both are going to end James and Victoria and then both girls will be able to go home and resume their lives.

    I really hope so.

    Liz had been so distracted and lost in her own mind, it was like her phobia was nonexistent. Like she never had a fear of going out into the busy roads with multiple vehicles driving around them. It was why she was able to softly lose herself to the darkness taking over her after several hours. The car had been uncomfortably silent the entire way, Bella was out cold despite all her efforts to stay awake.

    Liz was not at all prepare for the terror that awaited for her once she finally shut her eyes. It hit her like a brick, she was barely pulled into a deep slumber when she saw the image of her father's body hanging out of the front windshield and her mother's bloody hand struggling to reach back to unbuckle Liz's seatbelt when their car was struck again by another oncoming vehicle before it was hit by the log.

    The once quiet atmosphere the four occupants found themselves in was ripped away when a piercing shriek came from the young blonde in the back. It was like she was trying to speak and scream at the same time. Bella was jolted out of her deep slumber in a panic, just as Emmett twirled in his seat towards the blonde as a surprised Alice managed to remain driving while looking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror.

    "No! No!" Liz repeatedly cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks and her breathing labored.

    "Liz, what's wrong? Hey, hey. What's going on?" Emmett attempted to get the girl's attention but her red eyes were wild and it felt like the space in the vehicle was just getting smaller and smaller by the second. Her seatbelt was off in an instant and she was hyperventilating now.

    "S-Stop the car," Liz demands in scattered breaths. "Stop the damn car!"

    "We can't stop." Alice tells her but Liz was moving around frantically, even attempting to open the door but found it was locked. She slammed her fist against the door, and then again, and again. Bella tried grabbing her hands to get her to stop, but Liz fought off her grip.

    "Liz!" Emmett shouted, reaching back and grabbing a hold of both of her wrists. Bella was on the edge of the seat, looking worrisome at her friend's sudden outburst.

    "No, I need to get out. I need to get out." Liz repeated, her voice cracking. She was trying to pry herself from Emmett's grasp, but it was useless. He was holding her hands down by her side, not daring to let go when he felt her trembling.

    Bella cursed herself for taking so long to realize what was happening, remembering what Liz had told her when she took her to the doctor's appointment last month. "Guys, she's amaxophobic."

    "What?" Emmett asked, looking over at Bella as Liz was still sobbing, thrashing around the vehicle.

   "It means she's terrified of being in the car. More specially on a highway. Ever since the accident, she can barely handle mainstream roads without panicking. She told me she normally needs to take medication before she can go on a highway again." Bella explains as quickly as she can while meeting Liz's stare.

    Liz wasn't really paying attention. She just kept seeing her father's dead body hanging out of the glass and her mother bloody and most likely bleeding internally yet still trying to help her. The air was thick and everything was spinning. She needed to get out of the car and she needed to get out now.

    "But we've been driving for hours. We're almost there. Why is she freaking out now?" Alice is the one to ask, refocusing on the road. Because of her speed and the fact that neither she nor Emmett needed sleep, they had reached Arizona faster than any normal person would. What normally would have taken a 22 hour drive had taken fourteen hours.

    No one knew the answer to this, but Liz wasn't at all paying attention. She just looked right at Emmett and cried harder. "Emmett, please. Please let me out. I can't- I can't bear it. I-I keep seeing them... their bodies. So much blood. I should have died with them."

    Emmett shared a helpless look with Bella who held a hand over her mouth, neither one knowing what to do as another sob escaped the PTSD victim. Emmett turned back to Alice who was watching through the mirror. "Pull over."

    "We can't stop-" Alice tried to argue but Emmett cut her off.

    "Yes, we can. The tracker and Victoria are following Edward and Jasper. Just pull over to the side long enough for Liz to catch a damn breath and for Bella and I to trade seats."

     Without another word, Alice pulled to the shoulder of the road and Liz practically leaping out of the vehicle once Alice unlocked her door. She thought she was going to puke, but she managed to hold it back and take in long, deep breaths. With his hood up to cover himself from the sunlight, Emmett gets out of the car so Bella could take the front seat and goes to stand by her side. A minute turned into two, then it turned into three and soon Liz finally found herself breathing normally and her heart rate slowed.

    "I'm sorry," she choked out but it was muffled, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand with her other arm wrapped around herself tightly. Swallowing in order to clear her throat, she tried again. "I'm sorry."

    "Honestly, I'm the one who should say that. I should have known something you went through would have lingering side effects. I was the one who pulled you from the wreck to begin with." Emmett shook off her apology, not caring about her panic attack. "What happened? You were fine up until now."

    Liz continued to stare out into the trees, hearing all the passing cars behind her. "I wasn't thinking about it. The accident or my parents. I was worried about Jasper and Edward and Carlisle and the rest of you. I was worried you guys could get hurt because of us. I was worried that James and Victoria would find us and I would never see Ester or Danny or Nana again. I had so much going on in my head to distract me, I didn't even think twice about the accident. But then I fell asleep, which was a mistake because off and on for months I will have nightmares about that accident, which is exactly what happened. And when I woke up and I saw where we were-"

    "You panicked," Emmett finished, nodding in understanding. "I get it. Which is why you have nothing to be sorry for. But we do need to get back in the car. We are almost at the hotel Alice said she made reservations for. Just a few more miles."

    Liz ran a shaky hand through her bushy curls, trying to stay as calm as she could. "I don't know if I can."

    "You can. I'll be right beside you the rest of the trip. Don't let the fear win. You can overcome this. I believe in you." Emmett told her passionately, reaching out his hand for her to take. "You just gotta believe in yourself."

    Liz looked to the car then to Emmett, whose usual cheeky grin was nothing but warm and comforting. Don't let the fear win. She has made it fourteen hours on this drive, what's another half an hour? She had to get back in the car. For Emmett. For Jasper. For Bella. Most importantly, for herself.

    So taking Emmett's hand, he guided her back into the car, sliding in beside her and without hesitation, Liz's arms were wrapped around his waist and Emmett's strong arms were around her protectively just as Alice got the nod of okay from her brother and pulled back onto the road.

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    𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 to find a five-star hotel in the middle of a crisis. The four have been hiding in there for two days, all waiting for a call from Edward or Jasper about what is going on. A part of Liz was tempted to text Ester and tell her that she was safe, but she resisted the urge. She didn't want to deal with the string of messages that would follow it.

    Emmett has been an overprotective mama bear ever since the incident in the car, not leaving Liz's side until they were safely in the room. Liz had managed to make it the rest of the way without another panic attack, but she did not stop clinging to Emmett the rest of the way. She was grateful for him, knowing she wouldn't have been able to get back in the car if it wasn't for him making her believe she could.

    Both of the Cullen's were sitting on the couch, Alice next to her brother with Liz across from them, silently playing a game of GoldFish. Well, silent until either Emmett or Liz loses, which is met by groans and accusations of cheating.

    The cards were courtesy of the hotel and Liz needed to think of anything but what they were facing. She kept hoping Jasper would call, but he didn't and everything was radio silence. Alice claims she would have seen something if anything happened, but so far nothing. Which brought the four to sit around the hotel room, Bella sulking on the other end of the couch, declining playing the game.

    They were on their fifth round, Emmett and Liz destroying Alice in each game. Liz took the lead with three wins and Emmett with one. Liz drew another card when Alice suddenly let out a sharp gasp, gaining everyone's attention, including Bella's. Liz looked up to see her golden eyes wide, staring off into nothing.

    "What is it? What do you see?" Emmett asked, clearly having seen this plenty of times. It was then Liz realized she was having a vision, the first one she ever witnessed the small vampire having.

    Fear morphed her features, and she was as stiff as she has ever been. "The tracker. He just changed course."

    Bella got up, pulling out her headphones and moving towards the three while Emmett searched Alice's bag quickly and pulled out a sketchpad and pencil. "Where? Where will it take him, Alice?"

    "Mirrors. A room full of mirrors," Alice mumbled as Emmett shoved the pencil into her hands. Alice immediately began drawing quickly, Liz watching in anticipation while Bella came and stood beside her.

    "Edward said the visions weren't always certain," Bella pointed out.

    "She sees the course people are on while they are on it." Emmett informs the two of them. "If they change their minds, the vision changes."

    "That's so cool," Liz muttered in amazement, watching as Alice continued to draw a room with a bunch of mirrors and a bar handle.

    Bella was watching the drawing closely too. "Okay, so the course the tracker's on now is gonna lead him to a ballet studio?"

    The two vampires looked up at Bella. "You've been there?"

    "I took lessons as a kid," Bella informs them. "The school I went to had an arch just like that."

    Liz looked at her friend like she was a different person. "Never would have peg you for a ballerina, Bella."

    The brunette scoffed. "Far from it. I quit after three weeks because I was the clumsiest one in the class."

    "That I believe," Liz jokes, causing Bella to slap her shoulder playfully.

    "Was your school here in Phoenix?" Alice questioned further.

    "Yeah."

    Suddenly, Bella's phone rings and she immediately answers it, already knowing it was Edward. Liz shares a look with the two vampires before pulling out her phone. Panic immediately fills her chest when no call comes through. Her eyes darted to the smallest Cullen. "Alice."

    "He's fine," Alice assures, though the expression on his face was not at all convincing.

    Before Liz got the chance to put these two vampires through another one of her famous panic attacks, her phone vibrated in her hand and she immediately answered once she saw his name flashing on the small screen. "Jasper?"

   "Liz, are you alright?" Was the first thing he asked. Always worrying though he knows she wouldn't have answered if she wasn't.

    "Yeah, as well as can be expected." She chose not to bother telling him about the incident in the car and pinched the bridge of her nose as a small headache started forming. "What about you?"

   "Carlisle just called me. We lost the tracker but Victoria is still in the area." Jasper sounded extremely angry from this information. Liz went into the bathroom and locked the door. "We think she is planning on waiting for James to finish his game and then bring you to her. Esme and Rose are staying behind to protect Ester, Daniel and Bella's father. Edward and I are on our way to you guys. We are going to get you as far away as we can get. The four of us will stick together, while the rest continue to hunt this bastard down. Edward should be telling Bella the plan now."

    "Yeah, she's on the phone with him now," she whispers softly, processing all of this at once but felt a small relief knowing Jasper was on his way to her. Her optimism was starting to fade with this turn of events. "Apparently Alice sees the tracker ending up in Bella's old ballet studio at some point."

    "Bella's old ballet studio?"

    "I know, I was shocked she took ballet too."

    "Liz," Jasper said in a serious tone.

    The blonde ran her hand down her face nervously. "Sorry, I make jokes in serious situations."

   "Well you can make all the jokes you want when we put a million miles between you and these bastards." Jasper told her, his voice turning from frustrated to comforting like a switch. "I won't be able to laugh again until I know you are safe. You are my everything now. I won't let him take you from me."

     Liz's heart leaped and the love she felt for this man continued to expand in her chest more and more. "Jasper Hale, when all this is over and we are alone again, I expect a proper kiss."

    By some miracle and despite his previous claim, Liz heard him let out an actual chuckle on the other end of the line, his southern accent coming out thick as he said, "Yes, ma'am. You can definitely count on it. I'll see you soon."

    Liz was smiling by the time they hung up. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing. Emmett joined Alice in the lobby to check out while Bella and Liz were packing up their clothes, Liz having left her toothbrush in the bathroom and went to retrieve it when Bella got the call.

   Liz was only gone for a few seconds and when she came back, she saw Bella looking at her with fearful eyes and her skin paler than usual, her cell phone pressed to her ear. The blonde frowned. "What's wrong?"

    "Don't touch her!" Bella demanded. The bag in Liz's hand was forgotten and she rushed to Bella's side. Bella held out the phone so Liz could listen, the blood in her veins running cold when she recognized his teasing voice.

    "You can still save her," James mused.

    "Don't!" Bella said again in panic.

    "But you are gonna have to get away from your friends first. And you must bring me the pretty little blonde." Bella shared a look with Liz as he continued to speak. "Can you handle that?"

    "Just me," Bella said, shaking her head. "Leave Liz out of this."

    "Don't you get it already? That is not how this game works," he told her, his tone taunting and bone chilling. "I know she is there, listening. Isn't that right, Liz?"

    "Fuck you, asshole!" Liz snarled into the phone. It only earned a sadistic laugh.

    "Such hostility," he tsk-ed. "Now I know you are not going to let Bella's poor mother die? I will make it very painful."

    "Bella? Bella?" The sound of a woman's voice on the other end made Bella flinch. Liz bit her tongue, not saying another word.

    Liz knew what Bella was going to say before she said it. "Where should we meet you?"

    "How about your old ballet studio?" James suggests, confirming Alice's vision. "And I'll know if you bring anyone along. Poor mommy will pay the price for that mistake. Come play along Liz, or else Bella's mother dies alongside her. Your choice."

    The line went dead and Bella ended the call, looking over at the blonde with frightened eyes. "I can't ask you to come with me. I have no right."

    Liz crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, that's too bad. We started this thing together, now we are going to end it together." Bella opened her mouth to protest, but Liz cut her off. "He has your mother, Bella. Losing a parent is like losing a piece of your soul. It crushes you. You are my friend and I won't let you know that pain. We are going. Together."

    Bella practically jumped onto the blonde, wrapping her arms around her neck in the tightest hug she could give her. Liz accepted it, both needing this comfort for what they were about to do.

    "You do know we have to take a cab to the studio, right?" Bella asks her cautiously.

    Liz only scoffed, pulling out of the brunette's arms. "Bells, we're about to meet up with a sadistic vampire who wants to do God only knows what to us and most likely hand me off to his crazy ass girlfriend because apparently she's thinks she is the Evil Queen in this situation and doesn't like the fact that the mirror told her that I'm the fairest of them all. If we end up in a car crash on the way there, I think I'd prefer it."

    With that said, the two made their way down to the lobby where they managed to slip past Emmett and Alice, Liz lingering on them with a heavy heart.

    I'm sorry, Jasper. Please understand.

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    𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐁 pulled up just outside of a large building, just in front of a sign that read 'Mimi's School of Dance'. Liz and Bella were quiet the entire ride, and though Liz had told her riding here wouldn't be a problem, it still made her nervous. But the fact that they were walking to their deaths made that fear seem measly in comparison.

    "You can still get out of here, you know?" Bella told Liz, whispering so the driver couldn't hear her. "Have the driver take you back to the hotel, find Alice and Emmett. I'll create a distraction, hopefully long enough for my mom to run out of the building and cause a scene to get attention, so she's out of harm's way and James won't risk going after her."

    Liz knew Bella felt guilty for this. She kept asking her if she was sure over and over again before they left the hotel room and snuck past Emmett and Alice. Wasn't that hard, both were at the checkout counter talking to the clerk. A part of Liz had hoped they had been caught, just so she doesn't have to feel terrible for the worry they were about to go through, but that would mean putting Bella's mother at risk and she couldn't have that. If she doesn't show up, he will kill both Bella and her mother. At least with her there, Bella's mother can go free.

    Why was she risking her life for some woman she doesn't know? Because it is exactly what her mother would have done. Lori Chambers has always been selfless and caring. She would have offered herself as hostage to a gunman instead of a complete stranger. She didn't like to see anyone suffer or hurt. Liz admired her for that sometimes. Other times, it had worried her.

    Liz got out of the cab first, Bella paying the driver before scooting out after her. Once the driver was gone, Liz turned to her brunette friend and gave her a smile that did not meet her eyes. "We both know James would not let your mother get a foot away before ending her if I don't show up."

    Bella knew she was right and sighed, taking out something from her back pocket and shaking it. Liz looked over and noticed pepper spray in her hands. She highly doubts that it would work, but she didn't bother saying anything. If having the pepper spray gives Bella some form of hope that they could possibly make it out of here alive, she'd let her keep it.

    Because Liz knew... they were going to die tonight.

    Bella surprises Liz by taking her hand and squeezing tightly. Both girls needed all the comfort and courage they could muster as they walked through the front doors. Unlocked, not surprising. The place was eerie, quiet and a bit humid. Both girls walked hand in hand further in and Liz looked around the large studio cautiously. It looked exactly like Alice's drawing. Mirrors spread around everywhere, two long barre's on each side of the room with a big open space in the middle.

    Everything was so quiet and Liz felt her stomach turning from the fear of what awaits. Both girls circled the room, trying to find anything out of the ordinary when a woman's voice called out in panic. "Bella? Bella? Bella, where are you?"

    "Mom?" Bella called out, taking off in the direction of the voice, letting go of the blonde grasp but Liz followed her anyway, running the best she could with her limp.

    "Bella?"

   "Mom?" Bella called out again as they darted towards a room in the corner, but the voice continued to talk.

    "There you are. What are you doing in here?"

    "Everyone makes fun of me." A new voice said. A little girl's voice.

    Liz looked towards Bella questionably, both girls confused before pushing open the doors, revealing a television that showed a woman who Liz presumes is Bella's mother and a young ballerina who is known other than Bella herself.

    "You're a wonderful dancer." Bella's mom hugs her daughter on the screen while young Bella looks up at the woman annoyingly.

    "Mom, I suck."

     Liz couldn't believe this. He's never had Bella's mother. He tricked them. "Oh, that son of a bitch."

    A sadistic laughter sounded around them while the video continues playing, Bella staring at it just as stunned at the blonde beside her. Both girls realized at the same time that their sacrifice was for nothing. They left Alice and Emmett for nothing. That they were going to hurt both Jasper and Edward for nothing.

    "You really have a mouth on you, don't you, Elizabeth Chambers?" James' voice taunted. Both Liz and Bella twirled around, seeing him standing there in several reflections of the mirrors, neither girl knowing exactly where he was. Liz grabbed Bella's wrist tightly, ready to run and drag her friend along. If they were going down, they were going down fighting.

    James suddenly came into view, his eyes looking from the video playing behind them then back to the girls. "That's my favorite part. You were a stubborn child, weren't you, Bella?"

    His words were mostly directly towards Bella, walking towards them. Liz stepped back, bringing the brunette with her. Her heart was hammering in her chest as he got closer and closer, suddenly taking a hold of Liz's wrist and roughly ripping her hand off of Bella. Liz winced from the grip he held, holding tightly onto her while he backed Bella up towards the wall. He caressed his fingers down her hair and over her cheek, causing her to flinch. He held Bella against the wall by her shoulder now, while Liz was struggling to get free from his grasp, but it was no use. He held onto wrist like it was nothing.

    "She's not even here," Bella mumbled in realization.

    James ran his nose through her hair, breathing in her scent. "No. Sorry. You know, but you really made it too easy. You even managed to convince poor Elizabeth here to come with you, all for nothing."

   Liz continued to pull against his grip, trying so hard to free herself but he barely paid her any attention, continuing to sniff Bella's hair and playing with her hair. "So to make things more entertaining, I'm gonna make a little film of our time together. But first, I need to deal with something."

    Without warning, James backhanded Liz across the face, sending her flying far back until she crashed hard into one of the mirrors, shattering the glass until a bunch of pieces fell on top of her. Her head was spinning and the side of her face screamed in agony, tingling and pulsing from the pain.

    Liz could have sworn she heard Bella calling out her name, but just from the one blow left her disoriented and grunting on the ground, her right ear ringing loudly from the impact. The room was spinning and the headache she had before was no longer an issue, the pain from the side of her face outweighing any of that. Even her knee was aching, but not as bad as her face. She knows James could have knocked her out cold with that hit, most likely breaking her face, which meant he held back. He doesn't want to kill her that easily.

    The glass was scraping against the floor as she moaned and struggled on the floor, the ringing in her right ear from where she was hit quieted enough as she heard footsteps slowly approaching. She tried scooting back, but it was extremely difficult. Suddenly, her vision focused on James' boots just as he bent down and his face bent down to meet hers.

    "You know, Liz, we found out something very interesting about you." James' voice held nothing but amusement in it, like whatever it was he knew was the most hilarious thing in the world. "I had no idea I was hunting a celebrity. The sixteen year old survivor of a terrible car wreck last year. You made headlines and everything. You lost your parents in the wreck, they were so badly burned because of the explosion, you guys had to have a closed coffin funeral service. How terribly devastating that must have been."

   Liz grunted out, her face still pulsing and she felt her knee screaming. James looked at the brace around her knee before ripping it off, the straps snapping off. Liz gasped loudly when suddenly he started applying pressure down against it and then slowly began twisting her leg. Liz let out a scream of agony and James' only laughed maniacally over it.

    Bella was standing in the back, screaming and begging him to stop. She wanted to help but she didn't know how. Tears were falling from her face as he watched her friend suffer.

    James stopped twisting her knee and Liz's screams turned into silent sobs. "That accident did more than just leave you cripple, didn't it? Getting a hold of your medical records wasn't as hard as Victoria thought. In fact, it gave her a snack or two in order to get them. What she found, she was genuinely surprised. Imagine- going blind so young? Must be awfully terrifying."

    Liz swallowed hard, her cheeks stained with her tears. She barely was listening, not at all caring at this point. She didn't know what hurt worse, her knee or her face.

    James gripped her face, forcing her to look up at him as he grinned crazily at her. "Oh how I hate that Victoria claimed you. I was more than fine with it up until I learned about your condition. I could have had so much fun," he says, his voice lacing in disappointment. After a second, he just shrugged and dropped his grip. "Oh, well. What my mate wants, she gets. It will be satisfying watching what she has planned for you. Trust me, you are going to wish it was me. If there is a human Victoria thinks can even compare to her in beauty, well lets just say she makes it so no one would ever question that again."

    Liz let out a painful groan as James laughed. "You should feel flattered, really. There have only been two other humans Victoria has deemed worthy and I only was able to witness one of them, the other happening long before we met. I can't wait to see what she has in store for you. But for right now, I need to get back to my fun."

    Liz found her voice and snarled up at him. "You talk too damn much."

    James only laughed more at that and then patted Liz's head like a freaking dog. "Stay girl."

    Standing back up, he turned back to Bella with a large grin. "Now that she's disposed of for the time being, we can get back to my fun." James pulled a video camera that was tucked in his jeans, showing it towards. "I borrowed this from your house. I hope you don't mind."

    Liz's head was spinning, she could barely see straight. As much as she wanted to get up and help Bella, the pain from her knee was too much and the blow to her face was like being hit by a train head first. Everything hurt from making contact with the mirror, but she was surprised nothing had cut her but she knew if she continued to move and squirm around, it would happen.

    She searched the studio, looking for anything that could help them. Liz was about to witness Bella being tortured and killed for fun while she was being saved for his lunatic mate. But trying to lift her head was like trying to lift a boulder, it was so heavy and painful Liz let out a loud groan of pain. Liz wasn't really paying attention to what James was saying to Bella, not with her right ear ringing and her face still pulsing.

    "Edward has nothing to do with this!" She heard Bella scream, gaining the blonde's attention. She forced her head up again to see James shoving the video camera in the brunette's face.

    "But he does," he says, turning the camera back to Liz and moving to zoom in on her. "Him and Jasper both do. Their rage will make for a more entertaining sport than their feeble attempt to protect the two of you. Two vampires, murderous predators, falling in love with two helpless human girls?" James says like it was the most ridiculous thing in the world, pointing the camera between both girls. "One of them is a soon to be blind cripple and the other is so naive that she can't tell the difference between her mother calling out for help or a simple recording. I mean, at least you both are pretty, I'll give them that. You, Bella, should be grateful I claimed you. What Victoria has planned for your friend... let's just say, you lucked out."

    "Liz is right, you do talk too much." Bella snarled at him, which only angered this beast more as he slammed her back into the wall, the camera focused back on her.

    He doesn't bother with a response, just smiles sickly at her. "Let's continue."

    Liz watched from the ground as Bella didn't give him a chance to taunt her anymore, spraying her pepper spray in his eyes before running towards Liz as fast as she could. Liz was forced to watch as James flew in front of her, taking her by the neck and tossing her towards the wall, the back of her head slamming against the stone hard.

    "Bella!" Liz called out, the blonde finally managing to force herself up through much difficulty, but the room only spinned more. James turned towards her and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her up in the air. Liz gagged and struggled, clawing at his hand and kicking out her legs, her knee forgotten as the air was being restricted from her lungs.

    "I told Victoria I wouldn't kill you, but she did say to do whatever it took to make sure you don't run away," James hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes as black as she has ever seen them. It was like looking into the eyes of the devil himself and Liz was utterly petrified. He moved the camera towards her face and chuckled. "Take a look, Jasper, because when we get through with your girl, let's just say you won't be able to recognize her."

    It was becoming harder and harder to keep fighting and just when she thought he was going to choke her to death, he threw her across the room until she slammed against the double doors where she and Bella found the television. The impact was so hard that the right door was ripped from the hinges. A loud crash sound as the television fell back and crashed to the ground, Liz landing on the metal stand.

    Liz let out gasping breaths, sucking in as much air as she coughed and groaned, rolling over until she was on her stomach. A part of her hoped that the blow would knock her out fully, but she was just in full on agony. Her left shoulder had popped out of its socket. It took everything in her to remain conscious, wanting nothing more to let the darkness consume her.

   Then suddenly, the studio was filled with Bella's screams. Liz wanted nothing more than to get up and help her friend, but she could barely move her head without wanting to scream in pain. The blow to the face is the only thing that came close to a head trauma, like James was purposely trying not to have her hit her head against anything. The doctor said any more head trauma could turn the lights out for good. Maybe right now, for whatever Victoria has plans for her, it would be best if she doesn't see what she was planning to do to her.

    Maybe it would make things easier.

    Bella's screams only grew louder, followed by James yelling at her, Liz didn't know what was happening, not as she attempted to crawl back towards her friend. She just made it out of the small closet in time to see James flying through the air, the camera breaking into pieces when it fell from his grasp. Liz lifted her just in time to see a familiar bronze haired Cullen snarling at the tracker.

    Edward. Edward is here. Edward is here alone because he is the fastest in the family. Liz knows this because Jasper had told her on their date, when she was asking more about the vampire's speed and strength and senses. He had said Emmett may not have a special gift, but he was one of the strongest vampires he has ever seen and Edward was the fastest. Liz remembers this because she had made a joke that she might trade him for Edward for rides. Jasper only threatened to take her brownies away if she didn't take that back. She caved quickly.

    Oh, how I wish we were still up on that roof right now.

    If Edward's here that means Jasper shouldn't be too far behind. The look in Edward's eyes as he looked towards Bella with so much pain in his eyes and then towards Liz across the room, only confirmed that thought.

    James attacked Edward, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into the mirror. "You're alone because you are faster than the others." Another slam into the mirror, cracking the glass. "But not stronger."

    "I'm strong enough to kill you." Edward growls before kicking James across the room and into the mirror. Quickly Edward was at Bella's side, looking over at his shoulder and meeting Liz's gaze. She nodded her head once in understanding. Get her out of here. She thought in her head, hoping and praying he could hear her and that whatever blocks him from reading her thoughts was working at this moment. He nods in confirmation that he understood before turning back to Bella.

   Edward didn't waste anymore time picking her up in his arms and then attempting to jump, but was brought down by James. Bella stumbles on the ground and into the broken pieces of glass everywhere while Edward is thrown into a window. Liz's shoulder was aching so much in agony, she could barely handle it. She tried crawling once again towards Bella using her one good arm, dragging her bruised and beaten body along the ground, careful of the glass. She felt a small cut on her thigh, but everything else outweighed that tiny scrap.

    "Bella!" Liz let out a scream as James approached her, watching as he held out her arm and bit into it. "No! Bella!"

    James was knocked off of her almost instantly by Edward, the two going at it while Liz continued to crawl towards Bella, who was now screaming and moaning in pain. Tears filled Liz's eyes but she fought against them this time, everything spinning and her breathing ragged.

    Liz didn't even notice the others arriving until she felt a hand on her shoulder, Liz snapping her head around to see Jasper staring down at her with so much agony on his face. Liz couldn't hold them back now, the sob escaping her lips as she reached out for him. "Jasper?"

    His eyes scanned her from head to toe, his pain expression turning into nothing but fury. He started seething, wiping his head in the direction of Carlisle and Emmett holding back James and took Edward's place, grabbing him by the throat. Liz wished he hadn't left, but soon Carlisle was at her side, snapping his fingers in her face to gain her attention. "Liz? Liz, look at me. Did he bite you? I smell your blood, are you bleeding anywhere?"

    Liz forced herself to look away from Jasper who was now dragging James with Emmett's help, Emmett barking out orders. Liz looked at Carlisle, forcing herself to shake her head. "I'm fine. It's nothing. Help Bella. H-He bit her."

    Carlisle found the source of her bleed and confirmed it was just a small cut. Knowing she was right, that Bella being bitten was more critical at this particular moment, Carlisle assured her he would be right back and turned around to face Bella while Jasper called out to Alice for help. The anger in his voice was vicious and almost as malicious as James'.

   The only thing Liz remembers seeing was burning flames growing higher and higher and the sound of James' screams before she finally allowed that darkness that wanted to take her earlier to consume her, everything turning black.

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I have a love/hate feeling with this chapter. The scenes in the ballet studio I struggled to write, I hope it's not too terrible. Other than that, I loved this chapter and everything else about it! Plus, it's over 7000 words! Which is over what I normally write but felt good to do my long chapters after those two short ones lol

Hope everyone enjoyed this! We are coming close to the end of Twilight. Two more chapters to go. Haven't been on a roll with updates in a while, hopefully I stick with it.

Thank you to anyone reading! Your support means the world! ❤️