暮色-第74部分
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mother's panic。 Seconds ticked by while I fought for control。
Slowly; slowly; my thoughts started to break past that brick wall of
pain。 To plan。 For I had no choices now but one: to go to the mirrored
room and die。 I had no guarantees; nothing to give to keep my mother
alive。 I could only hope that James would be satisfied with winning the
game; that beating Edward would be enough。 Despair gripped me; there was
no way to bargain; nothing I could offer or withhold that could influence
him。 But I still had no choice。 I had to try。
I pushed the terror back as well as I could。 My decision was made。 It did
no good to waste time agonizing over the oute。 I had to think clearly;
because Alice and Jasper were waiting for me; and evading them was
absolutely essential; and absolutely impossible。
I was suddenly grateful that Jasper was gone。 If he had been here to feel
my anguish in the last five minutes; how could I have kept them from
being suspicious? I choked back the dread; the anxiety; tried to stifle
it。 I couldn't afford it now。 I didn't know when he would return。
I concentrated on my escape。 I had to hope that my familiarity with the
airport would turn the odds in my favor。 Somehow; I had to keep Alice
away…
I knew Alice was in the other room waiting for me; curious。 But I had to
deal with one more thing in private; before Jasper was back。
I had to accept that I wouldn't see Edward again; not even one last
glimpse of his face to carry with me to the mirror room。 I was going to
hurt him; and I couldn't say goodbye。 I let the waves of torture wash
over me; have their way for a time。 Then I pushed them back; too; and
went to face Alice。
The only expression I could manage was a dull; dead look。 I saw her alarm
and I didn't wait for her to ask。 I had just one script and I'd never
manage improvisation now。
〃My mom was worried; she wanted to e home。 But it's okay; I convinced
her to stay away。〃 My voice was lifeless。
〃We'll make sure she's fine; Bella; don't worry。〃
I turned away; I couldn't let her see my face。
My eye fell on a blank page of the hotel stationery on the desk。 I went
to it slowly; a plan forming。 There was an envelope there; too。 That was
good。
〃Alice;〃 I asked slowly; without turning; keeping my voice level。 〃If I
write a letter for my mother; would you give it to her? Leave it at the
house; I mean。〃
〃Sure; Bella。〃 Her voice was careful。 She could see me ing apart at
the seams。 I had to keep my emotions under better control。
I went into the bedroom again; and knelt next to the little bedside table
to write。
〃Edward;〃 I wrote。 My hand was shaking; the letters were hardly legible。
I love you。 I am so sorry。 He has my mom; and I have to try。 I know it
may not work。 I am so very; very sorry。
Don't be angry with Alice and Jasper。 If I get away from them it will be
a miracle。 Tell them thank you for me。 Alice especially; please。
And please; please; don't e after him。 That's what he wants。 I think。
I can't bear it if anyone has to be hurt because of me; especially you。
Please; this is the only thing I can ask you now。 For me。
I love you。 Forgive me。
Bella
I folded the letter carefully; and sealed it in the envelope。 Eventually
he would find it。 I only hoped he would understand; and listen to me just
this once。
And then I carefully sealed away my heart。
===========================================================================
22。 HIDEANDSEEK
It had taken much less time than I'd thought — all the terror; the
despair; the shattering of my heart。 The minutes were ticking by more
slowly than usual。 Jasper still hadn't e back when I returned to
Alice。 I was afraid to be in the same room with her; afraid that she
would guess… and afraid to hide from her for the same reason。
I would have thought I was far beyond the ability to be surprised; my
thoughts tortured and unstable; but I was surprised when I saw Alice bent
over the desk; gripping the edge with two hands。
〃Alice?〃
She didn't react when I called her name; but her head was slowly rocking
side to side; and I saw her face。 Her eyes were blank; dazed… My thoughts
flew to my mother。 Was I already too late?
I hurried to her side; reaching out automatically to touch her hand。
〃Alice!〃 Jasper's voice whipped; and then he was right behind her; his
hands curling over hers; loosening them from their grip on the table。
Across the room; the door swung shut with a low click。
〃What is it?〃 he demanded。
She turned her face away from me; into his chest。 〃Bella;〃 she said。
〃I'm right here;〃 I replied。
Her head twisted around; her eyes locking on mine; their expression still
strangely blank。 I realized at once that she hadn't been speaking to me;
she'd been answering Jasper's question。
〃What did you see?〃 I said — and there was no question in my flat;
uncaring voice。
Jasper looked at me sharply。 I kept my expression vacant and waited。 His
eyes were confused as they flickered swiftly between Alice's face and
mine; feeling the chaos… for I could guess what Alice had seen now。
I felt a tranquil atmosphere settle around me。 I weled it; using it to
keep my emotions disciplined; under control。
Alice; too; recovered herself。
〃Nothing; really;〃 she answered finally; her voice remarkably calm and
convincing。 〃Just the same room as before。〃
She finally looked at me; her expression smooth and withdrawn。 〃Did you
want breakfast?〃
〃No; I'll eat at the airport。〃 I was very calm; too。 I went to the
bathroom to shower。 Almost as if I were borrowing Jasper's strange extra
sense; I could feel Alice's wild — though wellconcealed — desperation to
have me out of the room; to be alone with Jasper。 So she could tell him
that they were doing something wrong; that they were going to fail…
I got ready methodically; concentrating on each little task。 I left my
hair down; swirling around me; covering my face。 The peaceful mood Jasper
created worked its way through me and helped me think clearly。 Helped me
plan。 I dug through my bag until I found my sock full of money。 I emptied
it into my pocket。
I was anxious to get to the airport; and glad when we left by seven。 I
sat alone this time in the back of the dark car。 Alice leaned against the
door; her face toward Jasper but; behind her sunglasses; shooting glances
in my direction every few seconds。
〃Alice?〃 I asked indifferently。
She was wary。 〃Yes?〃
〃How does it work? The things that you see?〃 I stared out the side
window; and my voice sounded bored。 〃Edward said it wasn't definite… that
things change?〃 It was harder than I would have thought to say his name。
That must have been what alerted Jasper; why a fresh wave of serenity
filled the car。
〃Yes; things change…〃 she murmured — hopefully; I thought。 〃Some things
are more certain than others… like the weather。 People are harder。 I only
see the course they're on while they're on it。 Once they change their
minds — make a new decision; no matter how small — the whole future
shifts。〃
I nodded thoughtfully。 〃So you couldn't see James in Phoenix until he
decided to e here。〃
〃Yes;〃 she agreed; wary again。
And she hadn't seen me in the mirror room with James until I'd made the
decision to meet him there。 I tried not to think about what else she
might have seen。 I didn't want my panic to make Jasper more suspicious。
They would be watching me twice as carefully now; anyway; after Alice's
vision。 This was going to be impossible。
We got to the airport。 Luck was with me; or maybe it was just good odds。
Edward's plane was landing in terminal four; the largest terminal; where
most flights landed — so it wasn't surprising that his was。 But it was
the terminal I needed: the biggest; the most confusing。 And there was a
door on level three that might be the only chance。
We parked on the fourth floor of the huge garage。 I led the way; for once
more knowledgeable about my surroundings than they were。 We took the
elevator down to level three; where