Darkness Will Come to Light [1]

XLVII. Cause and Effect

Bella and Mel were treated in an Arizona hospital for their abundance of various injuries from James. Charlie and Renée were there for Bella. They believed the made-up story about Bella running off and Edward following; her injuries were because she had "fallen down the stairs" and then "crashed through a window." 

Mel's cover was that she was a casualty of Bella "tripping." Apparently, Bella had knocked Mel down the stairs along with her. The Cullens were there with Mel, switching out with each other so that the room was not overly crowded. She didn't wake for many days after her initial surgery.

By Friday of the next week, Bella shook off the sedatives given to ease her pain, but Mel stayed under for two more days. Her body was weak; her mind trapped her deep under the morphine.

The first feeling that came to Mel was a dull ache in her throat. She tried to erase the scratchiness by clearing her throat. Her eyes snapped open, and she gripped around her neck as the inside burned. 

Something tugged at her hand which brought her eyes to an IV drip stabbed into her skin. Mel frowned at it.

"Mel," a soft voice called for her. She turned to Esme at the end of her hospital bed. 

Mel hadn't been sure that she would ever see her foster mother again. Tears pricked her eyes as she held her arms up for a hug. Esme scooted closer and wrapped her stone arms around Mel.

Mel opened her mouth to speak. "I--" Her voice cracked. She automatically cleared her throat again and winced at the horrific scraping feeling.

"Shh, it's okay, Mel. Let your vocal chords rest for a few more days," the caramel-haired vampire soothed.

Mel furrowed her brows. How was she going to communicate with her family? Where was Edward when she needed him?

Esme seemed to realize what she was thinking and reached over to the granite counter. She grabbed the dry erase board and marker and handed them to Mel.

Mel uncapped the smelly marker and scribbled her words: When can we go home?

"We were waiting for you to wake up before any decisions were made. Carlisle should have you cleared by tonight to leave tomorrow."

Mel nodded and looked down at herself. She looked like one of the 101 Dalmatians with all the bruises littered across her body. The sense of déja vu was overwhelming.

Before her mind could take her down the dark road to Jeremy Jackson, Mel wrote on her board to ask Esme about getting something to eat.

Preferably tacos.

~*~

Not only did Mel lose her voice from screaming so much, but she had to have several stitches across her stomach to sew up the stab wound. Her wrists were red and raw from tugging at the rope, which had subsequently reopened a previous cut or two.

If Mel had not been a self-harmer, she probably would have been more bothered by the scar from James on her stomach. Since she was, the little silver mark blended in with the rest of them along her stomach, wrists, and thighs. The only annoyance was the memory that came with it.

Esme and Carlisle flew back to Washington with Mel as the sun rose. Her siblings had already gone back to Forks the night before. No one had said anything negative about the situation yet, but Mel knew there would be consequences from her disobedience. She fretted about it the entire three hour flight home.

While the Cullens were all relieved that Mel made it out alive, Alice and Jasper were also displeased with her; Mel could feel the tension right away. Although it was Bella's idea to meet James, Mel was an accomplice in her near-demise. She never promised to listen to her designated guardians, but it was implied, and she disobeyed them.

Even if Carlisle hadn't persuaded her to make amends as soon as her voice returned, Mel would have apologized to Jasper and Alice before she drowned in an ocean of guilt.

Knowing Alice would see her coming, Mel tapped on her and Jasper's bedroom door only once before going in. "Do you have a moment?" She nervously bit her bottom lip until she remembered what that could lead to and stopped instantly.

"I want to apologize for what happened in Arizona." Mel lifted her green-grey eyes to see Jasper and Alice sitting side-by-side on their decorative couch. Jasper shifted over and patted the space between the lovers.

Mel sat down and she sucked in air as the tears started surfacing. "I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you two. I should have stayed inside like you said, and I should have told you about Bella's plan as soon as she told me. I didn't mean for any of it to happen like it did, and I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how we made you feel, disappearing like that. If you hadn't made it on time..." Mel took in a shaky breath.

She was suddenly wrapped in two sets of cold arms. 

"You didn't know that would happen," Alice said to her. "I just wish that you had trusted us enough."

"I do trust you, I promise. I was.. I was trapped, and I knew you weren't going to let me out. I wanted to help Bella. I didn't know that James had tricked her until we left... I was so stupid."

"We can't change the past. But a rule for the future: no more running off to meet with vampires," Jasper said sternly.

Mel nodded fervently. "Fine, done," she agreed. "I almost died. Again." She swiped a hand aggressively through her dark hair. 

"We don't want to lose you, Mel. You have to believe that we do what we do to protect you."

"I know, I'm so sorry."

Jasper caught her shaking hand and held it in his. Alice kissed the side of her head. 

They forgave her. Mel could breathe again.