s　face　blocked　out　the　sky。　〃Oh！〃　he　gasped；　relief　washing　over　his

features。　His　eyes　were　wet

from　the　rain。　〃Oh；　Bella！　Are　you　okay？　Can　you　hear　me？　Do　you　hurt

anywhere？〃

〃J…Just　m…my　throat；〃　I　stuttered；　my　lips　quivering　from　the　cold。

〃Let's　get　you　out　of　here；　then；〃　Jacob　said。　He　slid　his　arms　under　me　and

lifted　me　without　effort—like

picking　up　an　empty　box。　His　chest　was　bare　and　warm；　he　hunched　his　shoulders

to　keep　the　rain　off　of

me。　My　head　lolled　over　his　arm。　I　stared　vacantly　back　toward　the　furious

water；　beating　the　sand

behindhim。

〃You　got　her？〃　I　heard　Sam　ask。

〃Yeah；　I'll　take　it　from　here。　Get　back　to　the　hospital。　I'll　join　you　later。

Thanks；　Sam。〃

My　head　was　still　rolling。　None　of　his　words　sunk　in　at　first。　Sam　didn't

answer。　There　was　no　sound；　and

I　wondered　if　he　were　already　gone。

The　water　licked　and　writhed　up　the　sand　after　us　as　Jacob　carried　me　away；

like　it　was　angry　that　I'd

escaped。　As　I　stared　wearily；　a　spark　of　color　caught　my　unfocused　eyes—a

small　flash　of　fire　was

dancing　on　the　black　water；　far　out　in　the　bay。　The　image　made　no　sense；　and　I

wondered　how　conscious

I　really　was。　My　head　swirled　with　the　memory　of　the　black；　churning　water—of

being　so　lost　that　I

couldn't　find　up　or　down。　So　lost　but　somehow　Jacob

〃How　did　you　find　me？〃　I　rasped。

〃I　was　searching　for　you；〃　he　told　me。　He　was　half…jogging　through　the　rain；

up　the　beach　toward　the

road。　〃I　followed　the　tire　tracks　to　your　truck；　and　then　I　heard　you　scream

〃　He　shuddered。　〃Why

would　you　jump；　Bella？　Didn't　you　notice　that　it's　turning