not　going　to　catch

you。〃

〃I　won't　get　hurt；〃　he　muttered；　but　he　turned　for　the　door。　He　hesitated　as

he　passed　me；　staring　at　me

with　an　expression　like　something　was　stabbing　him。　He　held　one　hand　out；

pleading。

I　took　his　hand；　and　suddenly　he　yanked　me—too　roughly—right　off　the　bed　so

that　I　thudded　against　his

chest。

〃Just　in　case；〃　he　muttered　against　my　hair；　crushing　me　in　a　bear　hug　that

about　broke　my　ribs。

〃Can't—breathe！〃　I　gasped。

He　dropped　me　at　once；　keeping　one　hand　at　my　waist　so　I　didn't　fall　over。　He

pushed　me；　more　gently

this　time；　back　down　on　the　bed。

〃Get　some　sleep；　Bells。　You've　got　to　get　your　head　working。　I　know　you　can　do

this。　I　need　you。　to

understand。　I　won't　lose　you；　Bella。　Not　for　this。〃

He　was　to　the　door　in　one　stride；　opening　it　quietly；　and　then　disappearing

through　it。　I　listened　for　him　to

hit　the　squeaky　step　in　the　stairs；　but　there　was　no　sound。

I　lay　back　on　my　bed；　my　head　spinning。　I　was　too　confused；　too　worn　out。　I

closed　my　eyes；　trying　to

make　sense　of　it；　only　to　be　swallowed　up　by　unconsciousness　so　swiftly　that

it　was　disorienting。

It　was　not　the　peaceful；　creamless　sleep　I'd　yearned　for—of　course　not。　I　was

in　the　forest　again；　and　I

started　to　wander　the　way　I　always　did。

I　quickly　became　aware　that　this　was　not　the　same　dream　as　usual。　For　one

thing；　I　felt　no　pulsion　to

wander　or　to　search；　I　was　merely　wandering　out　of　habit；　because　that　was

what　was　usually　expected

of　me　here。　Actually；　this　wasn't　even　the　same　forest。　The　smell　was

different；　and　the　light；　too。　It

smell