As I drifted, I dreamed.

　　Where I floated, under the dark water, I heard the happiest sound my mindcould conjure up — as beautiful, as uplifting, as it was ghastly. It wasanother snarl; a deeper, wilder roar that rang with fury.

　　I was brought back, almost to the surface, by a sharp pain slashing myupraised hand, but I couldn't find my way back far enough to open my eyes.

　　And then I knew I was dead.

　　Because, through the heavy water, I heard the sound of an angel callingmy name, calling me to the only heaven I wanted.

　　"Oh no, Bella, no!" the angel's voice cried in horror.

　　Behind that longed-for sound was another noise — an awful tumult that mymind shied away from. A vicious bass growling, a shocking snapping sound,and a high keening, suddenly breaking off…I tried to concentrate on the angel's voice instead.

　　"Bella, please! Bella, listen to me, please, please, Bella, please!" hebegged.

　　Yes, I wanted to say. Anything. But I couldn't find my lips.

　　"Carlisle!" the angel called, agony in his perfect voice. "Bella, Bella,no, oh please, no, no!" And the angel was sobbing tearless, broken sobs.

　　The angel shouldn't weep, it was wrong. I tried to find him, to tell himeverything was fine, but the water was so deep, it was pressing on me,and I couldn't breathe.

　　There was a point of pressure against my head. It hurt. Then, as thatpain broke through the darkness to me, other pains came, stronger pains.

　　I cried out, gasping, breaking through the dark pool.

　　"Bella!" the angel cried.

　　"She's lost some blood, but the head wound isn't deep," a calm voiceinformed me. "Watch out for her leg, it's broken."A howl of rage strangled on the angel's lips.

　　I felt a sharp stab in my side. This couldn't be heaven, could it? Therewas too much pain for that.

　　"Some ribs, too, I think," the methodical voice continued.

　　But the sharp pains were fading. There was a new pain, a scalding pain inmy hand that was overshadowing everything else.

　　Someone was burning me.

　　"Edward." I tried to tell him, but my voice was so heavy and slow. Icouldn't understand myself.

　　"Bella, you're going to be fine. Can you hear me, Bella? I love you.""Edward," I tried again. My voice was a little clearer.

　　"Yes, I'm here.""It hurts," I whimpered.

　　"I know, Bella, I know" — and then, away from me, anguished — "can't youdo anything?""My bag, please… Hold your breath, Alice, it will help," Carlislepromised.

　　"Alice?" I groaned.

　　"She's here, she knew where to find you.""My hand hurts," I tried to tell him.

　　"I know, Bella. Carlisle will give you something, it will stop.""My hand is burning!" I screamed, finally breaking through the last ofthe darkness, my eyes fluttering open. I couldn't see his face, somethingdark and warm was clouding my eyes. Why couldn't they see the fire andput it out?

　　His voice was frightened. "Bella?""The fire! Someone stop the fire!" I screamed as it burned me.

　　"Carlisle! Her hand!""He bit her." Carlisle's voice was no longer calm, it was appalled.

　　I heard Edward catch his breath in horror.

　　"Edward, you have to do it." It was Alice's voice, close by my head. Coolfingers brushed at the wetness in my eyes.

　　"No!" he bellowed.

　　"Alice," I moaned.

　　"There may be a chance," Carl............