Chapter 24: My Last Breath

(Song: E.S. Posthumus - Cuzco)

Bella let herself into the house with a sigh before closing the door and leaning back against it. Driving to the house with a security guard tailing her had sucked some of the energy she desperately needed right out of her. She knew the guard was necessary judging by Jacob’s revelations earlier that day, but it still bothered her to have someone constantly watching her.

She had always hated feeling like she was a precious commodity that was to be protected at all costs when all she had wanted was to have a normal life. All she wanted was to graduate college, succeed in her chosen job, get married, then have a family. Crazy exes and bodyguards had never figured into the mix. Unfortunately it seemed that life itself had other ideas for her than the original dreams she had chosen.

Looking around the empty foyer with some trepidation, she wondered if life would ever be normal for her.  The argument she’d had with Jacob the day before was still fresh in her mind, so was the conversation they’d just had earlier while at work. She knew they had to finish their talk, had to get everything off of their chests before they could move on, but she wondered if any of it would be worth it in the end.

She had been ready to spend the rest of her life with Jacob, her best friend and the love of her life. Yet the words he had said to her the day before still bothered her. Sure, he had apologized at work earlier and said he hadn’t meant those words, but she still had a feeling inside of her, like there was still something left unresolved.

Bella could understand if Jacob was feeling pressured by all of the demands on his life, but that was no excuse for some of the things he had said to her. The fact that Vanessa might also be up to something still didn’t seem to be enough to justify his words. He shouldn’t have made her feel like she was just another notch in his belt, like she had never meant anything to him after all this time. If he didn’t really love her and simply wanted to get her into his bed, then why had he gone through the trouble of asking her to marry him at all?

Bella knew that he had never asked any of the other women he’d dated to marry him, and she knew he would never have asked Vanessa to marry him if she hadn’t told him she was pregnant with his child. Bella knew he had never been serious with anyone he had dated before, especially since he had confessed to her that she had been the only one he had ever loved.

Yet, the words he had said the day before had contradicted almost anything he had ever said to her when they had first gotten together as a real couple. How could he have told her that he had always loved her, that he had always wanted her, only to claim that maybe all he had ever wanted was to have some time in her bed.

“And thinking of kids. Why bother? I mean, after everything that’s happened to me, do you really think it’ll be worth it? I would have thought you would see how much those things get in the way and mess up the best laid plans that people make! Haven’t you learned anything from that?…

It’s made me realize that I’m not ready for that and I don’t think any of that is worth it. I don’t want that kind of thing to mess up my life! Not now, not ever!…

I’m saying I don’t think we should talk about getting married or having kids. I don’t think that should be a part of our lives at all right now…

Figured if I put a ring on your finger, you’d be happy to stay with me…

Maybe. You know how much I’ve always liked sex.”

Ignoring the pain that wanted to suffocate her again from the memories of their argument, she tossed her keys into the bowl sitting on top of the table next to the door, then set her briefcase down next to it. The events of the last few days occupied her mind so much that she was a little more careless than usual. It showed when she simply took off her jacket as she walked through the living room, then tossed it on the sofa on her way to the kitchen instead of hanging it up in the hall closet like she normally did.

Looking at her watch made her aware of the fact that it wouldn’t be long until Jacob got home, so she decided to make a simple dinner for them to eat while they talked things through. At least she knew that cooking would keep her mind and hands busy, instead of fretting while wearing a groove in the carpet from the pacing she knew she would otherwise be doing.

In the kitchen, she rummaged through the refrigerator and cabinets, grateful that she had done some grocery shopping in the last week since they had moved into their new home. Deciding to make Sloppy Joes with a side of macaroni and cheese, she gathered all of the ingredients she needed and set them on the counter, then turned on the stove and placed a pot of water on one of the burners.

As she began to prepare the Sloppy Joes, she thought over all of the things she wanted to say to Jacob. She knew they needed to clear all of the misunderstandings they seemed to be having lately. She needed to find out where they really stood with each other and if Jacob was really ready to get married. She knew she needed to explain to him that while she wanted a family someday, she didn’t want it to start right away.

After all, they had their new careers to settle into and that would take quite some time to get used to. Not only that, but it would take time for her and Jacob to get used to living together, even when married to each other, since this was the first time for either of them to be living away from their parents. It was a whole new world for the both of them, and a whole new set of responsibilities which Bella knew she would probably take more seriously than her laid-back husband would.

When the water began boiling, she added the macaroni then started cooking the ingredients of the Sloppy Joes in another pan. Her thoughts went back to the things she wanted to discuss with Jacob as she stirred. One of the things she really wanted Jacob to explain was why he had flown off the handle when he had gotten home the day before.

She had been in such a great mood, having spent some time with Sarah and Renee working on the wedding. Then she had felt even better once she had returned to the home she was sharing with her soon-to-be husband. As she had unpacked, she had been thinking of all of the things she was looking forward to sharing with Jacob during the course of their live together, so that by the time he came home she was more than happy to tell him all about those things she had been thinking of.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t shared her enthusiasm, blowing up at her before she could even finish telling him her thoughts. She couldn’t believe how fast the fight had escalated after that. The words that had flown between them were words she would have never dreamed they would say to each other, especially since they had been best friends all of their lives. Sure, she knew she took things more seriously than Jacob did, but she thought she had known him well enough since they had grown up together.

As much as she didn’t want to revisit that fight with Jacob where she could possibly discover that she didn’t know him as well as she had thought, she knew they were going to have to address the reasons why they had even said any of those things to begin with. There was just no way to get around that. As she tried to figure out a way to peacefully talk about those things with as little pain as possible, she finished up the Sloppy Joes and macaroni and cheese.

Setting the food aside, she began rummaging through the unpacked boxes set near the pantry until she found the formal plates, cutlery, and glasses that she wanted to use. Quickly rinsing them off in the sink, she dried them with a dish towel before returning to the stove. Since moving in, they had either used paper or plastic dinnerware because they were usually on the go and it had been much more convenient.

Checking her watch again, she knew Jacob should be home at any moment, so she placed ample servings on the plates, then carried them into the dining room where she began to set the table for their meal. Once she finished setting the table, she went back into the kitchen to clean up a bit before returning to the dining room with the iced tea she had made the day before.

As she set the pitcher of tea down in the middle of the table, she heard the front door closing. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for what was sure to be an emotional evening with Jacob. She smoothed her hands down her pant-covered thighs before making her way to the foyer through the living room.

She could hear footsteps approaching the living room, prompting her to speak up. “Hi Jake, I…”

(Song: Within Temptation - Final Destination)

The rest of the words stuck in Bella’s throat as her mind caught up with what she was seeing. There before her, in the living room of the brand new house she shared with her fiancé, stood Vanessa. And she was holding a gun in her hand, pointing it directly at Bella’s chest.

Fear seized her, yet she tried to push past it long enough to squeak out the first thing that came to her mind. “How did you get in?”

She was certain she had locked the door. Hadn’t she? And where was that security guard that was supposed to be watching her?

Vanessa smirked at her. “I had intended to pick the lock, but imagine my surprise to find the door unlocked. What a welcome for little ole me!” When Bella glanced towards the door, Vanessa scoffed. “If you’re expecting that sorry excuse for a guard to show up and rescue you, don’t.” She motioned to the gun with a grin. “Who knew silencers were that effective at removing obstacles with so little fuss.”

Bella swallowed as she tried to keep calm. “Why…are you…doing this?”

Vanessa let out a high pitched laugh. “As if you didn’t get the memo! I’m here to kill you, you bitch! For taking Jacob from me!”

She suddenly shook her head in disappointment.  “I knew when I heard that you two had finally gotten together that you’d really had your claws in him from the beginning. But when I tried to tell Jacob that I knew that, back when we were together, he would never listen. So when nothing I said could make him forget you and love me more, I tried to come up with another way to make him mine.” She suddenly grinned and rubbed her stomach with the hand that wasn’t pointing the gun at Bella’s body. “Then our little miracle happened.”

Bella’s eyes went wide. “But…but it wasn’t even Jacob’s baby! He told me that you’d been with others in between dating him! He told me that the doctor said it was Riley’s baby!”

Vanessa shrugged. “So what?” Then she glared at Bella as she curled both hands around the gun, tensing her arms out towards her target. “He didn’t need to know that! I knew once I told him that I was pregnant, he’d do the right thing and marry me. Me! You would be out of the picture and I would be getting what I wanted! What was rightfully mine!” She spat out the next words. “Then that stupid quack of a doctor had to ruin things by telling Jacob that the baby wasn’t his! Ugh! You! You always had to ruin everything!”

Bella sputtered. “Me? But…but I didn’t…”

“Yes. You. Did!” roared Vanessa, even though the gun never wavered. “You fucking, meddling bitch! If you hadn’t coerced him into waiting and talking to his dad, we’d have been married before the fucking doctor got to him! But no!” She drawled out the last word before continuing on. “So I lost everything that mattered to me! Everything! But I refused to give up! I knew I had to find a way to prove to everyone that you were a worthless piece of shit! I knew I had to find a way to get your damned claws out of him again!”

Vanessa paused, something like pain flickered over her face, then she was glaring at Bella again. “Then they came and took Jacob’s baby away from me today! Those bastards! It made me see red! And then I knew! I just knew you had to die!”

Bella blinked as she realized just how far Vanessa had fallen off of her rocker. Something must have happened earlier to push Vanessa past the point of no return. Whatever it was, Bella knew it had to do with the baby. Yet, even facing someone as crazy as Vanessa was, Bella knew she had to try to find a way to stall the woman, maybe even try to get her to lower the gun.

She prayed Jacob would be home soon as she began to try to reason with Vanessa, even while she didn‘t want him hurt by the madwoman . “Look Vanessa, maybe if you tell me what happened today, maybe…maybe I can help you get your baby back. Just put…”

“NO!” Vanessa screeched. “It’s over for you, bitch!”

Bella held up her hands in placation. “Vanessa, don’t you think they’ll know it was you who did this?”

Vanessa shook her head with a feral grin. “Nope. They won’t! You see, I’m going to make it look like it was a robbery gone bad!” She cackled. “They’ll never know what really happened! And you? You’ll finally be out of our lives for good!”

Lifting a hand to twirl around a lock of her hair, Vanessa batted her eyes at Bella. “And guess who’ll be there to comfort poor Jakey when he finds out his sorry old fiancée is dead?” Vanessa paused to let it sink in, before nodding. “Yep, I’m positive that he’ll be back in my bed in no time at all!”

Bella frowned. “What about Riley, Vanessa? I heard that he loves you and the baby.”

Vanessa growled. “It’s. Not. His. Baby! How many times do I have to tell you people? And who gave him the right to sic social services on me today? What gave them all the right to take Jacob’s baby from me?”

(Song: Within Temptation - Murder)

The hands that held the gun shook as she continued. “If I can’t have our baby back, then I’ll just have to make another one with Jacob! But first, you have to die!”

Bella slowly shook her head. “You can’t do this. Think about Jacob. Do you think he will really get over something like this?”

Vanessa nodded. “He’ll have me. I’ll soothe his pain away, like I’ve done before. In the end, it won’t matter because I’ll give him everything he needs to be happy.”

Nothing Vanessa said was making any sense, but Bella knew better than to point that out. She tried to think of another way to get Vanessa to lower the gun, but she was running out of options. Where was Jacob?

Vanessa huffed. “Enough of this! I’m running out of time!” She clutched the gun tighter as she looked Bella up and down. “Now, not that it matters, but what part of your body would you like to be shot in?” She tilted her head to the side. “Can’t do extremities since it’ll take too long for you to die, bleeding out and all that. Of course, it would seem a bit romantic if it ripped out your heart, but there’s nothing romantic about you.” She tsked. “I’m not wasting a perfectly good bullet on you, that’s for sure.”

Bella tried not to gape at the gruesome rambling that Vanessa was doing, but it had managed to steal her ability to keep reasoning with the woman.

Vanessa continued on with her spiel. “There’s the stomach, but that’s just messy and again, too slow. So…that leaves…your head.” Grinning, she lifted the gun to point it at Bella’s forehead. “I’m gonna be nice and ask if you have any last words before we get this over with.”

Bella instinctually took a step back before Vanessa shook her head. “Uh uh, bitch. Don’t try to run, trust me, I can shoot you in the back of the head just as easily as I can shoot the front. That’s what months of practicing shooting soda cans will do for you.”

Bella froze as she realized she was staring death in the face. There was no way out of this, yet she knew she had to plead her case one last time.

“Vanessa please…”

“Oh Yeah! That’s it! Let me hear you beg!” she crowed.

Bella ignored her comments as she continued, “…don’t do this. You don’t want to do this.”

“Yes, I do.” came the straightforward response.

Bella shook her head. “No, you don’t. Can’t you see how hard…”

They both heard the opening of the front door at the same time. As Vanessa turned to look towards the door, Bella took that opportunity to run in the opposite direction.

She heard Vanessa screech, “Come back here you bitch! It’s not hard to shoot you! See?”

(Song: Evanescence - My Last Breath)

Bella gasped as she heard the muffled sound of a gunshot accompanied by a sharp pain high up on the left side of her back. The impact was strong enough to twist her body almost all the way around, while her forward momentum finally had her falling face down to the ground.

As she lay there, several things managed to register through her pain-muddled mind. She could feel heat spreading over her shoulder even as the fire burned her from within. She was even vaguely aware that she had seemed to land in something wet and sticky.

As she tried to fight past the pain, she realized that the heat was quickly fading, to be replaced by a chilling cold the likes of which she had never felt before. Her eyes fluttered closed as she began to shiver, and somewhere in the distance she heard the sounds of scuffling and voices, but she couldn’t make out what that was all about.

At least the pain seemed to be leaving now, she thought. Her body seemed to be going numb, even cancelling out the chill that had suddenly taken over. Deep down inside, she knew what that meant, especially since she was feeling more and more lethargic with every breath that was left in her body.

She knew she wouldn’t get to say goodbye to Jacob. She knew it would be too late before anyone found her now. At least he knew she had loved him to the end. She only hoped that he wouldn’t fall for Vanessa’s schemes and that whoever found her body wouldn’t believe she had been accidentally shot in a burglary gone wrong.

There would be no fulfilling of her dreams now. She wouldn’t get to marry Jacob. They wouldn’t be raising a family together and she would never get to work things out with him that night. She only hoped that he wouldn’t suffer much over her death. He deserved to have a long and happy life with someone who would love him as much as she had.

Even though she was going numb and the last breaths seemed to be leaving her body, she felt a slight pressure to her back while scenes of her life began to flash behind her closed lids. She noticed how every scene seemed to include Jacob, reminding her once again just how much a part of her life he had always been.

She remembered making mud pies with him in his parents’ backyard when they were five years old. At ten, Jacob became her protector from bullies like Lauren. At fifteen, they had discovered the world of tickle fests and at sixteen they had lost their virginity to each other. Then at eighteen Jacob had made her believe in fairy tales again.

It wasn’t until they were twenty-one when her beliefs had paid off because they had started exclusively dating. He had taken her on a perfect first date, then they had spent a fun summer in California. At twenty-two they had spent Christmas with their families at a ski resort. Spring Break in Las Vegas had Jacob proposing to her and graduation had them vacationing in Europe.

She remembered all of the laughter, tears and joy she had shared with Jacob. Even to the last few months when they had begun to focus on their jobs while looking for a house to move into. As tense as things had been, there had still be moments full of love and smiles.

She would miss all that she knew. She would miss the sound of his voice and the feel of his arms around her. She would miss his kisses and the way his smile lit up the room.

Just when the image of the last time he had held her in his arms while telling her that he loved her flashed through her mind, she had the strangest sensation like she was floating on air.

Then her whole world faded to black.