I do not claim any ownership of the Twilight Saga. That stroke of brilliance belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Ellie and Luke, however, are of my invention.

I was shaking. I didn't dare open my eyes, the light hurt but the dark hurt too. My whole body hurt, actually. "Ouch," I mumbled, softly.

"Ellie, Ellie…" He was sitting on a wooden chair on the other side of the room. "My dear little Ellie, that wasn't too bad, was it?"

I didn't reply. How could I speak? I could have let this happen? Why did they let him do this to me? Even someone with great sums of money should have been able to see that his violence would lead to something like last night.

It was official, my father was an idiot. Successful lawyer? Yes. Observant? Absolutely not. He didn't even notice that I hadn't spoken more than a few words for weeks. What would he say if he knew about this?

His dark chuckle removed me from the self-questioning session occurring in my brain. "Ellie, you can't trick me. I know you're awake."

I opened my eyes and started to cry. "I know you know, sir."

"Oh, you can speak now?" His smirk widened. It made me sick. "That changes things."

Oh. My. God. What was I doing? Trying to bring his wrath back down on me? I shook my head. Speaking was way too dangerous. The look on his face told me what to expect if I messed up. Would I ever be safe?

My alarm went off. "You have school this morning. Get dressed. Tell no one about this, understand?"

I didn't go to school: I ran. I didn't know where I was going. How could I? I had no where to go. I was now damaged goods. The banged-up can of fruit you find at the Grocery Outlet. The one that wasn't even worth half-price. I stopped running and vomited into a garbage can. I started to shake again. The tin can shook with me. I slid onto the cool pavement.

I looked pathetic sitting there, cooling my forehead on the cold garbage can. I was in my ripped clothes from the night before, my hair was not brushed and I had bruises all over my body. Several people passed me and made disapproving sounds.

They think I'm drug addict, I thought. That would be amusing if I didn't feel like shit. What if someone stopped to ask if me if I was okay? Would I tell them? Or would I be too frightened of him to say anything?

"Are you okay?" a musical voice asked, "do you need a hand up?"

I looked up, and flinched. A pale, white hand hovered a few inches above me. I didn't look to the face attached to it. I already knew that it was guy, what was point? He was probably just going to hurt me. They were all the same, after all.

"Can you hear me?" the hand asked, "do you want me call an ambulance?"

I shook my head. Why should I trust a guy? It causes too much pain to trust men. They always betray your trust. They take sacred things and flush them down the metaphoric toilet of wickedness. If you're not careful, they'll flush you down it too.

The hand grabbed my wrist, feeling my pulse. "Come on, kid, don't go out on me."

The hand felt like ice, a burning dry ice. I pulled away, and winced. I started to rub my wrist.

"My name is Lucas. What's your name?" He sounded like he was trying to comfort me. "I mean no harm. I come in peace. What else can I say?" He sounded desperate. "Please, I'm trying to help."

I wanted to answer, but my throat felt unbelievably sore. I coughed into my arm and looked up. He was just as pale as his hand, with soft golden eyes. His light hair was curly, and cut close to his head. Beautiful isn't quite the right word, but attractive worked. It took a lot of strength to look away. "Luke," I whispered, "you're name is Luke."

"Yes, you got it. My name is Lucas and I'm here to help."

"Elle. My name is Ellie," I choked. It burned a little. "Ow."

"What is it?" Luke asked, softly. "Do you need a doctor?"

"My throat is on fire!" I almost screamed. "Please help me," my voice grew soft. "Please."

He took me into his arms. "You live here in Seattle, right Ellie?"

I nodded, but didn't speak. Those few words took a lot of energy to say. I put my head against Luke's chest and took a shaking breath.

"You're going to be all right." He started to run. It seemed like he was going inhumanly fast.

"Carlisle Cullen?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry," Luke said, "but she needs your help. She's been hurt. I promise I had nothing to do with it."

What's going on? I thought. Where did he take me? I can't take another night like last night.

"We believe you," another voice, more velvety said. "Has she been…?"

Don't say it! Please don't say it!

"I think so," Luke sighed. "I found her leaning against a garbage can in Downtown Seattle."

"Do you know her name?"

"Ellie, that's all I have. I don't think she likes too talk much. She said that it hurts."

"All right." I felt my body shift onto a bed. "Ellie, can you hear me? Are you awake?"

I nodded and coughed. Where am I?

"Ellie, you're somewhere safe," the velvet voice tried to confirm.

Safe? How can I ever be safe?

"My name is Carlisle. I'm a doctor and Lucas brought you here so my family and I can help you. Ellie, do you understand?"

I nodded again. You'll survive if you keep your mouth shut, Elle, I ordered myself. Don't give them a reason to kill you.

"Carlisle, she's scared," the velvet voice whispered. "I think someone tried to kill her."

"Elle," I heard Luke ask, "Who did this to you?"

Tom can't hear about this. It'll put Luke in danger. This is my fault. Tom did this to be me because I did something I wasn't supposed to. Luke hasn't been anything but helpful.

"He can't get to you here," Velvet-Voice said, trying to comfort me.

"Edward, what's going on?"

"This is Ellie, Bella," Velvet-Voice answered. "She's been hurt pretty badly." I heard his teeth grind.

"How badly?"

Carlisle spoke, "a few cracked ribs, fractured wrist, by the looks of it. I'll have to get her up stairs to check. There are also some things that I'll have to wait until she feels better to look at."

I heard several hisses roll through the room. "Is there…?"

"I'm not sure; we'll have to ask Alice."

"She'll want to keep the baby."

Did someone say 'baby'? Does that mean I'm pregnant? Oh my god, I'm going to have my stepbrother's child. I opened my eyes, and tried to sit up. "Luke…"

"I'm here, Ellie." Luke supported my back, holding me up. "It's okay."

My eyes closed again and I drifted off into sleep.