Hey, Guys so here is the deal, I'm going to hold a sort of contest type thing. In addition to this story, I have posted 4 other stories in different categories. I want to see which category has the largest fan base. Whichever category wins, those are the stories I'll focus on. So if you want to enter all you have to do is leave a review. It can be short or long, it doesn't matter. So please if you really like this story and want to read more of it, leave me a review and let me know.

A/N Twilight and Characters all belong to Catherine Hardwicke and Paramount Picture. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2023 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

This takes place during New Moon after the Cullen's leave, before Alice returns.

Bella Swan shot up in bed with a scream. She looked around and put her hand over her racing heart. As she looked around, she noticed it had just been another nightmare. She was safe. "He" wasn't there. She was safe in the Cullen's house, in Edward's room.

It helped her to feel closer to them. She was just happy that when they left they only took their most cherished items and left. The house was fully furnished. So she had been sleeping on the couch in Edward's room. Since he didn't sleep, there was no bed. She didn't care. At least she was away from "him." She was safe.

BANG!

Bella jumped out of her skin at the sudden sound. She was alone in this house so who could have made that sound if it wasn't her? She gasped loudly. It was "him" he had found her and no he was coming back for her. She quickly reached under the couch and pulled out her kitchen knife. Running with the knife, she hid in the large walk-in closet. She hid as far back as she could. Curling into a tight ball, she held the knife out in front of her.

"Hello?" a voice said.

Bella whimpered and started shaking. Was "he" just taunting her?

"Is someone there?" the voice said again.

Bella could hear the footsteps and knew whoever it was, was getting closer and closer.

"Hello? I know you're up here, please show me who you are." The voice said again.

"He" was taunting her. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in her knees holding the knife even tighter.

She whimpered the closet door opened…

A few minutes earlier, Esme Cullen had finally reached her house and went inside. She was usually so good with moves and making sure to take everything with her. But this time she had left something behind that couldn't be replaced. She had to find it. She was so happy Carlisle allowed her to come back and get it.

She was searching through some draws in Carlisle's office when she heard a loud scream. She jumped not expecting anyone else to be in the house. She was so startled she accidentally knocked one of Carlisle's paperweights onto the floor causing a loud bang. Then she heard a gasp. It was coming from upstairs. Who was in their house? They hadn't sold it yet, in case they ever wanted to come back, so nobody should be in there.

"Hello?" she called out as she followed the sounds. She heard a whimper and then nothing. "Is someone there?" she called out.

She searched and all of downstairs and didn't see anything. She made her way upstairs, and still, there was nothing.

"Hello? I know you're up here, please show me who you are." She said once more. It had to be some runaway kid looking for shelter. If that was the case, she wanted to help them.

She heard another sound and then looked at Edward's closet door. It was closed. He never closed his closet door. So she knew whoever was hiding in the house was in there.

She walked over and opened the closet door. Shocked when she heard another blood-curdling scream. But what shocked her the most was the person inside the closet holding a knife. It was Bella Swan, someone who had once been like a daughter to her.

"Bella!" she gasped covering her mouth in shock.

Bella whimpered. "I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me! I'm sorry, please don't hurt me! I haven't told anyone I swear!"

Esme was confused at first and then she realized the state Bella was in. She was curled up in a tight ball. Her body shook from head to toe, her eyes were squeezed shut and buried in her knees. She was terrified.

Esme was shocked to see Bella in such a state, but she knew at that moment Bella had been hiding out at their house because someone else had attacked her. She could remember times when she had first moved in with Edward and Carlisle. There were several moments when she had mistaken either Edward or Carlisle for her abusive ex Charles.

Now she knew exactly how to handle it. She sat down on the floor in front of Bella, staying by the door. "Bella? Honey, it's ok. You're safe. I'm not going to hurt you. It's me, it's Esme Cullen." She spoke in a soft, gentle, tone, almost as if she was talking to a scared child.

Bella whimpered softly and curled into a tighter ball. It couldn't be Esme Cullen. Someone was trying to trick her.

"Please, I'm not here to hurt you. Will you please just look at me? I promise I won't hurt you. It's me, Esme Cullen." The soft, gentle voice spoke again.

The voice was soft and gentle, giving Bella some comfort. Bella slowly peeked her head up just enough to see out of one eye. When she saw who it was, she lifted her head up completely.

It really was Esme! There was no trick! But what was she doing here? Where were the others? She wanted to know but was too terrified to ask.

"That's better. Now I can see your pretty face." Esme smiled gently.

Bella blushed but didn't speak.

"Bella, will you please hand me the knife. You don't need it. I will protect you from anyone or anything that may hurt you."

Bella bit her bottom lip and then looked from the knife to Esme. That knife was the only protection she had against "him." However...what was stronger than a vampire with a rock hard body? Inhaling and exhaling a deep breath Bella nodded and handed Esme the knife.

"Thank you."

Esme took the knife and moved it out t of the way.

Bella just observed her. She had no idea what was going to happen next, and that terrified her. She whimpered softly.

Esme slowly and carefully opened her arms to Bella. "Come here, Sweet Girl."

Bella was hesitant for a minute, but eventually, she slowly uncurled her body and crawled into Esme's arms.

"That's my Sweet Girl." Esme stroked her hair as she felt every tense muscle in her body relax.

The last thought Bella had was that she was finally officially safe and then she drifted off into sleep.

Esme smiled softly when she noticed Bella had fallen asleep. She carefully stood, keep Bella in her arms. Then she left the closet and Edward's room.

She took Bella to her and Carlisle's bedroom. She laid Bella down on the bed and tucked her in. She kissed Bella on the hair, and the left the room closing the door slightly behind her.

She took out her phone and dialed Carlisle's number.

"Hello, Beautiful." Carlisle greeted. "How is Forks? Are you on your way back home?"

"Carlisle..." she choked out. "You have to come to Forks."

She could hear him sigh. "Love, I told you not to check on Bella. We both knew you wouldn't be able to leave if you did."

"I didn't check on her, Carlisle. She's hiding out in our house. I found her curled up in Edward's closet with a kitchen knife clutched tightly in her hands. She was terrified of me at first. She thought I was going to attack her."

"What? Why? Is she hurt?" Carlisle asked in a panic.

"Not physical that I could see. She has no bruises or cuts or scars or anything. But she is terrified of everyone and everything. I might not be able to see proof on her body. I may not have any special power like Alice, Jasper, and Edward but I can tell something terrible has happened to her. I just don't know what exactly it was."

"I believe you power or not. I'm on my way now. I'll be there soon. I'm sure Alice has already seen this and has alerted the others."

"Thank you, Carlisle."

"I love you."

"I love you too. See you soon."

They hung up, and Esme went back into the bedroom to check on Bella.

Bella was restless in bed. She kicked her legs and squirmed in bed. Her arms and hands were pressed flat against the bed almost as if they were pinned down. Bella started to whimper in her sleep. "Help, help."

"Shhh, shhh," Esme soothed quickly. She went over to Bella on the bed and stroked her hair. "Shhh, you're safe. I'm right here. Nobody is going to hurt you. Shhh."

Bella settled down in a dreamless sleep. Esme continued to stroke her hair and stayed by her side the entire time.

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