Disclaimer: Characters, (except the ones I create) belong to Stephenie Meyers. Lucky lady.

Trafficking

Chapter 1

I must be in Hell. I must have done something so wrong in a past life that I would end up here in this moment. And I thought my life with Charlie was bad. I don't even know where I am anymore. I ran away from Charlie…"Dad" a few days ago. Mom died a few years ago and so I was sent to live with him in Oregon. And I did just that. I lived and nothing else. Charlie didn't love. It was hard enough for him not to hit me. Sometimes he didn't even have enough strength to not do that. When I first moved in with him I thought things might be okay. Sure we didn't really know each other, but we might be able get along enough to share a household. And for a few weeks I was hopeful. He wasn't nice per say, but he wasn't abusive…yet.

That all changed the night of March thirteenth. With my luck it was probably a Friday. Lucky Friday the thirteenth. Charlie came home drunk. No, he wasn't drunk, he was plastered. I was surprised he managed to get home. Then again, he was the chief of police of our little town; someone had to drag his sorry ass back home. He stumbled in through the front door slamming it shut. It took him five minutes just to figure out how to use the deadbolt. The deadbolt he didn't install until I came to live with him…the better to keep you in with my dear. I watched in horror as his thick fingers finally slid the lock into place and he turned around, eyes glazed over.

"Bell." He couldn't even speak my name without slurring, am I a noun now? "Bell, get over here." His eyes locked on mine and I slowly came forward from my sanctuary behind the tiny kitchen table.

"Charlie." I didn't even want to look at him. He reeked of alcohol. This was bad. I've never seen him this wasted.

"It's all your fault Bell. 'Cause you're hear my life is ruined." He didn't know what he was talking about. "I bet you are the reason your mommy died. Couldn't stand to be around you…around your kind." My kind?

"I bet she decided she would rather be dead then the mother of a good for nothing whore, a slut who sleeps with anyone with a cock and cash." I felt my face flush in heat and anger. I've never heard those words come out of his mouth. I don't even know where he would get an idea like this. I've never even kissed a boy. Hah, a seventeen year old girl who's never kissed a boy. I'm not a prude, just limited and antisocial with Charlie breathing down my neck.

"Don't say that! Mom loved me! We were best friends and she loved me…" Ouch. I instantly grabbed my throbbing cheek. Charlie slapped me. I should have seen this coming. When he's drunk he gets angry, and when he get's angry I get to become his personal punching bag. I should have just kept my mouth shut.

"What were you saying whore?" It was now or never. I had had enough of Charlie's abuse. Enough of the punching, the kicking, the constant pain, the quilt of bruises that covered my body.

"I said she loved me. Like you never have you son of a bitch." I was pushed against the kitchen counter the edge digging into my lower back. "Being a smart alec huh? I don't think so." I doubled over as Charlie jammed his fist into my stomach knocking the wind out of me. Another punched contacted my ribs and a kick brought my legs out from under me. I groaned in pain to winded to do anything else.

"Anything else you wanna say?" Charlie cackled in his drunken rage as he looked down at me from above. I was shaking from the pain and adrenaline. But I had to do something. I could die tonight. I kicked at Charlie with the less sore of my two legs and caught him behind his knee. He tripped and with his less than perfect intoxicated coordination he tumbled backwards, his head hitting the linoleum floor with a thud. Oh God. Did I just kill Charlie? Am I responsible for taking another person's life?

I managed to get to my feet somehow, taking a moment to steady myself within the spinning room. I made my way over to Charlie's still form and bent over to check for signs of life. He was breathing, good enough for me. I ran as quickly as possible to the stairs and up to my room locking the door behind me. I threw open my closet grasping blindly for a bag, any bag I could use to carry whatever few possessions I had with me. I was finally taking action and getting out of here. Goodbye Charlie.

I quietly unlocked my door checking to see if Charlie was awake. Not a sound. I made my way back downstairs pausing only to look at Charlie one last time before leaving. I stepped outside and froze. Where do I go? I could go south to California, but that seemed obvious. Charlie being as dull-minded as he is would probably look their first. If he even came after me. I honestly didn't know if he would. On one hand I knew he couldn't care less about me or my life. But on the other hand he's probably going to be worried about me reporting the abuse to authorities. That would definitely light a fire under his ass in his search for me. Better get moving. I check my wallet. Sixty dollars that took months to save up and my driver's license. Nothing else. Bus station it is. I'll take the next bus north.

Now all I had to do was get there. I guess I would take the obvious choice and walk all 6 miles. I shivered in my hoodie and clutched my sides as I walked as quickly as I could down the road that ran from town to the surrounding outskirts. It was dark out and the road was empty. What am I going to do when I get to Seattle? Get a job I guess, save up a bit until I can find a place to stay. Ok, so it wasn't the best situation, but anything beat getting abused. Surviving Charlie proved I was tough, I could take care of myself.

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts and worries that I didn't hear the car approaching behind me. My body was bathed in a pool of red taillights as the fancy car sped past me. I watched as it came to a slow stop before reversing and rolling to my side. The driver's window rolled down and a man, maybe in his mid thirties, looked out. I eyed him over quickly; nice suit, clean hair, nice smile. A respectable business man probably commuting home from work.

"Do you need any help?" He definitely sounded well educated.

"Umm…I'm trying to get to the bus station. My ride never showed up…"

He chuckled. "Hop in, it's on my way." I quickly weighed the pros and cons in my head. A strong gust of wind blew my bag against my back irritating my new bruise. I needed to get away from Charlie.

"If it's no trouble…that would be great." I walked around to the passanger door and got in. As soon as I was buckled we were off.

Business man, as I decided to nickname him, turned to me and grinned. "I'm Mischa. It's a pleasure to meet you…".

"Bella, well Isabella but I go by Bella."

"Well It's a pleasure to meet you Bella."

"Likewise. Misha, that's an interesting name."

"I'm Russian. I moved here when I was one year old. My father had some…business opportunities. So Bella, may I ask where you're going?"

I didn't know if I should tell him. He was a total stranger though, it couldn't hurt. "Seattle. Just trying to make a start for myself I guess."

"Seattle huh? I'm actually headed there myself. Why don't I just give you a ride? Save your money."

"I couldn't. The bus is fine, really."

"Nonsense. Save your money for when you really need it. It's no trouble."

"Umm…well, okay. As long as your sure…"

"Of course. That's why I offered." I smiled back at Misha and relaxed into my seat. He must have seen me trying to hide a yawn because he handed me his jacket from the back of his car and insisted I use it as a blanket.

"Sleep. By the time you wake up we'll be there."

I must have been exhausted because by the time my eyes blearily opened it was day and we definitely weren't in Oregon anymore.

"Welcome to Seattle." I turned to business man and gave a shy smile. I made it. I had escaped Charlie!

"Thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it. You can just drop me off at the next corner or something."

"I don't think that will be happening Bella."

"Wh…wh…what do you mean?" I felt my face drain of color. This was not happening. Did this guy work for Charlie or something?

"You silly silly girl. Did you honestly think I could just let you go? I just brought you all the way up to Seattle. You are indebted to me."

"I would…I would have taken the bus. Please, I have sixty dollars. Just let me go. I…I need to go." I reached for the door handle, but it was locked.

"Let me out. Please. Please." I was becoming hysterical and I couldn't control my crying. I felt a hand along my cheek, the one Charlie slapped.

"Bella…so pretty. It would be such a shame to let you go. That's why I'm not going to."

I squeezed my eyes shut trying to end this nightmare. I opened them only to find we had pulled into an alleyway. My door was pulled open and large hands grabbed my arm. The big man led me down a metal staircase. Why down? Why were we going down? What's happening? A large metal door was thrust open in front of me and I peered into the dimly lit room I was pushed into. The room was bare, a table and one chair. Curtains covered all the windows. Before I even had time to get a second glance of the room, I was pulled down a long hallway then down a second set of stairs. It was even darker down here if that were possible. But it wasn't as empty. There were 6 bunk beds, each mattress covered only with a thin blanket. At the foot of each bed were large chests, old and falling apart. In a corner was a small wooden table with playing cards and an ashtray. The only light in the room was coming from a bare light bulb in the ceiling. There were other girls here, pale and sad looking dressed in robes that looked like they had seen better days. What was this place?

"Welcome to your new home Bella." I spun around and came face to face with Misha. "Bella…Bella…hmmm. No, you will be called Isabella. It sounds more exotic, more desirable. Now, take off your sweater and shirt…Isabella."

"What?!"

One of the large men moved in closer towards me. Misha held out his arm signaling him to hold off. "I said take off your shirt. I need to find out what kind of goods I have to work with. I'm not a magician. I can't sell everything."

I felt the panic within me rise again. Sell? He was going to sell me? I glanced around to get a better look at the women…girls surrounding me. A few had negligees under their robes, others sweats. Tacky "hooker" shoes were scattered about the room, which stank of cheap perfume. It hit me, just like the stink of the perfume. I was being forced…sold into slavery. Sexual slavery.

Should I continue? I would like a few reviews before I post the next chapter so review! The more reviews I get the faster I'll post the next chapter! Its already 3/4 of the way done. Just tell me what you think.

~lmbrtvll