Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

I won't always update so quickly, but I really wanted to get this first chapter out there. Thanks for those of you that reviewed, followed, and favorited this story! I hope you enjoy.

I knocked on the door exactly like I was told to. The knock that was firm enough to be heard, but didn't scare whoever was inside. People are less likely to open a door if you sound panicked and afraid. I glanced around me as I got my breath back. I didn't need to scare anyone before I was able to tell them that my mother sent me in their direction.

The door opened to reveal a beautiful woman in her late 40s. She had a regal air about her, and I wondered how my mother ever knew these people well enough to persuade me to trust them. She had light eyes and caramel hair that was pinned up on her head like high-status women usually do. She took one glance at me, and I could see her walls being put into place as barriers of protection for her and her family that I knew were inside. "Is there something I can do for you?" She asked softly, closing the door slightly.

"My mother told me you could help. Her name is Renee Swan," I told her while maintaining eye contact. People can always look in your eyes for the truth, and I definitely needed her to trust me. Even if I didn't trust her.

"Renee. Come inside, sweetheart. Quickly."

XxXxX

People were everywhere. I couldn't figure out what they were doing, but I knew they were only moving so quickly because I had set something into motion. There was a man, her husband I assumed, that was telling everyone what to do. The woman had quickly rushed upstairs as a lookout while everyone else frantically began running through the house, putting things into order. A young girl, probably a year or two younger than myself, hurried to put all of the locks into place on the heavy wooden door that I came in from. The door was covered in a variety of locks, trailing up the entire length of the door. She quickly put all of the locks into their proper place before turning around to smile at me. I offered a small smile back, simply out of manners. I didn't know how to smile when I wasn't sure what was going on around me.

The young girl walked over to me and sat down. "My name is Alice. You're Renee's daughter, Isabella?"

I nodded. "How do you know my mother?"

"I don't know her. Neither does anyone else except for Carlisle and Esme. Esme knew her best. We were just told what to do when Renee's daughter showed up one day. We didn't except it to be so soon, but we are prepared nonetheless," Alice told me with a smile.

I looked back at everyone scurrying throughout the house, confused. "Is Esme the woman that let me inside? I'm afraid that I wasn't aware of any of you," I confessed to Alice quietly.

Alice smiled, "Of course, I'm sorry. I know that you wouldn't know of us. I was told that. Yes, Esme let you inside. Her husband, Carlisle, is the man standing near the bookcase giving orders. They have been married for a very long time, but she was never able to have children. That is why I am here along with everyone else you see. We were all orphaned as babies, but Esme and Carlisle found us. It's good here. You will like it, too. For the time you are here anyway."

My head jerked toward Alice, "The time I am here? Where am I to be going? I thought that this would be my final destination. I was told that you could protect and hide me here?"

Alice held my hand to soothe me, "I didn't mean to upset you, Isabella. You will be here for quite some time. We are going to hide you here. Let me finish telling you about everyone, shall I?"

I nodded. I didn't understand what was going on here, but I knew when I wouldn't be getting any more important information out of someone.

Alice pointed toward a couple standing near the window. The man was large, all muscle and very intimidating. He had one hand on a very large gun and the other around the waist of a gorgeous blonde. She was showing him something on a tablet, wiping mascara from under her eyes. "That's Emmett and Rosalie. She's just a little upset that something is going to happen. We will be perfectly fine, though I promise. They are dating. We aren't like an orphanage. More like a house for the unwanted. Rose was tossed out with a note saying that she was the product of rape, so she was unclean. Emmett came to Esme and Carlisle when he was a toddler. He wandered away from home, but had a bad cut and several bruises that looked as though he was being abused. Rose is a little stand-offish, but she will come around. Emmett is just a big teddy bear."

Alice then motioned toward a guy that looked extremely calm in the midst of all the chaos. He was organizing all of the tables and shelves so that everything looked very normal. Almost a little too normal. "That's Jasper. He's my prince charming. Jasper was dropped off on Carlisle and Esme's doorstep when he was a baby. No letter or anything. He's the one that found me actually. I was the last one to come here. I was 8 and my uncle was…not a nice man. I ran," Alice choked off with a small sob.

I grabbed her hand. "It's okay, Alice. You don't need to tell me any more. I understand."

Alice smiled at me, grateful. She looked away to wipe the tears from her eyes and then motioned to the last person in the room. He was gorgeous. That is the only way to describe him. He had brown hair that was cut short and a clean shaven face. His jawline was strong and you could see the muscles moving under his shirt as he moved furniture. "That's Edward. He isn't the nicest guy, but don't take it personally. He doesn't trust people at all. He isn't a bad guy though, I promise." Edward glanced toward us, hearing his name. His eyes hardened as he looked at me, and I felt myself look away from his accusatory glare.

Alice opened her mouth to say something else, but stopped when she saw Esme run down the stairs. "Okay everyone, they are almost here. Emmett make sure you're hidden well. We don't need them to see you unless they make a move first. Rosalie, upstairs now. Be quiet and cautious, lovely. Everyone else, get downstairs with Bella right now. Don't make a sound."

Alice took my hand and steered me toward the kitchen. Edward and Jasper grabbed a counter and moved it to reveal a cellar door hidden underneath. We crawled down into the cellar and the boys moved the counter back into place. Alice held her finger to her mouth, motioning for me to not make a single sound. The cellar was very cramped. I found myself pressed against Alice's side and against Edward's back.

Jasper slid one hand across the wall and a screen lit up showing the whole living area of the house and the front wooden door. Alice placed her lips right at my ear and very softly whispered, "Rosalie is upstairs with her tablet. We can see what's going on, just in case we need to do anything."

Esme walked over to Carlisle and gently placed a kiss on his cheek. She smiled up at him as someone began banging on the door.

Esme made her way over to the large wooden door and undid the many locks. She opened the door with a smile, "Hello, gentlemen. What can I do for you this morning?"

"You know damn well what you can do, woman. Where is she?" The large man demanded as he forced his way inside of the house.

Carlisle rushed over to Esme and placed a hand on her waist. "We have no idea what you two men are talking about. There is no reason to harm my wife."

The other man huffed and walked inside. "I am Laurent and this is James. We're looking for the girl. We know she was heading for this house."

Carlisle shook his head, "As I said, we don't know what you men are talking about. The only women here are my wife, Esme, and our daughter, Rosalie."

James glared at Carlisle, "Let us see this Rosalie."

"You know what Rosalie looks like. She is the young blonde woman that we have raised since she was a child."

James held his glare with Carlisle and refused to back down. I could feel myself shaking from fear. I didn't want to be caught, but I definitely don't want to cause harm to anyone in this family. I felt a hand on my leg and saw Edward glancing back at me. His hand was on my thigh to calm the shaking, and I took a deep breath when it started rubbing circles.

"Esme, would you please go fetch Rosalie. These gentlemen will not concede," Carlisle said calmly.

Esme nodded and began walking up the stairs. The screen shook as Rosalie carefully laid her tablet down in preparation for going downstairs.

Moments later, Rosalie and Esme came back into few. Rose stopped near the gentlemen and gave them a small curtsey. "Hello. Is there something that I could help with?" Rosalie asked with the perfect confused look.

James walked a circle around her and stopped close to her face, "You are a might beauty, aren't you?"

Carlisle stepped forward and placed a hand on Rosalie's arm, "James, back away."

Rosalie carefully took a step backward toward Carlisle as James watched her. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. James."

Esme took ahold of Rosalie's hand and pulled her over to the corner that she stood in. Carlisle walked over the door and opened it for the two men. "As you see, Rosalie is the same young woman that has lived her since she was a child. I would like for the two of you to leave. Now. I don't know who you think my wife and I have in this house, but I assure you that you're very wrong. Goodbye."

The two men scowled as they walked outside. Carlisle quickly closed the door behind him and slid all of the locks into their place.

Rosalie ran over to Emmett and took comfort in his arms. Something must have happened at some point with them and James that has her so upset. I know better than to question it. She was stronger to their face than I ever could have been. I know that they will be back, and I just hope that these people hold up their promise to my mother and provide me with security.

Edward and Jasper began sliding open the counter so we could get out when the gunshots started going off. I felt myself fall into unconsciousness as everything went into chaos.

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