A/N - ok, so i know i said no review, no story... but i had this chapter already written as it took me so long to find a beta before i found carliecullenx that i managed to write this chapter and a fair bit of the next chapter too. so, after only one review i decided that this story probably wasnt going to happen, but i already had this chapter so i decided to post this and if i still dont get a decent amount of reviews then yeah... no story.

all im asking for is five reviews... please! =[

Chapter 2 – bloodied and bruised

Edwards pov

Forks.

I hated the damn place. I hated the rain, I hated that there was bugger all to do here, but, most of all, I hated the people. To them, I was just a spoilt rich kid. That simple knowledge, the knowledge of the amount in my aunt and uncle's bank account made everyone here fluorescent green with envy. Well, most of them anyway. At first I got a lot of female attention, it was odd but I was flattered... then embarrassed as I tried over and over again to communicate to them that I wasn't romantically interested in any of them, but they were very determined to believe I was just playing hard-to-get.

I think Seth must have felt really sorry for me one day and came to my rescue when I was cornered by a group of... wild girls, and we have been best friends ever since. I'm sure at first, it was mostly out of pity, but as we got to know each other, our friendship grew into a genuine appreciation of each other. Soon after, Ben and Angela joined us, those two were also kind and weren't obsessed with the amount of money my family had.

Most people eventually took the hint that I didn't, in fact, appreciate almost the entire female population of Forks – that's right, Forks, not just the school - cornering me at every available opportunity. And that would honestly have been a tremendous relief, if it wasn't for... certain individuals who couldn't take a hint. Perhaps I would've given in, agreed to go on a date with them – they certainly were persistent, could they really want me that bad? – and I was even considering relenting, but I overheard them bitching and plotting, I heard them say evil and untrue things about my friends – and if that alone was enough to put me off, for life – then they started talking about a bet they made about who would get a date with me first. I walked – almost ran – away instantly, repulsed by their lack of, both personality and morals, and thoroughly disgusted with myself for even considering going out with them. If their first advances irritating, then after that, their mere presence was infuriating.

It was Angela's birthday and we had just taken her bowling, I was driving everyone in my Volvo – one of the few advantages of having a pitifully small number of friends – and we were driving back from Port Angeles.

"But did you see that guy's face when you both pretended to be gay together?" Angela yelled through fits of laughter.

"Serves him right for being such a snoopy, closed minded, fat old perv!" I shouted back through my own guffaws. This had been one of the best days of my life... especially since leaving the group home I was in before Carlisle and Esme adopted me.

Me and Seth made kissy faces at each other and once again the car erupted. It was amazing how loud four people could be. I loved my friends deeply and couldn't really imagine life without them – it would be boring as hell – and I know Esme and Carlisle were eternally grateful I chose quality over quantity.

Then there was a loud thunk and the car started to swerve out of control. I slammed on the brakes and tried to keep the car from rocketing off the edge of the road and into a nearby tree.

"Shit," I breathed after a minute of tense silence and stillness – and after I had caught my breath.

First thing's first, "is everyone alright?" I asked, frantically turning around and scanning the car for injuries. Thankfully, they all nodded their heads, only looking a little shaken. Thank god!

I sighed and leaned my head back against the headrest. The wave of relief that washed over me was such a stark contrast between the worry and panic that gripped me a moment ago, the abrupt change was dizzying and I felt myself start to chuckle.

"What happened?" Angela asked after a moment.

"I don't know," I replied as I got out to investigate, "Aha! I see the problem here, we have a flat tyre, must have driven over a sharp pebble or something, the tyres were getting pretty bald anyway, " I announced as I inspected the front wheel.

I walked to the boot to get the spare tyre out, but halted as I noticed the back wheel was flat as well. I ran my hand through my hair in confusion. What the hell?

I looked around, possibly hoping for anything that would magically hint to an answer. As I turned, something very solid smashed into my face. I fell back against the car with the force of the blow and my head struck the rear-windshield, hard. Pain bloomed quickly under my skin, but I ignored it as I turned to face the attacker. I could see he was going for another right-hook, but this time I was prepared and the punch could be seen coming a mile off. I blocked it and landed a sucker-punch on his stomach. He doubled over but then two more stepped up to replace him. Oh bloody hell!

I heard Seth try and get out of the car to help but was met with another two, they were attacking him as well, he should have just stayed in the car and phoned the police.

They all wore masks and nondescript clothing, so there was no chance in hell of identifying any of them later on. I vaguely registered that Ben was clambering hastily over the front seat while Ang was trying to keep him in the car with panicked expression, I didn't blame her, she was trying to get Seth back in the car too, maybe if we could all get in, we could wait the attack out, or at least struggle to get to town while riding on the rims.

I struggled with the two... bandits that were focusing on me as I tried to inch myself over to the driver's side, but the one that I had winded earlier was recovering his breath and composure. I had managed to get in a few good shots, but so had they, I was sure I would not be a pretty sight tomorrow. I could feel blood trickling down my face from various cuts and scratches, but I was marginally pleased that the attackers didn't seem to be in much better shape. I was suddenly, overwhelmingly glad that I had been forced into those self-defence lessons – that I now helped teach – once Esme and Carlisle realised I was being bullied. I had been so proud when I stood up to the bullies for the first time.

But the feeling of gratefulness soon dissolved in a flash as two of them caught my arms. The one that was just finished recovering from being winded stood up and got a gleam in his eye that I was sure meant nothing good. I was right about that as he came up and kneed me right in the balls... Hard. The adrenaline in my system that helped me ignore the pain from the other hits, could do nothing to alleviate this pain.

Jesus mother-fucking Christ!

I immediately crumpled in pain, holy shit that hurt! As I collapsed, they took advantage of my bowed head and hit me on the back of my head with enough force to knock me out cold...

And cold was what I felt when I came round. I woke up groggily, wondering why I had a hangover, I hadn't been drinking last night had I? It was highly unlikely. My head was pounding and everything ached, basically, I felt like shit. Then I remembered being attacked. Ok, these obviously aren't just ordinary, road-side criminals, what the hell did they want? Crap! What about everyone else? Seth, Ben, Ang... did they take my friends too? I looked around the dark, musty room, and saw that I was alone, but that didn't mean anything, they could've easily separated us.

I was on a hard, tiled floor and the walls were bare plaster, with a few scraps of some shabby, faded yellow wallpaper clinging on pathetically, as though it was determined to make sure that the room had at least some decoration in it. I shifted uncomfortably, I was in no better condition than the room. I was bloodied and bruised. I felt the crusty blood trails and spatters on my grimy skin. The blood cracked and and moved whenever I did, and it itched like hell. I could feel the stiff ache in my muscles from the exertion of the fight, and my awkward position on the floor, the dull throbbing of my bruises – some more painful than others – and the sting of my scratches, amplified by the grime and the salty sweat that gotten into them. I longed for a shower to ease my cramped muscles and wash off the thick layer of filth that coated my skin and some clean clothes as these had become uncomfortably and my jeans were beginning to chafe.

I felt the first thrill of fear course through me then, my unease began eating away at me as I waited and wondered. I tried to move to relieve the cramps in my arms but my wrists met resistance I looked up and even more anxious at the sight of my wrists chained up above my head. I struggled, with dead arms from being held up so high, to turn so that I was facing the wall with my hands in front of me as I stood up. I checked my pockets too – with difficulty – but found nothing, I wasn't surprised, really, but not even my half packet of gum was left. I was left alone, cold and with nothing but my clothes. Then I looked at my wrist frantically searching...

I sighed in relief as I saw Bella's friendship bracelet still around my wrist. It was the only piece of jewellery I owned; and I never took it off, not once since the moment she had put it on me. We made them when we found out I was going to be adopted, so that if we ever saw each other again we would know who it was. I briefly let my mind wonder back to the two years I had spent with Bella at the group home. We were best friends and I think I loved her even then, in the childish way a seven-year-old loves another, and I think I still did love her. I had often caught myself imagining, whenever I was bored and sometimes not even then, thoughts of Bella invading my mind when I least expected it, where she was, what she looked like, what her family was like... whether she was happy... if she still thought of me at all.

I wished I had kept in touch, or at least gone looking for her... but I had been afraid she had taken off the bracelet after I had basically abandoned her. I was scared she wouldn't recognise me after all these years. I rested my head back against the wall trying – once again – what she would look like now, I hoped she kept her hair that rich dark auburn colour, and that she kept it long, I loved the feel of her hair when I was little. My own hair had grown even more unruly and darkened to a rusty colour rather than blonde. I wondered if she still had the same creamy skin, her pale complexion was beautiful. I wondered if she was still small, she had always been the tiniest in the home. I sighed, I was sure I would recognise her if – by some miracle – I ever saw her again.

There was a little bit of chain from the wall to my hands, giving me a little room to walk around, it probably wasn't intentional and I wouldn't have been able to get very far but it let my wrists hang in my lap if I sat up, saving me from pins and needles.

I stayed in the silent room for hours, and eventually I started to grow hungry. It was all I could do to ignore my growling stomach as I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep in the hopes that I would wake up and this would all just be a nightmare – I know, I know, wishful thinking – I didn't notice when drifted off, but I sure as hell noticed when I woke up. I was dragged roughly from one gloomy room to another, I tripped a few times while I tried to stand up and move forward simultaneously, but the hand at the scruff of my neck simply yanked me up impatiently each time, before forcefully shoving me onto a chair where him and his accomplices wasted no time in tying me up. I was bound tight to the hard, wooden chair that was no more comfortable that the floor I had just been laying on, with coarse rope that scratched and rubbed at my skin when they pulled it tight.

I tried to demand to know what I was doing there and where Ang Ben and Seth were, but as soon as I started talking – whilst struggling against being tied up – a disgusting piece of old material that tasted strongly of stale sweat, was crammed into my mouth and tied around the back of my head. I couldn't see very much in the dim light but I thought I could make out seven people in the room. My eyes didn't need time to adjust to the dark as my eyes had been closed for the last god knows how long – even though it felt like mere minutes.

The kidnappers backed away once they had finished and stood around me then I noticed a tiny red, LED light flicker into existence behind them. I felt suddenly incredibly vulnerable, tied securely to a chair, arms pinned to my sides, legs held immobile, gagged... they could do absolutely fucking anything they wanted and I would be utterly helpless.

But as they switched on the light – directly above and just a little in front of my head – pain stabbed into my retinas and I reflexively winced and snapped my eyes shut, it took a few flickering seconds before I could open my eyes relatively comfortably, but even then I couldn't see past the glaring circle of light surrounding me. The seven hulking shadows converged menacingly and I felt again my vulnerability and my fear spike almost painfully.

One of them approached, one of the less burly ones, in fact, half of them couldn't even be described as burly, although they did have aura around them that instinctually warned people not to mess with them. They stepped into the light and stalked over to the side of my chair. She was tall and had flame-red hair pulled back tightly from her face, and she had on a black mask that covered only the top half of her face, it had on it intricate swirling designs that made it look Venetian.

I could feel the ropes rubbing my skin raw as I tried to lean away from her, I wasn't truly afraid – yet – but I was far from fucking comfortable. She stuck her hand in my hair and jerked my head back, exposing my neck. But instead, she just looked at me, closely inspecting my face, I watched her eyes dart all over me, taking in every detail before finally meeting my eyes. She seemed somehow satisfied with what she saw as she gave an imperceptible nod and let go of my hair, roughly shoving my head away before she withdrew.

They all withdrew to the corner and started whispering among themselves, I couldn't make out a word of what they were saying so I couldn't tell if they were arguing or what. As my heartbeat started to decelerate, I noticed my dry mouth, my sandpaper throat and the black-hole that used to be my stomach. The last time I had eaten was at the bowling alley... was it yesterday or near two days ago now? And that was the last time I had had a drink as well, I was so thirsty.

I watched my captors warily, the question what are they going to do next? Was never far from my mind as they continued their debate. I still couldn't see very clearly beyond the blinding cage of light, but I could still see just enough to be able to tell if any of them were approaching or not.

After some time they broke apart and most of them stayed in the corner just watching me. One of them came forward and at first, I thought it was the same woman as before, but as she stepped into the light, I saw she had blonde hair. She walked around the back of my chair, seemingly assessing me, just as the first woman had. When she had finished circling me, she leaned down and her face came uncomfortably close to mine. I leaned as far away as I could in the confines of the chair. I saw a small, satisfied grin flicker across her face before she leaned in and licked my cheek. I couldn't help but furrow my eyebrows in disgust and confusion, but she didn't seem to notice. A hand reached up and unceremoniously pulled the gag from my mouth, but her finger lingered by my mouth a little too long.

She brought her head back and stared at me, "what do you want? Where are my friends? Where am I?" the questions that had been hovering over my head like a dark storm-cloud tumbled from my lips until she shut me up with a slap.

"Quiet!" she barked as her hand hit my face.

She waited a moment to be sure I would be quiet before moving her head forward again, until I could feel her lips brush my ear, "now will you behave?"

After a moments hesitation I nodded, what kind of question is that to ask the person you had just kidnapped anyway? But I couldn't see any alternatives, I was out of options. Maybe if I cooperated I would get some food, and maybe some answers... maybe it would just result in less injuries, either way, it was my best bet.

"Good boy," she said running her fingers through the now matted hair behind my ear and petting me like a dog, with a lot of effort I managed to clamp my mouth shut.

She backed until she stood in front of me, she shoved a piece of paper in my face, "read this," she hissed venomously at me as she let go and the crumpled paper fell to my lap.

I stared at the large words scrawled on the sheet, as the blonde moved away. I didn't do much else until the blonde was speaking again, "Come on, be a good boy and read to the camera."

I glanced up to see that she was stood just on the edge of the light, a camcorder in her hands, trained directly on me. I noticed the red LED light was on, showing that it was already recording. My eyes darted to the others who were grouped behind her, it was an intimidating sight even for Seth – who had no concept of fear – let alone someone already weary and tied tight to a really uncomfortable chair.

"Sorry, I can't read this spidery scrawl you call handwriting," I spoke without thinking, maybe I was a masochist; maybe I wanted to show my defiance instead of giving in to them; maybe, subconsciously I didn't want to look like a push over in front of the camera and whoever was going to see the tape, now was definitely not the time to develop a vain streak.

The ginger one hissed and strode forward, she was towering over me in an instant, another slap to the face, then she yanked my head back by the hair and leaned so far over me she was almost directly above my head, "read it you little shit, just fucking read it!" her knee pressed on my still tender crotch. I hissed and winced as she chuckled and backed away, pausing only to pick up the paper and slam it down on my lap. I jerked in my seat again and drew in a shuddering breath, I'm sure my face contorted into an ugly grimace of pain. Twice in one minute!

I looked down at my lap again reluctantly, "If you ever want to see me again, you must do as instructed, don't involve the authorities, if you don't follow the instructions, they're gonna..." I swallowed painfully, my dry throat constricting around the words, disabling my voice box.

I vaguely heard angry hisses of "read it!" but they seemed distant, far away, as my world was reduced to the next words on the page. There was a loud thwack and a small sting on the inside of my thigh, a small – ish – blade had landed less than an inch from my balls, are these people obsessed with my manhood or something?

I swallowed, "they're gonna shoot me then come after you," it was a strange thing, saying the very real possibility of your own – probably painful and too soon – death, it only made it worse that I was predicting my adoptive parents' death too.

I had been lucky when they decided they wanted me, they were good people who were very kind, compassionate, and loving. They loved me like a real son,and it wasn't long before I loved them as real parents too. They were wonderful and didn't deserve to die in the least, I was offended that someone could even think about killing them. I hoped they followed the instructions, purely for their sake.