Chapter 3
I dreamed about him. About the Cullen boy, with his glistening blond hair and deep southern drawl that made my heart skip. I twisted and turned in pain in between dreams, the bullet wounds were closing up and 10 times the speed and the bullets were being wedged into my skin as the skin healed over them. I will never be able to go through another metal detector again.
I awoke in a drench of sweat and I shuddered at the puckered skin on my thigh and shoulder. I ignored it and tried not wince when I moved, it took a little longer to get dressed and when I got out into the courtyard my father and his associates where waiting for me. "ah Isabella I have a mission for you, now since you did so well at recovering the credit cards from the family yesterday, we have decided that you will be offered a position here even if you get married." Said my father putting an arm around my shoulders, I tried to keep my mind blank knowing he would be able to see any bad thoughts about him. It is tradition in the community that the women stop working the streets once they get married but certain exceptions are made. I heard my brothers growl from behind me, did I ever mention they get very jealous of the female race? Nope, well they are the most sexist people I have met along with everyone else in the community. I looked behind the workers to see the married women standing outside their compound smoking, we all had different compounds, an unmarried compound, a couples compound and a children's compound. It is where you eat sleep and drink, I am the only one left in the singles compound. So I have to share with any of the visiting community leaders, most of them are middle aged leering men that don't know what no means.
"Why are you worrying about this now father?" I asked surly he would only tell me if I was about to get married. "well as you know things have been crumbling a bit in the Chicago community and they have had to disband so the leader is coming here and is supplying us with a hearty amount of money to have a place in the Seattle community." I knew all this and couldn't help but feel that my father was stalling; I had a bad feeling about this. "Well, I thought it would be a good idea to fully integrate him into the family that means you need to marry him Bella" I stopped walking with him and looked at him. "You are kidding me? I haven't even made it to my 20th birthday and you are already marrying me of?" I whisper shouted, "Bella you have no say in the matter and if you even think about going against your new husband I won't tell your brothers to stop until you are a shivering pulp on the floor." He threatened punching my bullet wound I groaned and clutched my wound. "He will be here when you get back to from working the streets and I suggest that you make him feel welcome there is a lot riding on this." He let go of me and I stumbled to the desk to pick up my worksheet for the day. I was shaking with fear, anger and pain, father had planted a very strong order into my mind, "you will not eat drink or sleep until I have heard that your new husband is satisfied with having you for a wife." His powers scared me he made your mind give you pain if you don't follow certain orders and as I left the estate I felt my parched throat ache in pain of being deprived of water.
I walked slowly past my brothers, ben and tony, they were looked so alike both in looks and personality, both looked like they had been crossed between Justin Bieber and chewee from star wars. The grunted an acknowledgement at me, they even sounded like it. I scowled at them as they joined me in my walk out of the compound. "so my little sis is getting married" sneered my brother. I frowned "I am older than you" I replied at them as they slung an arm around my shoulder mocking my size. "yes but we are taller stronger and men so that makes us superior, what's a little girly like you going to do" did I mention they were sexist? I think I did. in the community the boys get there full powers when they are 19 not 20 because they need a year to become superior to the chosen women they want to marry, sexist, demeaning and just another way for men to assert their control over women, not that they have any except them just having greater numbers in the community. They seemed bored of my silence and decided to eat breakfast on the way to their steal sites. Mine was the mall, oh joy hyper active teenage girls on a Saturday shopping spree leaving their bags on benches to take a selfie, just asking to be robbed. My douche bag brothers were lording their food and drinks over me, so much so that they didn't notice me turn their food mouldy, I love my powers sometimes. They reached in without looking at it and ate a handful of mouldy potato chips. I laughed as their faces puckered into looks off disgust, I bit back a chuckle before turning around the corner to come face to face with the gang from yesterday, they had something else this time.
"Don't take one more step Bella, otherwise daddy's little princes is getting acid all over her" jeered the leader, Oscar I think his name is. "Oscar let's stop messing around, just do what you wanted to in the first place." Said one of his cronies. I heard me brothers approach from behind me, they stood behind me arms crossed. "I've got this guys" I said not wanting them to get even more arrogant than they already are. "We wouldn't want you to ruin your pretty little face when you are meeting your new husband tomorrow." Chided ben, I sighed and closed my eyes that was the wrong thing to say, the leader looked ecstatic as he twisted me around by the arm to be gripped in a head lock with a supersoaker full of acid in my face. "Nice going you douche" I spat at Ben who got a smack from tony. "tell your father that we are keeping Isabella until he gives us our territory back, we wouldn't anything to happen to her since her big day is coming up." He had me pulled close into his body and I could smell his rank weed breathe. "yeh that's not happening" I snarled and flipped him out of the headlock with all my force, he landed on the pavement with a crack, and I turned to his gang holding the gun full of acid towards them, they ran for the hills and I threw the gun to Ben and Tony leaving them mouthing wordlessly as I continued towards the mall.
I had the feeling someone was watching me.
Jasper POV
I was jumping on my heels as I set of with Emmett, Edward and Alice. I was skittish and nervous we planned to get her out today, I needed her out today. We had been sitting in the car waiting and waiting for one of the faces from last night to make their way out, I had heard snippets of a conversation and my heart leapt at the sound of her talking to her father but I was too far away to listen to everything. I heard "20th, marry and shivering pulp" they all confused me even more than I was last night, what was this place? I looked up and down the building and was woken from my musings by Edward who pointed at the back fire escape and I saw her, Isabella. She was rushing through the doors, in a pair of old jeans too short for her, and a long sleeved cropped top. The jeans were high waisted and you could barley see the break in clothes. She came trooting over the road ignoring our car and continuing with two men in tow, I recognised them from last night. I growled and Alice rubbed my arm leading me in the shadow of the street following her on foot. She was trying to shake of her so called brothers, though I couldn't see how family could do that to each other. She was older than them which shocked me. They all looked the same age, I would have thought if any of them were older it would be the boys they acted like they were in charge of her.
She turned the corner and came face to face with the boys from yesterday. They had acid and I hissed trying to go and aid her but was stopped yet again. Her brothers stepped behind her at least they were going to defend her this time. I hadn't been listening to the conversation until now. "we wouldn't want anything to happen to you now that your new husband is coming today" said her idiot brother. She sighed and was put in a head lock she just let it happen. "you douche Ben" he got a slap from his brother. The leader was saying something but I wasn't listening I was watching Bella her wince as she was pulled further into his body, I watched her snarl under her breath then I watched her hand him his arse on a plate. She grabbed the supersoaker from were he lay, the others ran off and she chucked the soaker to her brothers before returning on her way. Her brothers looked shocked before releasing themselves from their freeze. They picked up the boy and dragged him back to the compound before jogging back out late for something. They dropped a few sheets of papers. I picked them up and read them:
Drop sites
Tony & Ben- train station, 8:00-12:00
Afternoon patrols 12:30-5:30
Free time
Thomas & Jenkins- north bars and restaurants 8:00-3:00
Free time 3:00-10:30
Night patrols 10:30-2:30
There was a long list of names and then the one that made my heart leap.
Isabella- west mall 8:00am-12:00am
South cinema's and restaurants 12:30pm-4:00pm
Office work- 4:00pm-6:00pm
Club work- 6:00pm-9:00pm
Night patrol 9:30pm-12:00am
Free time 12.00pm- 8.00am
Her list was by far the longest and she was the only woman on it. I wondered why, and what this list meant, they were obviously going to be at these places. I looked closer and saw that the night patrol had been crossed out and by it scribbled in black ink was, Chicago leader- Bella, I shook my head trying to make sense of it all. I looked at my watch it was just coming up for 8.10 she would be at the west side mall. I shoved the paper into Alice's hand and led the guys back to Edwards Volvo.
I paced up and down the mall trying to find her, I hadn't. Edward and Alice were searching the other side we had been at it for an hour and still hadn't found her. I was frustrated and slid down onto one of the benches. Her scent was faint in this part and I had a faint suspicion that she had left. I ran me hands through my hair, letting out a frustrated moan. My phone buzzed and I picked it up knowing it was Edward. "we have found her jasper she is outside of Gucci you might want to get here quick though she looks like she is about to leave." I flipped my phone shut and jogged as fast as I could without running full pelt. I got there and noticed Edward and Alice sitting on a bench that was partially covered by a potted plant. They could see her but she couldn't see them. I rushed over and sat down quickly my eyes never leaving her. She looked beautiful even in the tatty clothes. She was carrying a backpack that looked fairly light but she carried it like it weighed a ton of bricks, she looked tired and winced slightly with every sharp movement. She had been standing there for ten minutes occasionally straying into the crowd only to come back rummaging in her rucksack.
She looked up into the crowd and slid down to the floor and sat there legs outstretched, a man that looked well into his fifties came and sat down next to her. I heard Edward growl under his breath, I gave him a questioning look but he shook his head and nodded his head towards her, I returned to eavesdropping. "Do you have it then Ralph?" she asked opening out her hand towards him. He grasped it and caressed it in his own; I felt a growl rise in my throat. She snatched her hand back and he chuckled and handed her a small brown parcel that was just as big as her hand but was heavy all the same, she put it in her rucksack and stood, he followed eagerly. She pulled out an envelope that looked like it was for a birthday card, it looked perfectly ordinary. "My father wants to tell you that the payments are changing, just money." She said in a firm voice, his face fell but soon turned back to his usual sneer. "I can't say I am not disappointed Isabella but I am sure your pretty little face will come back to me soon." He said grabbing her into a sleazy hug which she fought out of, he chuckled and stroked her face before striding of. I was nearly on my feet before I saw her shift her hand and mutter something under her breath, a bag slid out in front of the man tripping him over into a security guard. She returned to her normal position lent against the wall and then taking trips into the crowd and back again.
"Edward what was he thinking?" I asked scared of the answer. "He was a pig Jasper, it seems he preferred to be paid in something else than just money, he was hoping to take her back to a sleazy hotel after giving her the order. But for some reason her father stopped that payment and just the money, he didn't understand why." Edward explained through gritted teeth, I nearly ran after him to rip his head off. I stood and motioned for them to follow we needed to talk to her now.
Bella POV
That disgusting pig! I wiped my cheek were his greasy hands touched me. The only thing good coming out of this marriage was that my father couldn't use my body as a way to pay our workers, I returned to stealing. I stood on the far wall felling a bit more comfortable now that I had the package. I walked out when I saw some rich snobs walking past looking down on the shop assistants and other people. I walked into the crowd and made my way to them they were looking in the window of the Gucci store and I stood beside them, they turned their noses up at me and started flouncing of. I made a woman's cane stick out in front of one of them. When she tripped she snapped a heel, they dragged her over to one of the benches and then returned to try and gather what had skidded out of her bag. I used my powers to shoot the iPhone and iPod into my hand then I took some dollar bill out of her purse. No one saw them shoot into my open hand that I then concealed in my sleeve. I smiled and returned to my resting spot it was were most people stopped to browse and the perfect spot to steal from. I stuffed the new additions into my bag; it had a charm put on it so it was as big as one of the stores on the inside. I looked at the clock and decided to make my way to my second favourite steal spot next to the apple and android store, when I felt someone tap my shoulder I spun round to meet jasper Cullen. I gasped and staggered back, none of my targets ever found me. "How did you find me?" I asked worried now, "we followed you" said the pixie, Alice. Followed? But I made it impossible I took the long way to the estate in order to lose any trails. "We need to get you medical attention" said jasper abruptly I looked at him shocked "wait what! How do you know about that? Who are you?" I spluttered it was official I need to escape. I looked for some type of escape route, that's when my stomach cramped again for lack of food and water. "You poor thing you are starved." Exclaimed Alice she grabbed me in a death grip and pulled me to the food court. I struggled but Jasper and Edward came up on my other side and boxed me in. they pushed me into a seat and Alice tottered of to get food. I could already feel the pain in my head coming from being so close to food and drink. I struggled against them as I saw the food; it pained my head as father had put the barrier in my mind. They set me down in a chair Jasper sat opposite me and Edward beside me, Alice went to get the food. "How come you are still walking? You must be in pain." Said Jasper eyes filled with concern. "I don't know what you are talking about" I answered acting dumb, "you know what we are talking about." Answered Edward I saw he was gripping the seat in concentration, I felt a slight banging against my mental shield. "Do you mind not doing that" I said tapping my head "private property up there." he looked shocked and so did jasper, then the pixie placed a burger and fries in front of me with a massive milkshake. My head was splitting at the seams and I clutched my head in pain, I moaned it was so intense. "What's wrong?" asked jasper grasping my hand, "get me away from the food" I grunted I could feel my nose bleed. They immediately led me out of the food court and out of the mall completely.
I sank to the floor and rested my head in my hands. "We want to help you Bella" my head shot up and the sound of his voice. "Why would you want to help a thief?" I asked, he looked saddened by this comment. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked I had nothing to say to this. "jasper her father has putting a barrier in her mind it puts her in pain whenever she's near food and water, she can't eat until he lifts it." explained Edward, he must be a mind reader, he would have been able to read all the different barriers in my mind just not my thoughts. "Why did your father do that?" asked Alice who came down to sit by me. "Because I have been having thoughts about leaving but I am not allowed, I am getting forced into an arranged marriage and I don't have a choice otherwise I will starve to death. Or he would just shoot me." I mumbled looking down at my lap as Alice rubbed circles into my arm. I sniffed and got up. "Please let us help you. We aren't normal we are similar to you. Please just let us help you." Pleaded Jasper I looked into his eyes and was instantly melted, I was putting him in pain, letting them hurt me was putting him in pain. I took my backpack of and rummaged inside it until I found what I was looking for. It was one of the two books I had saved from my father when he burnt them all; it was a record of what we were and what happens to us when we reach our 20th. "I am sorry but this will explain everything the pages at the back are records of our community but read the rest of it first, it's the best explanation I can give at the moment." I pushed it into his hands and then before they could stop me I ran off down the road.
I heard them call after me and pursue me. Jogged around the corner right into the arms of tony. "Whoa slow down sis, your schedule for today has been postponed until six. Your new hubby is here and demands to see you." I gulped as I was dragged over to the blacked out car that we only used when father allowed us. I looked over my shoulder to see the three figures looking on at me as I was shoved roughly into the car, Jaspers crestfallen face was enough for my heart to break.