I would like to thank again those who reviewed. Even though I love reviews, I do try to be understanding. I will never ask you to review under threat of stopping a story. I find it unfair. So if you review; thank you very much! If you don't; no worries, I just hope you are enjoying the story! Sorry for 2 update alerts, the first one hadn't been completely corrected, anyway, this is the real one.

Chapter 7

15 years later

Bella POV

Seven beautiful faces swirled before my eyes. All with sad smiles, all with sad eyes. Sad yet extremely loving. I couldn't name these angels, but I felt a strange sense of safety when I saw them. Suddenly, the wonderful vision abruptly changed to an ugly, hate-filled face. He was right was right in front of me with a wicked smile touching his lips. He leaned towards me and I whimpered from fear; all previous sense of security was long gone. "Shh my baby, hush hush now, we don't want anybody to hear you now do we?" he whispered in my ear. I cringed away from him which only seemed to cause him amusement. He then proceeded to take a gag out of his pocket and approach me again. I didn't think, I just screamed and screamed until my surroundings changed again. I was back in my room, in my bed and I was still screaming. I hurriedly shut my mouth and anxiously checked if Jack was awake. I sighed in relief when I heard his loud snores who only stuttered slightly in reaction to my yell.

I quickly checked my clock, 5.00 a.m. I would need to wake up in 45 minutes so there was no point in trying to go back to bed. Instead, I returned my mind to my recurring dream/nightmare. I have been having this dream for as long as I can remember now. The only thing that changed was the ending torture scene.

I couldn't name the angels from my dream. They were familiar, that I was sure of. However, I also know that I haven't seen them recently because I haven't seen love or kindness in anybody's face for almost ten years. Ten long years…

It has been ten years since Jane 'left'. Ten years since she left me with her cruel husband; Marc. Ten years since I have been abused and ten years since I consider my life as hopeless.

I don't know that much about my life. I know that I was found on the side of the road next to my dead mother who had apparently been run over. I was seven months old. My father couldn't be found and I had no other relatives. The family who found me kept me for a while until the social worker rid them of me. I was then adopted by Jane and Marc. Jane really wanted a baby girl and Marc would have done anything for Jane. We shared five happy years together as a family. I was content, I loved Jane and Marc, but something seemed wrong; out of place.

I remember the day Jane left with childish precision, I was five years and seven months old (exactly five years after I was adopted)…

*flashback*

I was in the living room, playing with my favourite toys. Mom and dad then barged in, Mom was backing away quickly.

"Don't touch me! Don't get near me!" Mom shrieked, she sounded so scared.
"Babe, clam down. I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to-"
"No! Don't even talk to me! I am leaving and I am taking Bella now!"
"She is
our daughter!" Jack roared and then he slapped mom roughly. Mommy fell to the ground crying.

"Bella," she called me "Bella, go to your room now."
"But mommy," I don't know why I was arguing, I just felt like something wasn't right. Tears sprang to my eyes.
"No, listen to me. Go and don't come down ok? Whatever you hear, don't come down until I come and get you."

I was about to object, but Dad turned to me and hit me across the face, "GO NOW YOU LITTLE BRAT!" I ran straight upstairs, aware of mommy yelling at daddy for hitting me.

As soon as I reached my room, I threw myself on the bed and started crying while holding my now red cheek.

I heard shouting and yelling, then I heard muffled sobs coming from mommy. All the sound ended after a loud crash which sounded like glass breaking. The silence didn't comfort me, it only made me curl into a tighter ball. It is in that position that I finally fell asleep.

The next morning, I dared to venture out of my room. I know mommy told me not to, but I needed to see her. I quietly walked down the stairs, only to find glass scattered everywhere. Flowers were also spread on the ground, next to bright red stains.

Daddy was in the kitchen. He was also covered in red. He was sobbing and was holding a glass bottle containing what he once told me was a drink you have at parties.

"Daddy," I asked timidly "Where's mommy?" He only turned his head towards me and stared with harsh eyes, I eyed the bottle in his hand and decided to change the subject,
"Are we having a party?" At this, dad exploded. He grabbed my by my hair and through me into a wall. He then kicked me in the stomach repeatedly. I whimpered and cried out in pain, but he didn't stop. He then dragged me to my room and dumped me on the bed. My whole body hurt; I was unable to move and tears just gushed carelessly out of my eyes. Dad stormed out. During the whole event, he hadn't said one word.

The next time I came out of my room was a few days later when I could walk again. When I found daddy, he told me that mommy left us and wasn't coming back. I cried myself to sleep again that night.

*end of flashback*

We moved out the day after I was told that Jane had left. Apparently, Marc had already made the decision the day she left, because everything was already packed.

I was too naïve than to really understand. I am almost sure that Marc (I refused to think of him as my father now) killed my mom. Of course, apart from my five year old memory, I have no proof.

As I pulled out of my thoughts, I noticed that the clock now read 6.15 a.m. Crap! If I don't prepare a full perfect breakfast for Marc, I will have to suffer another beating on my first day of school! I was in enough pain from the one of last night! I got out of bed as quickly as I could, holding back my yelp of agony as my ribs protested. Currently, my body is covered in bruises and I was sure I had at least one broken rib, maybe two.Bruises were just normal to me now; part of my skin. I just learnt to cover them up- easy.

I groaned; time for another day of being alone and scared at school, for another day of getting beaten, bullied and starved.

Time for another day in hell.

Not a happy chapter, but still an important one. If some are confused about the Cullens, no worries! All we be explained in the next chapter, but if anybody had any questions, feel free to ask and I will answer them =).
Well I hope this made up for my last slightly short chapter.