The Imprisoned Within
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.
Author's Note: I welcome you to the fourth chapter of The Imprisoned Within. So ladies and gentlemen, fanpires of all ages, this is for you. R&R? Thank you very much.
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Bella's POV
"Here it is," James said, looking straight up at the house that stood before us. We were still in Phoenix, Arizona. This was one thing I had to do before I left Bella Swan forever. "This was your home."
"Can we go now?" Victoria asked with a bored expression on her face.
I shot a glare at her. "You're like a child. Grow up, will you?"
Her rosy lips curled upward in a wicked grin, like her words were for entertainment purposes only. Now she was just trying to tick me off. It was written all over her face, like in invisible letters embedded into her pale skin. "Look who's talking."
"Enough ladies," James sighed, coming in between our little dispute. Then he turned to face me completely. Just by being captured within his crimson deep eyes, I was completely hypnotized. I couldn't turn away, for the beauty of his features held me in place. Victoria stared at the two of us in disgust, her expression seemed like she couldn't take it anymore. But when I've finally snapped out of it, I saw her turn away with sadness in her eyes. The poor girl seemed to be in pain and there was nothing I could do in my power to stop it. "Bella?"
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I took in every breath and every sound—trying to tune out my own thoughts out so I could focus. Then I opened my eyes, my gaze set on the old house where I used to belong. I slowly shook my head and smiled sadly. "It is all clear, we can go now." What was I thinking? Of course, I couldn't stay here any longer. I couldn't risk anything; for there was no reason to hold onto that part that I feared since the time that I've woken from the slumber of the dark depths of the ballet studio.
The human me, Isabella Marie Swan, died a long time ago.
I waited until Victoria and James walked behind me, heading towards the airport for our only means of escape of this place. The fake passports suddenly weighed heavily in my pocket, just like my heart did somewhere inside this cursed body of mine. The footsteps stopped, and I heard Victoria calling out for me. "Well, are you coming or what?"
"I'm coming!" I said, examining the house one last time. I sighed sadly, then turned around and walked side by side along with the rest of this coven. My crimson hues focused on what's ahead of me, the path I've chosen. The future I've dreamed of. There was no more turning back, so there was nothing to worry about. And then we were there, in the middle of the night, prowling around the streets of Phoenix, Arizona where no one could stop us. There were some flyers, however, with my face on it. In block letters, it read: MISSING, ISABELLA SWAN. AGE 17. BROWN HAIR AND EYES. IF FOUND, CONTACT THE NUMBER BELOW.
Victoria took the flyer off of one of the street lamps that we'd passed by. She blinked, staring confused at the face on the flyer. "Isn't this you? We might get caught if we get there, you know."
I laughed at her, telling her that it was the wrong person. "She doesn't exist anymore."
He swung his arm around my shoulders, much to Victoria's disappointment. "That's my little girl. Isn't she, Victoria?"
She walked ahead of us, not allowing us to see her reaction or the expression on her face. "Whatever you say, James,"
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Edward's POV
My Bella was gone, fallen deep into the evil clutches of James himself. And no, I don't know what his ulterior motives are at the moment. He's using the holes in my ability by trying to imagine either Bella or Victoria naked. It was terrible! What's even worse is when Alice thinks about her, but I could tell she's trying so hard not to. Rosalie, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass. The three of them: Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie (A/N: Like I said in an earlier chapter, Emmett's not here YET! :D) just don't know what it's like to lose someone you held so close to their heart and soul. Alice and Jasper had each other, for all of eternity. And Rosalie? Well I don't know about her… But still. I was in love with Bella. She was human but, that didn't matter. It never did. Charlie was giving out flyers to everyone. I should know, because that's what I did. Late at night, I would lie down on Bella's bed and hear Charlie cry at night and pretend that it didn't bother me.
Oh, but it did. It pained me almost as much to know that Bella was somewhere out there, with no recollection with who I was. I didn't care about Jacob, but me? Why me? Maybe it was for the better, but I did not trust James or Victoria. Alice kicked my chair and shot me a glare, snapping me out of my depression. But of course it didn't work. The fact that I may never see Bella again hurt me so much, cutting me deep inside. It created scars that would never fade away. "Edward, what did I tell you?"
"Sorry…" I mumbled. My cheek rested against the top of my palm. The fingers of my free hand tapped the surface of our table, causing quite a distraction for my fellow siblings. "I just…"
"Save it," Rosalie said, leaning back in her chair. She folded her arms, already irritated due to my behavior and by the fact that none of her suitors had satisfied or entertained her enough. "It's bothersome enough already to see you like this."
I looked at Alice with hopeful eyes. "Anything?"
She closed her eyes, rubbing her temples. Jasper looked at her with concern, then at me. I felt waves of happiness being forced down upon me, something I couldn't control. I cursed at him in my mind, due to frustration. But I knew he was doing this for my benefit, so I always apologized soon after. Then Alice looked at me with her topaz hues and they just looked sadly into mine, her head shaking slowly back and forth. Nothing at all, she thought. I'm so sorry; I'm doing everything I can—
I sighed, shaking my own head no. "Not your fault," I mumbled. "Thank you." I connected my two hands together and thought about some things for just a moment. Then abruptly, I shot up like a bullet. I was a small step ahead of Alice.
"Wait a minute Edward," she followed me, grabbing my arm. Her grip was firm and tight and her face had child-like expression where she was telling her someone not to leave her behind. And with that face, it was impossible to avoid. It was simply something that could not be stopped. "I want to see her too!"
Jasper stood up behind Alice. "Only two more hours until school ends," he said, matter-of-factly. "Can't you wait until then?"
"He has a point," Rosalie said, joining into our conversation. She looked around, making everyone around her feel intimidated just by the sight of her evil glares. We all knew it was also for our benefit, for it would've been just terrible if we were to make a scene. The thought of Jasper going into a major rampage sent chills down my back, if that were ever possible. "How much more time do we have left?"
"Two hours," Alice sighed. "It's almost like they had it planned all along."
