Authors note: I know its been 6 months…I'm sorry but every time I went to write this chapter all I got was jack. Nothing felt right, real. And then September hit and I was drowned in work and school work like you don't even know. But my classes have just ended and insperiation finally hit and Walla ! A chapter was born. I thank all of those that have stuck by me for my extended absence; my only hope is that you find this chapter worth the wait.

Cheers!

Disclaimer: I do not own twilight, I'm simply barrowing her characters, the plot, and new characters however are all mine.

Chapter 4: A Price Paid

All questions in life have answers. We just don't always like them.

How do you speak with neither voice nor ink?

How do you climb without rope or foot hold?

… How do you fight without hope or strength?

The easy answer would be that you don't. It would be just to sit back, you have done all you can but today is not your day and that's ok, there is always a tomorrow.

Others will say sometimes it's not meant to be, so why bother? After all what's wrong with living in silence so long as you can be a part of it? Why do you need to climb when staying is so much simpler?

...Why would you fight a battle that can't be won, especially when presented with the option to run? And while for some sitting back and waiting can be wise, for others, there is no tomorrow.

For others not having a voice is simply not an option. So to substitute sound they use blood. Rather then break the walls with sound they will soak the earth with their words, so that even if their is no one around today to see it, and even if their words take every last drop the fact is someone someday will read it. They will read their cries and they will be heard, for blood isn't as easily washed away as ink.

And for those where staying still is no longer an option, and where to stay any longer would mean to be swallowed, it doesn't matter for them that they have neither rope nor step, they have hair. And they use it. They will pull each strand and weave them into a rope of their own will. And if will isn't strong enough they have their nails. So even if there is no place to grab they can make one. True the end result will not be pretty, and you will have lost some on the way, but at least now there is a way. And even if they were to fail, at least they could say it wasn't without trying.

Because sometimes, all we can do is try.

Looking around my cell, I can see the words Izzy has left. I see them in the walls carved out in line after line, marking the days that have passed. I see them hidden in dark corners within soft patches of dirt, four stick figures standing in a row. Upon further inspection I see that hers aren't the only words these walls have absorbed.

Names. Five of them, all scratched into the rock with jagged but deep lines.

Philip – 14 Edward – 21

Emily – 22 Collin – 10

Izzy – 9

I can't tell you what seeing those names made me feel. The fact that they are there is enough to make you want to scream. And not just because of the past pains that they reflect, but the knowledge that they wont be the last. How many more names will need to be carved into these walls before they are torn down I wondered? How much more blood had to be spilt in order to make a cry loud enough to be heard beyond the carved stonewalls of our prison?

I didn't know.

All that I knew was that Izzy… sweet Izzy had screamed enough. It was my turn now.

As you can very well guess there were no clocks to tell us the time. All I had to go off of was the small crack of a window located far above our heads. No light came from that crack. We sat in a darkened silence so thick I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed. Izzy still form still lay nestled in my arms. Her soft, even puffs of breath a clear indicator she was asleep. I tightened my grip around her. It hurt to hold her so tight, but I refused to lessen my grip for fear she would be taken from it. My body still ached from the thrashing I took against that monster and his ghouls.

I was asleep before I even realized it.

I must have been far more worn out then I first realized; because it was not the sound of our cell door opening that awoke me like the day before, but rather the feeling of Izzy being jerked out of my arms with screams of protest.

"No! NO! Please not again please! LET ME GO! BELLA!"

Upon hearing my name my instincts kicked in like lightening and I was yanking Izzy back with more force then I thought I was capable of. The moment she was back in my arms I flipped her small body behind mine and into the corner. They were not getting her so easily.

"Stay the fuck away from her you bastards!" I screamed at them. My heart pounded with adrenaline. Looking up at them I recognized one of them to be the same boy that kicked me into oblivion. The other one however was new. He looked roughly 6'7" with short, cropped black hair. His complexion was olive toned, with a body that was carved out of pure muscle. His smile as leisurely as it was predatory. His black eyes glinted with a mocking challenge.

"You were right Alec, quite the fighter this new one is." he laughed. His voice was thick with anticipation, as if the prospect of a fight excited him. " I bet she'll last longer then the one before. Something in her eyes tells me she's worth watching," he continued, that obnoxious twinkle only growing with my answering sneer towards him. However, rather then be annoyed with my outright hostility he only winked at me, which only increased the desire I had to strangle him. Alec, as I could now call him, looked less than amused at his partner. He didn't say anything though, merely turned his attention towards me and narrowed his eyes.

"Move." He demanded.

"No" I shot back. I could feel Izzy trembling behind me, her hands digging into my back as if she was trying to weld herself into place. Her fear only strengthened my resolve.

"Move." He said again, this time with more force.

"Try again." I mocked back "but this time, with feeling." Alec's eyes hardened, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase, if looks could kill.

"You know," I continued, trying very hard not to drop dead at his intensity, " you can glare at me all you want, but the only thing I fear right now is the sanitary quality of this room, because it just looks like to me as if you're about to shit yourself." The roar of laughter that came from his partner only intensified his anger.

"Shut. Up. Felix" Alec hissed, not once taking his eyes off me.

"Oooh I like this one" Felix chucked. "I can see why Aro went to so much trouble for her. I can only imagine the fun this one will provide."

Alec didn't respond.

"You will move." He told me, taking a step closer. "Or we will make you. Choose"

"Why do you want her?" I countered, not moving an inch. It was Felix that answered me.

"Aro's orders. It's her turn to play. That being said, you really should listen. There really is no point in you getting yourself broken over something like the kid" he said, nodding to the trembling girl behind me. "After all, it's not like the brat would do anything to help you if the roles were switched."

"You don't know that"

"Actually little spit fire, I do." There was no room for disagreement in his tone. "Now you really should move. We wont tell you again."

I could feel the atmosphere in the room changing; their would be no more stalling. I needed to act. Now.

"Take me instead!" I would have laughed at the look on their faces if I weren't so scared out of my wits. Felix held a mixture between bewilderment and shock, while Alec looked down right puzzled.

"Bella no!" Izzy screeched, saying the first thing since the beginning of the encounter. "You don't know what they'll do! You can't!"

It was Izzy's cry that decided my fate because before I could even attempt at consoling her I was dragged away from her by Felix's unbreakable grip.

"Done." He said. All mockery and mirth was gone, cruel anticipation took its place. We were out of the cell within seconds; the door slammed and locked behind us by my captures with a practiced ease that made me sick. I only had enough time for one last glace towards Izzy, I smiled at her, hoping my expression would convey my silent promise that things would be okay. I tried to ignore the hollow look of dread festering in hers.

Our cell as it would turn out, was not the only one in this hell hold. On our way towards our destination we passed many cells.

Some were empty.

Most were not.

All of them resembled the one Izzy and I shared, being no more then a dug out cave with metal bars. The place felt and looked like a maze, with twisting corridors around every turn. My escorts didn't say anything further to me, which suited me fine. I had nothing more I wanted to say to them. Of course, that didn't mean I couldn't feel their eagerness, and that spoke volumes enough for me.

Finally, after what felt like forever we entered a giant room. The cramped, tight passage we had been previously traveling down opened up into vast space, the ceiling rose up to heights so extreme I could barely make out the ceiling. Making me realize just how deep underground we must be.

"Alec. Felix. Would you care to explain to me what Isabella is doing here?" Aro asked. My eyes immediate snapped away from the ceiling towards his voice, located at the far right of the room. He wasn't alone, behind him were four others aligned along the caves wall. Two of them were boys, and from what I could tell very, very young. One had shoulder length blonde hair; with a figure I could only described as being pure bone. He was so skinny; it was almost like his skin was glued directly onto his skeleton, his flesh hugged him so tight. The other was slightly taller then the first, but no hair at all. Angry purple and red blotches scarred his sickly white skin. Neither of them were wearing shirts, and their pants look like nothing more then ragged cloth just barely hanging on. The third was a woman of around 25 with long black hair mattered into one giant knot. Her arms were wrapped around herself so tightly it was as if she was trying to swallow herself whole. She was crying softly to herself. The sounds echoed faintly in the void of the caves immense space.

When my eyes directed themselves back on Aro, I saw red.

"The little spit fire insisted on seeing you" Felix replied. "When we went to get the kid, this one here refused to let her go, and then demanded to take her place."

"Is that so" Aro replied. His eyes slithered to mine, his ice meeting my fire.

"Yes" I answered for them. I was very proud when my voice gave away none of the fear I was feeling, and instead only reflected my hatred.

"Well then, as a gentlemen of the house, how could I refuse such a request?"

"You're about as much of a gentlemen as I am a princess" I shot back, his almighty gallantry act fanning my furry even more. Three distinct gasps of shock mixed in with fear came from the three figures behind Aro, all of them looked at me with trepidation and awe. Aro however, only looked amused.

"My dearest Isabella, you are as wrong as you are beautiful."

"In what world does a gentleman harm innocent people?"

"I have harmed no one"

"LIAR!" I screamed. I shot forward in an attempt to throttle him, but was immediately pulled back by both Felix and Alec. I couldn't fight them off, so I settled for screaming.

"What about those innocent people behind you? What about IZZY? Do you expect me to believe they ASKED you to hurt them? That they, in any way ASKED to be here? You forced yourself on them, and you hurt them! You are nothing more than a spineless monster projecting control over those that have none. That isn't gentlemanly, that's cowardess!" I watched as the glint of amusement slowly began to leak from his soulless eyes into a cold frost.

"You try my patience Isabella, I would ask you to control yourself, and not speak without knowing all the facts."

"Then by all means" I sneered back, "enlighten me."

We stared at each other unblinkingly, neither willing to turn away.

"These innocent people as you call them" Aro began, still not looking away. "Were not harmed by my hands, nor by the hands of those under my employment, but rather were the doing of there own choices."

"So what you're trying to tell me is that they did this to themselves? That's bullshit. Try again."

"Not to themselves my dear" Aro corrected with a sinister smile, "to each other."

"Why would they hurt each other?"

"Because that is the choice they made"

"I don't understand"

"It is quit simple," he said as he began to pace in front of the trio behind him. "Self preservation is an instinct that is present in all living things. When faced with a dangerous situation, one will always choose the path best fitted to their own survival. Humans will even go so far as to destroy everyone in their wake to insure it. What I do here is very simple; I choose a leader and a group of followers. The leader is given a choice, they make it, and the followers must comply. Much like how the world works in all things, except here, rather then fighting for income, status, or even recognition, here you are fighting for your life. Creates a far more interesting game in my opinion." I couldn't really speak after that. I couldn't believe what I had just heard.

"You mean to tell me, you take innocent people away from their homes, and their families, just so you can watch them destroy themselves in your own home made rendition of Saw? Are you INSANE?"

"My dear, I am sorry to inform you that I came well before that cheap excuse of a horror film was even thought of."

Eleven years.

Eleven fucking years and this madman still wasn't caught? I wanted to throw up. I could just feel my stomach begin to role, but I held firm. I was not going to show even a speck of weakness. I tried to say something, anything, but nothing would come out. After all, what do you say to something like that? What can you do other than stare?

"You're a monster" was all I was able to say.

"Well, now that that is all figure out, I suppose we should get started." Aro said cheerfully, clapping his hands together in one loud smack. "Since you have taken young Elizabeth's place that makes you the leader of this encounter. You may choose"

"Choose what?"

"Not what, Isabella, who. You will choose someone from this room."

"And what will happen to them if I do choose?" I asked, the sickening twist in my stomach becoming more pronounced.

"That is for me to know and for you to find out." He replied. "Now choose"

"I refuse." A loud snort came from Felix behind me.

"If you refuse to choose, I can assure you, another will, and you might not like their choice. Now I ask you again, choose." The staring match was back between us, but I knew what I had to do. Squaring my shoulders I took a deep breath to prepare myself. There was only one answer I could give, only one choice that I could live with. Me.

"I choose myself" I answered him. By his expression I could tell that was exactly what he was expecting. The trio behind him did not. The woman had stopped crying long enough to look at me; her eyes flashed first with happiness before moving to shame, and then nothing before dropping her head once more and hugging herself even tighter.

"Very well." Aro replied, meaningfully casting a glance towards the two behind me. Immediately I was lead to the center of the room where a long metal operating table was in place. My heart dropped into my stomach at seeing the many binds meant for my arms, legs, and torso. There was even a clamp at the top of the table I assumed was meant for my head. What the hell were they going to do to me?

I didn't fight as Felix strapped me to the table. After all, if I didn't do this, than someone else would, and that was a thought I just couldn't live with.

After the binds had been tied and the clamp adjusted, I found I couldn't move even an inch, the restraints doing their job more than adequately. Felix left with a wink, and then I was left alone. It wasn't long before Aro stood beside me, checking the restraints to make sure they were done correctly.

"What did you do with the others?" I asked him. I tried to move my head to get a better look at his face, but the clamp did its job well, so all I could do was move my eyes.

"Do you ever worry about yourself?" he asked instead. Slowly, his hands drifted along my leg. I tried to flinch away, but as I said before, the restraints did their job well.

"What kind of gentleman touches a defenseless woman?" I shot back instead. Aro pulled his hand away with a chuckle.

"Ah Isabella, I can assure you, I have never been with a woman that has never asked for it to begin with."

"Why would anyone ever ask to be with you?" the mere thought of it was deplorable at best. His reply came right beside my ear, his breath leaving goosebumps along my neck.

"I have been told I can be quite…persuasive." The desire to vomit only increased. "But I am afraid we are getting off topic. Now since you are new I will describe what is to happen. You are going to subject to an ancient form of Chinese torture called the water drip; perhaps you are familiar with it. No? I will explain. You see the water drip torture is a torture of the mind. The procedure is quite simple enough really; drops of water will fall onto the center of your forehead with irregular patterns until your mind shatters under the stress of it all. Understand?"

"How are drops of water suppose to shatter my mind?" I couldn't help but ask. It just didn't seem very plausible.

"I am sure you will be able to find that one out for yourself once we are finished." He moved away at that, only coming back moments later with what I could assume to be a giant water bucket with a tap. Meticulously he positioned the tap directly above my head, making sure the water would indeed fall on the center of my forehead. Once satisfied he turned his attention back to me.

"Now, considering the fact that you took young Elizabeth's place and you are new, I will give you one last chance to take it back. You can go back to your cell and Elizabeth will take her rightful place here." There was no way in hell I was going to allow that to happen.

"Or" he continued "we may spend our time together on much more pleasurable activities. All you need do is ask." It didn't take a genius to know what he was implying. Persuasive my ass, the man was despicable.

"Stop stalling already and get on with it" I snapped "I haven't got all day"

"Spit fire indeed" Aro chucked, calling me by the name Felix had given me earlier.

"As you wish." And with that he turned on the facet and left, but not before saying "if you change your mind, all you need to do is ask."

The first drop fell.

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drip

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drip

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drip

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drip

At first it was annoying. The cold drops hit me one by one causing me to flinch every time. I tried counting as a way to expect them. When that failed I tried watching the drops form on the spout as a way to anticipate when they would fall. But that didn't work either.

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drip

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drip

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drip

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drip

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drip

I tried to keep track of the time in my head by counting, but every drop that fell ended up disorienting me and caused me to loose track.

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drip

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drip

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I wasn't long before I realized why this was a torture. Already I could feel my anxiety building inside me. My muscles twitched with every second that went by. Not being able to move made it worse.

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drop

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drop

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More time passed… I no longer know how much. I couldn't breath properly; each intake came out as a gasp, each outtake a shutter. More fidgeting. I began to clench and unclench my fingers and toes as a way to get rid of the pressure building inside of me.

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drop

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drop

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I tried thinking of other things but it didn't work, every fucking drop of water brought me back to reality. I couldn't think. I couldn't move. I needed to move! Even if it were just an inch, half an inch, anything would be better than where I was now.

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drip

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There was a hole in my head. I could feel it. It was no longer water but a soundless drill that was boring through my skull. Pressure was building in my body. I wanted it to stop. I needed it to stop.

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drip

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one Mississippi, two Mississippi

drip

one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi

drip

drip

drip.

.DripdripdripDripDRIPDRIPDRIPDRIPDRIPDRIP!

I was screaming.

And thrashing.

But it wouldn't stop... The dripping wouldn't stop.

Tears were falling from the corners of my eyes, but I couldn't wipe them away. I COULDN'T MOVE. I wanted to move! I NEEDED TO MOVE!

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And just like that it stopped. How long Aro had been standing over me I couldn't tell you. But he was there. Watching me with that snake like smile rippling along his face. Gently, slowly, he wiped away my tears, caressing my face with that knowing gleam in his eyes. I should have told him to stop. I know I should tell him to stop, but my lips wouldn't, couldn't, form the words. His smile only grew.

His hands began to wonder down my neck, just as slowly, just as soft. Still I said nothing.

"I can make it stop" Aro whispered, his eyes taking me in like gravity. "All you need to do…is ask"

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I would like to tell you that I said no, that I fought and told him where he could shove his offer and how deep. I want so much to tell you that I was strong. I wanted…well…fact is we don't always get what we want in life. And as much as I wanted to be otherwise the fact is I was weak. I couldn't do it anymore. So I asked. And he took. His hands moved like grease along my skin, removing my clothing with a taunting slowness that had me sobbing in shame. Shame for allowing it to happen. Shame for not being strong enough to make it stop. But most of all, it was shame in not once fighting back.

The only thing that kept me from falling to pieces was Izzy's face. her image reminded me what I had to protect, so for her, I shed my first drops of blood.

I just never thought, that the cries of my virginity would be the first words these walls would hear.

I'm evil, I know. But seriously, this chapter was probably the hardest thing to write. Poor poor Bella…I wonder what will happen next. Wink wink.