Disclaimer: Me no own

After three days working with the carnival in Payson, I had gotten used to living with Edward and working in the carnival. We would wake up around mid-morning to clean the donut stand. The carnival would open for business when the schools let out, and we'd stay open until eleven that night. We'd been so busy we hadn't had time to talk after that first night here, other than "good morning" and "good night."

I looked over at Edward who was frowning at the fryer. I waved my hand in front of him to get his attention, smiling at his befuddled expression.

"Why don't you go back and crash? I'll shut up here," I suggested.

"You sure?" he looked doubtful.

"Yep. Go and rest, you've worked yourself into exhaustion,"

"If you're sure." He shrugged. "See you in a bit,"

"See you!" I called as he walked out, and started to clear away the mess of the day. In the past three days I had changed, accepting my life as a carnival worker now. It had a routine to it, and the people regarded each other as family, despite having a boss that gave me the heebie-jeebies. A small ball of hope was growing inside of me; I hadn't seen him for three days, so maybe he would leave me alone. I hoped. I prayed.

I lowered the shutters and reached to turn out the lights. I smiled at my accomplishment, I had done something myself.

"Good evening."

A hand muffled the shriek that escaped me at the sound of his voice. He had left me alone, why did he have to come back now?

He released my face and I tried to face him, but a strong grip on my hips held me in place.

"Please let go," I said softly, feeling his hands tighten against my skin.

"Earn it." He demanded, his mouth grazing my ear. His breath fanning my face. The smell of mints hit my nose, underlined with onions and rancid meat. It was disgusting.

"You own me," I whimpered, turning my face to avoid his eyes. I couldn't move because his body was pressing against mine.

"Say you obey me,"

"I obey you," I repeated. Please god, let it end, I prayed.

He released me and I turned to leave, stopping when he called me back.

"I didn't say you could leave yet," he locked his arms around my back, trapping me in a cage. "Say both."

"You own me, I obey you." I could feel my stomach rolling in revulsion, but there was nothing else I could do to escape him foul grasp.

"Again," he ordered, his eyes glittering with predatory amusement.

I repeated the phrase over and over again, feeling them slap against my skin like hail. Another nail sealing my coffin, more dirt burying me in servitude. They were no longer 'just words', they had become a song of their own. A tune that was being pressed into my mind, squeezing and choking me, binding and trapping me.

"Leave."

I obeyed

The words were becoming truth for me, and I hated it. I loathed the thought of being nothing more than a possession, but at the same time I was terrified of James. He's dangerous, I knew this, his behavior screamed predator. I didn't want to be his, but I was scared of what will happen if I don't submit.

I opened the trailer door on autopilot, cooking dinner mechanically as my thoughts roamed darker places. What does not kill us only makes us stronger. Bullshit, saying the words may not kill me, but I could feel them creeping through me like an illness. You may have my body, but my heart and soul are free. How are they free? Shackles were already binding me to James, their hold weak but I know they will soon be tighter than a noose. His hold on me was growing, simply by my thoughts being occupied by him.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked, startling me out of my reverie. I shook my head. "You can trust me,"

I wanted to. I wanted to trust him so much, he was kind and sweet, and the kind of person you could trust with anything. He had helped me get used to the carnival, taught me how to mix donut batter and was always there with a smile. Just this morning he had bandaged my arm when I had fallen and cut it on a ledge.

"I just miss Alice." Lie. I stiffened as his arms wrapped round my waist, but then relaxed as he kissed the top of my head. James would never be so gentle.

"It'll be okay,"

I doubted that.

Edward left early the next day, not even waiting for breakfast. I went to follow him as soon as I was dressed, but James was lounging in the sitting area.

"Say it," he ordered without looking at me.

"I belong to you, I obey you,"

He got up and stalked towards me and I fought the impulse to back away.

"Will you obey everything I say?"

I stiffened, knowing that I would be giving him more power over me, that the shackles would tighten.

"Yes," I replied, uncertainty shaking my voice. A whistle, a crack a sting, and I was nursing my cheek in my hand. I'd never been slapped before, and it hurt.

"Don't hesitate." He spat, seizing my arms and shaking me with every word. "Will you obey everything I say?"

"Yes." I whimpered, willing for it to be over. He released me and stepped back.

"Go," he ordered and I fled without a thought. I could feel myself cracking instead of bending, and I knew it would only take a few more encounters like that until I crumpled.

I was quiet all day, despite Edward's numerous attempts to get me to talk. Thankfully we were busy most of the time, so his attempts soon ceased.

"Hey, you okay to close up?" he asked as the carnival started to close.

"Is it okay if we go back together?" I asked, frantically trying to shield my panic. I couldn't deal with James again today, please if there is a God keep him away.

"What happened this morning?" he replied shrewdly.

"Nothing," I looked away. He sighed.

"Then let's go back together."

We closed the stall in record time, and Edward sneaked up behind me to give me a comforting hug. A friend hug, I told myself sternly.

"He won't hurt you," he whispered. "Just do as he says,"

Oh Edward, I thought in despair, that is what will hurt me the most.

As we walked back in the dark I clutched at his hand, frightened of the boogieman hiding in the shadows.

"Bella." It said, "Come with me," and Edward had no choice but to let me follow him. It was why I had lied to him, told him it was nothing, because in the end we are both nothing more than pawns in the game. I wondered briefly what James had done to secure Edward's obedience. I knew from our game of 20 questions that he was 17, and that he had been working at the carnival for 3 years. Was that it? Three years of indoctrination?

James led me to his trailer in silence, breaking it only to tell me to hurry inside.

"Sit," he ordered and I obeyed. He sat opposite me with a strange expression on his face, almost as if he is trying to pity me.

"Bella I need to tell you something," the odd expression never wavered, and I realized he was trying to be kind. "This morning your mother was arrested for neglect," My lips twitched in happiness. Alice was free! She could live for the first time and be happy and loved.

"And Alice?" I asked, desperate to hear my hope confirmed.

"She…she was being taken to a foster home when a drunk driver crashed into them. She died on impact."

"She's dead?" he nodded slowly. Numbness crept into my heart, making the deafening crashing and squealing of my world being destroyed almost non-existent.

"How do you know?" I asked weakly.

"It doesn't matter," he told me, standing again, and achieving dominance over my vulnerable form. "Don't worry; I'll take care of you here." I nodded, not really seeing, not really hearing. "Now you need to go back to your trailer, but before that," his eyes gleamed in the half light, "Say it,"

"You own me, I obey you."

This time I meant it.

I walked slowly to the trailer, my heart slowly returning, the blissful numbness returning to the shadows.

I ignored Edward and headed straight to my room, feeling the first sobs clawing their way up my throat. I collapsed on the bed as they erupted.

"Bella?" I heard Edward call softly before entering. He sat next to me on the bed, his hand stroking my hair softly.

"Bella, love, what's wrong?" he asked me softly. I turned to gaze at him with bleary eyes.

"A-Alice," I choked out, "She's d-dead,"

The wailing sobs returned in full force as he gathered me into his lap and held me tight to his chest.

Alice would never laugh or cry. She'd never visit Paris like she always wanted. Nor would she ever find love. Alice would become a memory, only remembered by few, and eternally alone beneath the unforgiving earth.

*Seals door to nuclear bunker*