PRAYERS ANSWERED

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

As they were nearing the end of one aisle, Renee turned for a moment to reach for something on the top shelf. But, when she turned back Isabella was gone. She searched and searched, called the store manager and other employees to help and then called her husband who was a police officer.

It was finally realized that their daughter had been taken. The video footage from the store security cameras gave them the visual of what happened, but, the two that kidnapped Isabella weren't in the system anywhere in the state or the country.

CHAPTER 4: CAN THINGS GET ANY WORSE?

The whole store was in an uproar over the fact that a child had been taken in the store and that child happened to be the only child of one of the town's much loved police officers. Sirens were wailing in the background while everyone else in the store was searching every nook and cranny to see if they could find Isabella.

However, with all of this activity Edward was unsure of how he should proceed and turned to Michael. He asked his companion if they should have provided the abduction. Michael shook his head and looked the young man straight in the eye and said, "Why are you asking me when you already know? Edward, why have we come back in time? Answer that and don't lose sight of it."

Edward answered a bit sharply, "To see what has caused the problems for Isabella that led to her situation in the future. Also, to see how that can be resolved."

"That's correct. Now, answer where is there any room for any interference? Then ask yourself the question of what would be the consequences to all parties if you interfered with the sequence of events that actual took place to get her where she is presently?

"I know you're new to this and it can be confusing with all the new experiences being thrown at you all at once, but, try to reason things out as we go through all of this to achieve your quest."

"You're right. I've got to collect all of the facts to be able to come up with a long term workable solution for her. As much as I want to try to keep her safe now might open the door to something worse later and that won't be helping, but, bringing greater harm."

"Exactly. The way you're approaching things right now is the way you're going to have to continue as we make this fact finding journey for the woman's benefit. Anything else, as you mentioned, could really create a greater ripple somewhere in the future that changes too many things in too many people's lives. Are we ready to make our next stop of discovery?"

"Yeah." And with that said Michael took a hold of Edward once more as Edward closed his eyes to concentrate as they both felt the fade and swirl of time. Neither had any idea where they were going to end up, or, what they would be viewing next, but, they knew that it would be giving more insight as to what pushed Isabella Swan into the circumstances of which she now found herself.

XXXXXXX

As Edward opens his eyes he and Michael see a red headed woman standing before them with her hand in motion to strike a female child around the age of six or seven years old. It didn't take much to recognized the beautifully heart shaped face of Isabella Swan in that of the child, but, the way the young girl held herself spoke of constant mistreatment.

Her features though drawn and cheeks hollow still reflected the beauty of Isabella and Edward had to admit to himself, at least, that even in the future she maintained the same beauty. Her shoulders were slumped, her head continually held down never look at the person that was speaking to her, and her whole appearance spoke of no confidence, not having been shown any kindness or love with an overall defeatist attitude.

"I knew when we took you that we'd end up with your ugly ass. The only thing you're good for is to do the chores you're given and try to make things easier for us while we work to provide for your shitty ass."

These words angered Edward to the point that he wanted to do something about it, but, used every bit of self-control he could mustard to hold himself in check with the thoughts of she survived this and made it towards a future.

Michael said nothing to Edward, but, was very much aware of how hard the man was trying to hold it together and not interfere with events. He quietly whispered to Edward that it was time to move on. So, Edward closed his eyes again and they experienced the fade and swirl of time once again.

XXXXXX

Next time the two opened their eyes they were once more in a different time in the period of the young girl's life. This time it was more horrifying than what had been witnessed before this.

Before them was a young Bella around the age of thirteen as she faced the older vision of both the man and woman that had kidnapped her years ago, and they both were upset with the young girl and were busy berating her both individually and collectively, not even giving her time to answer. Once again the red headed woman made a move to strike the young Isabella, but, was stopped by the man who shook his head.

"Don't do a damn thing to her as I have plans for the little slut."

"Are just going to allow her to get by with the fact that she allowed someone to steal the package from her? That shit cost us the last bit of available cash we had."

"What I have in mind will bring in more money this first time and maybe even the second time than what we were supposed to have received for that kilo we were selling."

"What the hell are you planning to do with her? What does she have that will recoup our money and double it?"

"Woman, I swear, sometimes I wonder what I ever saw in you to want to tie myself to your ass. Use the damn brain cells you're supposed to have and think.

"The old man down the street has been watching her for ages and has approached me on more than one occasion to see if he could buy some time with her. He's offered a huge amount once he found out that she's a virgin and he would be the first to use her.

"Also, one or two other people have made offers for her and then once I mentioned that she was pure upped the ante by offering any amount I set to be the first. So, what the hell do you think she has? It's time to put her to work a bit more to be able to have her pay us back all the money we've been out maintaining her over the years since we took her.

"It was a real bitch that the people that wanted a child had to get themselves killed on the way to the meeting place and we're left with the little bitch, but, now it might turn out to be a good thing. She can start working with you."

"Okay, I guess I can handle that."

"I'm telling you now and you better listen; don't mar the merchandise cause she, being as young as she is, will bring in more money than you're able to do because of your age. We need to make sure that she's able to perform for the customers."

This whole conversation sickened Edward and it wasn't setting too well with Michael, either, but, they weren't in a position to be able to stop what was going to happen. But, Michael's concern, also, was how well Edward would be able to cope with what was planned.

Edward and Michael heard the man on the phone talking with several individuals and then was rubbing his hands together in glee as he walked towards the front door. Of course, the two weren't limited by time and had no sense of time passing, but, in fact, it had been several hours since they had overheard the conversation about what was being planned for the young girl.

Their attention was drawn towards the door by the sudden knocking, really, more like pounding, and watched as the creep of a man walked over to answer the door. He was tall with black, unkempt hair that would continuously fall into his eyes only for him to sway it back once more, but, he had greying that was starting to appear at the temples and over the ears.

Once the door was opened to see who was banging on the door the man moved to one side out of the way to give the newcomer plenty of room to enter. But, as he entered and looked around the asshole held out his hand and the newcomer placed a rather large envelope into it and then asked where his prize was? Both Edward and Michael knew what this meant, but, couldn't interfere and Edward kept reminding himself that she survived.

The red head brought out young Isabella and gave her a push towards the older man that had entered who in the meantime was busily running his eyes up and down the girl while licking his lips. He took several steps towards her before the redhead gave the girl a push to send her into the arms of the newcomer. He swept her up and marched back into the room she had just come from, slamming the door to shut the other two out.

He put young Isabella down, but, started to run his hands up and down her body before making a move to reach to undo her top. She quickly began to cry and back away, but, was stopped as he grabbed her, then took her hand to force her to feel his hard on.

"No, please, don't do this!" Young Isabella pleaded, but, it fail on deaf ears. He continued to hold her hand on his privates as he bent forth to try to kiss her lips. It was in that moment that two loud pops could be heard from the other room and then loud crashing. But, within a breath of a heartbeat the door was kicked open and the old fool that had been trying to force himself onto Isabella whipped around only to be met with a stab through the heart.

Isabella screamed as she was swept up once more by the man that had killed her first assailant and was carried out of the house into a waiting car. As she was taken from the house she noticed that the man and woman that had ruled her life for so many years were dead as well.

Michael looked over at Edward to observe Edward looking at him. He grabbed a hold of Edward as he noticed the young man was starting to close his eyes and they both felt the fade and swirl of time once more.

XXXXXXX

The next scene that greeted the two was that of a silvered haired lady talking to a young girl. At closer look both Edward and Michael were able to see that she was talking with young Isabella. Evidentially, the next scene they had traveled to in their fact finding to be able to help Isabella was to see where the men that had killed the two men and woman had taken her.

"Young lady, tell me your name, please?" The woman asked in a kindly voice.

"All I know is Isabella Bird."

"How long had you been with James and Victoria Winters?"

"I don't know. I do know that once in a while they would refer to the fact that they had taken me for a couple that was killed on the way to pick me up."

"I see. So, in reality, they had kidnapped you away from your real parents. Do you have any member of your real parents?"

"No, ma'am. I don't really know what their names were except that it had to do with a bird."

"I see, so, that is why you call yourself Isabella Bird. Well, Isabella, you don't have to worry about anything here. I'll take care of you and make sure that you receive an education."

A/N: While Edward and Michael are learning about Isabella and the things that happened in her life they have discovered that she didn't have it easy.

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