A/N: Hello once more, readers! Lots and lots of apologies for not updating this sooner. I got a little bit stuck and to be honest, just abandoned it for a while. I got a new job (go me!) and that, along with my toddler (hello terrible twos) took up a lot of my time. But hey, here it is! The dun-dun-dunnn drama! This is a short story so after this chapter, they'll be a final small piece and then the end. Thank you for coming along on this ride and enjoying it!

I want to thank: .Wonderful, Hoa, SweetiePieSaysHi, CatViolet1996, melissamary55, Ohsnapitzarlene, Lin, MidnightDreamer00, buildingDECAY, Delenaluver, fantaysia and the few guests that reviewed! Also thank you to the many favoriters and followers for this story - you guys all brightened my day! Now on with the show and hope you enjoy!

Warning; it gets a bit graphic at one stage. Nothing too bad but thought I would just warn you before hand.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

3.

I didn't know who any of those people were. There were messages from names I didn't even know. Edward didn't have friends. The only 'friend' he had was his older brother Emmett who lived with his fitness model fiance in New York. I tried not to get too worked up. Of course he should have other friends. I felt terrible for even thinking otherwise.

Edward had been going out as of late. The nights he used to show up in my bed had been replaced with parties and clubs alike. Which was fine, of course. But why couldn't he take me along with him?

I swallowed the lump stuck in my throat and locked his phone quietly before moving into his bathroom. My forehead was slick with sweat and I blew out a deep breath, looking at myself in the mirror. Gee, when did I get so skinny? I frowned at my ribs but shook my head, combing through the hair softly before splashing my flushed cheeks with some cold water.

Everything is fine, I repeated to myself. Edward has a life, that's fine. He loves you. You trust him. Everything is fine.

But it wasn't fine. It became an addiction - me snooping. Every night I would get to spend with him, I would check his phone, scroll through each set of messages until I was satisfied he was doing nothing wrong. I became accustomed to the tingling and the adrenaline that would pulse through me. I started to resent my situation. I resented myself. Why couldn't I just trust him?! I was a horrible human being. A horrible girlfriend. How could I think Edward would do anything to hurt me?

But he has hurt you, came a small timid voice in the back of my mind. I decided a break would be beneficial for us. A few days, maybe a week, just to ourselves, to allow me to think. But stupid, stupid me. How could I think he would be okay with that?

"Is there someone else?" He demanded after pacing around my lounge room.

I attempted a calm voice, though the fire rising behind his eyes made me nervous. "Of course there isn't. I just think some time apart would be good. You know, so we can get our heads into focus."

"My head is in focus." He growled, unleashing the harshest glare I had ever seen on me. The term, 'If looks could kill...' flashed through my mind. I swallowed uneasily and looked down to my hands, tracing the small patterns on my skirt with my fingertips.

"I just -" I stopped, frowning as the tears built in my eyes. Damn it. I wasn't supposed to cry. You're weak, Bella! Weak! "I feel like I'm losing you. Like I'm losing myself," if I hadn't already done so, "and I just think I need a few days to think."

He paled slightly. "What? You need to think? About what?!"

"Just some things -"

"No." He said, shaking his head. "No. You don't need to think. You're not losing me. You're just being stupid, Bella. Okay? You hear me? Stupid. You need to stop over thinking us in every step of our relationship. I'm getting really sick of it."

"What?" I recoiled, sinking further into the couch. "I'm not -"

"You are!" He bellowed. "What don't you understand? I love you, Bella! Not anyone else - you."

"Oh and I'm supposed to just know that, am I?" I screamed back, standing from the couch. He blinked, not expecting me to have lashed out. I didn't expect it, either. My stomach dropped but for some stupid reason - I kept going. "I hardly ever see you anymore! You're out doing God knows what with God knows who and I'm left thinking, is it me? Will Edward be alright? Am I still in a relationship? No - I'm over it! So just fuck off!"

I froze and as I watched, so did he.

"Excuse me?" He muttered.

I swallowed nervously, sweat slicking my forehead. My defensive form fell and I was left shaking slightly, unsure of what to do. He laughed suddenly and the hairs on the back of my neck stood. It wasn't a nice laugh.

"Well, well, well, looks like my Little Swan has grown a back bone!" He smirked, tilting his head as he appraised me. "We can't have that, can we?"

I don't remember much to be honest. He lunged, I screamed and suddenly pain was everywhere. I awoke, confused and disorientated, on the floor of my bedroom. The room was dark, cold and empty. Edward was nowhere to be found. I tried to move, wincing as I ached all over. My stomach was by the far the worst pain. It cramped, as if I was being stabbed over and over. I sat up, frowning as the top of my thighs were slick with something wet. I frowned at the semen covering my inner thighs and whimpered quietly. He didn't... did he have sex with me while I was unconscious? It would explain why I felt so raw down there.

I stood shakily and entered the bathroom, turning the shower on as I walked to the mirror. Luckily my face was left bruise-less. He had obviously directed most of his attention elsewhere. I sat unsteadily on the toilet and sighed, tearing off some toilet paper as I thought of how much of an idiot I had been. I had probably pushed him away even more.

It was then, I felt the strangest sensation ever. Like something was slipping out from me... down there. I spread my legs ever so slightly and watched as something dark dropped into the toilet, drops of blood following after.

"What the fuck?" I whispered, sitting there for a moment. I shook my head and wiped myself before heading to the shower, frowning as I thought back at the strange incident. I'd Google it, I decided. Instead, I turned my thoughts to Edward as I stood in the hot mist of the shower. Where was he now? Were we still together? Did he still love me? Did I still love him?

Well, what an absurd question that was. Of course I still loved him. I would love that man forever and a day. He was my prince, my Edward, my light, my everything. Yes, I still loved him more than ever. After half an hour and a scrub and deep condition, I stepped out of the shower and into fresh pajamas. I spent the night trying to contact him.

It was odd. To think I had a miscarriage without even knowing I was pregnant. I wasn't upset, not really. You can't lose something you never knew you had. But still, it was a piece of Edward. A piece of me. A piece of us. I decided not to tell him. I figured it was better him not knowing. He would be shattered. He used to talk about kids... how many we'd have, where we'd live, what their names would be... it was all a dream come true in my eyes.

After that night, he had showed up a few days later with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. To Charlie, it looked like a random show of affection, but between Edward and I, it was an apology. And I accepted it. He said he had wanted to give me a few days, which he did, and that he was sorry for acting the way he did. I was the idiot, I had said. And just like that, we were back on track. I saw him a bit more after that, he no longer came to me at night which I had learnt to be okay with. I would spend every Friday night at his house, wrapped around him like a blanket. I didn't check his phone anymore.

But one night, I had an odd feeling of dread fall over me. We were eating mac and cheese on his bed, watching a re-run of the Simpsons when it hit me. I hadn't even noticed. His phone had a password now. It had never had a password. I frowned as I watched his tap a quick reply to someone before his eyes flickered to me. I looked away before he caught me and ate another mouthful. The feeling didn't leave my stomach all night. It was 3 o'clock in the morning when I decided he was in a deep enough sleep to move away from him without him rousing. I crept to his side of the bed and picked his phone up before moving onto his black leather love seat.

I had watched him out of the corner of my eyes all night and had finally seen him tap his code in when he thought I wasn't paying attention. My eyes flickered up to his body spread out on the bed and I quietly unlocked his phone, clicking into his messages. My heart thudded unevenly as the familiar surge of adrenaline rattled through me. My scalp prickled and I frowned, clicking onto a thread of messages with a label of 'Tanya'. It was like Edward had dove into my mind and re-created one of my worst nightmares. It was all there, all on screen, and I found myself scrolling through countless passionate conversations with a constant stream of tears rolling down my cheeks. I hadn't even realized I was crying. There were photos, though I didn't dare stop scrolling to look. I was too afraid. Too afraid it would make it all real.

I screen-shotted a few conversations and sent the evidence to my phone, quickly deleting the snaps from his gallery after. There was nothing else in his messages that caught my eyes after that. I put his phone back on the night table and left the bed, picking my clothes and belongings up as I left the room.

Once I was through his front door, I ran. I ran until the oxygen felt like fire to my lungs, I ran until my feet were raw, I ran until the tears staining my face felt like ice. I crumbled, letting out a loud sob as I went down, clutching the space above my heart. I felt like I was being torn in two. A hole was expanding in my chest, and I felt myself turn numb. How could he do this to me? After everything we've been through! Everything! After he had constantly beaten me for even mentioning another boys name, he was off fucking someone else? The words felt like acid through my mind, but I was too gone to even care. Tanya. Who the fuck is Tanya?!

The past year felt like a lie. It made me sick. And sick I was. I retched, throwing everything I had eaten for dinner up and all over the road around me, not even caring as it splattered onto my bare legs. I was half naked, in the middle of the road, crying and throwing up over someone who didn't even love me. I was just an object to him, his possession. You don't hit someone you love, you don't manipulate or guilt or mentally/emotionally harm someone you love.

I stood on shaky legs, crying out as I pulled my legs into my jeans. I shrugged my top on, not even bothering to put my shoes on. Who knows how long it would be until he found me missing?

I pulled out my phone, more tears escaping my eyes as I brought up my messages and angrily tapped away at the screen, attaching the screenshots with it.

- You are the most pathetic person I've ever met. You disgust me. I never want to see you again. I'm done. I'm done with you. Come near me again and I'll go to Charlie and get the police involved.
Leave. Me. Alone. -

I pressed send before I could even think it through and sighed feeling, for the first time in a while, free. I started walking, shoving my shoes in my bag and angrily wiping the tears away. I vowed to myself to never cry over that boy again. I couldn't understand how he could be so cruel. What had happened to make him be like this?

I decided I didn't care.

He had put me through so much. So much.

I didn't deserve this life. I had changed dramatically for him. Gone was the bubbly Bella I had once known, now replaced with a paranoid overly-jealous little girl, the shell of what once was. Time rolled by slowly and my feet were pulsing, though I didn't feel it. I was numb, inside and out.

I felt sick again as my phone started vibrating. Someone was calling me. I fetched it out of my bag and fought down the panic as his name flashed on the screen. He knew. He was awake, he knew I had left, he knew I had gone through his things, he knew I had run away. A text came through next -

- I'm coming to get you. -

Five words. Five little words. Six little syllables.

I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about them or how I should perceive them. Was it meant as a sort of calming gesture? You know, "I'm coming to get you and then we can talk this all out" kind of thing. Or was it a threat? "I'm coming to get you. Time to run."

I went with the latter, gripping my phone as hard as I could and running, running faster than I thought I had ever ran before. I ignored my feet, the adrenaline pulsing through my veins pushing me that little bit further each time. I heard his car before I saw it. The smooth purr sounding so lethal in the quiet early morning air.

Forks High School was coming up quick on the right and I didn't think twice to jump over the fence, not caring if he managed to see me as headlights illuminated my frame falling onto school property.

I would hide. Hide until the teachers and students arrived at school. He couldn't hurt me here. Not if he couldn't find me.

"Bella!"

I heard a shout but that only pushed me further. It wasn't a pleading call, or a shout of relief for finding me. He was downright furious. I cast a look back over my shoulder and saw that he had parked his car and was now jumping the fence like I had, running full tilt towards me. I ran harder, disappearing into a row of bushes and crawling to a window of a classroom, not half surprised that it slid open without a problem. Leave it to a small town to willingly leave their windows unlocked. I pulled myself up, struggling a bit to pull my body completely up but managed to quietly, dropping low to the floor and crawling towards the door.

I froze as I heard a window smash further down the hall and crawled my way into a corner. The school hallway was eerily quiet when it wasn't bustling with a steady stream of students. It was dark absolutely no light coming in through anywhere.

"Bella," he called and I heard the crunch of glass as he stepped over it. "Come out, come out, wherever you are..."

It sickened me to think he was enjoying this. He wasn't my Edward. My Edward was sweet, loving, tender. He wouldn't hunt me. I stifled a sob as I realized he was, very well, hunting me down. What would he do if he found me? I kept in the classroom as I heard doors open and close, realizing he was checking each and every classroom along the hallway. I pulled my phone out, my fingers trembling as I hurriedly dialed a number, whimpering when they finally answered groggily.

"Daddy," I whispered, crying quietly. He was immediately alert, yelling through the phone. "Oh God, daddy please. He's going to hurt me."

"Who Bella? Where are you? Please tell me!"

"Edward. He's going to hurt me. Please, you have to come. He's going to find me, please daddy," I whimpered as a door slammed shut close to where I was and I hurriedly whispered I was at school before hanging up and turning my phone off. I wouldn't risk it going off. I stayed quiet and crept forward, listening to him shuffle around in the classroom next to me. My heart thudded loudly in my ears and I stepped out of the classroom noiselessly, peering around a wall of lockers before darting past the open classroom door and making it to the other side of lockers just as he left the room.

I slid down the wall and curled myself into a ball, trying to drown out his hypnotic voice. He was calling to me, daring me to come out of hiding. I held in another sob, hiding my face in my arm.

"You can't hide from me, Bella. No matter where you run, no matter where you hide... I'll always find you." His voice echoed through the hallway and I cringed. "Know why? Because you're mine... all mine. Forever and always, baby."

All was quiet after that.

I screamed as hands seized my shoulders and I was hauled forward, my front colliding hard with the floor.

"You honestly think that I wouldn't have been able to find you?" He laughed, a cold husky chuckle that sent shudders down my spine. I was flipped onto my back and I tried to look at him but was practically blind. I felt him straddle my waist, holding my flailing arms down easily. "You honestly think I'd let you go? No," he breathed and I felt him near my face. "No, no, no, it's not that easy, Isabella."

"Get off me!" I screamed, wiggling my body desperately underneath his.

"I love you, Bella. I do," he buried his nose in my neck and I screamed louder. He sighed, running his nose along my collarbone softly. "Even after everything you put me through," he sighed once more and I gasped, my eyes widening.

"Everything I've put you through? Are you kidding me?"

"Oh Bella," he breathed. "Bella, Bella, Bella, what am I going to do with you?" He mused, locking both of my wrists in one hand. I soon felt a finger drag down the side of my face. His lips suddenly pressed to mine and I gagged, feeling his tongue push its way into my mouth. I didn't think twice - I bit his tongue as hard as I could, enjoying his surprised yelp as he quickly pulled away. Blood filled my mouth and I spat it at him, desperately trying to buck him off me.

"You fucking bitch," he whispered, and I could tell he was shocked. I screamed as a hand flew across my face, the slap echoing through the hallway. My cheek burned and tears automatically sprung up in my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. Not anymore. Hands were on my throat, squeezing, pushing, and I coughed, my lungs screaming for oxygen. I clawed at his hands, but his grasp only tightened and dots invaded my vision. I could feel blackness falling over my mind, but before it could completely take over, he relinquished his grasp. I sucked in a large breath, the oxygen filling my lungs like fire.

His fingers curled around my jaw and he pushed my head to the side, holding it steady as his lips attacked my throat. He wasn't gentle. He bit into my neck until I screamed, and continued along until he reached my shoulder. My skin throbbed and I felt something hot and wet slide down my skin.

I started kicking my legs as I felt hands on my pants, ripping at the button until they were undone. Is this what he had done to me last time? He pulled the denim down my legs and I ignored the fabric burn of it and pulled myself away, kicking him in the stomach. He toppled over and I took my chance, scrambling onto my feet and running down the hallway. The next thing I knew I was on the floor again, the front of my body colliding harshly with the linoleum floor. The back of my head pulsed and sticky hot wetness dripped down onto the floor. The metallic tang filled my nose and I gagged, watching the stars swirl around my vision. Bringing a hand to the back of my head, it was immediately covered in blood and I fought off the nausea, crying quietly as the pain doubled.

"You can't run from me, Bella! How many times do I have to tell you? You're mine! Mine!" He was on me again but I didn't fight, my limbs not responding. I was a rag doll, taking every hit and kick he directed at me. The blackness was coming again, quicker than last time. I welcomed it, wanting nothing more than to escape the pain.

I should have listened. I'm sorry, mum. I'm sorry, dad. I'm sorry, Alice.

I could hear Edward speaking, but I couldn't comprehend his words. The blackness had taken over my mind and I felt myself drifting. Death wasn't what I had been told it was. My life didn't flash before my eyes, or I didn't see a warm light welcoming me. It was just black. I was falling into it; it surrounded me, engulfed me. I felt cold. At least it was over. I was safe now. So cold.

A/N: Review! And thank you for reading :)