EPOV
Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. I was still huddled into my own shell; oblivious to the ones around me that wanted to help. Carlisle and Esme felt so bad that I had lost my one true love. I think my family has finally given up on me. They used to come up to my room to comfort me before, but with my lack of recognition, they just stopped. Alice used to come into my room, see me huddled into the corner, and come and hold me. Bella was my everything, and now I have nothing. I used to be okay with having nothing of value in my life, and now I was sick of myself. I wanted everything and anything for my Bella. Look where that took us now.
After the day that Tariq was sent to his death, I thought we had a chance. I thought that we might be able to get some trace of that Bella was still alive, at least. We tried to call Rakesh on Tariq's phone, but the call came as the phone is no longer in service. To say that I was mad or angry was an understatement. I thought that not having Bella for a week was bad; I had to suffer another five years alone. Five years of agony, of worry, and anger. I had no clue if Bella was alive, if she was dead or worst… if they changed her to an immortal.
Today would have been Bella's twenty-third birthday. That is, if she is still human. I hate to consider the worst possibilities, but nothing can seem impossible in our case. Her kidnappers have made no sort of connection with us to make a deal. I would give them anything to get Bella back.
A knock came upon my door, as I stared at the wall in my room.
"Edward?" Esme called out. I could not get my voice to work, but I knew she knew I was in here. Where else would I be? Esme came in and saw me huddled in my usual spot, and sighed.
"Edward, you should really come with us for a quick hunt," She scolded. I shook my head from side to side. I will not leave my spot, until Bella is back in my arms. Esme sighed again, coming over and crouching by my side. I felt her cold hand come up and stroke the side of my face. She spoke so softly, that I barely heard her next words.
"Emmett, Jasper." In a whoosh, I was brought to my feet, Jasper and Emmett each holding one of my arms up. I staggered in their arms, not remembering the last time I hunted, or even took care of my hygiene. They each held my arm tight, holding me to their solid bodies, and helped me walk out the door. I knew there was no use in fighting them, because I would just lose. Unlike me, my family had kept up on their usual hunting trips, keeping themselves strong and fit for anything that might happen.
My body ached with every step we took; walking down the stairs at a human pace. When we got down the stairs, Esme left my side to get Carlisle. By some means, not sure whether they set it up or not, but I was placed in front of our hanging door mirror; going so many years without moving or hunting, really made an impact on my body. My clothes barely fitted me; my shirt was just hanging off my torso, and my pants sagged on my hips. Going through withdrawal, was not a good thing. My bronze locks were just matted to my forehead, hanging off my head, making my eye sight blurry through the pieces of hair. My eyes, were the scariest feature. The blackness of my eyes had me worried. I have never seen them so black before. The black was a coal color, making my eyes look dangerous.
I shrugged off Emmett's and Jasper's arms, staggering for a second, but holding myself up. I knew that if anything would happen, then I would be of no help. I wanted to be better for the sake of my Bella. The rest of the family came out of the dining room, watching me warily. I smiled slightly at them, and then I felt a flying pound of pixie rush into my arms. I was somewhat glad that Emmett had shuffled behind me, because as Alice threw herself into my arms, the weight was too much to hold. My body went tipping backward, and into Emmett's beefy arms.
Alice started squealing with joy, jumping up and down next to me. Everyone was looking at her like she was on steroids.
"Edward is going to be so much better tomorrow," She answered everyone's unspoken question. I smiled, shaking my head. We left through the door, everyone taking their times to be next to me, just in case. The thrill of running again, made me excited. Even though my body was still achy, I ran as fast as my legs could take me. We came to the clearing where we met Tariq, and I immediately took down the largest of the three Elks. The rest of them scattered to the woods, where the rest of my family was lurking. I kneeled over the elk, watching the blood run in the veins. It was almost like some drool would come out of the side of my mouth. I leaned down, puncturing the jugular with my razor sharp teeth, and let the blood run into my system. I might have moaned a little, when the blood washed down my parched throat.
I drained the Elk of all of its blood, wiping the corners of my mouth for remains. I jumped up, feeling my body start to become healthier. Smiling, I raced back into the trees, jumping up on a high branch. I let my instincts take over, at the strong scent of a mountain lion near. I hopped from branch to branch, finally reaching my destination. The mountain lion was crouched over a female deer, ripping its flesh open. I quietly sprang from the tree, and landed on top of the mountain lion. With a quick flick of my wrist, I cracked the neck of the lion. Immediately draining the rest of the blood, I felt so much better. My muscles were no longer aching, but felt tight. My clothes fit snuggly back onto my body, and I hoped my eyes were no longer that disturbing black color.
I felt company around me, as I looked around, seeing my family appear next to me. Smiling, I hugged Alice, who threw herself at me again.
"It is good to have my brother back," she murmured in my ear. Laughing lightly, I squeezed her tighter.
"It is good to be back," I whispered. I made it my goal from now on to never disappoint my family ever again. Alice let go of me, racing back into Jasper's arms. Esme walked forward, bringing me into her motherly embrace.
"Never scare me again," she demanded. I nodded into her neck. It was nice to have my families support back. I let go of Esme, smiling at the rest of my family.
"I am sorry about how I have acted the last five years, and I promise it won't happen again," I spoke. They nodded at me, each giving me a warm smile.
After our little talk, we finished hunting, and then raced home. I made it my next mission to work harder on finding my Bella. We entered the house, everything calm and quiet on our side. I raced back up into my room, promising my family I would be back down in a half an hour. Upon entering my room, I was again disappointed in myself. My room was still a mess from my rampage five years ago. Glass still littered the floor, and the bed frame was cracked beyond fixable. Moving at vampire speed, I picked everything up, and cleaned my mess up. Since I could not fix the frame, I just left it there, making a note to buy another one. I had to think positive that Bella would come back and use that bed I bought her. Smiling, I raced into my adjoining bathroom, and cleaned myself up. I washed all the blood, and dust off my body, and washed my hair twice. When I got out of the shower, I felt like a new man. Drying my hair with my towel, and putting on some fresh clothes, I raced back downstairs with my family.
As I was walking down the stairs, my pocket buzzed. I looked at Carlisle in suspicion, as the rest of my family filtered in. I pulled out my phone, looking at the number; it was an unknown number. Carlisle motioned for me to answer it, so I flipped it open.
"Hello," I answered. I heard deep breathing on the other line, and then a hitch. It almost sounded like the other person on the line was crying. "Hello," I answered again.
The voice came out of the phone, making me want to cry if possible.
"Edward?" The voice was harsh, and pitched as if it was forced to talk. I dropped to my knees, holding the phone to my ear for dear life.
"Bella? Bella, is that you," I dry sobbed into the phone. My family reacted on instant, coming and holding me, trying to listen to what she was saying.
"Yes, Edward, it is me," Bella cried. Her voice sounded so real, and so familiar, but so different. It had an edge to her voice, which made me wonder if she was okay. Carlisle took the phone from me, holding it up to his ear. I collapsed in Alice's arms, dry sobbing a deep cry.
"Bella? Bella, where are you," Carlisle spoke in authority. I could barely hear her mumbled response on the other side. I lifted myself up, keeping with my promise to not disappoint anyone. I snatched the phone away from Carlisle, bringing it back up to my ear.
"Bella, are you okay? Where are you?" I started sputtering questions off. Bella sighed on the other line, and I could make out another voice in the background. She was being forced to hold the truth in.
"I do not know, Edward. God, it is so good to hear your voice again, baby," Bella cried. Laughing on a dry sob, I answered her.
"I know, love. God, Bella, are you okay?" I whimpered. I heard Bella sigh on the other side of the phone, and some rustling.
"Edward, I don't have a lot of time. They gave me these five minutes to call anyone I wanted. I just had to hear your voice again," she explained.
"Who are they, Bella," I pressed. I heard her take in a deep breath, and mumble something quietly. A resounding smack sounded on the other side of the phone, and a cry of pain from my love. Something toppled over, and a weight of something fell on the floor.
"Bella? Bella are you okay?" I shouted into the phone. I heard the phone being passed around, and then a deep male's voice came on.
"Times up," he muttered. A growl came from the back of my throat, and vibrated through my chest.
"Rakesh," I snarled. I heard his deep throaty laughter come from the other end of the line.
"Very good, Edward, you know who I am," Rakesh laughed. I leaped up onto my feet, and started pacing back and forth.
"Let Bella go," I demanded. He sighed, and then laughed at my demand.
"I am sorry, Edward, but I cannot do that. But, o do have a surprise for you," Rakesh announced. I looked into Carlisle's eyes, wondering what he meant, when I heard a crash from the other room. Emmett and Jasper took off out the door, and tried to find who just threw the surprise. I raced into the living room, and saw a video tape connected to a brick. I heard Rakesh laugh on the other side.
"I guess you got the surprise, Edward. That is my sign to hang up," He exclaimed.
"No, please let me say goodbye to Bella," I cried out. I heard Rakesh sigh, and then the sound of the phone being thrown somewhere. I heard scrambling, and then my Bella's sweet voice.
"Edward, I love you so much, and please do not worry about me," Bella cried. A dry sob escaped form the back of my throat, as I responded.
"Bella, god I love you so much too. Please hold on for me love, I will find you. You will be back in my arms soon," I exclaimed. Bella let out a laugh-cry on the other end, making me want to just crawl into the phone, and be with her.
"I miss you, Edward," the voice of my Bella got longer and softer, as the phone was pulled away from her.
"Goodbye, Edward," Rakesh's voice laughed darkly, as the other end went dead.
"Bella? Bella?" I shouted into the phone. She was alive, but not happy. Neither of us were happy without the other one. I hurled the phone to the ground with a snarl, and slumped onto the ground. I ran my hands through my hair, shaking my head.
"Edward, you might want to see this," Carlisle said quietly from the other room. Sighing, I stood up, and walked to where my family was. They had untapped the video form the brick, and put it into the VCR. The screen was a fuzzy black picture, until it focused on one thing. It was Bella, her head down to her chest, as she sat in a chair. Her hands looked to be bound behind her back with some kind of tape. Another growl escaped from my throat, as I watched the screen. The background of the place they were staying, looked like a run-down shack of some sort. It was completely black, except for one light bulb that illuminated my Bella's face. A hand shot out from behind her, grabbing onto her hair, and bringing her head back up. A cry erupted from her throat, as her head was yanked up and straight ahead.
A gasp escaped from my throat, as I looked at my Bella's face. She had a long scar going from her temple, all the way down to her jaw. Her eyes were blood drawn, with deep, black circles underneath them. I heard a muffled voice in the video, and then Bella shake her head.
"Never," she shouted. Her voice cracked, as she started coughing. After her coughing fit, she looked straight into the camera, and announced the words that will bring me happiness, until she can say it to my face.
"I love Edward, not you," she growled. The video ended with one last scream from Bella. We stared at the screen, none of us saying anything. I blinked once, slumping back onto the floor. Bella was in trouble, and I could not do anything about it. Carlisle was still staring at the screen, until we all jumped in surprise, when Emmett and Jasper busted through the front door. They each had a serious look on their faces.
"What?" I asked. Emmett looked at Jasper, and then nodded.
"We might have found the place they were recently staying," Jasper murmured. A small smile came to grace my face, as I got the best news in five years.
I was this much closer in finding my love.
Alright, so sorry the update was so long. I hope you guys liked this one! Thank you again to all of my reviewers, and the people who have been following this story! You guys are awesome!
So the next chapter is going to be the one from Bella. I wanted to know what you guys would prefer: Bella living in a cellar, two meals a day, and on the brink of death, or her living in paradise?
PLEASE REVIEW, and tell me what you would like better!