Bella's POV
After I had ran out of the building, I sprinted my way across the stretch of grass towards the large forest that surrounded the perimeter.
It looks like all of those years of running around the palace grounds came off. My Farther insisted of those just in case I ever needed to run for some reason. I had always just thought he was insane thinking about that, but now I know why. I wasn't complaining, because it made me fit and healthy.
I kept looking behind me, terrified that somebody was following me. However, after the millionth time of checking behind me, I tripped over an oak tree root. I should have been watching where I was going. It's true that you are faster when you're not looking behind you or something along those lines anyway. The running felt worse than usual today, due to the fact that I had just been beaten up by a man about twice my size and weight.
The forest seemed endless, and I knew that if I didn't find a way out of here soon, I would get lost in the miles of dense trees. Well, that was an over exaggeration. I had no idea the size of this place, but in situations like these, you automatically jump to the worst conclusion.
Way to be optimistic Bella, I said to myself.
After stumbling and tripping about twenty more times, I noticed that the forest started to thin out, the bushes were less bushy and not as close together, and the trees were not as big, wide and thick. And sure enough after about 10 more minutes of jogging, I ran out onto a small road. I kept to the brim of the forest's edge, so that I wouldn't be seen by passersby, but not too far in that I couldn't see the road.
After a while a sign popped up saying, Firenze 2 miles. Firenze wasn't that far from Volterra and there was definitely a train station there, I remember going through it when my Father and I toured the country. But the only problem was... Is that I couldn't remember where it was.
My thoughts occupied me for the next fifteen minutes or so – trying to figure out where the station should be- and the next thing I knew, I was standing outside of a small corner shop. It was made with outdated wood and old club posters and advertisements on the window. The door was wide open, with a stack of newspapers just outside of it. From a quick glance I could see the headlines of one of them:
'KINGS DAUGHTER MISSING. SAID TO BE TAKEN BY THE MAFIA'
And underneath it was a picture of me, taken a few months ago whilst I was shopping in Rome. This picture made me ache inside. Only just a few days ago I still had that life, all planned out and very simple. There was no need to worry about being on your deathbed or being beaten up so badly that you couldn't eat.
Tears sprang into my eyes and I collapsed onto the floor, crying, and also trying to close the gap of pain in my heart. The cold hard concrete floor was the only reminder that I could probably freeze to death out of here. But at that moment in time, I didn't care. I would rather die than go back to that place.
After a while, some kind person wrapped a blanket around me and escorted me into the shop. I was led past the isles of food and magazines and into a back room, which was half hidden behind the till.
I was still crying by the time that the old man had me settled into an armchair and made me a cup of hot chocolate. The affection this unknown man gave to me made me cry harder. Nobody had been this kind to me, ever. My father had always just given me to whichever nanny that came and as I got older I had no friends as they were all fake, just wanting to know me just because I was the Princess, and my bodyguards never talked to me, they just watched with their cold blank eyes.
After a while, my crying died down and the old man began asking questions that he had obviously wanted to ask for a long time.
"Are you the Kings daughter?" He inquired, his voice burning with curiosity. Every time I tried to open my mouth to reply, nothing came out so I opted for nodding. His face turned from grey to white and then finally back to its original colour.
"Right, that is going to be a problem." And then it went quiet apart from the occasional sound of my sniffling. I couldn't take it.
"Excuse me, but where's the train station?"
"About 5 minutes down the road. Why?"
"I need to get back to Volterra."
"You know it won't be safe, they are still looking for you."
"Yes, I am aware of that issue, but I need to take the chance or I will never get home."
"I just don't like the thought of a young girl like you out on her own with people looking for her." And then an idea seemed to strike him. "You know what. I will take you back to Volterra. Then I can make sure you're safe." I looked around the room, and I felt uneasy, I mean there were guns hung on the walls and newspaper articles; all about the Mafia. It made me feel ill just at the thought of them.
"Um, I'm fine thank you." I only just met this old man and yet he was already offering to give me a lift back to my home. He shouldn't be taking this much concern in me. I guess that he is probably hoping that he would get money if he helped me. He frowned and then decided that he wouldn't win, that was too true. My father always had told me that I was similar my Mother, stubborn wise. He got that right. I was never told who my mother was. I was only told that she was pretty and that I would find out more when I was older. But I doubt I will. I don't even have a picture of her.
"Well at least let me buy the train ticket." Ah. That I was grateful for, I hadn't even thought about how I would afford a ticket.
"Would you mind? I promise I will get my father to pay you back and some extra for helping me." He seemed to cheer up as soon as I said finished my sentence, and then he walked out of the room mumbling something about just calling the train station to book a ticket.
For the five minutes he was gone I looked at the newspaper articles on the wall, reading the headlines and some of the articles. I gasped at the things that they had done; burnt people alive, drive by shootings. That kind of stuff, which just proved that they were the vilest creatures to walk this earth.
"I know it's disgusting isn't it?" Said a voice from behind me, I hadn't heard him enter the room.
"Yeah..." This was what they could do to me if they found me, the thought made me shiver.
"Are you cold?"
"Yes." I said, surprising myself. Then I realised that I smelt a bit as well.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but do I have time for a shower?" I said then smiled sheepishly. To my surprise he laughed.
"Yes of course you do! I also can give you some clean clothes if you want. They are my daughter who is your age, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind." He led me out the room and back through the shop and up some stairs. At the top of the stairs there was a small landing with about 5 rooms leading off of it. He opened the second door and it revealed a bathroom. He walked back out and returned with some clothes, a toothbrush, from the shop and a clean towel.
"Thank you so much." I was unbelievably grateful for his hospitality.
"It's no problem. You have an hour until your train gets there so you better hurry up." He smiled at me again and left the room, closing the door behind him. I jumped into the shower, savouring the hotness of the water; I shampooed and conditioned my hair, loving the smell of the strawberry scent that the shampoo emitted.
I got out of the shower and brushed my teeth. Turning around, I saw a hair dryer under the sink and dried my hair, then got changed into some clothes. He had given me a pair of dark skinny jeans, pumps, a nice top and a hoodie, I really appreciated it. I walked downstairs, back through the shop and into the back room behind the till. The man looked up as I walked in and invited me to sit back down.
"Your train leaves in 20 minutes so we better get down there now it's a 5 minute drive. Oh and I don't think I actually told you my name?" I shook my head.
"Well it's Phil. Phil Dyer."
"I'm Bella. Bella Swan. But you probably know that by now." He laughed and motioned for me to follow him outside to his car. The journey to the train station was quiet apart from the sounds of our breathing. When we got there Phil got out with me following him and spoke to a man at the ticket counter. He handed him some money and received a ticket in return. Then Phil walked back over to me and gave me the ticket along with some money.
"You'll need something to eat." He explained when I looked at him questionably.
"Thank you so much for everything. You are the kindest person I have ever met and I promise that I will repay you as soon as I get home. And also tell your daughter thanks for the clothes."
"There is no need to pay me back, I enjoy meeting new people." He smiled at me sadly and pulled me into a small hug. And then walked away, leaving me on the cold platform. After a few minutes I decided to get something to eat at the café and ended up getting a sandwich. I wolfed it down, just finishing it as the train came around the corner.
I stepped onto the train jumping the gap between the train and the platform, as I usually tended to miss and get my foot stuck. I walked into a carriage to find that it was almost empty, though I wasn't surprised at this time of night though. As I sat down, I got a few weird looks from the few passengers. I sat down properly and breathed a sigh of relief. I was nearly going home! I would be safe, and even if I do get in danger my body guards would always be there to protect me.
The train began to slow down and I looked out of the window, wondering why we were already there? But we weren't, we were at a small stop. Only one person was waiting on the platform. From what I could make out he was big with brawn and muscles and when he stepped into the light. I realised who he was.
Emmett.
Oh crap.
My mind went into action/ thinking mode. I ran into the train's toilet and sat on it with the lid closed down. He was coming to take me back. Probably threaten me with a gun, as it was the kind of thing that they do. It made my blood boil. But how was I supposed to get off the train without him seeing me?
Well, I could always pull the emergency stop button and jump off the train before he realises it was me all along. I looked around on the walls and saw the button just above the sink. I leapt up and pushed it down and the train slowed down until it came to a halt. I walked out of the toilet and quietly closing the door. Thankfully, Emmett was sitting with his back to me so I was able to stand by the door without him seeing. I could hear the train driver shouting at the other end of the train saying that when he catches the hooligan who did this, he was going kill them.
I pulled the door open and let the cool night air whip me in the face. I looked below and it was quite a jump. But it was either this or go back there. I bent my knees and jumped, only gasping out when I landed wrong. But there was no time for that now. I got up and ran towards this broken wooden fence, just as I was about to climb through the train started going again and there was no sign of Emmett.
Smiling, I climbed through.
Emmett's POV
I hope Jared is happy. Standing in this freezing cold train station platform was not in my job description. I looked at my watch for what seemed the billionth time and found the train was 10 minutes late already.
"For fucks sake," I grumbled to myself.
Jared had as many people as he could muster getting on trains all over the place into Volterra in hope of finding Bella. Stupid bitch. Why couldn't she just be a good little girl and stay where she was? Then I wouldn't be standing here freezing my arse off.
After about another five minutes, I could hear the tracks vibrating and that meant a train was coming. Finally! She better be on it, or I would have been standing here for nothing. I stepped onto the train and looked around the carriage. I briefly saw the shutting of the toilet door but other than that, there was no sign of her.
Great.
I sat down on a seat and lay my head back, thinking about some sleep. The train started up and after what seemed like 30 seconds slowed down and came to a halt again. I looked up startled, and saw the other passengers were too. There was no other stop now until Volterra, though we were in the rough edges of the city. I frowned, something was definitely off.
I heard the train driver shouting that he was going to kill whoever did this, but that wasn't what I was thinking about. I turned around to see Bella jump of the train. Shit.
Things clicked into my head. This train had come from the town near the base, Bella not been seen, but I had seen the toilet door shut.
She was there all along!
I jumped up and ran over to the now shut door. But just as I was about to open it and jump out, the train started up and I looked out the window to see Bella climbing through the fence. I got my phone out and rang Edward; he was in that area at the moment doing something for Jared.
He answered on the first ring. "Hello?"
"Edward I need your help." I had never thought that I would have to say those words
"What is it?" He asked, sounding confused.
"Bella has just jumped off the train and went through the fence into the part of Volterra you're in at the moment. Can you look for her and pick her up? And if she resists, stun her with your gun." Wish it would be a real bullet not a stunning one. Inside the bullet there was a special liquid that knocks the victim out for at least twelve hours.
"Sure." And the phone then went dead, along with my pride.
Bella's POV
I knew where I was, in the rough part of Volterra. I frowned; I had hoped that I would never have to come down here.
I walked down the dimly lit streets which were deserted apart from drunken voices I could hear just around the corner. I followed their voices, in hope of finding some directions but just as I turned the corner, I saw that there was no point. They looked to blind drunk to help me. I scowled and crossed over the road looking at the cracks in the pavement. I passed them on the other side of the road and one of them shouted out too me.
"Hey sugar! Want to come over here and have a drink with us!" His voice was slurred and when my head snapped up I saw he was about 18, around the same age as his mates.
I kept my head down and turned another corner. But after a while I heard some footsteps behind me and I turned around to see that it was a few of the boys from the group earlier. I turned back around to see that a few more boys were in front of me walking towards me. I turned into a little alleyway in hope of avoiding these people, however as I walked down it I realised that it was a dead end.
Just what I needed, thank you Lord.
I turned back around, thinking that the boys would have met up and gone away, but I was wrong. They were all standing at the mouth of the alleyway and I saw the glint of a knife.
My eyes widened and the boy with the knife smiled. I stepped back as he made his way down the alleyway.
"Come on sugar. There's no need to be like that. I won't hurt you. I promise." His breath smelt of beer and his hair was greasy which made me feel sick.
"Stay away from me." I said in what I hoped was a threatening voice. Apparently not though.
He bought his knife and put it too my throat.
"Now you will do exactly what I say or I will slit your throat." His free hand pushed his way past the shirt and rested on my stomach. But before he could do much more there was a few grunts and then silence. We both turned to see what had happened and there I saw...
"Edward," I breathed.
