Disclaimer: Characters, (except the ones I create) belong to Stephenie Meyers. Lucky lady.
AN: To those of you who would like to know what's going to happen to the other girls, especially Annie, don't worry I haven't forgotten about them. Or James. ;)
Trafficking
Chapter 8
I couldn't stop the crying. All of my repressed anger and sadness filtered out through these tears. That's not to say I wouldn't still be angry or all, I still had plenty of that left. After a few moments Edward lifted me up in his arms and as gently as possible began to carry me away. God, I was freezing. All I had on was my little white dress, and though I was more than thankful to be in Edward's arms…they were kind of cold.
My shivering got so bad at one point I'm sure Edward could feel them. "Don't worry, we have lots of blankets in the car. We'll get you warmed up." I looked up to see Edwards face smiling upon me. I could also see the worry in his eyes. And the anger. Was he angry with me? Did he feel the same way I did, that this whole thing was caused by my stupidity. I tried to shake the thoughts from my head and buried my face deeper in Edward's chest.
We stopped and I felt myself being placed on a cushioned seat with warm air swirling around me. I opened my eyes and allowed myself to let go of Edward. "You'll be okay Bella." His voice was so smooth I would believe anything he said.
I looked around. We were in a car and I was sitting next to Alice who was starting to wrap me in layers of blankets. The warmth and comfort of the blankets felt so good, it had been so long since I was properly warm. I sat huddled in my little ball of blankets feeling oddly calm and at peace.
It was when I felt the car move beneath me that I noticed Alice looking at me, and I mean really looking at me; taking in every bruise, every imperfection. I shuddered at the thought of how horrible I must look. We hit a bump causing me to lift slightly off the seat and land of center onto my wrist. I hissed in pain and I could hear Alice mumble something slightly to Edward. I hope she was telling him to slow down.
The man in the front passenger seat turned around and smiled at me. "Sorry Bella. Edward is just a little anxious to get home."
"Home?" Come to think of it, I was so preoccupied with getting out that I never thought about where I would go after I did. I guess I automatically assumed I would be taken to a hospital. It was clear my wrist was broken.
"Yes Bella." This time it was Alice who spoke. "We're going to take you to our home in Forks. Our father, Carlisle is a doctor. And we thought it might be safer for you there."
I nodded my head in understanding too exhausted to do much else. I could feel my eyes trying to shut wearily but I continued to force them open. I never wanted to take my eyes off Edward. However darkness was encroaching upon my vision and the last thing I saw before giving myself over to unconsciousness were Edward's bothered eyes in the rearview mirror.
EPOV
We were almost home and for that I was thankful. Bella had passed out in the backseat next to Alice and I could tell Jasper was uncomfortable. Not just from the scent of Bella's blood, but also from the amount of pain radiating from her. I pushed the pedal down a little further now that Bella was unconscious and wouldn't feel any pain if we hit a pot hole or bump.
"Jasper, call Carlisle. Tell him we're almost home." Instantly, Jasper was on the phone with our father updating him on Bella's condition and our whereabouts. Finally after what seemed liked days in the car we turned onto the familiar road that led to our long driveway. The car quickly yet gently came to a stop in our driveway and before Jasper and Alice even had a chance to get out I had Bella in my arms.
I looked down at the creature I had in my arms. She looked so peaceful. It was nice to see her like that. I walked as smoothly as possible to our front door where Carlisle stood with the door open, ready to treat his new patient. Carlisle looked down at Bella and I watched as a cacophony of emotions flitted across his face.
"We took the liberty of making up your room for her use Edward. I hope you don't mind." I shook my head. "Head on up then. Esme is already waiting. I'll grab my bag and meet you up there."
I walked to the stairs, wondering where Rosalie and Emmet were. I was somewhat grateful that neither were here. Well, I was grateful that Rosalie wasn't here. Not right now. I knew how she felt about this whole situation, I heard it in her thoughts. She wasn't happy that we were risking our family for one pathetic human. Deep down inside I knew that that was just how Rosalie was. She would come around eventually, I hope. I took the steps two at a time, still managing to keep a smooth gait. Esme was anxiously waiting at the door to my room for us. He had such a big heart, I hope seeing Bella in this condition didn't hurt her.
Esme skimed Bella's form and had she been able to cry I think she would have. "Oh Edward. Who would do this to a defenseless girl? How cruel, they must have no heart. Go on in. Put the poor thing on the bed."
Bed? Since when did I have a bed? Yet there sitting in the center of my back wall was a large bed turned down, waiting for Bella. "I know what your thinking." I turned back to Esme.
"We picked it up earlier today. We thought she would be more comfortable in a bed then a sofa. It'll be better for her. Go on, lie her down." I reluctantly released Bella from my arms, arranging her neatly on the bed. She sighed and stirred. Just as she was opening her eyes, Carlisle walked in, large doctor's bag in hand.
"Where am I?" Bella's previously angelic voice was raspy. Before anyone in the room had a chance to answer Bella's question a pain filled groan interrupted. "Oh god." Whimpers followed. "Hurts…ugh. Please…hurts." Carlisle swiftly walked over to Bella and kneeled at the bed. He brushed back Bella's unruly hair from her face as a father might do to comfort a child.
"Where does it hurt Bella? Tell me where so I may help you." Carlisle's voice was barely above a whisper and it was very soothing.
"Ughh, everywhere. Edward? Where's Edward? Oh no, they got him. Please Edward?" I could tell Bella was beginning to panic and immediately went over to her other side sitting on the bed next to her. I took her hand in my own. "No Bella. They didn't get me. I'm right here. Right here with you." That seemed to soothe her a little bit, but not for long. Her little hand grasped mine as tightly as she could manage. She gasped and arched off the bed. My heart was breaking. "Carlisle, do something!"
"Bella. You must tell me where it hurts so I can fix it. Is it your wrist, is that what hurts you right now?" I looked down at Bella's wrist, attached to the hand I was not holding. I hadn't noticed it before. It was immensely swollen and discolored. "Ye…yes. Wrist. Chest hurts. Chest, hip. Can't breathe. James get off! Can't breathe James."
Carlisle turned toward me. "Edward try to calm her down. I don't want to have to sedate her yet, but I will if this continues." I nodded. I didn't want to see her sedated. She would be trapped in her mind.
"Bella, It's me Edward. I'm here. Calm down, listen to my voice." Bella stilled most of her movements. She was still writhing in pain but whatever hallucination she may have been having before was gone. I noticed however she was still wheezing. The breathing trouble was unfortunately not a hallucination. "Esme, could you hand me the oxygen tank please."
Esme moved from where she had been watching at the foot of the bed and brought me the oxygen cylinder. I put the mask over my sweet Bella's bruised face and turned it on. This too seemed to calm her somewhat.
"Her wrist is most definitely broken. I'll need to reset it and cast it. We can do that when she's sedated though. As for her chest, she has 2 cracked ribs, the rest of seriously bruised. We'll have to keep those wrapped. Her hip is what I'm worried about. I managed to swipe a portable x-ray machine from the hospital. I'll run downstairs when I'm done here and grab it." Carlisle grinned sheepishly at me. Leave it to him to be able to pull that off.
He continued. "It could be fractured, it could just be bruised. She may even need surgery. I can't tell at this point." That didn't sound good. My poor angel. Carlisle went back to stroking Bella's hair, speaking to her words of comfort. He took on the role of doctor so easily and the role of father even easier. "I'm going to give you some morphine now Bella. And you're dehydrated so I need to put a tiny tiny needle in your arm to give you some fluids. I've very good, I promise you won't feel a thing. Is that alright?"
Bella was still moaning in pain but had exhausted herself with her previous movements. She merely nodded her head at Carlisle's request. "Good girl." Almost out of nowhere Carlisle produced an IV needle. Bella looked away as he brought it to her arm and began squeezing my hand a little more intensely. "Shh, Bella. You won't even feel a pinch. You're alright."
Because of her fractured wrist, Carlisle had to place the IV into the bend of her arm. He quickly hooked it up to a bag of saline and then injected the morphine. Almost instantaneously I noticed Bella relax into the bed. Her breathing evened out and her grip on my hand loosened.
"We'll have to keep an eye on her fever. I think it's just due to exhaustion and everything her body has been through. In a few hours I'll start a banana bag. She's definitely malnourished and underweight. We'll slowly have to work to correct that." I was thankful for my multiple medical degrees; I was able to understand everything Carlisle said clearly.
"As for her wrist, I'll reset that now, while she's out and cast it. I'll have that done in minutes. Another reason I'm glad we're not at the hospital, I can get things done a lot quicker here." True to his word, Carlisle reset Bella's wrist and casted it within minutes. I cringed as I heard bones pop, but I knew now that that was over, she would be on her way to healing.
"I can't leave her side Carlisle. I'll watch over her." I kept my spot next to Bella, humming whatever piece of music I could think of, stroking the top of her hand with my thumb. Carlisle returned before I had a chance to finish my second song and quickly went to work setting up the portable x-ray machine.
"Alright Edward. I'm going to take the x-ray. You just stay there and keep her still. I don't want her to panic in the middle of this." I continued my humming. Anything to keep Bella calm and peaceful.
"All finished. I'll go develop these and let you know as soon as they are done. Call me if there's any change." I nodded, not wanting to interrupt my song. And so Esme, Bella and I sat together with just the sound of my voice breaking the silence.
BPOV
I was floating. Wherever I was, it was peaceful. Soft. Warm, safe. I didn't feel scared anymore. The pain had finally stopped. I could still hear voices. They were all so musical, like bells. And there was something cold in my hand. It was Edward. He was keeping his promise to me, he hadn't left. My heart sang. Was I finally finding someone whom I could trust? I moaned. I felt myself lowering back to reality. I could feel the soft blankets of the covers I was lying on top of, and I could hear someone humming. It was beautiful. Like listening to a piano, only better.
I grunted trying to clear my dry throat. The music stopped. No, don't stop. "Bella?" It was Edward. I tried so hard to open my eyes, they felt like lead. But I did it. I slowly opened them, blinking a few times to clear my vision.
"Bella, you're awake! Carlisle." Edward was smiling. He never let go of my hand. I went to rub my face with my other hand, the one that wasn't occupied with Edward's but I was stopped.
"I wouldn't do that Bella. Carlisle had to put the IV in that arm, you had better vein access. But because of your wrist, it's in the bend of your arm. It would be best to rest that arm anyway. We reset your arm, so it's probably a bit sore."
I didn't know what to say. How long had I been out? "Ah, Bella you're awake." I turned my head away from Edward to see another beautiful vision kneeling beside me. More beautiful pale skin, golden hair placed perfectly, golden eyes full of compassion. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Carlisle. That lovely lady over there is my wife Esme." Esme gave me a little wave and beautiful smile. Then again, what about her wasn't beautiful. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired, I think. A bit sore. Weak." Carlisle stroked my head reassuring me.
"That's to be expected. But we've got you on a saline bag right now to help with the dehydration and in a little bit we'll get you on some nutritional supplements. Can you tell me what happened? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything."
I hesitated. I trusted Carlisle. He was a doctor. He was kind to me and had already helped me thus far. But I didn't want to tell anyone what had happened, even him. And especially not Edward.
"I…I can't," I whispered. Esme got up from her spot at the foot of my bed and moved next to Edward, also next to me. "Sweetheart, you can trust us. We want to help you. But we can't do that without knowing what happened. No one will judge you. We want to help you heal. Let us."
She was so persuasive. I could already feel tears dripping from my eyes. Esme gently wiped them away with a cold finger.
"I…I was kidnapped. I was kidnapped while I was running away from my father. I was running away from my father because he beat me." I looked around. Already, I had the room's attention. Three pairs of beautiful golden eyes were trained on me.
"My father drank. A lot, and he couldn't control himself. He would get angry at me when he was drunk. I don't think he ever loved me, but he only ever hit me when he was drunk. The night I ran away, Friday the thirteenth, was the first night I actually thought I might die. He wouldn't stop. So I kicked him….and, and he tripped and hit his head. He was knocked unconscious. I took that opportunity to grab a bag with the few belongings I had and I left." Horrible memories were flooding back now and I squeezed my eyes shut in attempt to block them out.
"I was walking that night along our main road. It was dark out and the road was empty. Until Misha passed me. At the time I didn't know who or what he was. He seemed nice enough. He offered me a ride to the bus station but when he found out I was going to Seattle, he insisted he drive me since he was headed there anyway. I honestly just thought he was a business man." I had to stop my narrative at that point for a moment to get my sobbing under control. Edward began stroking my hand again. Funny how that simple movement could bring such comfort.
"I fell asleep in the car and woke up when we were in Seattle. I went to get out of the car, but Misha woldn't let me. He told me he owned me now, I was indebted to him. He dragged me into the basement of what I would later find out was his whorehouse. I was thrust into reality. I met the rest of the girls, ten others I think. One of them, Annie, was the only reason I am still alive today. She cleaned me up every night. She kept me living." Poor Annie. She was still stuck there. My heart broke for her. I really hoped she could escape like I had.
"I was being shown around when Misha came in to give everyone assignments. Annie was explaining everything to me. That night I didn't get one. After the other girls left he pulled me into a private room with him. He poured vodka down my throat. I promised myself I would never touch that after seeing what it did to my father, but he forced me. And then, he… I was…he raped me. I was a virgin and he raped me. I, I couldn't stop him." I broke down in sobs again throwing myself as much as I could in my condition into Esme's arms. There was something about a woman's touch that was comforting.
"Shhh, you're safe now. We'll never let anyone touch you like that again. It's okay now." She rocked me back in forth in arms like a child until I calmed down. I decided to continue my story from Esme's arms.
"Within days, Misha had me in the rotation with the other girls. I started off just as entertainment in the main room. That was humiliating, but not as bad as working upstairs. That was considered punishment for bad behavior. I was lucky. I didn't have to work upstairs until the day before Edward and I had agreed to meet again at the grocery store. That was also the day Misha decided he was keeping me."
I lifted up the hem of my dress to my hip. "He branded me."
"I was caught with chocolate that Friday. They barely fed us enough so Annie and I stole a bar of chocolate each. Greta, the resident tattle tale saw me ratted me out. I was to be punished by working upstairs. I was raped again that night. Over and over again.
"And then there was James. Annie used to be his favorite. But he saw me one night and paid Misha some big money to keep me upstairs for three days straight. He beat me, he raped me, he barely fed me. I thought I was going to die in that room. But James decided to take a shower and I took the chance to use his phone and call Edward. And then I guess you know the rest…"
The room was silent. Oh god. I knew it! They didn't want me here anymore. They were disgusted with me. I began to remove myself from Esme's lap. "I understand, I'll go now."
"Bella no!" I cowered in fear. Someone was yelling at me. I didn't want to get hit. "Oh god Bella. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." It was Edward. Edward is safe, remember?
"I think what Edward is trying to say Bella, is we want you here. " Carlisle looked like he could cry. "I think I speak for all of us when I say we were just horrified as to how someone could do that to another human being. You've been through such ill treatment and yet here you are, still alive. You're strong Bella. You amaze me with your strength. "
I blushed fiercely at Carlisle's words. No one had every called me strong before. I fell back into Esme's arms. I was exhausted. She kissed me on my forehead.
"You should rest now Bella. You've been through a lot, to say the least. We'll be here when you wake up."
"I'm too scared to sleep. I don't want to see them. They hurt me in my dreams."
"Not while we're here Bella. We'll keep you safe. Trust us. It'll be alright. Close your eyes and let yourself relax."
I listened to Esme, and before I knew it I was unconscious and slept. And for once I wasn't plagued by my dreams.
We're moving along! Reveiws si vous plait. They really do make me work harder therefore speeding up how quickly I can update….hint hint, wink wink.
-lmbrtvll
