72 Hour Hold, Hour 3-8:12am

Third Pov

When Esme arrived at the hospital, she was a little bit more than irritated. She'd been woken up before dawn and ordered to the hospital and abruptly hung up on. No details, no reasoning, just a quick "you're needed" in a bored tone and then a click. Needless to say, she was very peeved at the moment and her coffee was not doing the trick.

And when she saw her husband, she zeroed in on him quick, her heels clicking against the floor as she tapped his shoulder.

"Esme, honey," Carlisle gave her his award-winning smile and a peck on the lips. "How did you sleep?"

"Quick well, actually, until someone called me and told me I was needed with no explanation. Now, you know I am more than happy to help, but if I am just going to be summoned with no reason whatsoever, you can expect some anger," she huffed, her eyes thinned to slits.

"It's Charlie's daughter," he explained as they walked toward the elevator.

Esme's eyes widened, "What? Oh, poor Charlie. How is he? What happened?"

Carlisle heaved a sigh and shook his head, "It's best you see."

And when he hit the button for the fourth floor, she shook her head. She knew what she was going to see and she already felt heartbroken about it. When the doors opened she was led down the hall toward the room.

"I think you should talk to Charlie after you speak with her. I don't think he's handling it very well," her husband explained as he opened the door.

Bella was sitting on a bed, her wrists heavily bandaged. Emmett was sitting on the chair beside her, talking about one thing or another. Rosalie was off to the side, a faraway look in her eyes and Esme knew she was struggling as well. After all, it wasn't so many years ago she, too, sat in a bed like this.

"Esme!" Emmett smiled and stood up, looking relieved. "I'm not sure you've met properly. Esme, this is my sister Bella," he announced proudly.

"Hello, dear," Esme smiled at her and Bella responded with a slight left of her lips before lowering her gaze. "Where's Charlie?" she asked Emmett.

"He stepped out for a moment. He should be back soon," he answered, sitting back down.

"Okay. Bella, I would like to speak to you if that's okay," Esme told her gently, walking into the room.

She looked up at Esme, her brown eyes dull, "Sure."

"Rose and I will be outside," Emmett stood with Rosalie, squeezing Esme's arm as they left, Carlisle shutting the door to give the two of them privacy.

She took a seat across from Bella who stared at her hands, picking at her nails.

"The first time I contemplated suicide, I was twenty. My husband, he wasn't a good man. And when I lost my baby due a violent beating, he blamed me. So I walked to the cliffs and I was going to jump." Esme hadn't expected to tell Bella that story; it was a bit unprofessional she knew, but the look in her eyes. She understood that look.

"What stopped you?" Bella's question was barely above a whisper and it was a question Esme had asked herself for twenty years.

"Truthfully? I don't know. Something in me wanted to, most of me. But a small piece told me to stop. That something was out there, something better. And the following day I met Carlisle, my husband. If I had ended my life I wouldn't have found him. I guess fate was sending me a sign."

"Are you going to tell me that I have something more to live for? That fate is also looking out for me?" Her tone wasn't antagonistic or sarcastic. It was empty.

"No."

At that Bella glanced up, confused.

"I won't tell you that. Because nothing I say can make you live. You need to find that reason within yourself. Only you can answer why you should fight to live because at the end of the day, it is you doing all the hard work."

"And if I don't want to?"

Esme had expected her words and she sighed gently, "Sweetie, I don't have an answer for that. If you don't wish to fight, they will extend your care. And if you lie and pretend to get better, you are harming yourself. And if you do want to fight, it's a hard battle. You are going to want to give up. You are going to scream with pain and anger and you are going to wish the world dead. And you are going to want to fight."

Bella's eyes shone with unshed tears the more Esme spoke.

"I didn't want to survive," Bella's voice broke and she wiped her tears.

"And this is the part where I tell you that fate is looking out for you. Emmett found you minutes from death. You got a second chance."

She let a laugh and then slowly dissolved into silent tears, "Who are you, exactly?"

"Esme Cullen. Your family wanted me to see you. I don't believe they will let me watch your case as I am very close to the family but I can be someone you can talk to, even if you just need to vent," Esme answered, standing up. "All of us, we're a family. Sometimes you don't need to talk. Sometimes you just need to feel, Bella."

She gave a last smile and walked out of the room. Charlie was pacing the hall and when he saw he came running.

"How is she? Did she say anything?" he asked, his hands running through his face.

"We should talk."

The courtyard outside wasn't very big but it had a coffee cart. Esme got herself and Charlie one each and sat with him at a nearby bench, the clouds rumbling in the distance with the promise of a storm.

"I don't know how to talk to her, Esme," Charlie began. "Everything in me wants to protect her. I didn't know her because Renee told her from me. And now I have her, I know her, and I don't want to lose her. But I..." he shook his head, struggling to keep his emotions in check. After all, he was known for not showing much emotion. He usually kept it locked up because he always wanted to be strong for his family and his friends. "I don't know how to talk to her. Everything she's been through makes me so angry. I want them both to suffer and I can't do anything about it. I filed for emergency custody. But once Renee is notified, she'll be here."

He took in a deep, shaky breath and Esme watched him with widened eyes. He never spoke much but hearing him explain everything, it broke her heart. Renee was someone she could once confidently call a friend. But after she ran away, she felt complete disappointment and anger. And after seeing Bella, her state, her bruises, she was downright furious. She wasn't fit to call herself a mother.

"Charlie, did you take documents. Medical copies, testimonies?" she asked him.

He let out a chuckle, "I'm the Chief of Police, Esme, of course I did. I've been doing that for the past week. I have everything I need and I'm just waiting for the court date which should be soon," he nodded to himself, his fingers tapping against the cup.

"Everything...is going to work out, Charlie," she squeezed his hand.

"But not okay. Not for a long while."

"No. But she'll have a support system."

"But will she accept it?"

For that, Esme didn't have an answer.

Hour 7, 12:20pm

Bella's Pov

We were sitting a large circle though it wasn't actually all that big. There were about eight of us total and there going one by one, introducing their reasons for being there, and accepting it. But I didn't want to accept it. I wasn't supposed to have lived. The point was to get away from everything. To leave peacefully. And now here I was, forced to talk about it. And they weren't going to just let me go.

And I wasn't ready to fight.

I looked up when someone cleared their throat. I swallowed and looked down at my hands.

"My name is Bella and I.. I tried to kill myself."

When they remained silent, I looked back up but didn't say anything. I wasn't going to accept anything because I still hadn't accepted that I was alive. I still hoping this was sick, twisted, hell and that I truly was dead.

"Okay," the man who was leading the group, Benjamin, looked around. "Now that we know why we're all here, I think we should talk about our dreams. Where we wish to see ourselves in say, five years."

Dead.

"Kate, you start."

"I see myself out of college, maybe an internship. My own apartment with a view of the beach," she sighed dreamily and I looked at her.

She was the one who was in for a drug overdose. She was very skinny, almost sickly. And her hair was drained of color.

"Seth, you're up."

"I see myself being able to eat a family dinner, going to the store, graduating high school, and not letting drugs take control again."

Seth was young; short, cropped black hair and his dark eyes looked happy. He didn't really look like a druggie but looks were deceiving.

The rest of them began to tune out until their eyes focused on me.

"Bella? Where do you see yourself in five years?"

I looked up at them, my voice caught in my throat all of a sudden. I didn't see myself anywhere in five years because I hadn't expected to myself here. I felt completely lost. What happened to me? I came here to fight Phil, get justice. And then I tried to kill myself. Maybe I had been too scared to let it happen in Phoenix because I knew he had connections and he would never let me go that easily. And being free, I guess that meant I could do it without the repercussions.

"Bella?"

I looked up and shifted in my seat, hugging my leg, trying to feel stable.

"I don't know where I see myself."

He nodded and gave me a slight smile,

"That's okay, too."

When the session finished twenty minutes later, we were told to do activities. Paint, listen to music, talk. It was a safe place and anything spoken in here would not be heard by the ears out there. But I didn't feel like talking. I'd spoken enough; to the doctors, the cops, Charlie and Emmett.

So I took a seat on a couch with itchy material, zoning out as I stared at the television.

"You'll never escape, Isabella."

"You're mine."

"I know you enjoy my touch."

"You never fight, Isabella."

I shut my eyes, digging my face into my knees. I could feel his ghostly touch and my skin was crawling. I wanted to rip the memory away but it was there, burned forever.

"Bella, right?"

I shot up, looking beside me. Seth, the guy from earlier, sat beside me, a friendly smile on his face. When I nodded, he smiled bigger.

"You are a quiet one, aren't you?" he sat back, taking the controller. "I'm Seth."

"Um, nice to meet you," I mumbled, looking away.

"You know, I'm not actually a drug addict. What most people say, yeah, but I'm not. I was smoking pot and got caught. This town doesn't give much leeway. Step out of line even once for anything, crazy house it is," he chuckled.

"Not very encouraging," I muttered.

"Yeah. But hey, it's not all that bad."

Definitely sounded like it.

"You're not from here. But you're running, right?" When he asked, I glared at him.

"Hey, no judgement. But the bruises are bit obvious. If you're in trouble, it's okay to ask. I can definitely be a knight in shining armor," he jumped to his feet, making a pose. "I'm total knight material."

I smiled a bit. He was adorable, almost like a puppy.

"No need but thanks."

He smiled brightly and sat beside me. I didn't get a dangerous vibe from him but I was still uncomfortable with the close proximity. I edged myself closer to the end of the couch and did my best to relax. Though relaxing was something I hadn't learn to do.

Hour 12, 5:34pm

I was sitting on my small bed, eating half-cold food, listening to Emmett go on and on about who knows what. Rosalie had left to get real food, burgers or something, and Charlie was outside talking on the phone. All in all, I was surrounded by people, but I somehow felt alone and that frustrated me to no end. All of this was a mess; this wasn't what I had in mind when I came here. I was supposed to be free from everything. Not deal with nightmares and feeling hopeless every turn I made.

This wasn't what I wanted.

"How are you feeling?" Charlie asked, walking back in and taking a seat.

"I'm okay," I answered, staring at the bandages.

"I know I haven't been too present and I apologize for that. I've been working really hard to help you and I finally getting somewhere. I filed for emergency custody and the hearing is next week," his words shook me and I looked up in surprise.

"As in..."

"Yes, Bella. You'll be in my sole care," he smiled a bit and swallowed.

Those words flooded me with relief; Renee would have no legal right to me now. At least that's what I hoped it meant.

"Thank you," my voice cracked and I took in a deep breath.

"You don't need to thank me. I would gladly do anything I can to help you. And I'm sorry I haven't been around too much the past few days. I've just been so angry. At myself, at Renee. If I had followed her, found her, I could've taken you and you wouldn't have to be dealing with this," he whispered, shaking his head.

Did he really blame himself?

Of all people?

He was the last person I would blame.

I only blamed Renee and Phil.

"I brought food!" Rosalie burst into the room and Emmett snatched the bags from her hand.

"Sweet food!" he immediately dug into a burger, ketchup smearing his chin.

"What?" his voice was muffled by food as he noticed all of us staring at him. "I like food."

"Yes, son, we know."

Hour 14, 7:28pm

"Little Isabella," he crooned in my ear, his breath reeking of alcohol.

His hands were wrapped around my throat and I was scratching at his hands, arms, anything to get him to stop. The tears were pooling in my eyes, dripping down my cheeks.

"Don't cry. Whores don't have that right," he snarled and his eyes glared down at me.

I screamed as he destroyed my spirit once again and when he was done, she couldn't move.

"You are weak."

His words broke though my thoughts and I wanted to scream. But I couldn't move.

And then he grabbed my hair, threw me on the floor, and kicked me black and blue.

"You're a little slut," he growled, gripping my hair and dragging me toward the door.

"Please stop! Mom!" I called out for my mother, begging for her to come, to save me.

"No one is going to help you, Isabella. No one here loves you!" he slapped me hard and tossed me into the hallway.

I screamed in pain and I looked up, catching a glance of my mother and when he kicked me she was gone.

"MOM!"

I shook up in the bed, my throat raw. My body was gasping for air and I shuddered, hugging my knees. It was all just a dream. I wasn't there. I was as safe as I could get. But those words didn't stop the tears.

"Bella bean."

No.

A cold dread washed over me and the hair stood on my neck. I had to be dreaming.

"Why do you cry, Bella bean."

There was no mistaking that voice.

A grip tightened on my chest and I couldn't breathe. Everything was getting dark. This had to be another nightmare.

"You left us so worried, Bella bean. Why would you leave like that?"

Renee stepped into my view, her smile as kind as it was malicious. Her blue eyes held pity. her makeup was done perfectly and she was dressed in jeans and blouse. She looked the same yet completely different. A stranger.

"You've made a mess, Bella bean. You have everyone worried sick. And now you go and hurt yourself. Bella bean, what's going on?" she asked, her voice riddled with concern.

Concern I didn't need or want.

"Y-you know what," my voice was weak and I hated myself for that.

"No, Bella. I don't. You always make up these stories. You hurt yourself, Bella. Why?" she stepped a bit closer, shaking her head as if she were disappointed.

"You know everything," my voice cracked. "You know the truth. H-he hurts me. And you let him."

She came a bit closer and I could smell the familiar perfume on her, "I love you, Bella bean. Which is why it's so hard to see you struggle. You aren't right in the head. You are telling lies to people you don't know. To Charlie and Emmett. Charlie isn't a good man, Bella. He's a liar, a cheater. He doesn't want you. No one but us wants you," she sighed and came closer, touching my face with her hand.

I moved, glaring at her. Tears burned my eyes but I held them in. She was lying. Her words were dripping with venom disguised as kindness. She was the sick one not me.

"How?" I questioned, glaring at her.

She tried to touch me again and I smacked her hand away. Her touch was foreign; cold and frigid. It wasn't motherly, it was threatening.

"You don't hurt your mother, Bella," she snapped. "And it wasn't hard. You are a minor and I was contacted. They have an obligation to contact both parents. Phil stayed behind to not upset you but Bella, you need to apologize and drop these accusations."

I stared at her, completely shocked. She really expected me to shut up? To lie?

"No," I snapped, gaining my ground. Silently I reached for the button on the side of the bed and clicked it. It was for emergencies or something and I believed this constituted as one.

"These are false accusations, Bella. You can't really believe that you'll win. They will learn the truth; that this isn't the first stunt you've pulled before. You have a bad record, Bella, and all of it will come out. They will know the truth. So come home and drop this," she warned, her eyes dangerous.

This is who she really was.

Dangerous.

Evil.

The door flew open, a nurse and a security guard walking in, "What happened?" the nurse asked, looking at the two of us.

"This woman is my mother and I need her removed. Sh-she needs to be arrested. Call Chief Swan," I spoke rapidly, staring at my mother as the security guard came to her, grabbing her arm.

"Come on, Miss," he said and she complied, walking with him.

When she looked back at me, her eyes held no darkness or anger, only sympathy and pity, "I love you, Bella bean. I hope you get the help you need."

Once she was gone, the nurse approached me,

"You said call Chief Swan?" she asked gently, her eyes kind.

"Yes. Tell him i-it's Renee. She's come for me."

The look she gave me was worrisome. As if she didn't believe me.

"Okay," she nodded and I wasn't sure she was going to do it.

"Please call Chief Swan. NOW!"

"Miss, you need to calm down," she warned, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me! Just call Chief Swan. He's my father!"

She blinked and nodded, backing up a bit, "Okay. But if you continue I'll have to sedate you," she explained as she picked up the phone.

I shuddered and hugged myself as I watched her dial 911, requesting Charlie. Once I could hear the faint sound of his voice, I let out a breath of relief, and stood up, rushing to the bathroom. I shut the door and locked it, the nurse yelling.

She was here. Renee found me.

Of course she would.

Why did I think I would escape?

I can't breathe.

My throat felt so tight, everything was blurry. Out of focus. I can't breathe.

Wherever she went, Phil followed.

He was going to come for me.

A scream escaped me and someone pounded at the door. I gripped my hair, anything to quiet the memories. The sound of his voice. The ridicule in Renee's.

"Oh, God. Oh, God. I.. I can't..."

My chest felt as if it were going to explode.

I screamed, trying to get it all out, and then I hit the mirror. It shattered in several pieces, falling around my arms, cutting into my skin. The pain distracted me from what I felt inside, I let out a gasp, falling to my knees.

Everything was pounding, putting pressure on my mind. My soul. The tears left me freely and screamed again.

And again.

Until I was quiet.


LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! Did anyone expect Renee's surprise appearance? What is she going to tell everyone? What about Bella? Review and let me know!