Bella POV
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I was slowly drawn to consciousness by the pain. My arm felt like it was on fire. Was I indeed dead? Was I finally paying for my many sins in Hell? What happened to me? The pain was getting worse, quickly turning into gut-wrenching, all-consuming agony. I couldn't think, couldn't move. Scream after scream was torn from my throat. But even though my screams filled the air, I could still hear her laughter.
Flashes of memory swam through my head; Charlie torn to pieces, a phone conversation with Victoria, driving to Seattle to save my Mom, something jumping on the hood of my truck. No, that's not right. Not something; someone. Victoria.
Another brief bit of memory joined the rest; my truck swerving, losing control, crashing into a guardrail and tumbling off of a bridge. The last thing I remembered was the water coming closer and closer. I must have blacked out.
Another ear piercing scream tore its way out of my throat. My arm was boiling! What was happening to me? Was she burning me alive?
"Fuucckkkk! Kill me! Please, just kill me!" I begged, ready for the pain to stop. Anything had to be better than this, even death. Another wave of agony washed over me, flowing through more of my body now. It hurt. Sweet Heavens, how it hurt.
"P-please...kill me," I pleaded, willing to do anything to end this torment. Little did I know that my torture had just begun. I felt a cold hand grab my blazing arm and I screamed out in anguish. It fucking hurt so much! My skull felt like it was being crushed from the weight of the pain. Somebody make it stop!
Another wave of pure agony washed over me and reality seemed to fracture, leaving me floating amongst the pieces. Thoughts and screams swirled around me, but all I could feel, all that mattered, was the inferno that was slowly consuming my entire left side.
And then the sea of flames started to retreat, slowly traveling back down through my body and to the area of my arm where the fire first started. Once the pain had receded enough, coherent thought started to return to me, and I realized what was causing my torment. Venom. The bitch had bitten me. I felt another pull on my arm and realized that she was sucking the venom back out. It was all too much for my human mind to take. Everything began to fade, darkness overtaking my vision. I was on the verge of passing out again. Good, I thought as I welcomed the darkness.
But I never got to enjoy the reprieve that passing out would have granted me, because at that moment Victoria snapped my leg in the same exact spot that James once had. I was trembling, the shock of the pain ripping the black haze from my mind and submerging me in misery once more.
"Stay with me, Bella. Wouldn't want to miss the show, now would you?" Victoria purred, kicking a lump a few feet away from me. I took notice of my surroundings then, my pain level finally being low enough to allow me some rational thought. Don't get me wrong, it still freaking hurt, but it was nothing compared to the venom that had just been coursing through my veins.
I was in a small rectangular room, probably a basement judging by the lack of windows. There was an awful stench coming from somewhere off in the corner. I turned my head that way and was horrified by the number of broken bodies that were stacked on top of each other, each corpse pale and lifeless. Dried blood spattered the walls, floor, and even the ceiling, some spots brighter than others due to the varying degree of freshness involved.
Displaced body parts littered the floor, fingers and toes strewn here and there like some sinister game of 'pin the extremity on the human' was being played. Hell, I wouldn't put it past the sick bitch at this point. There was even a penis or three scattered throughout the grisly disorder.
Victoria grabbed my face and I suddenly found myself staring into her crimson eyes. A slow malevolent smile spread across her features, making her truly look like the sadistic vampire that she was.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," she chided mockingly. "What am I going to do with you? I have a special surprise just for you, my pet. I think you'll just love it. In fact, I'm sure of it," she said with a menacing laugh. Her face took on a thoughtful expression, before she started speaking again.
"It's more of an anniversary present to myself, actually. Did you know that in nine days it will be the one year anniversary of our first meeting? The one year anniversary of the day that was the beginning of the end for my James. I'm planning on having a special dinner that night." She laughed, a full throaty laugh. "Don't worry dear, your invited. In fact, you could even say that I wouldn't be able to start without you."
She grabbed my pinky finger and bent it backwards until there was a sickening pop as the bone separated. I let out an involuntary whimper as the pain surged through me. She wasn't satisfied with my reaction, so she gave a quick flick of her hand and shattered my wrist. A bloodcurdling shriek bubbled out of me, and Victoria smiled, happy once again.
She ran her fingernails across my lips, cutting them open. I howled with pain, and that just made it hurt even worse. I could feel the blood tricking down my chin and onto my chest. Victoria's eyes darkened slightly, but that was the only outward sign she gave that she was even affected by my blood. But, then again, she did overindulge to prepare herself for this, judging by the number of bodies stacked in the corner. She finally let go of me and walked over to the lump that she had kicked earlier.
I hardly paid any attention, still trying to acclimate to my current level of pain. My hand and wrist were throbbing, and my lips hurt real bad. My head was throbbing in time with my hand and I was becoming more than a little lightheaded from the smell of my own blood. I kept praying to black out, for the darkness to take me, but it never came. Instead I watched as Victoria kicked the lump again, but this time the lump moved and moaned a bit. It almost sounded familiar...
"Don't be lazy Renee, get up and say 'Hello' to your daughter," Victoria hissed, pulling the blanket off of my mother. Oh no. Not my mom. I whimpered and tried to pull myself across the floor towards her. Sweet hells, it fucking hurt.
"So, Bella, do you like your surprise? It's a lovely little family reunion, isn't it? And so convenient, too. I needed a snack to hold me over during the coming week, and she was right there, providing interesting little tidbits about your childhood. You didn't really think that I would leave her alive now did you? My James is lost to me for all eternity because of you, you worthless good-for-nothing sack of blood! Did you really think that I would spare you any pain by letting your mother live?"
She reached down and pulled my mother up by her hair and then slapped her across the face. Renee finally came to, throwing her arms across her face in a futile attempt to protect herself.
"Mom," I whispered, stretching my good arm out to try and touch her. Victoria had lied. The bitch lied to me and now she had my mom! Oh no, please no. Please let this all be some horrible nightmare. But it wasn't and I knew it as I watched Victoria grab my mother's hand. She squeezed and I screamed as I watched her crush every single bone in Renee's hand in one go.
My mother's shrieks drowned out my own as Victoria repeated the process on her other hand. I lay on the floor helpless as I watched Victoria repeatedly torture my mom. When she reached down and snapped her leg, she wasn't careful enough with her strength and she ended up pushing the bone all the way out through the skin. Blood spurted everywhere, brilliant red gushes ran down Renee's leg and pooled on the floor. Victoria couldn't take the bloodlust any longer, and I watched in horror as she tipped my mother's neck to the side and bit into her throat.
"I'm so sorry Mom," I sobbed out, arm still outstretched toward her. "So...fucking...sorry." My words were barely audible through the force of my sobs. I again prayed for death, only to be denied once more. I looked up once again to see my mom watching me. Our eyes locked and I watched as the life slowly drained out of them.
"I love you, baby girl," she choked, blood coming out along with her words. And then she was gone. Forever lost to me. Victoria picked up her lifeless body and callously chunked her onto the pile of her previous meals. I was in shock, my mind still trying to protect me from all that had just happened. It was all my fault. Both of my parents were dead, and it was all because of me. I didn't have long to dwell on my guilt, because Victoria decided that my reprieve from physical pain was over.
"Well that was fun," she laughed, as she walked over to me and kicked me in the stomach. I gagged and choked up blood, spitting it all over her feet. I was broken, completely and utterly broken. The only thing I had to look forward to was my own death. Just nine more days, I thought as the blackness finally pulled me under. That was the first night that I was visited by my Angel.
~~~~~.~~~~~
I was pulled from my memories to find myself still on my bed, curled up in a ball, holding on to my pillow for dear life. I felt cold inside, and I was trembling so hard that my teeth were chattering together. My body was drenched in a cold sweat, my face soaked with tears. Even the voices in my head were quiet as I silently got up and walked towards the shower.