Hope everyone had a great holiday! I know I did. Here's the next chapter, a little something for you to read with the welcoming of the New Year.

Remember, I love to read your reviews. So let me know what you think. Also, be sure to recommend the story to any communities. Thanks!

Disclaimer: As my name is not Stephanie Meyer, I do not own Twilight or any of the related stories. No matter how much I wish I did.

Chapter 12- Bella Point of View

My head felt like venom was pulsing through it. A slow, yet sharp, pain was throbbing against the inside of my skull. Slowly I opened my eyes, but it didn't do a lot of good because of the tunnel vision I was experiencing. My sight was blurry with a dark ring around the outer edges. Bright stars were shooting across what I could see. I lay there perfectly still for a few minutes allowing my vision to return at its own pace. As it did, I became aware of my other senses one by one.

I breathed deeply to try and help ease the pain in my head, but all that did was make me aware of the strong smelling fumes coming from around me. Whatever it was made my nose burn and eyes water. I shivered roughly, not just from the chilly air around me, but also from the cold table I was laying on. Turning my head slightly to the side, I could see I was laying on a large metal surface, like what the guys back in our high school's shop class would work on.

Beyond the table was a mechanic's shop of some kind. Several cars and trucks, including what I now assumed to be James' gray car, were sitting inside the closed bay doors. Large bins of automotive fluids lined one wall, which probably explained the strong fumes. The only way to describe the inside of the garage was dirty. A thin film of dust and dirt covered almost everything, as if things hadn't been touched in weeks. Even the windows were covered in a layer of brown dirt, preventing any sunlight from filtering through. Not that Seattle got much sunlight this time of year.

With my vision fully restored, I managed to push myself to a sitting position. But when I pulled my hands up to brace myself, I knocked something over the edge of the table. A large, metal wrench hit the concrete floor with a loud clang. I suddenly heard something moving behind me.

"Ah, you're awake," a voice said before I could turn around. I almost wish I hadn't, because when I saw James walking out of a lean-to office, the events of the past few… hours? Days? I had no idea how long I'd been out. But the events came back to me nonetheless. James seemed satisfied with himself, walking toward me happily with a big smile on his face.

I knew I had to get out of here, wherever here is. I spotted a door behind James and tried to run for it. But the sudden movement of jumping down from the table to a standing position made my head spin. My knees wobbled and the world tilted. I tensed, expecting to hit the floor. But the impact didn't come. Instead I got something much worse.

"Easy there, Phoenix, I've got you," James voice whispered gently into my ear as he cradled me in his arms. It was odd to hear so much care and concern in his voice. He honestly thought he was taking care of me. I shivered in revulsion. Of course, James wouldn't recognize how much I despised him.

"I know, its cold in here," he said and held me tighter rubbing my arms to try and warm me. "We don't have a heater. But we'll be out of here soon enough and can go somewhere warmer." My breathing increased. He planned on taking me away? I couldn't allow that. If he did, they might never find me. Surely someone was looking for me by now. Right?

James picked me up off the floor and carried me back over to the metal table, sitting me on top like a child. He looked in my eyes and took a deep breath before he spoke.

"I'm really sorry we were interrupted at the bar last week," he said sadly. "There was so much more I wanted to say to you. This all could have been avoided if those assholes would have left us alone." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! He honestly thought my friends were the problem.

"But all that matters is that we're together now," he said and touched my forehead gently. I winced, this time from actual pain. "I know it hurts. You had a nasty cut from when you fell into the mirror." I had forgotten this part of the story, but nothing brings back memories like pain. Was he completely off his rocker? I didn't fall. He pushed me into that mirror!

"But I took care of you," he explained. "I found a first aid kit and pulled the glass out of your head. I cleaned it and even put antibiotic ointment on it so you wouldn't get an infection." His hand moved down to cup my cheek.

"I'll always take care of you. I love you, everything about you. Even the smell of your blood is beautiful." He whispered so tenderly, as if he was reciting the most loving words ever shared between a man and a woman. For a second all I could do was blink at him. But as I finally realized just how sick James was I had to swallow back the bile that was forming in my throat. It was amazing I was still conscious, between the concussion I probably had and the rollercoaster of emotions running through me. I was scared shitless and grossed out all at the same time.

"What about Vicky?" I asked in a whisper. After the chaos in my apartment, I didn't think a simple 'No' would do the trick. I hoped remembering his girlfriend would have more of an impact.

"She was never right for me," he answered easily. "Not like you. You're so kind and selfless. All Victoria cares about is herself."

'Victoria?' I thought as I remembered one of our conversations from the bar. He had said she was a redhead. And I knew one redhead named Victoria that only cared about herself.

"Victoria… the waitress from the Blue Moon?" I asked.

"Yeah, I thought you knew," he said, lifting an eyebrow. I was about to shake my head, but stopped myself. This was an opportunity I could use.

"Oh, well… yeah, actually," I stuttered and looked down. "She talks about you all the time. She really loves you, ya know?" James just looked at me confused, so I continued. "She's really a special woman, a great friend. You're lucky to have her." After a second, James just snorted.

"See what I mean?" he asked with a soft smile. "You are so selfless. Here you are, denying your own feelings for me, so that you don't deprive Victoria of someone she loves. But its ok, you and I are meant to be. In the end, Victoria will understand."

He pulled my face towards his, pursing his lips for a kiss, and I could sit still no longer. I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away as hard as I could. Luckily, I caught him off guard and he staggered back a few steps. I jumped off the table again, but he caught me easily, pushing me backwards until the small of my back was pressed painfully against the metal table by his body. He swiftly pinned both of my hands behind my back with one hand and grabbed a handful of hair with the other, using it to pull my head back. My neck was stretched at an odd angle. It forced me to look up into his face. The more I struggled, the harder he pulled my hair and pressed me against the table. I was now having difficulty breathing against him.

His smile had faded and was replaced by a hard sneer. His top lip was actually curled back to expose gritted teeth. His jaw was clenched tightly. I knew it wasn't wise to anger him, but I just couldn't let him have his way. He inhaled deeply a few times and seemed to relax a bit, a more neutral expression returning to his face.

"You know, that's one of the things I like about you," he said. "You're feisty. You make things exciting. But you need to learn how far you can push me. Because if you fight me… I. Will. Win." With each of the last three words, he moved his head closer to mine. He intended to try and kiss me again. But with my hands restrained, I only had one option. It had worked before and I prayed it would work again.

I pulled my right knee up as fast as I could. Sure enough, it connected with James' groin and he made a strangled sound somewhere between a moan and a scream. But the point was that he let go of me and I turned to run. I made it to the door but it was locked by a deadbolt. Of course, there was no key. Frantically, I turned to scan my surroundings, hoping for another way out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw James getting back to his feet. I was out of time.

I bolted to the far side of the large shop where several cars sat side by side underneath a row of windows. I picked up a heavy tire iron and smashed a hole in the window large enough to climb through. Before the last of the glass had fallen to the dirty floor, I launched the tire iron through the window and heard it land on the parking lot gravel with a thud. Finally, I dropped to my knees and crawled underneath the closest car. I said a silent prayer that James would think I got out through the window.

Lying on my stomach, bracing myself with my hands on the dirty floor, I tried to control my breathing the best I could. I could hear movement from the front of the shop and bit my lip when James's feet came into view. He was walking slowly toward my hiding spot. I knew that all it would take was for him to drop down and look under the cars. I could only hope I had made enough of a distraction by breaking the glass.

My heart was pounding so hard, I could feel each 'thump-thump' pressing into the floor through my chest. But I didn't dare breathe as James made his way around the car I was hiding under. I could now clearly see his shoes, a pair of old work boots with the laces untied. They were covered in dried spots of oil and mud. He made his way around the back of the car, probably having seen the broken window.

"Damnit," I heard him mutter. He paused for a few moments in front of the window before turning and walking in the other direction. I quietly exhaled and laid my forehead against the cold concrete, closing my eyes in relief. It overwhelmed me so much that I didn't notice when the footsteps stopped.

But I did notice when a pair of calloused hands wrapped around my wrists. I looked up into James' smiling face and screamed. He pulled me out from underneath the car as I kicked and thrashed, banging and cutting my body against the underside of the car. This time he didn't bother to drag me to my feet. Instead he flipped me over on my back and straddled my wait. He held onto my wrists as I continued to fight with all the strength I had. But it was a futile attempt.

"Why won't you listen to me?!" he asked angrily although he still had a smile on his face. "I told you, Phoenix, I'm the best at this game. No matter what you do, I will win."

His words brought back the sense of despair I remembered from the apartment just before I blacked out. It was a strange cold feeling and somewhat numbing all at once. Tears once again filled my eyes as I realized that no one was coming for me. No one knew where I was. No one would save me. I couldn't even save myself.

"Please," I begged, but James took it as an invitation instead of a plea. I turned my head to the side as he descended his head to mine for a third time. He didn't try to turn my face back to his, only moved lower to kiss along my jawline and then down my neck. I tried to hold back my tears and sobs. But the tears slid easily down my cheeks and the sobs were only muted, coming out as pained whimpers. I didn't look as James sat up and transferred my wrists to one of his large hands. But when he grabbed the top of my blouse and ripped all the way down the middle, causing the buttons to fly across the floor, I screamed.

"NO!" I shrieked as the cold air hit my sensitive skin. James' smile grew as he took in the sight of the black lace bra I had bought just for my birthday. It was supposed to be for Edward's eyes only. I thought about the fact that I was still a virgin, saving myself for the right man who loved me the right way. I knew with all my heart that man was Edward. But now here I was about to lose that special gift to a psycho on the dirty floor of a cold auto shop. I might not even live through it. But sometimes there are worse things than death.

By now my breathing was erratic and I was afraid I was hyperventilating. I once again began thrashing, but it was all beginning to be too much. The tunnel vision and shooting stars had returned. I had a vision of Charlie and Renee and, if they had been alive, how incredibly saddened they would have been that this was happening to me. With one final burst of energy I struggled against James with all my might and screamed as loud as I could through my raw throat. But he forced me hard against the floor with his palm on my chest, causing me to knock the back of my head against the concrete. The last thing I remember was James' head snapping up to the sound of an intimidating growl coming from the opposite side of the shop.

7