A/N: How was everyone's Halloween? I worked and we were deader than a graveyard (*bad pun intended*). I dressed up as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. My boss asked why I was wearing a cork around my neck and in true Luna fashion I told him 'it keeps the Nargles away'
This chapter is a bit shorter than normal. I haven't had a lot of time for writing this past week. My mommy has been sick and I take care of her.
My love and thanks to all who have read, reviewed, followed, and/or fav'ed Surviving. You all ROCK!
Twilight is not mine, Surviving is!
BPOV
"What the fuck did you say?" The force behind his fist sends me tumbling to the floor. I clutch my stomach and roll onto my side, gasping for air.
"You must feel like such a big man, beating up someone who can't defend himself. You're pathetic." Tears run down my face. I look over at Edward and see him handcuffed to the chair, head hanging. The last punch Felix landed on his jaw knocked him out.
He crosses the room in two strides and yanks me to my feet. "You're a bigger cunt than your mother was." His eyes are wide and spit flies from his mouth. He grabs my hair, pulling my head back. "I told you before that I'm not a patient man…" He head starts to lower to mine.
"NO!" My voice comes out surprisingly strong. He releases my hair and looks up, smirking.
"No?" He laughs. "You think a word is going to stop me?" He leans in again.
My mind races... I don't want this! I can't just let this happen! 'FIGHT BACK!' I mentally scream at myself. The moment his face is inches from mine I pull my head back and slam it forward. Stars explode behind my eyes and the world spins.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" He grabs his nose and stumbles backwards; blood dripping down his face. "You're gonna pay for that."
Before he can take a step the door slams open and Caius runs down the stairs. "We got a problem boss. Big problem."
"What is it?" Felix asks, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Chris hasn't come back yet." Caius bounces from foot to foot, looking sick. "Someone said something about cops…"
Felix moves towards me and I take a step back. "This game has gone on far too long, Isabella." He turns and heads towards Caius.
"Who was in charge of this?" He asks calmly.
"Um…I was. But…" His sentence is cut off as a bullet rips through his skull. His blood splatters the wall and his body drops to the cold floor.
"I'll make sure Edward's death is slower, so you can watch the life drain from his eyes." I stand petrified, my eyes widen in horror. "Enjoy your last night."
He walks up the stairs and shuts the door. The sound of the door locking jerks me out of my frozen state and I run across the room, dropping to my knees in front of Edward. "Edward! Baby! Please wake up!" I cry.
He moans and slowly lifts his head. "Bella?"
EPOV
"Oh god, Edward!" Bella wraps her arms around me.
"What happened? Where is Felix?" I glance around the room, looking for him. My eyes stop on the body lying on the floor. "Is that Caius?" My voice comes out as a whisper.
"Yes." She squeezes me tighter.
"Bella, what happened? What's wrong?" She's shaking and clinging to me like never before. "Please love. Tell me."
She pulls back and I see the tears streaming down her face. "He said…he's going…" She sobs, wrapping her arms around herself. I attempt to reach out for her but the handcuffs dig into my wrists, reminding me that I'm chained to the chair.
"We have to find a way out Edward!" She wipes her tears away and jumps to her feet. Determination in her eyes. She crosses the room and stops at Caius' body. "Do you think?" She asks nodding at him.
Before I can even ask what she means, she bends down and starts searching his pockets. A few moments later she pulls out a set of keys and smiles at me. God, how I love this woman. Her strength and intelligence never fails to amaze me.
"I hope one of these works." She crouches down in front of me and starts looking through the keys.
"Try that small one love." I nod as she holds up the smallest one. It goes in easily and the cuff fall off as soon as she turns it. Once the second cuff comes off I scoop her into my arms.
"I love you!" I press my lips softly against hers.
"I love you too!" She hops off my lap and holds out a hand to me. "Now let's get the fuck out of here!" I laugh and grab her hand.
We creep quietly up the stairs and listen for any sounds outside the door. We try key after key until one finally fits.
"Once we get out of here we need to look for a window or door. As soon as we're outside we need to get as far as we can, as fast as we can. Take a deep breath and on the count of three we go." She nods and squeezes my hand.
I take my own deep breath and wince at the pain. Getting away fast sounds like it should be easy but both Bella and I need medical attention. We need food. I already feel dead on my feet and all we did was climb the stairs.
'We can do this. Push through the pain. Eyes on the prize' I give myself a pep talk, sounding just like my football coach.
"One." She turns the key and the door unlocks.
"Two." I turn the knob and push the door open a crack.
"Three."
CPOV
After hours in the interview room the Copes finally cracked and told Detective Marcus and Aro everything.
That Caius owed Felix Black more money than they could ever hope to pay off. That Caius was only supposed to get Bella. Edward shouldn't have even known that she was gone until the next day.
They said that the kids were taken late at night the Saturday Esme and I left town. They were being drugged and thrown into an SUV while I danced and dined with my wife in the city.
They explained how they helped cover up all the evidence, including a lackey of Caius' who was killed in front of the kids. They even told the police where they could find the body.
But here we are two days later; six days until Christmas, and we still don't know where they were taken. The Copes have called Caius multiple times and tried to get information from him. He never stays on the line long enough for the cops to get his location.
"Try again Mr. Cope." Aro's voice carries through the door as Marcus comes out. I look up and he shakes his head.
"Caius hasn't answered the phone at all today." I sigh and drop down into a chair. "We've almost got them Carlisle. Just a little while longer."
"I know I just…" I trail off pinching the bridge of my nose. "I hate knowing that they're in pain and hungry… I hate not knowing if they're still alive."
Marcus sits next to me and claps me on the back. "I know man. I know."
"Marcus!" Aro yells swinging the door open. "Can you take over for a little? I need a break."
"No problem boss." He stands and heads into the room.
"Carlisle you should go home and get some rest. You've been here all day." He leans against the wall. "I'm sure Esme is wondering what's keeping you. Go on. I swear we will call with even the smallest detail."
I nod and get to my feet. "Don't worry about the time…just call."
"You have my word." He shakes my hand. "Give Esme my best."
Thirty minutes later I pull up in front of the house. Esme has the front door open and is bounding down the stairs before I can even turn the engine off. "Anything?" She asks when I step out of the car.
"No, love." I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. "The kids still here?"
"Yeah. I just took the roast out of the oven." She grabs my hand and leads me inside. The smell hits me and my stomach growls. She looks back and gives me a small smile. "Someone's hungry."
I laugh and rub my stomach. "I guess a thousand cups of coffee doesn't count as a meal, huh?"
"Uncle C?" Alice sprints into the hallway. I shake my head and she heads back into the dining room, Esme and I following behind her.
"Jazz, Rose, Emmett, great to see you." I sit down and dig in. "How is school going?"
"Okay." Rose says playing with her food and Emmett laughs. She looks up and glares at him.
"What's so funny?" Esme asks looking between them.
"Rose was suspended a week ago." Jasper grins.
"What? Why?" I lean forward. Rose has always been a model student. Co-Captain of the cheerleading squad, yearbook editor, and head of the drama department. All while maintaining a high GPA.
"Seems that Rose should have gone out for girls wrestling." Jasper laughs while dodging a flying spoon.
"Well if stupid bitches knew how to keep their fucking mouths shut I wouldn't of had to put them in their place." She stabs a carrot and pops it in her mouth.
"Rewind please. Who did you fight and what did they say?" I suppress a grin. Out of all the girls in school and they chose Rose to mess with?
"Jessica and Lauren Stanley." Esme giggles and I let out a low laugh. Those two girls have always been nothing but trouble. Always following the boys around like lost puppies.
Edward told me once that they had the nerve to hit on him and Jasper in front of Alice. Needless to say they were put in their place by a very vocal, very angry little pixie.
"They said Edward is dead so why are we wasting our time. That we should just 'get over it already'" My smile drops and I look at Esme, her eyes shiny from unshed tears. "I snapped and kind of blacked out. When I came to I was being pulled to the principal's office and Jessica and Lauren were being carried off to the nurse."
"Good girl." I raise my glass in her direction.
She gives me a smile and grabs Emmett's hand. "We should be going. It's getting late and my parents want to get some last minute Christmas shopping done tomorrow."
I stand and walk around the table, pulling her into a hug. "Thank you Rose. Thank you."
"Thank you for dinner, beautiful." I say as I put the last dish into the dish washer and start it up. I grab her hand and pull her towards the living room. We curl up on the couch and stare into the fire.
"Do you think Edward will be upset when he sees that we didn't decorate or get a tree this year? It's his favorite time of the year. He loves everything about it, especially the tree and cookies." Esme lets out a little sniffle.
"No sweetheart. He will just be happy to be home. Safe and sound." I rub her back and lean down to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too Carlisle." She kisses me back with more passion. I push her back and hover over her, peppering kisses across her collarbone. She runs her hands through my hair and I bring my lips back to hers.
"It's been too long sweetheart." She nods and pulls me down to her. The sound of the phone ringing jerks us apart. I sit up quickly and grab the phone off the coffee table.
"Hello?" I all but shout into the phone.
'Speaker' Esme mouths and I hit the speakerphone button.
"Carlisle?" Aro's voice comes through the phone.
"What's happened?" My voice cracks and my hands start shaking.
"Is Esme awake?" Aro's voice is calm and collected.
"Yes. She's here. You're on speakerphone." My tears make the room blur. 'Let them be okay...let them be alive'
"Please Aro. What is it?" Esme cries into the phone.
"We've found them."