Disclaimer: Twilight and all the associated characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. The story line and all their naughty little actions come to you courtesy of me.


Investing in Love – Chapter 54

"She's waking up." Tanya?

I groan and reach up to my head, applying pressure to the spot that is pounding in agony. Every muscle in my body aches as I try and pull myself up from the hard damp surface I'm lying on. My arms give out on my first attempt, but I regain my strength and lift myself to a setting position.

"She looks so helpless, doesn't she?" a man's voice looms from the shadows in the corner of the room.

"Wh..who..are you?" I squint my eyes trying to bring his image into focus.

"That is none of your concern," he spits.

"What… do you want… with me." My voice is strangled as I find it exhausting to even breathe.

"All will be revealed in due time. Right now, we need Edward to stew a little bit."

"Leave him alone!" I get a burst of strength when they bring up his name.

"Isn't that sweet Tanya? The little lamb is fighting for her prince." The mystery man laughs.

"It makes me sick," Tanya joins in the conversation.

"Why Tanya?" I don't know why she would do something like this.

"Why?...Why? Because Edward has never once given me the time of day, after everything I do for him. He thinks he is so high and mighty and then he falls head over heels for a girl like you." I didn't realize how close Tanya was to me until she slaps me across the face.

Her slap catches me off guard and knocks me back down to the damp cold floor. I lay there for a minute as the tears start to form.

"You won't get away with this. He will come for me." They both laugh at my hopeful statement.

"Oh honey, he doesn't even know where you are." Tanya kicks me in the side as I let out a 'huff' and curl into myself reflexively.

"Let's shut her up. Vic, get the medicine." The mystery man commands.

Another man appears from the shadows, assumable Vic, and comes at me with a needle sticking it into my arm. The reaction is immediate and I start to feel drowsy. I say a little pray to protect Edward and my last thought before everything goes black is…I wish I told Edward I loved him when I had the chance.


"Wake up." I reel away in annoyance as I feel someone smacking my face. "Come on, wake up."

"Stop…" They continue to smack me around as I meekly swat at their hands.

"You have to wake up and eat something." I think this is the Vic guy again.

"I don't want to," I whine.

"If you ever want to see that precious guy you keep praying for, you better try to keep yourself alive." His words resonate inside me and it stirs up a new sense of purpose.

I push his hands away and start to set up on my own.

"Now eat this." He shoves a piece of bread at me.

"My mouth…is dry." I whimper.

"Drink this first." He places a cold metal cup up to my lips and I greedily drink as much water as I can before I attempt to eat the bread.

I finish eating the bread and it sets in my stomach like a piece of led. When was the last time I ate? Once I have all my water gone he starts to pull me up to my feet.

"You need to move around a little." His words are always hard and short when he speaks. I can tell he's not the brains behind this operation.

I start to take a step forward and my bare foot catches on my dress.

"Umph," I grunt as I fall into Vic. "My dress." I say letting him know why I'm having so much trouble, but regretting the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

"I'll take care of that."

He bends down and grabs the skirt of my dress from where the slit starts at my thigh. He slowly rips the skirt all the way around me with hard forceful jerks. I am now standing there with most of my legs bare and the jagged edges of my skirt stop just below my ass. I have now lost the one piece of my dress that was actually keeping me warm.

"Now walk!" He pushes me forward and I stumble to the ground.

"Why are you doing this?" I cry.

"I just do what I'm told." He lifts me to my feet again. "You don't have to be afraid of me, for now. I was told I couldn't have fun with you until after we shoot the video." He licks his lips and runs his eyes up and down my body.

I start to feel the bread coming back up and I stumble to the corner where I lose the little nutrients I was given.

"Damn you." He reaches out for me grabbing me by one of my shoulder straps.

I hear the strap break and fall down my shoulder as he throws me back into the corner where I sleep.

"You have had enough for today." He pulls the shot of medicine out of his pocket.

"No... please…no more," I plead.

My pleading has no effect on him as he is just the hired goon who does whatever Tanya and mystery man tell him. I lay my head back on the cold floor and say my prayer over and over… please protect Edward…please protect Edward…please protect….


"She looks like hell." I hear Tanya's voice from in the distance.

"Yes, it will make our little video much more…dramatic." The mystery man laughs sardonically.

"Indeed it will," Tanya agrees. "You should see Edward. He may even look worse than her. He is frantically looking for her and has exhausted all his resources. I don't know if he has even slept in days. He looks like he is still wearing his clothes from the ball….pathetic."

"Perfect." Mystery man seems pleased with himself.

"And the entire time I play the supportive secretary and little does he know she is right under my roof."

I'm at Tanya's? I must be in her basement. They don't realize I'm starting to come out of my drugged up haze and I don't want them to know so I lay motionless, which isn't hard considering the fact I have no energy to even lift my head.

"I think we will let her wake up on her own. We need her more aware for the next phase of our plan."

"I'll go get her some food."

"You better make it chicken broth. She hasn't eaten in days. Vic said she couldn't keep down the bread he gave her the other day."

How long have I been here? I hear a door close and lay there until I'm sure they have left. I have to get out of here. I try and move my legs but they feel like bricks. I know I don't have much time so I will myself to go on. I get to my hands and knees and I crawl to the other wall hoping to find something that will give me some hope.

I make my way around a furnace and hot water heater and I see a glimmer of light. At first I flinch away, as my eyes have not seen light in days. It's a window! The window is up high and I will need something to be able to reach it. I scan the room again and notice a chair a few yards down from the window. I'm regenerated with hope and I start to move faster with a new sense of optimism.

I get to the chair and pull myself up to my feet. My legs are as weak as a new born deer learning to walk for the first time. I manage to use the chair as a make shift walker as I move it under the window.

I say a silent pray of thanks as I wobbly step onto the chair. I reach up and flip the lock on the window and with trembling hands I push the window open, relieved to find out it opens easily. I did it!

"Get the fuck down from there." That voice! It never clicked before, but mystery man's tone of voice triggers a memory. I've heard that voice before!

I turn to attempt to look at him, but before I get the chance he grabs the back of my neck and slams my head into the wall.


Once again I find myself waking up on the damp floor of Tanya's basement, feeling like I've been hit by a train. I lift my head up and feel tightness on the side of my forehead. I reach up flinching at the pain and feel dried blood. The last event runs through my head and I remember the window and why my head was bleeding. The window!

I try to move my legs, but I'm denied mobility as I hear metal clinking and a sharp pain radiating from my ankle. I'm chained to the wall. I want to cry, but the tears don't come. I lay back down in defeat and resolve myself to just give up...I can't go on anymore.


A/N: So what do you think so far? If you like the story, please review. Your kind words and constructive criticism would mean the world to me. If you don't like the story, then remember what your mama told you, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." I hope my story brings you a welcoming escape into the world of fantasy.