Previously, on Kidnapped:Edward tried to save Bella from his family, but ended up going blood-crazy and is now more of a threat to Bella than ever. While Alice took Bella to a hotel room to sleep, Edward begged Carlisle to kill him in order to save Bella. Carlisle refused, and out of desperation, Edward called Bella. After which, Alice rushed Bella out of the hotel and lectured Bella on the danger she was in.

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I'd never felt so desperate for death. I thought back to Bella's first day in class just weeks ago. I snorted - I'd considered the school hell. Quite an inaccurate decision, I reflected; for I now knew very clearly the true nature of hell.

To see yourself become the destroyer.

The girl haunted every element of my being. "Are you okay?" Her question haunted me endlessly. The audible tears had slowed my pace for mere seconds. I thoroughly hated myself, loathed myself. No words were strong enough to illustrate the vehemence of my emotion. Yet the draw I felt to the girl was even stronger.

My mind ran through the options once more. I knew now why Alice had the girl - to preempt my efforts. She would hide the girl, and I knew now - I would track her.

Why, I wondered once more. Why so eager to protect the girl, Alice? I felt a strong stab of envy - how dearly I longed to be the one to protect the girl. I wanted again to be the sun - far enough to provide warmth without any power to touch her. Without any power to hurt her.

I was reminded of Carlisle's earliest undead moments - seeking for respite. I was wracked again with anger. How could he not understand? Were my intentions - those of protecting the girl - good? Were they not better than the alternative? What was my life worth in comparison to that of the girl? I clenched my teeth. I'll just have to convince him, then.

Shame riddled my chest like swiss cheese as I approached Forks Hospital. Now was the time to be strong. The fires drawing me to the girl were stronger, tempting me to abandon my current trajectory in favor of a more delicious one. My thoughts were getting incoherent, caught in that moment of tasting her blood once more. I trembled and I began to turn -

And then he was there. Carlisle's arms surrounded me and I surrendered to them. Dry sobs wracked my chest as the haze lifted. The word please ran constantly through my mind, my one-word prayer. My palms clasped his shoulders and I wasn't sure whether to pull him close or push him away. Or, worse of all, to hurt him. To decapitate one more obstacle standing between myself and the girl's blood. Would I hurt others during this dark time?

If they get in the way, I thought, and shuddered.

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Eventually, my sobs softened and the monster began plotting again. How to find the girl now?

"Consider Charlie, Edward," Carlisle said, and for a second, I wondered if he had read my mind. "This would kill him."

I shrank from him, looking away. "I know, Carlisle."

"Don't go down this path, Edward."

I stepped back. "I don't think I have a choice, Father."

I turned and ran. I knew the next step - the girl's father.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

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The girl's house was dark when I got there - although the kitchen light was on. I found the chief slumped over the table, papers scattered haphazardly. I found myself entranced once more by his quiet - but indisputably active - mind.

We were in a dark hallway and I got the sense of being trapped. Slamming sounds, and I got the impression Charlie was pounding on a door. The only thing I could catch was the phrase over and over: Where's my daughter?

I knelt before the man. I imagined Carlisle thinking the same thing as he gazed at me just minutes before. I could see the monster reflected in his eyes. Where's my son?

The urge to put the chief out of his misery - to slam his head further against the table - flashed through my mind and I shuddered at the sudden violence.

My device - borrowed from Carlisle - dinged. I opened the text from Alice but saw only an audio file. I pressed the small triangle and the audio began to play.

I heard a car engine, a deep breath, and then it started.

First, the softest whimper I'd ever heard, and I recognized it immediately, for it belonged to the other girl in the world. My breath caught.

Second, a soft growl - Alice's? - and I heard rustling. I imagined her struggling, pulling against her captor.

Third, a sharp sound of something breaking and she screamed. I yowled, and bolted as I realized I was still in the chief's kitchen.

Fourth, heavy breathing as Alice got closer to the girl. Soft pats of human flesh against plastic interior.

Finally, it ended.

"Can you see?" I didn't know if she was talking to me or the girl. I stilled myself for the message she was about to deliver.

"You're afraid of us for good reason, Bells…. And we can tell when you're afraid, Bella. It makes things harder for us. Do not think for a second that you'd be safe in Forks, Bella."

No.

No, no, no, no.

Alice wouldn't. She didn't. She couldn't.

The girl was here?

Here within my grasp?

I was willing to comb the whole world for her.

But she was here?

I growled in anticipation. I cried in despair.