The sun shined through the curtains and Marie could see the city of Portland, Oregon down below. She had woken up several times throughout the night in a nightmare. It was the same dream every night: James had found her. But her fear would slowly vanish whenever she saw Esme sleeping in the pull out chair. Marie knew that she was safe with her.
Carlisle had mentioned that it was a four hour drive back to Forks, Washington. Marie couldn't help but silently snort at the name of the town.
Forks.
That was quite a name for a town. What was the neighboring town called… Spoons? As comical as it was, it was where Isabella had grown up and where she would live from now on… at least until they got the DNA results.
Marie pushed the thought out of her mind, the best she could, and let Esme help her dress. She was extremely weak and could barely stand let alone dress herself. The doctor had said that it was pure adrenaline that helped her escape and that she would slowly come off the high. All she had to do now was focus on healing. That's what everyone said. But she wondered how long she could play this broken traumatized girl. She wondered if anyone else would believe it.
Esme told her that she was sixteen years old. The same age as Alice and Edward. That meant that she was in highschool and would have to go once she was ready. The thought terrified her. She'd never been to school before in her life and had the education of elementary schooler. She didn't know anything about how girls her age should act or what kids her age were learning. But that's what happens when you've been held captive for almost decade.
Marie had changed into this soft cotton purple sweater that was slightly too small for her and slipped on a pair of faded navy jeans. Esme brushed her hair back into a ponytail and tied it up for her.
She knew that Esme was shaken up from seeing the scars on her back but held back her comments. She didn't want to upset Marie in anyway. They'd become so close in such a short time.
"I'm sorry that the clothes don't fit right. They are actually Alice's. The police called us so suddenly that we rushed down here. I would have gone out to actually buy you some of your own but there was no time," her voice broke.
"It's alright," Marie softly said. She honestly didn't mind. Any clothes would do. James didn't give her the courtesy of being dressed. He claimed it was easier to use her if she had nothing on. Marie was grateful for anything she was given.
"Am I interrupting?" Carlisle asked as he walked into the room.
Marie looked away as he came over and lightly kissed Esme on the lips. She didn't know if she would ever be able to have a normal relationship like that. She didn't know if she would ever be normal. What kind of guy could ever love a messed up girl?
A bag was packed next to Marie and Carlisle took it before she could. She opened her mouth to speak but Carlisle beat her to it.
"I've cleared everything with the hospital and the car was pulled around to the front," he stated. "Are you ready to leave?" He asked Marie.
His voice was serious and Marie stiffly nodded her head. She wanted to get out of this hospital and away from the smell of death. Being in Portland meant that James was near and she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. But she knew that he would always be close by, no matter how far she ran.
Esme pulled around a wheelchair and helped her into it. She was pushed out of the room with Carlisle following behind. Marie choose to keep her head down, ignoring the looks of the passersby. She suddenly felt small and lonely leaving the walls of that tiny room. The protection that she had felt was gone as they maneuvered their way around the hospital. Marie was joining the real world now and she didn't know how to react.
She would have to interact with people now. She would have to be Isabella Swan. But Marie didn't know a thing about her and that was terrifying. What would Isabella think if she was in her position? Did Isabella have some special name for her best friend, Alice? Did Alice have a special name for her? What was her favorite food? What was her favorite joke? Marie's mind swam with questions that she did not know the answer to.
It wasn't long before the three of them piled into Carlisle's black Mercedes. Marie sat alone in the back with Esme and Carlisle in the front. She let herself slide down into the cold leather seats and leaned her head against the window. Raindrops fell from the sky and she twirled her damp hair around her fingers. The sound of the raindrops falling calmed her immensely and she found herself relaxing.
Marie loved the rain. The sound reminded her of a beating heart and her heart reminded her that she was still alive. When she was in the attic, it was usually the only thing that would help her fall asleep. It was the one thing that kept her sane. When it rained, she knew that there was still a whole other world outside the walls she lived in. Marie knew that wasn't alone.
"Let us know if you need anything, sweetie," Esme turned towards her, "We can stop anytime you like. It's going to be a long ride."
"Alright," Marie mumbled. She twiddled her thumbs and watched out the window as the car rolled away from the hospital.
It was only about a couple of hours into the ride that Marie felt the need to use the bathroom.
Stupid girl.
Why didn't she use it before? She didn't want to be nuisance. However, Esme did say they could stop anytime she needed.
Or she was saying that to be polite. She didn't really mean it.
Marie was too much of a wimp to ask. James didn't like her asking for things. The more she begged, the longer he held off. She had peed on herself many times because James wouldn't let her out. It was part of her punishment he liked to say. Though she didn't know what she was being punished for.
Marie was afraid of retaliation if she voiced her thoughts. Apart of her knew, that nothing bad would happen but it was as if her vocal cords had froze. All she could do was squirm around in the seat. But was it really worth it if she pissed on herself? In Carlisle's fancy car? She didn't want to think about how he'd react.
"Is everything alright?" Carlisle broke through her train of thoughts.
He looked at her through the rearview mirror. Her brown eyes were wide with fear and she squeezed her legs together. Esme noticed her discomfort and asked with realization, "do you need to use the restroom?"
Marie reluctantly nodded her head and hunched her shoulders. She hated how much of a bother she was. This would just delay the trip further.
"It's about a mile until the next rest stop. Do you think you can wait that long?" Esme asked.
Marie eagerly nodded her head and and sighed in relief. She slid down the seat, trying to make herself as small as possible. The radio played in the background and she focused on that, trying to distract her mind.
It didn't take long to get to the rest stop, and Marie hurried to the bathroom, not bothering to check if Esme and Carlisle were with her.
There were only a few people, obviously tourists, milling around and Marie made sure to stay a good distance away from them. They could be anybody.
She did her business and quickly came out to look for Carlisle and Esme. they were standing by the doorway talking privately. Marie hid behind the corner to hear their conversation.
"... I want to believe it's her, Carlisle." Esme said. "She has the same freckles and eyes. Carlisle, she has Charlie's eyes. I could recognize them anywhere. I don't want to believe that she is a fake. She's not like those other girls. I just have a feeling."
"Honey, I know you want to believe this. I want too to but we can't be to optimistic. Yes, she does look identical to Renee and Charlie, nobody can ignore that. The problem is her memory-"
"It'll come back though!" Esme interrupted him. "It'll slowly start to come back!"
Carlisle sighs, "that could happen. Or the DNA results could prove she is not, Bella."
"Don't think like that!" she gasps. "We have to give her the benefit of the doubt. And personally I'm already convinced and I know you are too. Don't give me that crap."
"You're right," Carlisle admits quietly. "But I'll feel better once we have the results from the test." Esme rests her hand on his cheek and they lean in for a kiss.
"You should have heard her at night," says Esme. "Sometimes she would whimper things in her sleep. She would beg the man to stop hurting her. Carlisle… she's just a child and he-"
Esme couldn't continue. She knew that James had raped Marie and beat her and abused her. Her anger was indescribable.
"I know, Es. I know what he did. I'm just as angry as you are. I want whoever did this to be held responsible but that can only happen once she feels safe enough to open up." Carlisle said.
"It's just that she's always so afraid of everything. She's afraid to be touched and she's afraid to speak. She's afraid that we're going to hurt her…"
Carlisle embraces Esme in his arms and hugs her tightly not wanting to let go. Marie decides that she has heard enough and walks out from around the corner.
Her face is as indifferent as before and they suspect nothing. The three of them head back to the car for the rest of the journey.
The two hours passed by surprisingly fast and before Maire knew it, they were in Forks, Washington. A banner was hung up on the border of the town that said, "Welcome home, Bella! We've missed you!"
Marie stared at it in shock as they drove by. She knew that Forks was a small town and that everyone knew everyone but she was not expecting that. Esme said that the town had been flooded with reporters. It somehow slipped out that Isabella Swan was found and the entire country was amazed. People believed that Marie was actually her.
Everyone who had a television was watching the news as they reported on Isabella Swan's miracle escape. Everyone was talking about it. Now, they wanted to know how she did it and who took her. Marie was content just hiding in the shadows but everyone wanted to know her story.
She had her face pressed up against the window as they drove through the dreary wet town. They passed by the Carver Cafe, police station, and busy gas station. Marie's eyes flickered all around and made sure to take in every building and every little detail she saw.
The town soon faded in the distance and they entered onto a country road. They were in the middle of the woods and everything was green and wet. Marie had never seen so much green in her life and it made her excited. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen this much color and felt so alive.
It was like a breath of fresh air.
The car turned onto a narrow wooded dirt path and they continued driving for about a mile. Marie wondered where they were heading but she didn't need to wait for long. Soon a gigantic house- wait no scratch that- a mansion appeared in front of her eyes. It was a three story contemporary home with a wrap around porch. Marie was amazed and couldn't contain her shock.
Esme and Carlisle watched her wearily.
"Does anything look familiar?" Esme asked in a hopeful voice.
Marie opened her mouth and said, "I-I'm sorry, no."
The hope died from Esme's face but Carlisle responded. "We've done a lot of work on the house in the past few years so it's going to look a lot different."
He tried to comfort his wife as they pulled up in front of the house. There were three other cars parked and all looked to be very expensive. Marie wondered if they belonged to their children.
She stepped out of the vehicle and hugged herself tightly. Lights were on in the house and she thought she saw someone walk past the window. Esme lightly touches her arm and urges her towards the house.
Marie's feet felt like deadweight as she dragged herself to the front door. She knew that there was no turning back once she walked into the house. They could do whatever they wanted to her. They could hurt her and no one would know. They're miles away from town and it's way too far for her to run away. Marie would probably get lost in the woods if she tried. There is no escape from here. She's completely at their mercy. This could turn into her second hell. How could she escape one only to end up at another?
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Marie knew that her thoughts sounded ridiculous. She knew that she would be safe here. Just as long as she obeyed and didn't fuck up; she always fucked everything up. Esme and Carlisle stood to the side and waited for her to make a move. Marie lifted a shaky hand to the door handle and walked across the threshold. Her heart pounded against her chest and she sucked on her lip, hoping the nerves would go away.
Carlisle set the bag down by the front door and Esme lead Marie deeper into the home. Room after room and floor after floor was filled with beautiful artwork, state of the art appliances, and magnificent furniture. The Cullens didn't need to show that they were wealthy, you could just feel it.
They ended the tour of the house in the kitchen and a girl appeared from around the corner. She had electric blue eyes, black spikey hair, and a tiny frame. Marie observes her from across the room and the girl watches Marie from the doorway. Neither of them know what to say and Marie instinctively moves closer to Esme.
"Come say hi, Alice." Carlisle instructs.
Alice clenches her jaw but doesn't speak. She hesitantly walks to the island that they are all situated around. Her eyes narrowed in on Marie taking in everything from her appearance to her facial expressions. Marie looked like she had been through hell and hadn't yet recovered. She was frail, jittery and obviously underweight. The fear in her eyes was very present and Alice could feel herself pitying this girl.
Isabella was her best friend.
Wait, No.
Isabella was her sister. They had a connection like nobody else. They were as thick as thieves and knew each other from the inside out.
Alice didn't want to believe that this badly abused girl was her sister. Alice couldn't handle knowing that her sister had been alive all these years having god-knows-what done to her. She didn't want to think about it. Alice almost wished that Isabella would have been found dead rather than suffer for so many years.
It was three years ago that a young girl from New York City claimed to be Isabella Swan. She made up a story about how she had been kidnapped and escaped. Everybody was amazed but her story soon began to fall through the cracks and her con was exposed. Her real name was Erin McCrowly and she was actually a prostitute trying to escape the streets. Alice had a disgusted feeling everytime she looked at her and knew before even meeting her that this could not be her sister.
Then two years ago another girl appeared with the same story. Once again, her family took her in, quickly realizing that it was not Isabella. That girl's name was actually Sofie Tate and she had run away from her abusive foster family.
Alice was the ultimate test and in the end both girls failed miserably. Nothing they did got by her and were fools to think that they could trick Alice Cullen.
But looking at this girl, who had obviously been put through hell, Alice didn't know what to think.
The girl looked like, Bella.
She smelt like, Bella.
But didn't act like Bella.
The girl Alice knew was stubborn but shy and was always willing to put others needs before her own. She lived in the world of books and could usually be found reading. Alice was her one true companion besides Edward.
She always knew that Bella and Edward had a little crush on each other but they were both always too nervous to say anything. So, when Bella disappeared, Edward, as well as everyone else, was devastated.
In eight years, Edward went from her caring twin brother to a complete and total utter jerk. All he ever did was party and hook up with a new girl each weekend. Edward did everything he could to forget about Bella.
Alice was afraid to admit what she's known all along because that would this all real. She was afraid to admit that this girl in front of her was Isabella Swan.
"Alice." Her father lightly touched her arm. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and turned her attention back towards the cowering girl.
"Hi," Alice whispered.
She was overcome with emotion and without thinking approached Marie. Her hands hovered above Marie's shaking body and tried to maintain her composure.
"It's really you," Alice mumbled. She searched Marie's face for any signs of recognition but was met with a blank and terrified expression. Her jaw was clenched as she tried to keep the tears from spilling over her face and backed away from everyone.
"I-I've, got to go." Her voice trembled. Without another word she ran out of the room, hearing the sound of her father calling her name.
Her own sister didn't know who she was.
When Marie was younger, she would dream of another little girl almost every night. She had two ponytails and a big smile. The girl and Marie would run around for hours playing in a big yard until it was dark out and then she would wake up. Marie knew that it was just her imagination but she wanted it to be real. She wanted that faceless girl to be Alice.
That's why Esme was trying to comfort the sobbing girl, "Alice didn't mean that, sweetie. She's just very emotional. We all are."
She wanted Alice to believe she was Isabella Swan. Her rejection or lack therefore of didn't sit well with Marie. Carlisle had gone off to find Alice so they were all alone.
"I-I'm sorry," Marie mumbled.
Esme wipes away her tears and they walk to the living room and sit down on the couch. Marie listens to the sound of the clock tick and starts to count the beats in her mind. Esme lays the wool blanket over Marie and sits down next to her.
Her heart breaks when she sees the young girl, cling to the blanket like it's her only possession. Esme just wanted to ease some of the girl's pain but didn't know how to. She didn't know how to reverse eight years of years of torture.
"Were Alice and I close?" Marie asks.
"You were two peas in a pod. Wherever Alice went, you followed and wherever you went, Alice followed. I could never keep you two separated." Esme tells fondly. "Alice is just in a bit of shock. I'm sure she will come around soon."
All Marie can do is nod.
"It's been such a long day already, don't you agree?" Esme states, trying to change the subject to a happier topic.
"Edward and Emmett should be home sometime later tonight. They're so busy these days," she says, "did you know that Edward is the quarterback of his football team and Emmett is the linebacker?"
Marie shakes her head.
"They both always loved football and as much as I tried to steer them away from it, the more they persisted. Edward always tried to get you to play but you and Alice prefered to referee," she laughs at the memory.
Marie wondered what Edward was doing at the moment. Would Edward accept her? Would he believe her? How would Isabella act around him? From the way Esme was describing him, it sounded like he had a crush on her.
"... oh I'm sorry," Esme apologized.
Marie had a zoned out expression on her face and Esme thought that she must of been boring her.
"You must be exhausted. Is there anything you would like to do? You could take a nap or you could take a shower or watch some tv… " Marie's trying to follow along but she's listed so many options that she is unsure.
James never let her choose. It was either take what he gave or get nothing at all. She was never allowed anything. She didn't own anything. She didn't even have a mind of her own and Esme was giving her a choice. She was letting her choose and for that she was eternally grateful.
"Could- could, I take a nap?" She whispered.
"Of course," Esme immediately answered. Her heart melted at how much fear she felt radiating off Marie's body.
"We haven't gotten your bedroom set up yet but for now we can put you in the guest bedroom," said Esme.
Marie followed her up the stairs to the second floor and entered a plain white room. There was a queen size bed pushed up against the wall, two bureaus, a private bathroom and walk in closet. Marie was amazed, she had never been given so much in her entire life.
"Everything you need is in the bathroom and Alice has given her old clothes for you to wear until we can buy you some new things."
Marie nodded and gave an awkward smile.
"Are you going to be alright, alone?" Worry coated Esme's voice.
"I think I'll be alright." She whispered. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.