Edited by Stilldreaming85.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Marie Cullen.
I was curious, fascinated even as to why someone would choose this sort of life for themselves, for their families. To live with eyes in the back of your head, watching, waiting for an attack or to attack.
Why? What was the point of it all?
Money?
Glory?
What glory could possibly come from destruction, from conning and cheating? From destroying innocent lives?
We had almost been killed because of the life Edward and his family lived. Chased and gunned down, and all for what?
It had been days since then. Days since we have all been stuck down here in the safe house as Edward had called it. But to me it was more a hell than a safe haven.
No one spoke of what had happened, not to me at least. Edward and his father along with Emmett, would lock themselves in a separate room, sometimes for hours on end, discussing they claimed, their next step whatever that meant.
I felt as if I were beginning to slowly lose my mind. Being down here brought back memories of my time in Anthony's underworld, their secret hideout. It made my mind wander to a place I had thought I had safely locked away. Being in this place brought back memories that I didn't know how to deal with anymore and thought I never would have to again.
The only thing stopping me from going insane and slipping into that darkness was Sofia.
She had so much energy and was so carefree, it was infectious. It was impossible not to be happy around her. But even she didn't take to kindly to being trapped down here. Having a tantrum almost daily, sometimes two, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. What she wanted they claimed to be impossible right now. She wanted just like me to get out of here, to be free.
Carmen was...She was holding up better than I or anyone expected. She had seen her husband murdered right before her eyes and yet she wasn't, or she didn't appear affected. She was mourning, yes. Maybe this was another one of those things I didn't understand, something that only they could. They were used to so much death, Eleazar was probably just another casualty even to his widow.
"Marie, can you make me a sandwich, please?" Sofia asked. She and I had been sharing a room, well, she may have kicked Edward out of this room and I was very grateful to her for that. I don't think I would have been able to sleep in the same bed as him.
I left Sofia on the bed to finish her movie and went out into the main area where the kitchenette was to make her something to eat. I was almost finished cutting her sandwich into small triangles when a hushed whisper caught my attention. It was dead quiet out in this area. Edward and Carlisle had gone into town. Emmett was with Rosalie in their room. The only other people down here were Esme and Carmen.
I left Sofia's sandwich on the bench and carefully tiptoed in the direction of the hushed voice, it came from behind the door of the room that Edward had been using as an office.
It was Carmen's voice. It sounded as if she was on the phone to someone. What was she thinking? Edward had said no phone calls down here. There wasn't even any wifi.
"I need to know it's taken care of," she whispered loudly. "Yes. I know. Don't worry about that, I have it all under control. Do what you are suppose to do and I will take care of the rest when the time comes."
The conversation sounded strange. She appeared to be angry with whoever it was she was speaking with.
"I have to go. They will be back soon. Do not forget," she said.
I jumped away from the door and made my way back to the kitchenette as quietly as I could. Carmen came out of the office. She looked surprised to see me, almost nervous.
"Hey, what are you doing out here. I thought everyone was asleep," I said, playing dumb and hoping that she would buy it.
"I cannot seem to sleep. I asked my brother to pick me up some pills. I came to see if they were back," she said. "What are you doing?" She eyed me suspiciously.
"Sofia's hungry. I came to get her something to eat," I said, holding out the tray for her to see.
"Oh." She appeared almost relieved.
"Are you sure you are alright, Carmen? You know I'm here if you need someone."
"I think I am still in shock with what has happened. I have to plan a funeral for my husband yet I am expecting him to walk through the door," she said.
Of course, that's what she had to be doing. How stupid could I have been to think she was up to something. I put the tray back down on the bench and went over and hugged her tight. She was holding up remarkably well, but slowly, very slowly she was starting to crack.
We stood here for the longest time with her crying on my shoulder and me rubbing her back. I think she just needed to let it all out. It was the opening of the heavy cast iron doors that made us both jump.
Carlisle and Edward were back. Carlisle's hands looked like they had seen better days. They were red and covered in blood, blood that I knew didn't belong to him.
"I am going to go and take a shower," he said excusing himself.
"I think...I think I am tired now," Carmen said. "Thank you, Marie."
And then it was us, Edward and I. I didn't know what to say to him. We hadn't really spoken since that night, Sofia had always been in the way.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
"What was that all about?"
"Carmen?" I asked. "I was comforting her. It's not easy for her to plan a funeral when she hasn't come to terms with the fact that her husband is dead."
"The funeral is already taken care of. It's tomorrow morning and we are leaving after that."
"Where are we going?"
"Back to New York," he said, as he walked by me and kissed me on the cheek.
And just like that I felt like the walls were closing in around me. Back to New York, had I heard him correct? No. There was no way. It was not possible. I couldn't, he wouldn't. He can't make me go, I won't.
"No. No. No," I said, shaking my head.
"No, what?" He asked, as he held onto my arms, trying to get me to look at him.
"I can't go to New York. I can't go back there."
Going back to New York would mean giving up what freedom I had here. I could not do that. I could not live like that again, like his prisoner. What would be the point to continue living?
"We can't stay here, Isabella," he said.
"You go then. You go back and leave me here," I begged, trying to free myself from him.
"I cannot do that, dolcezza. It's not safe here. Carmen's house was burned to the ground."
I covered my mouth, not believing what I was hearing. Burnt to the ground. Someone was really after us. Someone was trying to kill us, kill them.
"I need you safe, Isabella and that means taking you back to New York."
I closed my eyes and let myself cry. For the first time since all of this happened, I cried, I let it all out. I didn't know what I was more upset or angry about. Eleazar's death, the one man in this family that welcomed me into his home and treated me as if I were his own child. Killed, gone.
Or Edward wanting me to go back home.
New York was a place I never thought I would ever set foot in again. I knew what going back there would mean and I also knew that I had no choice.
It was a slap to the face.
"Everything is going to be alright, dolcezza," Edward comforted, as he wiped my tears away with his thumbs.
"Please, I'm begging you. If you love me as much as you say you do, don't take me back there. I can't go back to being Isabella, Edward. I can't go back to being a prisoner," I cried. I didn't know how long I cried or how long we stood there, how long I let him hold me. I had been bottling everything inside since that day in the office and I guess now it all came flooding out. Everything was too powerful, too overwhelming. My mind didn't know how to deal with it.
At one point Edward had moved us to the couch. I lay there with my head in his lap, accepting whatever comfort he was willing to give me. I must have fallen asleep at some point. When I woke up I was in bed with Edward and Sofia was in between us.
I carefully climbed out of bed, trying not to disturb them both and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.I splashed some cold water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes were puffy and red and I looked like I hadn't slept in days despite feeling well rested.
I tried not to recognize the person staring back at me. I didn't want to be that person again. I was Marie now. I was no longer Isabella and if I went to New York that is exactly who I would be. The scared little girl caught up in her father's mistakes.