A/N: Thanks so much for all of the support this story has gotten so far! All of your reviews are such a great gift! I'm really bad to responding to them on this platform but know that I appreciate every single one of them!

Thanks so much to Sally for beta'ing this baby! You're the best! You're such a queen!

P.S.: I'm hard at work on "Under My Thumb" so just know that it'll be updating again soon!

I hope you all are staying happy and healthy out there! Love you!

~ Cursed ~

It felt as though all of the air had been sucked out of the room. Soon, they were all gasping for breaths, as if they were searching for that last bit of oxygen. Hide and seek, a children's game, had never sounded so sinister. Some were quicker to rise to their feet than others, and as Aro passed by the cells, unshackling each player, he seemed to have no concern regarding being met with any opposition. Even if the players were to fight back, everyone in the room seemed to know there wouldn't be an equal match. The vampires would win—as they always did.

This wasn't their first time doing this. That much was blatantly obvious. Whether or not the game was hide and seek didn't matter; in the past, they had toyed with their victims. The vampires wanted to play with their food before sitting down and feasting.

Aro paused when he reached Bella's cell, hovering for a moment before dropping to his knees to unshackle her. She was on her feet now, acting more injured than her body felt as she watched him free her leg from its restraints. As soon as the shackle was removed, she stumbled back, making a show of bumping into the wall without being too obvious about her overacting. While she did feel horrible, she thought it couldn't hurt to act even more pathetic.

Maybe acting like a super easy target will only benefit me. If I act useless enough now, I might not be the one they go for. They'd want to chase the fun ones first. The livelier players. Then, when they're bored enough, they'll chase down the rest. Or … What if they get rid of the easy ones first? The ones who are already knocking on death's door. Maybe they'll save the best—the most entertaining players—for the very end. Everyone wants to save the best for last, right?

Bella straightened her spine then, wondering what her best plan of action was. Hide somewhere where no one can find you. It would be something easier said than done. She didn't know a single thing about the home nor its layout. Everywhere she would come across would be a location these vampires had seen thousands of times. They seemingly had all of the time in the world to move around the house, after all. The perfect hiding spot may not even exist. This was all for amusement, after all. At the end of the day, the vampires knew the humans posed no real challenge. Sooner or later, they would find them all, and the game would be over.

Then what?

Would they feast on their findings? Would they shackle everyone up again? When would this madness end? Would it ever end? Or would the only end be death? The one true end to anything.

Aro moved to unshackle the last few victims before clapping his hands together as he moved toward the bottom of the stairs. His smile was bright now—a contrast to his dark gaze. There was something about the way his features twisted that made her stomach turn. Never had she seen anyone look so joyous.

Edward was pensive, however, as he stood a few feet away from Aro with a trained expression. Despite his neutral body language, Edward's eyes were raging with conflict. Without words, he was able to express more than enough.

"Since there's a difference in ability, we'll give you a head start," Aro said with a friendly sort of expression. He eyed the players one by one, not bothering to size a single person up. "The rules are simple. I'm sure each of you know them well. If you're found, you lose. I'll give you … well, how about a minute to hide? Hell, make it two. I'll count down when we reach the final ten seconds. The game will end when everyone's found. Any questions?'

He waited then with a challenging gaze, daring anyone to speak up and say anything. It seemed like he wanted someone to have a loudmouth. Right now, he was scanning for his first target. Who would be the one to make things interesting right from the beginning?

Bella looked around, too, wanting to see what he saw. It was a sad spectacle. No one looked fit enough to walk, let alone play a children's game. To her dismay, a vast majority of the crowd looked hopeless. They had given up on the game, and themselves, before it had even begun. If they wanted to make it out of this hell, they had to have a will to live. Wanting to survive was sometimes the most powerful thing.

Could I make it out alone? I kind of have to, don't I? There's no way I can go around trying to collude with strangers. Not without making our location obvious. The time for colluding has come and passed. I'm on my own now. If I make it out of here, I'll have to do so by myself.

Her eyes moved to Edward again, who was standing silently while gazing into the space in front of him. During Aro's entire speech, Edward had barely spared her a glance. Does he not truly remember me? Maybe the other night meant nothing to him. It could've been just like any other day. That thought made her stomach turn. She'd like to think that he wasn't sparing her a single glance as a means of protecting her, but she worried that her thoughts were too hopeful. He was standing with the vampires, after all. Regardless of the mixed feelings playing out on his features, he was one of them.

Do I really know Edward at all? I know his body … but do I know his heart?

"Ready, everyone?" Aro said, interrupting her thoughts before they could get too venereal. He clapped his hands again, looking giddy as he stepped away from the bottom of the steps, giving everyone a clear path to exit. Aro looked to his vampire counterparts. Some were more amused by the game than others. Not everyone seemed keen on the idea of playing with their food. "Let's all close our eyes and give them a fair shot."

The vampires, seeming a bit bored, did as they were told, closing their eyes and pausing to wait for the next instruction. Bella kept her mind clear, trying to think of a way to strategize before the game began. Without knowing a single thing about the environment, it was impossible. So instead, her pulse raced like the fluttering wings of a young bird—inconsistent and rapid as it learned how to fly. Beating as quickly as it was, she feared she would pass out. The adrenaline coursing through her veins didn't let her.

She couldn't die down here. Not when she had so much to live for. Not when there were so many stories of victims waiting to be told. If something like this got out … it would change everything. Bella had to get out. She had more than herself to live for.

"Counting down from one hundred and twenty starting … now!" Aro exclaimed, smiling as he felt the players move toward the stairs.

Despite their injuries, people were hustling to make it up the stairs and to the first floor of the home. Bella hovered toward the back, not wanting to get trampled and have the game end for her before it began. The stairs were narrow, having just enough space for two very small individuals to make it up at the same time on the same step. Instead of helping each other make it up the stairs, the victims were pushing and clamoring to get out.

While Aro's eyes were closed, he heard the commotion and seemed delighted by it. Before long, a laugh escaped him. He was almost down to sixty seconds, and he was giggling.

On the steps, bodies of victims were piling up on top of each other. A few had made it out of the basement, and Bella could hear their feet as they ran across the floor above her. So, they'll easily figure out which direction we've taken. I've got to be quiet then. Maybe it will be better to hide closer to the basement than it would be to try to run as quickly as I can and make my location known by the sound of my footsteps. I can always move around too as the game plays out … I just need to find someplace safe, initially.

"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven …"

Bella listened to the numbers getting closer and closer to one as she watched the humans fight with each other on the steps. As one of them tried to climb up on top of the other bodies, another reached out and grabbed his shoulder, holding him still as he punched him repeatedly in the face with seemingly all of the strength he had left in his body.

A few humans back, a woman was pushing her jagged fingernails into another human's eyes as she tried to move past him and up the stairway. As Bella watched the carnage, she realized she would have to climb up the bodies as quickly as she could. If she wanted to survive, she had to make it out of this basement. The bodies left behind could buy her some time as they would probably be the ones feasted on first.

If her eyes hadn't deceived her, it seemed like only four or five humans made it out of the basement. The rest were too busy trying to harm each other. She quickly stretched her limbs, said a silent prayer, and headed toward the steps, letting her eyes drift to Edward as if she were taking him in one final time.

He was too angelic to be surrounded by so much dirt and gore. In the darkness of the basement, he looked like a fallen angel, sent down to earth to atone for his wrong doings. God hadn't had mercy on him, causing him to stew in this madhouse.

She wanted to kiss him. Just a moment of their lips brushing would sate her until the end of her days. If she were going to die today, she wanted to die with the taste of him lingering on her mouth. So, before reaching the bottom step of the staircase, she moved toward him, pausing when they were mere inches away.

His brows drew together, seeming curious as he left his eyes closed to follow the game's rules. She let her breath tickle his face, causing his mouth to drop open ever so slightly, revealing the bottoms of his upper row of teeth and the pink of his tongue.

Aro was counting down from the thirties now, and she knew if she wanted to survive, she had to be quick. With her heart fluttering against bone, she leaned forward and let her lips brush against Edward's. He responded instantly, drawing her lips in for a kiss before she pulled away and now, feeling exhilarated, gave him one final look before turning toward the stairs.

Filled with the energy that was left like a residue on her lips, she climbed over bodies, crawling her way upward as if she were clawing her way out of hell. She shivered at the feeling of unfamiliar sweat and the dirt that rubbed onto her skin from other's flesh. Still engrossed in their own fights, Bella climbed over them while not being met with as much resistance as she had originally thought.

As she reached the last few steps, she felt a hand reach out and grab ahold of her ankle. A cry escaped her lips as their nails dug into her flesh, causing blood to rush toward the wound. Her skin broke, and she bit down on her bottom lip to suppress another cry as she used her foot to kick in the direction of the hand. Her foot was met with no resistance at first so she gazed down and saw the face of a man desperate to cling onto life. It didn't seem like he was trying to hold her back, preventing her from an escape; instead, it seemed as if he wanted her to take him with her.

Tears filled her eyes, threatening to escape as she mouthed an "I'm so sorry" before kicking the man in the face and groaning as she broke free of his grasp. He must've taken some of her flesh with him, and Bella imagined that it was caked beneath his nails as her ankle began to sting.

"Eighteen. Seventeen. Sixteen …"

As Aro neared the last of his countdown, Bella took a breath and climbed the rest of the way, making it past the final step. Without even a moment to think, she moved quickly at first, wanting to get as far away from the steps as she could.

From what she could see, the interior of the home surprised her. During her time downstairs, she had imagined something out of a dark fairy tale—a castle's interior with lavish furnishings, deep, royal colors, and dramatic chandeliers that cost more than her life savings. This was far from that. The interior was clean and modern—bright and welcoming—acting as a stark contrast from what she had seen below. To her dismay, the furnishings were sparse, leaving few places for her to hide.

When she remembered herself and her original plan, her feet slowed down, and she shifted her weight toward her toes, walking as daintily as she could down a hallway before coming upon a flight of stairs leading toward a second floor.

Her eyes moved around the room, and already, she could make out where one of the humans was hiding. A man was crouched down behind a bookcase, shaking, as he must've known this sort of spot would be one that was easily found.

Bella assumed that her chances of finding a good hiding space wouldn't be any better upstairs. The entire game was even more of a joke, considering how little furniture there was and hiding places to choose from. Any place that would be a good one to hide in would be obvious to the vampires.

She listened as Aro spouted off the final few numbers, giggling, as he knew that soon they would all be on the hunt. Could a game like this even be fun for them? If there's no good hiding spots, how is it much of a game, then? With that thought, Bella shot up the stairs, moving as quickly and as quietly as she could before reaching the second floor.

"Three. Two. One." She heard Aro say, imagining his delighted gleam. "Ready or not, here we come!"

This floor was surprisingly different than the first floor. While it still didn't meet the ideas she had imagined before, it was densely furnished and had multiple rooms. She moved down the hallway, finding that every room was vastly different, almost as if the decorator wanted everything to have its own feeling or theme. Some rooms were filled with books—different texts that looked as if they dated decades, if not centuries, back. Others looked like lavish guest rooms. Others were dark studies. These rooms felt like more of a chance.

As her eyes danced around the hallways, feet bouncing as energy surged through her, she began to hear the screams from below. They were loud, booming up the stairs and reaching her with a chill. From what she could decipher, they sounded as if they were coming from the basement.

So, they are starting with the easy prey first. That's good … that gives me more time. Not knowing where to begin, she darted into one of the dark studies and moved toward the window. Of course, the vampires weren't going to make things that easy for her. The window as locked and barred, giving her no hope for escape.

The screams turned her stomach. These were people she had watched for weeks, and now, she couldn't imagine the light leaving their eyes as their consciousness ceased. With shaking limbs, she crawled beneath the desk and tried to gain control of her breathing. Lightheaded, she knew her hiding place was far from a good idea. Still, she felt too weak to move.

I can't stop fighting here. I have to keep going. Her mind wanted to survive but her body didn't. Already, her limbs felt weak, shaking as if her body was dealing with hypothermia despite the warm temperature of the home. Her lips tingled and she reached up, trying to remember the feel of Edward's lips against hers mere minutes before. The thought now felt like a tease—something as good as that couldn't be real. That moment felt like a tiny bit of heaven as her body was entirely immersed in hell.

His face creeped back into her consciousness, and within seconds, she felt intoxicated by him. Is he looking for me now? Am I the one he wants to seek? If he finds me, will he take me with him, protecting me as we fight our way out of his hellscape? Or will I become another meal for him? The thought made her shudder; although, dying by his hand felt like a better death than dying in the grasp of anyone else.

As she thought of him, her limbs steadied, and soon, she was back on her feet, moving to stand in the doorframe of the room to listen for any footsteps. If no one was coming, she would keep moving. Perhaps the best plan of action would be staying on one's feet. A good hiding place would mean cornering herself somewhere and being found didn't simply mean losing the game. When death was involved, hiding was pointless. If she were going to survive this, she would have to fight.

With that in mind, she listened for a few more seconds, and when she heard nothing and felt safe to move, she made her way down the hallway, looking for weapons or anything that would help her escape. As she walked, she passed an old laundry chute that gave away the age of the home. While everything around her looked modern, this thing looked ancient—like something from the late 1800s or perhaps the early 1900s. She hesitated near it for a moment before she decided to keep walking.

I shouldn't … I don't know where the chute would lead. What if it's worse than this? What if it's a harder spot to escape from?

She continued forward, moving from room to room while trying to find anything that seemed promising. Of course, there weren't guns readily available, and even if there were, she wasn't sure what a gun would do when it came to killing a vampire.

How do the undead die? Would a gunshot do anything at all? As she moved forward, she tried to fall back on her film knowledge, wondering if crosses and garlic and things like that would really do the trick. It didn't matter however, she quickly realized. It wasn't as if she had any of those things available to her at all. Any suggestions from film were now entirely useless.

She ducked into one of the guest rooms and rummaged around as the screams continued to vibrate through the house. There has to be something … They wanted this game to be fun, didn't they? They must've left something behind. Then, something dawned on her, and she rolled her eyes at herself. I should've gone straight to the kitchen. I could've grabbed a knife instead of wasting my time hiding. I'm no better than a sitting duck like this. I'm just waiting to die …

Not wanting to waste any more time, she left the room and rummaged through the next, and then the next until she heard footsteps as the vampires finally started to move from the basement. There was laughter and contentment, suggesting they had enjoyed their meal so far.

How often do they feed like this? Before she could wonder long, images of missing people scattered through her mind. There had been so many … more than she could count. They disappeared around parks, bodies of water, and hiking trails especially. Many of them were people who could be abducted and murdered without notice. Which made the game easy for the vampires. Bodies could pile up, and no one would question a thing. Even now, with victims appearing in the news, no one was connecting all of the cases. Which made sense, considering no one could possibly wrap their mind around the number of people who were dying off at the hands of the undead.

They could have killed like this tens of times without people noticing. Considering how long some of them had been alive, the number was probably much larger than that. Games like this could've been a staple for them throughout the decades—a grand way of showing how powerful they truly were.

Footsteps could be heard clearly against the hardwood floors mixed with the sounds of screams. The screams were loud but short, followed by an intense slurping sound that made her gut twist. She was transfixed by the sound for a moment, unable to move as she listened to what could easily be her impending fate. However, somehow, she remembered to move again, and carried on down the hallway toward the rooms closest to the stairs.

I've got to find something—anything—to fight them off with. There has to be something somewhere … doesn't there? Then her stomach twisted again as bile rose to coat her tongue. Why would they need weapons though? These undead things can kill with their teeth. What's the use of a gun? Their bodies are weapons.

Tears pricked her eyes as the sound of footsteps moved toward the stairs. Her body stilled then, and her eyes darted around the space. She was looking for a place to hide. Just somewhere to not be found until she could move again without danger.

Now, the footsteps were on the stairs. Whoever was moving toward her was moving at a leisurely pace, and she was surprised that they weren't whistling a tune as well; they moved like they should be. As if moving of its own accord, her body began to move again. Slowly, she started to back up with the laundry chute in mind.

Wherever it leads has to be better than being captured right here. I can't run into a room. They'll hear the sound and be able to follow it. The laundry chute has to be my best bet.

Before the vampire could reach the final few steps, she had the laundry chute opened and quickly stuffed herself inside. Thankfully, she was a petite woman with a slim, almost boyish figure. All the years she spent hating her body now seemed silly because, now, the one thing she had always been so insecure about was the thing that was saving her life.

At least, saving her life for now.

Her body ached as she stuffed herself inside and closed the chute, and she could barely breathe as she made her descent into darkness. It happened in a matter of seconds, but as she fell into utter blackness, those seconds felt like hours. Having nothing but air beneath her feet was as frightening as it was thrilling. For a single moment, she thought, Maybe it will be good to die like this here. A death by falling would be so much easier than being sucked dry. Suicide could feel like a daydream compared to what could be waiting for me.

When her body hit a heap of clothes, she could finally breathe again. She let go of the breath she had been holding and let herself cry for the first time in days. Tears came quietly, feeling like gifts as the anxiety bottled up inside of her began to dispel. With a sob, she reached out and felt the clothes beneath her, and then laughed at the absurdity of this entire day.

I'm playing hide and seek with vampires. Fucking vampires. How can this be real life? This can't be reality. It just can't. Perhaps I died when that man broke in. Edward … Perhaps he killed me, and I died in the mist of ecstasy. No … that can't be right. His touch was that of a lover not a murderer.

After a few moments, her laughter and tears ceased. Then, she sat in darkness, wondering how on earth she would get out. She held her hand out in front of her and waited for her eyes to adjust. Her vision was nothing but ink black. If she wasn't holding out her hand, she would never be able to guess there was something a few inches from her face.

In the darkness, the space began to feel smaller and smaller. It was as if the walls were closing in on her, threatening to smash her to death. No, that's impossible. This is just claustrophobia. The walls aren't closing in on me; it just feels that way. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. She timed her breathing and begged her mind not to pull her into darkness. Keep it together. If you want to survive, you have to keep yourself together.

She blinked away a few more tears, and then moved to her hands and knees, crawling around in the small space with a single hand out, feeling for the chute's door. She was met with wall after wall, unable to orientate herself in the small space. Her breathing became shallower, and right before the hyperventilation began, she felt one of the walls creak, indicating that she had finally found the chute's door.

Please let no one be waiting on the other side. Please, God, don't let this be the end. Not yet.

Holding her breath and praying, she pushed the door open and found an empty laundry room. With an exhale, she pushed herself out of the chute and crawled onto the floor. God, thank you. Whoever is up there … thank you for sparing me this time. She wondered if she was celebrating this small victory too soon. Would this jinx her? Was this a false bit of hope before her violent demise? She didn't know and didn't want to. If she were going to die today, she wanted it to be quick and out of nowhere. Then, at the very least, she wouldn't have time to be fearful.

With her gaze ahead, she crawled to the door, hoping it wasn't locked. If it was, she would have put herself in a corner with no escape. She doubted she would be able to crawl back up the chute in the dark. She wasn't skilled or athletic enough for that.

Don't be locked. Please, don't fucking be locked. Quietly, she reached for it and tried not to act too giddy as the doorknob turned and the door creaked open. She cringed at the sound, fearing someone around could have heard it. As she moved out of the room, still on her knees, she breathed another sigh of relief as she found there was no one around her at all.

Her celebration ended as quickly as it began. To her dismay, the laundry room was attached to the basement. Of course. I should've known. All this time, I thought I was being clever, but really, I was being incredibly fucking stupid. I should've gone straight to the kitchen. I should've found knives and whatever weapons I could have. That is, if they had left knives out and available for us to take.

She didn't understand the game she was playing, and as she stood there in the basement, out in the open for anyone to see, she realized she couldn't outsmart a vampire. They were old and experienced and had played this game too many times before.

Fortunately, there were no more tears left to cry. All of them had been emptied as she fell into darkness. Now, as she gazed around the basement, looking at the empty cells stained with blood and fecal matter, she wondered what exactly her chances at survival were. Hesitantly, her gaze shifted to the staircase where a pile of bodies was.

Scattered almost haphazardly along the steps were corpses of the people she had seen alive every day for the past few weeks. While some of them were in a fetal position, looking as if they were trying to protect their vital organs at the very end, others had their hands reached out as if they were still trying to claw toward an escape before taking their final breath.

Already, the bodies had lost color, making them just as pale as the undead lurking around as predators upstairs. To her relief—and to her dismay—the only bodies left in the basement were that of the dead. Everyone else had traveled upward, and even then, she wasn't sure how many actual humans were left.

A sinking feeling set in as she looked at the pile on the stairs, realizing that if she wanted to escape, she'd have to climb back up. While the dead bodies would no longer pose a threat to her, and she wouldn't have to worry about being pulled back down into the basement by other humans, it was just as bad to have to climb over the corpses. The thought of feeling their bodies again, now dead and unmoving, seemed like too much to bear.

Don't breathe … just hold your breath and climb over them. Don't even think about them being dead. Don't think about anything at all if you can help it. Just climb until you're safe. Then rush to find a way out of this hell.

Edward drifted into her thoughts again, but she didn't have time to wonder where he was. Perhaps he was looking for her. Perhaps he was feasting on whatever humans were left. Or perhaps he was just lying low, waiting for the entire thing to be over. Whatever he was doing, he wasn't within her grasp, and thinking of him would only slow her down. Still, his dark, brooding eyes were present in her thoughts as she moved toward the stairs and began to climb.

Decomposition begins several minutes after death. She had researched this for her novels, always wanting to get every tidbit of information right. There is a process that occurs within minutes of dying that's called autolysis, also known as self-digestion. Enzymes start to digest cell membranes and then leak out as the cells break down. This process usually begins in the liver, which is rich in enzymes, and in the brain, due to its high-water content.

When times are particularly tough, Bella liked to focus on facts like these. Somehow, looking at things through a scientific scope was strangely soothing. It's as if by doing so she could detach herself from the situation, making her feel like an observer rather than a participant.

Soon after death, body temperatures also begin to drop until the body's temperature is acclimatized to its surroundings. As Bella began to crawl upward, feeling the dead flesh against hers, she could feel the stark difference in temperature. The bodies beneath her were so cold—feeling almost like dolls rather than humans.

Rigor mortis—"the stiffness of death"—had begun with every body beneath hers. Muscles had become rigid, causing the joints of the victims' faces and bodies to lock up. She tried not to look at them as she moved upward as if she were crawling out of hell again for a second time today.

"Hello?"

Bella stilled at the sound of the voice. Is someone … is someone still alive down here? Disbelief washed over her as she paused to look around the room. All the cells were empty, and there was no one cowering anywhere. Besides, it sounded as if the voice was near …

"Hello?" the voice tried again.

It sounded as if it were coming from a young female. As Bella looked around, images of all of the women she had seen earlier ran through her mind. Something poked her. Holding her breath and trying desperately to calm her beating heart, she peered down and watched as a hand reached out from underneath the pile of bodies.

The hand had nails that were painted with glitter nail polish. The polish had been worn down and chipped, suggesting that the last time the woman had painted her nails had been weeks ago. The hand waved around a bit, looking for something to grasp on to before it found Bella's wrist, and then clenched around it.

"Help … me …" the woman murmured.

If she wanted to save herself, Bella understood she didn't have the time or means to help others. Trying to save someone else could be suicide. However, she couldn't just leave the girl behind. It would haunt her for the rest of the days she spent alive on this earth. If she could save someone, even someone who was injured and possibly didn't have much longer left, she had to do it. Her conscience wouldn't allow otherwise.

"Hold on a second," Bella said quietly, not wanting to draw attention toward the basement. "Hold on. I'll help you, but you've got to stay quiet."

The silence seemed like an agreement, and slowly, Bella turned on her side and began to push back the bodies as quietly as she could. There wasn't much space on the stairs, so after a few moments, she realized to get the bodies off, she'd have to let them fall. Letting them fall could mean drawing the attention she didn't want.

If she didn't save this girl, would she start screaming? Would she draw attention anyway, meaning death for them both? Why does that matter? I've got to save her. I can't just leave her here. Then what? Would she just become another victim I write about? I'll look at her name and remember this moment. The time I could've saved someone but didn't. If I was the one beneath the bodies, I would be desperate for someone to help me. The only reason I'm not in her position is luck. I've got to help her. Even if this is all helpless.

With that thought in mind, Bella pushed one of the bodies off, watching as it slid down the pile onto the floor. Thankfully, it didn't make much sound. There was a tiny plop against the basement floor, and that was it. So, with more confidence, Bella pushed back another body, watching as it fell to the ground with a similar plop.

"Please …" the voice murmured again, growing desperate beneath the bodies.

She's probably been struggling to breathe … No wonder she sounds so desperate. That, and the fact she's covered in the dead. Bella shuddered, pushing back a few bodies as she watched more and more of the woman's arm become exposed.

It was evident that Bella was getting close. Now, the woman's entire arm, almost reaching her shoulder, was exposed. Everything else was still covered though, and Bella worked as quickly as she could. Soon, she saw a shoulder. Then, she saw a collarbone and part of a neck. Until finally, she saw the woman's face. It was covered in blood, but Bella still recognized it. Not only did she recognize it from her days in the cell, but she also recognized it from missing person ads throughout the city. If she remembered correctly, this woman's name was Angela, and she had gone missing months ago, abducted from her parents' home near a community college campus, which she attended.

Angela blinked rapidly as soon as her face was exposed to the light streaming from the open door leading to the upstairs. As she orientated herself, Bella watched her, trying to see if she had any obvious injuries that would make moving her difficult. There were none she saw that were glaring, and she couldn't tell whether or not the blood on Angela's body belonged to Angela or someone else.

As Angela's eyes began to drift, taking in her surroundings, her breathing became shallow. With wide eyes, she started to hyperventilate before trying to claw her way up and out of the pit of bodies she had been underneath. The bodies around her were beginning to bump into her, looking for something else to rest on now that the other bodies were gone. This disturbed Angela, and Bella reached out and grabbed her shoulder, hoping to calm her down.

"It's okay. I'm here. We're going to get out of here. We're going to be safe. You just have to breathe for me. Breathe and stay calm," Bella said quietly, praying to God that Angela would take the hint and listen.

In situations like these, it was impossible to think calmly and rationally. When the body wanted to survive, the mind was no longer in control. Angela looked at her for a moment, still hyperventilating, before leaning back and letting out a scream.

It was more like a howl than anything human. Almost as if her time in the cell had made her carnal. Bella's eyes widened, and she reached out, quickly covering the woman's mouth. Teeth pressed into her palm, and Bella flinched, pulling away to look at Angela in disbelief.

Is she stupid? Why is she doing this? Doesn't she understand that they'll hear us. They'll hear … and they'll come down to claim their final few victims.

"They're coming for us … they're coming for us … they're coming for us," Angela repeated again and again as if she were possessed.

Bella held her face, trying to soothe her as she spoke gently with a tone someone would use with a small child. "They'll come if you keep making noise. You have to be quiet. We have to get out of here."

As soon as Bella finished talking, she heard the footsteps again. They moved across the hardwood, coming directly toward them. Bella's gaze shot around the room, and her stomach twisted as she realized there was no good place to hide. They were out in the open—completely exposed.

Then, her gaze drifted down to the bodies. Now her stomach turned for a different reason. We could hide beneath the bodies. They might not find us, and it's our only option.

"Come on," Bella said, trying not to sound hysterical herself. "Hide beneath the dead. Let's hide before they—"

"No!" Angela cried out as if she thought Bella was trying to trick her. "No! I'm not going back down there again. I'm not going back down there."

"Shhh," Bella said, reaching out to cover her mouth. "Stop. If you want to live, you have to hide. This is … this is hide and seek, after all."

"No." Angela was sobbing now. "Not again. I can't do it again."

"Please. Listen to me."

As Bella tried to shove Angela down before getting beneath the bodies herself, Angela looked past her, gazing over her shoulder before letting another scream loose. This scream was different. This was one of those screams you let go of when you truly believed you were going to die.

Bella felt her stomach drop and watched the horror in Angela's face, trying to gain the courage to look over her shoulder. A person's breath was hot against her neck. It's probably not a person at all—at least, not a human. It has to be one of them. One of the vampires … Tears filled her eyes and a few fell before she saw a hand reach forward, past her body as it reached for Angela.

She recognized the dark robe covering the arm instantly. It was the robe she had seen Aro wearing earlier. With a gulp, she turned her head, finding Aro there waiting for her gaze. He smiled when their eyes met.

"You look like a scared little kitten," he murmured as he snuck around her body to position himself between the two women. "Should I feast on you first?" he asked Bella before licking his nether lip.

"Fuck you," she spat back, feeling now as if she had nothing to lose.

Should I run now? Should I stay here and try to fight? Fighting's useless. Running is useless. I'm no match for a vampire.

As she thought all of this, she watched Aro turn toward Angela, giving her a smile before he leaned forward quickly and pressed his teeth into her neck. He fed messily, letting blood spurt out and hit Bella's face. Bella opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. The scream stayed choked up in her throat as she tried to fight Aro off.

It felt like she was hitting a boulder—something hard and unmovable. Aro's eyes were dancing. Her effort amused him. If anything, it made the game more fun.

She could hear more footsteps now. Whether a single person or a group was moving toward her, she couldn't tell. Her body cowered, but her fists continued to punch without mercy.

I should stop. I shouldn't wear myself out like this. It's useless. I should conserve my energy.

Angela went limp in Aro's grasp, and he let her body fall, drained and pale as it hit the steps. Then, with a laugh, Aro turned to her, making a mockingly sympathetic face.

"Don't be afraid, little one. It'll be over so quickly. You won't even notice the pain."

The footsteps reached the top of the stairs, and then stopped. Aro didn't seem to care about whoever was standing there and lunged toward Bella, grabbing her shoulders before sinking his teeth into her neck.

There was searing pain, and then numbness. While her body stopped feeling, her mind was screaming. Her brain was on fire before her veins felt tense, as if they were getting ready to explode. She heard screaming, and it took a moment to realize the screaming was coming from her.

Something came up behind her—another vampire, she guessed—and Aro's teeth were gone. She watched as he was thrown off of her, and then gazed back, wondering who had saved her. A handsome set of eyes met hers, staring into hers for a moment as if he was quickly checking if she were okay.

Edward … Thank God …

With a tired smile, she reached out for him, trying to say something. She mumbled, trying to say, "Please … save me …" but knowing that the words came out like a jumbled mess. He grasped her hand, squeezing it for a moment before letting go.

No … please don't leave. Don't fight him. Don't die. Please, Edward. Let's go. Let's find someplace safe.

She wanted to say all of these things and more but, instead, managed nothing. Her vision was going in and out, and her eyes were becoming droopy. Soon, she would pass out. She knew that, but still, she tried to grasp onto every moment.

Her neck was burning, and her mouth was becoming dry, as if it were filled with cotton. Edward and Aro were fighting violently, and more footsteps were coming. Would the vampires side with Aro? Or would they side with Edward? Or were they all just out for each other?

Edward … Please stay alive. Stay alive … or whatever it is that you are. Stay here on Earth for me.

Edward's violently dark and handsome face was the last thing she saw before her vision ceased, and her world faded to black.

A/N: So … there wasn't much Edward in this chapter, but he'll play a major role in the rest of our story! Please comment and let me know what you think of this baby so far! See you next update!