A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 24- Disbelief is an actual emotion

Bella's POV-

My eyes slowly flickered open, a pounding headache making its immediate presence known. I groaned incoherently, a frown covering every inch of my face, as my half-open eyes attempted to make sense of my current reality, looking from here to there in uncomfortable silence.

Where was I?

It seemed to be a warehouse of some sorts, or maybe an empty garage? I couldn't truly decipher!

It was all dark in here, had a rotten- dead-like smell- and gave me the massive creeps.

So, yeah. I wanted an immediate out.

I futilely tried to get up from the… chair?

Yes, that's right, I was supposedly sitting on a plastic chair- the foldable kind- my eyes stopping and widening at the thick ropes that had me bound, almost like an evil serpent refusing to let their prey escape….

What the fuck?

Why was I tied?

I struggled in my prison, my hands- as well as legs- tied together to the plastic chair, so tight that I could feel the marks forming already.

Why was I here?

Who had brought me here?

Had I been….kidnapped?

No…

It surely felt to be so.

Why else would anyone tie another, especially in this movie material manner?

"Is anyone here?" I shouted; my mouth left surprisingly uncovered. Were my kidnappers not worried of people hearing my voice and coming to my rescue?

Either way, their loss and my gain!

"Can anyone hear me?" I tried again, a few tears seeping by in my helpless timbre. "Please. I need help."

I once again struggled with the ropes, futilely, sweat adorning my forehead as I succeeded in making the chair jump once, unable to free myself of these deathtraps.

Why were these ropes tied so freaking tight?

It was almost suffocating!

Logically, of course I was aware of the reason behind them being tied so damn tight, but who was to tell that to my helpless and scared mind.

I wanted to run out.

I just wanted to escape.

"Can anyone hear me? Please. I need help." I begged, the words leaving my mouth with a loud terrified cry.

Where was Charlie?

Surely, he would have found out of this?

Where was Jake?

I had been at his house last.

Esme had been threatening to…

No.

Had she brought me here?

I was quick to touch my neck- twisting my head at an angle as my hands and fingers were currently in the useless department, expecting a bite mark or something that told me that I was doomed for eternity…but all I found on repeated introspection- was clear, unmarred skin.

I let out an evident sigh of relief, shutting my eyes briefly.

I hadn't been bitten.

I wasn't changing into a vampire.

At least, not yet….

Why was I here then?

Who had brought me here?

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I tried once again, my palms sweaty, as I stared down at my lap, my hair all greasy and tangled as it freely flowed.

Please, someone reply.

I need help.

"Charlie? Jake? Are you there?" I cried out, squirming at my place. "Dad?"

Where was Charlie?

Why was he not here yet?

And where were the wolves?

Shouldn't they have tracked me by now?

My clothes were all dirty and crumpled- and even slightly smelly; it had been hours if not days since I had been taken away…

They should have been here by now?

Where were they?

Oh God. Paul!

Had he recovered? Had he woken up?

Shit.

His imprint had been taken away….kidnapped. And if this was Esme's doing, I was as good as dead!

Fate was surely one sadistic bitch!

Paul would survive that, only to wake up to this.

It just wasn't fair!

No. No. No.

I had to survive this. I had to escape. I had to find a way out.

Think, Bella. Think.

What could be done?

How was I supposed to escape from here?

I couldn't sense another nearby, kidnapper or otherwise, which gave me enough time to free myself. Or at least, attempt to free myself.

I was not dying here today.

Nope.

I refused to.

I was going to get out of here, freeing myself from this captivity…running out and….

We would cross that bridge when we came to it.

First, I needed to get out of here.

That was the most important part of this journey.

I once again struggled with the ropes, giving it everything I had in me, loud groans leaving my mouth at the obvious pain and discomfort, but I ignored it.

I needed to do this.

I needed to get out of here.

I tried. I tried again and again, tears freely flowing down my eyes- my effort in vain, the ropes being tied too very tight to permit any scope of getting out of it.

There was a technique to this; I was aware of that.

It wasn't supposed to be this hard. There was a shortcut provided.

If only, I had paid more attention in all those self-defense classes that Charlie had forced me into- there had been plenty for the record. But no! I had been too busy contemplating which book to read next.

Stupid. Stupid, Bella.

See, being a bookworm doesn't always pay off!

"Hello?" I once again called out, struggling in my seat, sudden late realization hitting me hard as I attempted to check if I had my cellphone on me. If I did, it would instantly solve most of my immediate problems!

I lifted my feet a bit, struggling to reach my pant pockets, the flatness visible near my pockets telling me that it was an unneeded attempt.

I let out a sigh filled with disappointment and hopelessness, staring at my lap- out of sensible ideas to pursue.

I was stuck here.

There was just no way out of it.

I was going to die here today- in this dark, stinky room- alone and in pain.

Yes, this was my future!

And I had no choice but to accept it.

I just wish….

If only….

"Oh, good, you are awake."

My savior slowly walked into the dark room, his hands in his pant pockets as he smiled surprisingly wide, looking completely relaxed for the situation we- or rather I- was currently stuck in.

For, let's get real here, it was not him whose ass was tied on this dumbass chair.

Nope.

It was all me.

He was free to roam around, as free as a bird that has just learnt to fly.

"Carlisle," I cried out in newfound relief. "You have to help me out. Esme- I have no idea what she was thinking- but before she comes in, I need to get out of this." I eyed the deathtrap ropes with my eyes, expectantly waiting to be freed of it.

It was finally happening!

I would be free of this forced captivity in no time now.

"Carlisle?"

What was he waiting for?

Had he gone into shock or something?

Was that even a possibility for vampires?

I understand that it would be painful an experience for him to know about his mate's wrongdoings, but we could certainly ponder over that on a later date.

Now was so not the time for it!

I needed to get out of this.

It was urgent.

Anytime now Esme could return…from wherever she currently was.

We needed to hurry!

"Oh, naïve Bella," Carlisle let out a sigh, shaking his head to himself. "So, so naïve!"

What?

What…what was going on here?

"Esme is not responsible for this." he motioned towards the thick ropes that held me tight. "She didn't do this."

"Who did?"

My voice was a mere scared whisper, half wanting to not hear his answer.

"I did. I brought you here, and then tied you."

"Why?" I stared at him, expressionless.

Why would he do this?

What was he to gain from any of this?

Then again, Esme had had nothing to gain from attempting to bite me, and yet she had tried to do it.

"Edward is on his way." He shrugged in visible happiness. "We didn't want you to escape before he arrived. Esme had suggested not to do this, but you know, we did not want to take any risks."

"You are a fucking vampire." I stared at him. "Or have you forgotten that fact?"

Jeez.

I was a human.

Even if I ran at my fastest, it just wouldn't be enough to escape them.

Wasn't he aware of that glaringly obvious fact?

"Now, Bella," he chided me. "There is no need to be so violent."

"You call this violent?" I shouted at him; my eyes comically wide in utter disbelief. "I will show you violent."

I attempted to get out of the chair, failing miserably- and so terribly that I half wondered if the ground would open up to pull me under.

"You need to relax." The idiot mumbled, slightly uncomfortable by my behavior- Good. "I will ask Esme to bring you your dinner." He began to walk out, turning slightly to look at me. "It is just a matter of a few more hours now. Edward will be here in no time."

With that, he left me there behind, exhausted and thirsty, hopelessness and despair pulling me down by my legs in the deep end of this swimming pool of life.