Chapter 1: A look at her past

Bella PoV

My Father Charlie, My Brother Emmett and I all lived in Maine in its early years as a state. We had moved here from England in hopes of having a better life.

Charlie was being forced to raise us on our own. My mother Renee died from the fever a few years after I was born and all I have ever known is my father and Emmett. It was wonderful growing up, Emmett and I got along amazingly, having only a father we got along as well as any brothers would.

It was a carefree life until I turned ten and my father sent me to stay with Mr. James and his Wife Mrs. Victoria. Father Had said that I was turning into a young lady, and I needed to learn how to act like one, so he sent me away.

I was told to go by my proper name, not Bella as Emmett and Father had always called me. I was to only answer to Isabella Marie and nothing else. I was taught how to cook and clean and mend clothing. Anything a young lady learns from her mother Mrs. Victoria taught to me.

My time with Mrs. Victoria was pleasant so long as Mr. James was not around, he gave me strange looks, they were almost hungry. I had been with them for almost three years when Mr. James first tried to touch me, I had just turned thirteen and he told me that I would soon learn the most important principle any woman should know.

How to please a man.

This conversation took place one day while Mrs. Victoria was at market. When she returned home, I pulled her aside and spoke with her of her husband's words, she told me not to worry and then she left me alone in my chambers and I stayed there until dawn.

She opened my door and told me that my learning was complete, and I would be returning home.

When I returned home my father and brother Emmett helped me celebrate a late birthday, Emmett gave me a speech about how age is just a number so my birthday isn't really that important and I should be thankful he even remembered. I really loved his present because it was a step up from the hugs I got every year before.

I appreciated Emmett's gift but father's was the one that I will always cherish. It was a simple silver locket that had my middle name inside and he gave it to me with a promise.

'You will always have me close to your heart, no matter how far apart we are, even if you forget me, you will never forget my love for you. If I leave this world, I will leave my heart to you. You remind me so much of your mother, never change who you are. You are my Bella forever and always.'

I had cried and hugged his neck, but I didn't really think about that promise until three weeks later.

The day after I got home Father felt faint, so Emmett ran to fetch a doctor and I stayed home to care for Father. He felt hotter than a summers day at high noon. I ran to get a damp cloth for his head, I also got him some water. It felt like hours that I sat with him as he slept, and we waited for Emmett to return with the Doctor.

It was only a short while longer when Emmett burst through Father's chamber door with the doctor on his heels.

"Doctor, can you help my father?" I asked Dr. Gerandy, I was halfway asleep, and the words came out slurred, but I think He heard me because he answered saying he would do all that he could.

I fell asleep shortly after that, I had barely been home for two days and between my celebration for my birthday and Father falling ill I hadn't gotten much rest.

I felt Emmett lift me from the chair at Father's bed and carry me down the hall to my chambers. When we got there, he shook me awake.

"You won't be happy in the morning if you fall asleep in that corset." he stated laughing at my irritability.

"Fine, help me out of it then, since you seem determined to keep me dead on my feet." I attempted to glare at my over caring brother, but I yawned instead, that only made him chuckle aloud. He then helped me to unlace my dress and corset.

"Thank you, Emmett, please go tend to Father now." He turned to leave, and I wish him a good night. I prayed that night harder than I had ever prayed before, Father was all Emmett and I had, I knew not what would become of us if he were gone.

That night I dreamt that I was running down a hall, there was a door at the end and as I ran the hall seemed to stretch. I ran and ran until I became short of breath.

When the hall finally came to its end, I noticed the door had a number on it. The number was twenty-six. I knew not what this meant, it had no meaning to me, so I ignored it and pushed open the large white door.

When I looked inside, I saw a bed, in that bed was a sleeping man. I walked up to him to see why this man was sleeping in such a random room in the endless hall. When I reached his face I recognized him, the sleeping man was my father.

Except the man was not asleep, he was ice cold and his skin felt hard. He was dead, my dream Father was dead. I placed my hand lightly on his and before I could remove it he was holding on to me.

The dead man sat up and stared at me. 'Run' he said 'Run don't look back for me' I was petrified and before I could scream a hand came down over my mouth.

I wasn't dreaming about the hand, I awoke screaming into a large hand, a hand that could only belong to Emmett.

"Shhh. Bella it is okay, it was just a night terror. It is alright I am here." He was trying to sooth me, but I began to sob, staining his shirt with my cries.

"It was s-so real. H-he was de-dead, Father was de-." I didn't have the strength or the time to finish before the sobs ripped through me and Emmett held me tighter to him trying to calm my nerves.

"Father is fine, it was only a night terror. He is asleep in his Chambers, Doctor Gerandy said he should be fine." Emmett reassured me, all the while keeping a comforting hand on my small shoulder.

I slumped down onto my pillow and took a deep calming breath.

"I just cannot bear to lose him, you two are all I know. I didn't get to know Mother like you did, I was still only a babe when Mother died. She left us here with Father to care for us, a young boy and a babe. I know that you matured quickly for your age and Father did a fantastic job of raising us without her, but he is the only parent I have ever known. If he left us, I do not know how I would go on."

Emmett stopped my babbling by gently yet firmly laying me back down.

"I know it is hard for you Bella, but Father will be alright."

I fell back asleep not entirely trusting Emmett's words.

AN: Do not worry the rest of her past is yet to come, but I can't reveal everything just yet. That would be cruel of me. What will happen to Charlie? When will Edward be introduced to the story? Do not worry all will be revealed. Edward does enter soon though, I am thinking the next chapter will be his point of view, let me know what you think. :)

~Rylandra