Chapter Info

Title: Gone

Number: 26/34

Warnings: Angst, blood, guns, slight dubious consent content, language

Author's Note: This one is really short, and I apologize for that, however it had to be done because a) I'm evil and love cliffhangers (you'll see ;) ), and b) it's just how the story has to roll to move forward. I can't believe there are only eight chapters left! Still haven't decided on the sequel, but I'm working on ideas so we'll see. :) Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your reviews, thoughts, comments, and questions on this story!

EclipseRosen, YourAlphaWolf, and Don'tBelieveInFear: Very heartbreaking! I wish I could say it'll get better, but we all know it has to get worse before it gets better... But thank you for reading and commenting!

Beachgirl25: That would definitely be entertaining to watch! I can't guarantee a whole lot, but IF I do a sequel, I'm planning for more in there. :) I love Emmett and Abigail, too! It's such a sweet relationship. :) And wow, that's definitely a good thought! I never thought of any "logical" reason as to why, just it happened and it makes them question everything because they believe they don't have souls, and yet here's their family come back to them. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Airlia207: Wow, I'm so glad you've read for so long and that you like the story! There is a lot of awesome Emmett reactions in this one, so stay tuned. ;) Thanks for reading and commenting!

AHealingRenaissance: I should've warned you that you would need your soapbox for last chapter. xD I usually agree with you, but there's one I don't think fits the bill as "worm," and that's Emmett. You'll see why in this chapter. xD I hope that it makes up for last one a bit. Thanks for reading and commenting!

-Abigail-

It felt like walking through mud as the day went on, growing thicker and thicker at her feet, and yet she didn't stop. She didn't eat, she didn't take a break. Dr. Eve tried to get her to, but she only stood by Mackenzie's desk for a couple minutes, seemingly lost, before going back to work. She could tell Carlisle didn't come in even before she saw Dr. Stark from the ICU down there. She got nothing from him, though, not even a text explaining. It was like that week they ignored her all over again, but so much worse because she knew what it was like to be with him now. It wasn't a dream or a wish, it had become reality and that's what how she realized her mistake. She jumped in with both feet with a man she thought she loved and who loved her, but she realized that all of her wishing was just that. It was a fantasy and the truth was, he didn't love her as much as she loved him. It even made her hate him a little for keeping that painting; if he didn't love her enough anymore, why keep it? Why veil it? Why keep it where she could see it when they knew she was remembering? Why not try harder to stay away from her?

At six-thirty, she started walking home. Dr. Eve had said that they were slow enough and she did enough, especially without taking her breaks, that she could head out early. She probably should've called Emmett to come get her, but she had to think about what she was going to do. Walking helped, even when it started to drizzle and soon she was soaked through to the bone and trembling. Let her get sick again, it might feel better than what she was feeling in her heart.

Only she didn't think much on the way, she couldn't. A car skidded to a stop in front of her, shock coloring her as she expected Emmett or Alice again, but the beat-up Oldsmobile wasn't their style. Her lips parted in shock as Dr. Jones stepped out with a sick smirk across his face, one that she had never seen on him before, or anyone for that matter. Immediately her stomach churning, dropping into her feet, and making her head spin.

"Brett?" she wondered, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"You're mine, Abi," he hissed, her eyes widening in shock. "Don't you see that? I've done nothing but be your friend since you got here. And to thank me, you go off and fuck Cullen?" He gave a maniacal laugh. "Don't think so, Abi. Doesn't work that way. I don't spend months worshipping you to lose you to some other bastard. You're mine, you're going to stay that way." She was too frozen with shock and fear and disgust to see him reaching into his pocket for something. And it was too late to run as he lifted the object.

She saw the flash of a muzzle, and then everything went white hot...and dark as she bled out from the wound in her stomach.

.x.x.x.x.

When she woke, she was shivering and aching, and in so much pain she could barely breathe. Her breath huffed out quick and rough, her body trembled, and she whimpered, trying to sit up, but something stopped her. Her mind was too muddled and she couldn't figure out why, but when she went to rub her eyes, she realized she couldn't move her hands either.

Eyes blurry, she glanced up and with alarm saw her arms were handcuffed to a large, heavy metal shelving unit. And not only that, but her mouth was taped, her ankles were shackled, and she was only wearing her bra and panties. Revulsion and fear gagged her, and she tried uselessly twisting and yanking on the cuffs, only causing her wrists to cut and bleed down her arms. She was shivering too hard to be of much use to herself, and she tried to curl up to protect her modesty. Shame-filled tears made their way down her face, taking place of the heartbroken ones.

And she decided then she would rather die then continue to live in this basement another second, or with a man who had once promised her forever only to decided he didn't love her enough.

She curled up more and a laugh filled the room making her jump.

"Don't do that, sugar. Wanna see all the goods." Dr. Jones! She looked around wildly, but saw nothing except the metal shelves, until something in the corner caught her eyes. Frowning at it, to her horror she realized it was a camera. There was a speaker next it it which was where his voice was coming from, and though she felt violated, she was horribly glad he wasn't physically in the room with her.

He laughed again. "Now now, do as I say and I won't hurt any of your little friends." Her eyes widened. She knew he couldn't hurt the Cullens or the packs, but Charlie, Beth, Billy, Sue, Old Quil... Tears falling again, she slowly shifted and heard him groan, her eyes squeezing shut as her stomach heaved.

.x.x.x.x.

-Emmett-

He had been sent once again to get Carlisle's mate and, though he loved his mother deeply, he was more than a little angry with his father. It was he that was making her feel this way, and it took all his self control not to say a word to him, or do something drastic like rip his head off. Most of his day was spent in the woods, hunting and generally getting his frustration out of trees and boulders. Between what Edward had heard and what she said to him, it was very clear what she thought Carlisle's refusal to change her meant. As the reality of the situation washed over him, Emmett saw any hope leave his face, and soon he took up post staring out the window and hadn't moved since that morning. Hopefully to think about how much he screwed up, Emmett thought with a growl. If Abigail left, he wouldn't be surprised nor angry, no matter how much he wanted her there. Who would want to spend their life with a vampire who didn't want them there forever? Edward finally had to pretend to be him and call off at the hospital. He hadn't moved when seven hit and Abigail needed to be picked up, so Emmett grabbed the keys to the Mercedes and left, fuming.

I understand his worry, but goddamn, is this really worth it? They all knew her thoughts and words were just fears, at least they had been as Edward heard them, but what she said to Emmett told them that she was resolved in her beliefs and accepted her stance as human. It didn't sit well with any of the others, even those that had argued against her changing to begin with. But Carlisle refused to talk or move and they could only hope that bringing her home would pull him out of his state. Unless that is, of course, she came home and packed her bags and left. That was worst case scenario and Emmett refused to think about it on the way to the hospital.

But she wasn't outside like normal and so he waited fifteen minutes before sighing and heading inside. She probably got hung up, but he was starting to worry and he needed the peace of mind. He found the receptionist, Mackenzie, packing up and he gave her a polite smile. Her eyes widened and mouth dropped a little, but he ignored her reaction as he did with everyone else.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, ma'am, but is my mo— I mean, is Abigail Goodwin still here?"

Mackenzie frowned. "No, sorry, dear. She left forty-five minutes ago."

Dread dropped like lead into his gut and he nodded, thanking her before barely containing himself to run out. Her house was closest so he would check there first before calling Jacob and seeing if she was at the reservation, which she could walk to from the hospital in forty-five minutes. Only halfway there, he screeched to a halt as a familiar scent swamped his senses. He jumped out, raining pounding him, but he didn't care. He glanced around and found a dark wet spot that he thought for a second was a puddle, but he knew he was wrong.

He could smell it.

It was blood.

Human blood.

His mother's blood.

He growled dangerously, his eyes immediately flashing to a murderous and angry black, and he turned, stalking back to the car and made it home in two minutes by going a hundred down the curvy roads. He didn't even stop the car fully before he was in the house, stalking up to Alice and sneering at her, causing Jasper to get between them with a warning growl.

"Where is she?!" he boomed, shoving Jasper away. He was angry, but he wasn't going to hurt her, he wasn't that uncontrolled and the slightest ease in Jasper's stance told Emmett that the empath could feel it.

"Wh-what?" Alice stammered in confusion, her eyes wide. Was the psychic seriously mystified?

"Mom! Where is she? You had to have seen she left early, Alice. She was gone forty-five minutes by the time I got there. I found her blood on the road."

Everyone gasped and Emmett blinked and suddenly Carlisle was there in his face, his own livid and full with wild fury.

"What?" he hissed dangerously.

Emmett's eyes narrowed, hands fisting at his sides. "Don't even think about blaming this on me. Who left her there alone all day? Who made her cry and feel worthless?" It as a low blow and he saw Carlisle flinch, his face filling with agony, but he didn't deny Emmett's harsh words. In fact, he didn't say another word, just backed up a couple steps. His eyes continued to fight between being haunted with the raw emotion of pain and sadness, while also trying to stay angry at the sudden disappearance of his mate. Emmett was ready to shake him, but he held back with a look from Edward.

"I-I didn't see it," Alice said, suddenly flashing out and back with a rain slicker on, holding Jasper's hand tightly. "I didn't see her leave."

"Look on the way. You're coming with me. Edward? You, too. You can check for her thoughts. And Carlisle, she's your mate, this is your shit to clean up."

"Emmett—"

"Get off me!" He tossed off the hands that touched his shoulder that belonged to Jasper. "She's out there alone in this rain, lost and bleeding. He—" He jabbed a finger at Carlisle, "—is supposed to protect her, and he didn't. Now we're going to find our mother and kill anything that gets in our way. I'm calling Jacob from the car, he can get the packs out to help look for his sister."

With that, he spun and blurred outside, waiting all of two seconds before laying on the horn. Edward sat up front with him—mostly because he was the only one in the car not currently on Emmett's shit list—while Alice and Carlisle sat in the back. Alice kept her eyes closed, her brow furrowed in fear and concentration as she tried to find their mother. Carlisle stayed silent, looking out the window, listening as everyone heard Jacob's fury as Emmett explained the situation, and he was phased before the conversation even ended so Embry had to finish up the call, promising to help the best they can.

Emmett took them to the spot of her blood which was nearly washed away with the rain, but it was still strong enough to make the others hiss. Alice sat with an anguished look, still in the backseat, trying to find her while Carlisle stood to the side with his eyes squeezed shut, his lips moving quickly in silent words, and Emmett knew at least he was trying to reach out to their bond to find her. Since she was still human, it wasn't as strong as it should be, which made Emmett want to shove that knowledge down Carlisle's throat. But he stayed silent, mostly because of a look from Edward, and watched as his brother crouched down to eye the small puddle.

"It's not clean blood," Edward said quietly as he stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. "There's gun powder residue in there." Nobody spoke after that, they waited for Jacob, who showed up and growled at Carlisle before bounding quickly back into the woods before he was spotted to report back to the packs.

"I can't find her," Alice said finally, her voice just a sob. "I found her decision to leave early. She had worked all day, through lunch and everything, with no breaks. Dr. Eve had her leave a half an hour early. She decided to go home," She paused and glanced at Carlisle and they all knew that meant her house and not theirs, "but...it just stops. I don't know why. I can't... I can't see anything." She let out a frustrated, pained growl and stood from her spot, pacing for a moment before climbing back into the car.

"There's not much more we can do here," Edward said quietly. "Her trail stops cold about ten feet that way..." He pointed in front of them and hesitated over his next words.

"What?" Emmett demanded, but it was quieter than his voice had been.

"I think someone shot her and put her in a car...and took her."

Nobody expected Carlisle's agonized howl, shaking nearby houses and causing the back window of the Mercedes to splinter. Slowly he fell to his knees, staring down at the ground as his body shook. None of them knew what to say.