Chapter 5

Every day in Bella's new life was long, monotonous, and always, always tinged with fear. For the most part she learned how to avoid the Cullens. Two days out of the week she went over to visit for a few hours, but most of the time she was either at home or out with Edward or Alice. Alice was annoying, but Bella could never call her out on it. She even doubted that the other girl, no, the vampire knew she was annoying.

Alice always picked the stores.

Alice always picked out Bella's clothes.

Alice always had to have her way.

If this was a different life, if Alice had been human Bella would have told the girl off a long time ago. She hated self-centered people, but Alice wasn't human. Alice was a vampire. A super fucking strong vampire that craved human blood.

So, obviously, Bella just had to deal with it.

Over the past few weeks Bella discovered that Edward was just as annoying as Alice. He was too old fashioned. Too controlling. And if he didn't get his way…Bella still had a few bruises on her arm from the time she had tried to tell him no.

All she wanted to do was go to La Push. Edward had other plans.

Edward had grabbed her arm and squeezed slowly, the pressure becoming worse and worse until she swore that she would never go to La Push. Afterward he had apologized and looked contrite. He had even left her side for a few days, nights too. Bella would have gotten excited about that if it didn't worry her so much.

Edward had abusive tendencies. She wasn't sure if he was like that before or after he turned into a vampire, but frankly it didn't matter.

What if Edward forgot his strength one day? What if Edward hurt her more than a few bruises or broken bones? What if he killed her?

Bella shuddered.

Bella became more careful after that. She couldn't afford to let her guard down. She couldn't afford to show Edward a little fight, a little of the real Bella, because he didn't want her. The real Bella.

All he wanted was a timid, naïve girl who was too afraid to speak up for herself. And Bella was going to give him just that because the alternative…

Maybe one day Edward would get bored with her and leave. Maybe one day she would be free to be herself. Until then she would continue to be his perfect little doll.

The rest of the Cullens didn't really interact with Bella as much as Edward and Alice. Rosalie would sneer and leave the room when Bella entered it. Emmett would play video games with her or laugh at her when she tripped, but generally he didn't really try to spend much time with her. Probably because of Rosalie, but Bella wasn't complaining. Carlisle was usually at work so she made sure to go to the house during the daytime hours when she thought he was working. Esme on the other hand didn't really leave the house much so Bella had to get used to her presence. Esme tried her hardest to make Bella feel welcome whenever she came over and if Bella wasn't so keenly aware of exactly what Esme was she would have adored the woman. Jasper on the other hand avoided Bella's presence completely. His control issues made Edward wary and Bella was never more grateful for Edwards controlling ways. So far she hadn't been in close contact with Jasper or alone with him for an extended period of time.

Today, however, the family was all gathered deep in the woods.

They were going to play baseball.

Fucking baseball.

What kind of vampires played baseball?

Apparently, these vampires.

Well, it could be worse.

-Time skip-

Everything had gone wrong. A group of nomads had heard the Cullen's baseball game and went to investigate. Their leader James had set his sights on Bella. He wanted to drain her.

Bella shuddered in fear.

"We will keep you safe, Bella. He will not get you." Edward said determinedly eyes focused on the road. "We need to get you away from here. Maybe Vancouver until we can hunt him down."

"No!" Bella shouted in panic.

"What? Bella this is to keep you safe." Edward turned to her.

"No I meant…let me go home first. So, Charlie won't get suspicious."

Edward paused.

"I have an idea."

-Time skip-

"It's over!" Bella slammed the door and ran upstairs. Her dad followed.

"Bella? What?"

"I need to get out of here dad." Bella packed her clothes. "I just need to go somewhere. Anywhere."

She slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Hold on, Bella. Let's talk about this first. What's happened?" Charlie asked in confused panic.

Bella just shook her head and hugged him like it was the last time. For all she knew it could be.

"I love you dad, but I can't stay here right now."

'It's too dangerous for me. For you.' She wanted to say.

"Bella-"

Bella ran down the stairs and got in the car and Edward drove them away. She closed her eyes tightly pushing back tears.

"Don't worry Bella. We will protect you."

But for once Bella wasn't worried about her safety. About her survival. She was worried about Charlie. She was worried about the broken tone in his voice as he tried to reason with her; when he had tried to get her to stay.

Like he knew that she would possibly never come back.

'I'm so sorry Charlie.'

Because truthfully Bella wasn't sure if she would come back. If she could.

'I love you, dad.'

-Time skip-

They ended up in Phoenix of all places. Alice had a vision of James in a ballet studio. Bella wished they had gone anywhere else, but Phoenix. She didn't want to be this close to her mother. It wasn't that she didn't love Renee. It was just that she loved her too much. She didn't want any vampires in the same city as her not to mention several. Sure, the Cullens were helpful now but what if they grew interested in Renee as well. Poor Renee wouldn't survive long with them.

"We are about the go check in, Bella. Don't move." Alice said.

Bella nodded.

Merely seconds after they left Bella's phone rang. Renee. She answered it frantically.

She knew coming to Phoenix was a bad idea.

"Mom?"

"Bella!" her mom screamed frantically.

"Mom? Mom?!"

But Renee's voice was silenced.

"Hello, Bella." James.

Bella let out a quiet sob.

"Where is my mother? Don't you touch her! Dear god, don't you touch her…"

James merely chuckled.

"Lose those bodyguards of yours Bella and your mother just might live. Do you remember the ballet studio you went to as a child? Meet me there. Now."

"But-"

"Bella!"

"Mom! Okay! I will meet you. Please don't hurt her. Please." She pleaded.

"Tick tock Bella." He hung up the phone.

Bella stared down at her phone and looked up. Alice and Jasper were still checking in. The phone call couldn't have taken longer than a minute or two. She licked her lips. She couldn't leave now. She would have to give them the slip, but how could she get away from two old and experienced vampires?

She took a deep breath and put her phone back in her pocket. She would have to for Renee. Bella had gotten her into this mess, into this dangerous world and dammit she would protect her mother with all she had. Even her own life.

It was both easier and harder to get rid of Jasper and Alice than she thought. Jaspers power was useless against her emotional kaleidoscope. He knew what she was feeling, but not why. He thought her panic was at her own situation. He had no idea about Renee. Keeping her decisions from Alice was the difficult part, but somehow she managed it.

Bella took a taxi to the studio. The door was unlocked. She opened it.

Her heart thundered in her chest.

"Bella!" Renee's frantic voice caused her to run in.

"Mom! I'm coming!" she ran through the halls searching for her mother.

"Bella! Bella!"

"Mom!" Bella entered the room where her voice was coming from. There in the middle of the room was a TV playing a home video.

Her mother was calling for her younger self.

Bella let her tears of relief run free. Renee wasn't here. It was then that she remembered that Renee was travelling with Phil. Renee was safe. Bella hadn't dammed her with her curiosity. Renee was safe.

"Renee wasn't home." James sighed in mock sadness before he smirked, "but it seems this worked just as well."

"What do you want from me?" Bella asked.

"Your blood." His eyes darkened. "You smell so sweet." He stalked up to her and she stumbled back a few steps.

Suddenly, he was right there in front of her. Her heart slammed in her chest.

This was it.

She was going to die.

Bella wasn't so sure what she was feeling right now. Stupid? Relieved? Scared?

It would all be over. If she died now Charlie and Renee would be safe. The Cullens had no interest in them and if they killed James for killing her even better.

And just like that she wasn't afraid anymore. It wasn't about her survival anymore. It was about theirs.

Calmness rolled over her, through her, because soon everything would be okay.

She looked James in the eye.

"Do it."

James took her calmness as bravado. He glared at her and tossed her into a mirror. It shattered around her and she cried out in pain. He ran over to her and put his hand on her leg.

"Scream little human." He pushed down on her leg and snapped the bone.

Bella screamed.

Suddenly, James wasn't there anymore. She looked up and saw Edward and James fighting.

"No." she whimpered. It was all going to be over! This couldn't happen!

James tossed Edward and ran forward and bit Bella on the wrist. He only managed to take one mouthful of blood before he was pulled away. Bella's wrist burned.

She screamed.

After that it was all blurry. She knew the rest of the Cullens came and then James was in pieces. She knew the fire was spreading up her arm. She knew she wasn't dying, but that instead she was turning. She was turning into one of them. She was turning into a monster.

The knowledge merely made her scream louder.

Then there were cold lips on her wrist. The fire receded some and then it was gone.

Bella faded into unconsciousness.

Was it finally over?

Was she dead?

She hoped so.

AN: What's this? Bella gave up on living? Oh my! Bella come on girl where did all of that fight go? Maybe in the next few chapters…