CHAPTER THREE: LEECHED DREAMS

I woke up in the forest. Huh, I don't remember coming here. No memory of Riley bringing me here either. Charlie wasn't here. Odd. For some reason, that didn't panic me.

I stood up, trying to get my bearings. Looking around, I realised I knew these woods. I had walked them once upon a time. a lifetime ago with some one else, when i was someone else.

Though it was dark under the canopy of trees, small spots of moonlight seeped through, providing enough light so even someone as balanced challenged as me could slowly walk without tripping, but even so, I still did trip over a few tree roots.

As i trudged through the foliage, I could see the light of a clearing become visible.

I stopped. Biting my bottom, i contemplated on going any further.

I'd been here before, though it was nighttime, I didn't want it to play out the same. Over four years of hard work to get where I am now would be undone.

But it suddenly started getting darker, the moonlight dimming, any familiarity disappearing with the light. I turned, what direction I didn't know.

I caught my foot. Falling fast and hard, my face was about to meet the floor-

This time, I woke up with a jolt. It had just been a dream. I was safe, from heart ache at least. Snapping back to reality though, i wasn't sure if i prefer the emotional pain to the physical.

Over the past couple of hours Riley had been thorough with me.

He had started with crushing every bone in my feet, snapping my achilles tendons, breaking my fibula in two places, my tibula in three, on both legs. Fractured my femurs in such a way that I didn't bleed out.

Merely flicked my hip bones, causing them to break too.

I couldn't remember how times I blacked out from the pain. But Riley would always bring back to agonising consciousness, demanding that I list, in order, all the injuries he had inflicted on me just to make sure I stayed awake.

He had moved onto my left hand at this point,having already broke my thumb and index finger. Currently, his hand was hovering over my middle finger.

"And what does this little piggy want to do?"

Snap.

It hurt. But i was so far gone i stopped making noises after my left femur.

"And this piggy?" he giggled.

Snap.

He was just about to break my little finger when i just looked at him.

"Why?" I mumbled, pain causing the rest of my body to work slow.

"Pardon? I didn't hear your over" snap "the sound of your piggies going to market." Riley laughed, taking delight in torturing me. At least he had left Charlie alone.

"Why are you doing this? I'm nothing to you. No one." Fresh tears tumbling down my cheeks.

Riley crouch in front of me, a sardonic smile playing about his face.

"Ah yes, it's true, you're no one to me. But you're important to the one I serve. This is all part of the plan though, dear Bella. Daddy dearest was just practice." He glanced over to Charlie.

He had shouted, hollered, begged and berated Riley as he set about his meticulous acts. That had earned him a slap or two, but luckily nothing too serious.

"Don't you dare tou-" I was silenced with a lightning fast slap across the face. I tasted blood. Then the comforting oblivion of being knocked out.

~

I was back in the forest again. At least this time i kmew it was a dream. Although this time, i knew I was going to die in real life, so i permitted myself to acknowledge him.

I ran as fast as I could to the brightening gap in the trees, knowing full well what and who I was running to. I didn't care. If i was going to die i was going to surround myself with all the good memories I had of him. I was going to be truly happy for the first time since i was eighteen,if only in my head.

"Edward!" I exclaimed, bursting through the trees into our meadow. But he wasn't there. I thought I was in control of this dreamscape. Why wasn't he here?

"EDWARD!?" I called again, slowly walking to the center of the field. The meadow looked bleached white in the bare light of the moon. No colour to give it character, to make those memories a little more real.

I sank down my knees, head in my hands and silently sobbed. I had permitted myself to think of and feel for him again, to remember the heady scent that clung to him. But it was for nothing. A lump formed in my throat, my stomach dropped and i felt that familiar hollowness take root again. I curled up in a ball and cried.

~

I brought back to the waking world once more.

"I don't think so Bella. I have a new game to play. I want to see how many times I can knock you out and bring you back before you get brain damage!" Riley cackled before cracking me in the jaw again to send me hurtling back to the dream meadow.

~

"Bella."

A whisper. Undeniably Edwards voice, my head whipped up to look for him.

Nothing. No where to be seen.

"Bella,love. Get up."

"Edward? Where are you?" I was frantic to see him. To throw my arms around him.

"Bella, you need to wake up. You're in danger. Remember your promise."

~

Riley. Once again bringing me back.

"FUCK YOU!" I screamed at him.

He laughed and pulled his hand back to strike me again.

"Riley. That's enough." A soft, high soprano voice commanded.

I froze. I knew that voice. I had been waiting to hear for years. Fear cut through the pain as i registered why this was happening.

"Ah, Victoria my love. So nice of you to finally turn."