Stolen

By: Skyela Rickman-Walters

Disclaimer: I do not in anyway own any of the Twilight Saga. It belongs to Stephenie Meyer. They only thing I own is the story plot and a few original characters I have created.

A/n: This story takes place during New Moon, after Bella had her motorcycle accident and had to get seven stitches. She is on her way to hang out with Jacob.

Chapter 3: Bearing the Burden

Bella's POV

February 4rd, 2006

Sometime in the very early morning hours

It was obviously still dark as the van began to slow down as it turned down some road, or I assumed it was a road-it could have been a very long driveway. My heart thumped hard in my chest, so hard I was half surprised it hadn't popped out yet. I listened as the van creaked and moaned and to one of the men up in the front whisper what I thought to be directions.

"Okay, stop, stop, stop," a swift and smooth voice whispered as the van came to a sudden halt. It staggered, spilling onto the cold floor, my hands sprawled out in front of my body to protect my face.

"Girl," one of the men whispered in warning, and I was not sure which one it was. Over the past several hours, I had began to be able to differentiate simple differences between the two. The burly man, Roland, though rough and seemingly larger in stature, was, in a strange way, sweet. He was very sympathetic and was definitely the underdog in the relationship. The other man, Victor, with his voice smooth and charismatic, was dangerous. I was convinced Victor was something evil, but I had never been given a good look at him.

The sliding door rolled open and I was yanked from the van, harshly falling against the pavement. "Get up," Victor demanded, grabbing me by my hair and yanking me skywards. I bit my lip to stifle my scream, but it barely did any use; I received a whack to the back of the head and a sharp pull of the hair. "Why'd you have to take off the tape, Roland? She'd be so much quieter…"

Roland was quiet. I followed his example as I was blindly led up the walkway, my breathing becoming more rapid as terror slowly rose to the surface as I realized this was it-this was my final destination. This was either the place were I would rot, or be put to a slow, but painful death.

A door creaked open from somewhere in front of me; I froze, waiting blindly for the worst to come, for someone, or something to strike me down-for what I didn't know-all I knew, all I understood, was my time was running out. Small beads of sweat beaded down my brow, but I was too frightened to wipe them away-I couldn't move, I didn't even dare to blink even though no one could see my eyes!

"Ah." A new voice sighed in delight. There were hands suddenly on my shoulders, and it was all the strength I could muster to keep from pulling away. "You've brought my new girl." What was I? A toy? A new set of hands placed themselves on my elbows, lifting me up a step.

"Yes," Victor said proudly as he patted my back; the way he touched me was wrong-it sent cold chills down my spine, and my entire body shouted silently in protest. "She is a beauty. We've been tailing her for a while-we would have had her to you sooner Vince, but she moved away and it took us a little while to relocate her. Thank goodness she came back over spring break last year or we never would have found her!"

"You've told me a lot about this one," the man called Vince purred in approval. There was a distinct rustling noise as something was being passed around. Money maybe? "She will be a wonderful addition to Lydia…"

"Just make sure you keep her well secluded," Victor paused momentarily, possibly for dramatic effect. "Isabella is the Chief of Police's daughter."

It happened then; the pillowcase, or whatever had been over my head had been pulled off. It was dark inside this house I was standing in. It smelt as any house should, looked as any house should. No lights were on, any candles lit-it was obviously the middle of the night. I blinked rapidly as I tried to obtain as much of my vision back as possible, yearning to catch a glimpse of my captors faces one last time.

Vince gasped, and I looked at him for the first time. His was tall with tan skin and curly graying brown hair that was making a home for itself on his chin. He had piercing blue eyes that frightened me immediately. His white smile was just as eerie. There was an intensity about him that reminded me vaguely of electricity, powerful and deadly.

"Oh, she's lovely," Vince whispered, his hands cupping my face, his fingers getting tangled in my loose curls. I stood, frozen, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. The way his hands moved over my face reminded me of someone else's icy grasp. "Thank you for your services, gentlemen. She is perfect."

I waited, listening to my captors begin to retreat. My breath caught in my throat. "Wait!" I wanted to cry out, but I couldn't-no sound could leave my lips. The door creaked shut and I was left alone with him, this man named Vince.

"From now on, you will be called Isabelle," Vince told me as his hand pressed into the small of my back, pushing me forward into the darkness. "You will forget everything from your old life-nobody cares enough to find you. If they did, they would have found you by now."

"My father will find me," I retorted softly, shocked that I had even spoken. Before I could react, my body had done a complete one-eighty and I was facing Vince, close enough that if he wanted to, he could kiss me.

"He will search for you, Isabelle. But he will never find you-dead or alive." His hand twisted around my hair tauntingly, his breath hot on my cheeks. "Let me show you to your room, Izzy."

The nickname burned angrily though my very being as Vince led me towards a door at the end of the hall. Furious, I didn't even take the time to look at any of the pictures that decorated the walls. Vince opened the door and pushed me down the steps roughly. "I'll see you in the morning Isabelle. Lydia will fill you in on your chores."

Who's Lydia? I wondered as I slowly made my way down the stone steps, the musky cellar smell engulfing me. When I reached the bottom, I took in the cement walls, the dingy floor, the small, ratty bureau that sat against one of the far walls. Two mats lay on the floor side by side, with two sets of blankets upon them. Two?

"Hi," a small voice spoke from behind me. I jumped, spinning around, catching sight of a small blonde haired girl who had to be no older than fifteen. Her face, though vaguely familiar, was sweet and child-like, but her green eyes were those of an adult's. Her body shocked me; it was the body of somebody who was at least six months pregnant, possibly seven. I backed away from her instinctively. "My fake name is 'Lydia' but feel free to call me Olivia. That was the name my mother gave me."

I stared at her, her face seemingly familiar. She smiled softly, leaning against the cement walls, her hands rubbing her basketball of a stomach. "There, there," she whispered to her belly, her voice tender and loving. "It's alright." Olivia directed her attention back to me and smiled sadly this time. "Unfortunately, it's not alright for us. We have to be up and ready to work in a few hours."

"We have to work?" I asked quietly, playing with my hands, suddenly afraid to look into her face.

"Work, earn our keep, please Vince and Tilly…" Olivia trailed off, and looked down at her bulging stomach.

"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

Olivia grimaced. "I just turned fifteen. I've been here for almost three years. I was kidnapped when I was twelve while hanging out with my friends at the mall. What about you?"

She asked the question as if it was normal-it was almost as if she had asked, 'What are you in for?'

"I think I was kidnapped a few days ago-weeks ago maybe, I don't know…" I trailed off, looking around the small room, noticing there was no crib for Olivia's soon arriving child. "I'm eighteen, I'm a senior." I've been depressed for months because the love of my life is a vampire and he took off because he isn't in love with me any more…I looked at Olivia again. "Where is the baby crib?"

Olivia froze, her hand resting just above her navel. "It's upstairs-in the nursery. O-once the baby is born, she'll live up there. That's what I'm used for."

I started. "You're used for? What do you mean?" That was completely ludicrous. Olivia had just turned fifteen! And she had said that she had been here for three years-was this operation human trafficking?

Olivia nodded slowly, taking in my confusion and my horror, walked over to her mat, and sank slowly to the floor.

"Tilly can't have babies," Olivia explained. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "They took me three years ago, sort of as a surrogate child. I was only twelve then but-" She grimaced; in the soft moonlight that shined through the tiny window, I could see the pain that crossed her face. For a moment, I thought that she was crying and I stood there, unsure of how to approach Olivia. Finally and looked up at me, her face unexpressive but her eyes bright with fury. "God, Vince is a nut."

I nodded in silent understanding. She had reached the age of becoming a woman, and Vince, that creep, took advantage of her. How sick.

I watched her for a little longer, watching as she rubbed her belly in slow comforting circles. The panic was back again, setting itself nice and deep into the pit of my stomach. I felt sick-afraid that this was going to be my end. If only he had stayed-he could have protected me, made me safe…

"Please," Olivia said suddenly, causing me to jump. Her voice was soft, poignant. She pulled herself up off the ground with the slightest of ease and slowly ventured towards me. Her hands, slow and cautious, made their way towards my face, slowly wiping at my cheeks. "Don't cry…it'll be okay…"

At that moment, I could feel the moisture pooling up in my eyes, slowly leaking down my cheeks. I wanted so much to explain to her what I was feeling, the anger, the bitterness, the melancholy pain, but I didn't have to. I could tell by the look on her face, that she had once felt the same way. Perhaps, she still did feel that way sometimes. I couldn't be sure…

Renée's POV

February 4th, 2006

2:45 P.M.

We were getting ready for the press conference. I felt like I couldn't breathe-the air in my lungs was trapped, would be held hostage, like my child, my daughter. My baby…

The day before, some unexpected people came to help with our search: the Cullen's had returned. It was the first time I had actually seen Edward Cullen with my own eyes, and I could see why Bella had crashed so violently when they left. He was beautiful. I also could see that there was no way he had moved on his own will. His eyes burned with intensity, and whenever her precious name was mentioned, his body would practically writhe with unseen pain. Charlie wasn't too keen on allowing him into his house, as did Jacob and his father, but I wanted him there. He would help-he just had too.

Edward and his sister Alice spent most of their time in Bella's bedroom-a place where I could no longer bring myself to go. It was as if her floorboards were hot coals that would burn you the moment you touched them. My heart ached as I looked over her things, taking in her scent, touching her truck, knowing, or maybe just believing, that Bella was trying to get away. Who would do this, I thought angrily as I touched up my hair, trying to make myself look more presentable.

"Rainy?" Charlie's voice asked, calling me by my old nickname that my younger sister had used. The smallest of smiles crossed my lips, and it hurt physically and mentally. I looked up to see his tired face, watching me from across the room.

"I'm fine, Charlie. I'm just-I feel…" I trailed off, unsure of what to say. What else could I say? There were no words that I could use to show how I felt.

"I know…" Charlie whispered. He still stood by the door, rocking back and forth, as if he was trying to decide whether or not to comfort me. I was glad he didn't. I didn't want to be comforted-all I wanted was my daughter back, safe and sound.

"It's almost time, Renée," Phil's voice sounded from down the hall. He was suddenly at the doorway alongside Charlie. He looked at me, his eyes full of worry. I gave him a half-hearted smile. I stood up, ready to go onto Charlie's front lawn, ready to face the many cameras and reporters. Ready to plead for the safe return of my daughter. So far, there had been no leads, no suspects, no anything. It boggled my mind-thinking that nobody had seen anything. Not a trace, or a sound. Bella would have screamed, wouldn't she have? Would have fought, would have made enough ruckus to make some passersby stop and look?

We made our way into the living room. The tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Jacob and his father, along with a few of his friends from the reservation, sat on one side of the living room, while Edward sat with his family on the other, staring at the Quileutes. It was as if a hard, staring contest had been going on-as if they were intensely angry with each other.

Charlie cleared his throat, but no one looked up. There stares continued, hauntingly, as if they had met before, in some other time. Edward's eyes flickered towards my face momentarily, before returning back to that of Jacob Black. Jacob twitched, his lips curling upward.

"You're on in two," a man said from our front door. Outside, people were chattering loudly. This can't be real, I thought, placing my hands over my ears, trying to block out the noise. Phil wrapped his arms around my shoulders and began to lead me to the door. Absentmindedly, I reached out and grasped Charlie's hand. His eyes were shocked, but he took my hand nonetheless.

"She's our daughter," I whispered softly, holding his rough, callused hand tightly in mine.

Charlie nodded, looking a bit choked up, but he quickly brushed it off, just as Bella would have done if she were here.

Those words echoed in my mind like a curdling scream from a horrible nightmare. Invisible swords pierced my heart, my entire soul, as I tried to imagine where my Bella was, if she was hurt, if she was being treated well…if she was dea-

I stopped, stopped thinking, stopped breathing momentarily, even though since I found out the devastating news, I hadn't been able to breathe properly since. It was a burden any mother couldn't come to bear. And why, I wondered as I followed my new husband and my ex husband out the door into the crowded front lawn that was filled with a sea of nasty reporters and crazed paparazzi, why on Earth did I have to be the mother to carry that burden?

Bella's POV

February 4th, 2006

7:06 p.m.

I was tired. It had been a long day-full of cleaning the house from top to bottom, taking care of the Shuman's little boy Nicholas, getting taunted from a drunken Tilly on her arrival home from work and-

I shuddered when I vaguely thought about the last part. My body ached in places I wished it didn't. Pressing my knees together, I slowly sank to the floor and buried my head in my hands, dry sobbing softly. I had already cried to much-my tears, for once in my life, no longer came. It was suddenly cold, and I was reminded of Edward; this comforted me only little. It was like salt on an open wound in a way, healing little by little, but still scorching and painful.

"Psst!" somebody whispered shrilly from across the room just loud enough for me to hear it over the blaring television. I pulled my head from my arms like a snapping mouse trap and looked across the hall to see Olivia peeking her head from around the corner of the living room. She waved to me frantically, beckoning me over. To weak to move, I stared at her blearily, wondering what on earth was so important.

Olivia's shoulders sank with exasperation when I sat still. "You're gonna wanna see this!" she mouthed silently. Begrudgingly, I pushed myself forward and crawled over to where she crouched, feeling oddly foolish. Sneaking around like I was some kind of criminal…

"Listen!" Olivia whispered, pulling me gently on the shoulder into the living room. Vince and Tilly sat on the couch, eating their T.V. dinners, watching the news while Nicky played on the floor. He looked up at me and smiled goofily before going back to playing with his plush book. What a sweet, innocent little boy. He made me smile slightly before the news announcement made my neck shoot up like a sling shot.

"Good evening, I'm Derrick Short, here's a look at what's topping the news on Saturday, February fourth, Sarah Hartman is following breaking news for you out of Forks, Washington, where officers have launched an intense search for a missing girl." A picture of me-one of my senior pictures-appeared on the screen. "Eighteen year old Isabella Swan, commonly known as Bella was reported missing from her home on February first. She had been on her way to visit a friend after school when her vehicle broke down and she was taken via vehicle."

"Yes, Derrick, this certainly is a tragedy in our small town," Sarah Hartman appeared on the screen, in front of the old 'Welcome to Forks, Washington' sign. She had blonde hair and a nose that was much too big for her pretty face. "The teenager, Bella, was a normal high school student, getting ready to finish up the school year. But some local students say that Bella had a rough year, and some are wondering if it was too much for Isabella Swan."

"She was very depressed after her boyfriend moved away." Lauren appeared on the screen, a snobby smile on her lips as she tried, if for only a moment, to be a celebrity. "She was like, a shell. I think the stress of graduation got to be too much for her. The only way out was to skip town, start new."

"Bella wouldn't run away." Angela Weber appeared, her dark hair blowing in the wind. "She was getting better, going out more and talking more to her friends. She wasn't the kind of person to run away from something. She'd want to face the obstacles that were in front of her."

Compassion surged through me for Angela. She was a kind girl, a true friend. Lauren made me want to throw up. Sarah Hartman appeared once again, looking questionable. She now stood in front of the place where I had left my truck. Police tape had been put up, my truck still in place. The sky seemed as gray as it had been the day I had been taken. The trees swayed back and forth in the wind and the tall grass rippled through the fields. My heart throbbed, longing to go home, wanting to be back with my father or even my mother for that matter. I just wanted to go back to familiarity.

"This afternoon, Bella's parents held a press conference, asking for their daughter's safe return. The chief of police and Bella's father, Charlie Swan, insists that his daughter was indeed kidnapped. The police of Forks, and those of surrounding cities of towns say that all the evidence that was found here, at this very spot, point to foul play."

"First, let me say, that I am very glad to see how much support Bella is receiving during this difficult time." My father's voice carried through the living room as if he was standing right next to me. I froze, staring at the his face, taking in his bloodshot eyes, his heavily tousled hair, the dark, purple and black circles that made his usually bright and cheerful eyes sink into their sockets with a sullen purpose. "I know that if she were here, she'd be happy. But of course, if she were here, this wouldn't be happening…" He looked down, blinking fast before looking back out towards the camera. "Bells, if you're out there, listening to this right now-we love you. We are doing everything we can to find you and bring you home. Just hang in there, sweetie…"

Charlie's chest heaved, as he took deep breaths. His eyes changed suddenly from sympathetic to angry; his brows furrowed angrily and his mouth was stern. Chief Swan had taken the stand. "And you, you who took my daughter…I want you to know, that you disgust me, having the nerve to come into our lives, taking my daughter and disrupting our peace. Just know this: if it's the last thing I do, my Bella will have justice. I will find you, hunt you down like the dog you are, and you will rot in prison until I see fit. My-my daughter was the kindest, most considerate person in the world…and you had the gull to come in and ruin everything. Even if she comes come tomorrow, unscathed and unharmed-if you are still at large, I will keep searching for you until the day I die."

Phil stepped forward now, looking somber. He placed his hands on the podium and spoke loud and clearly into the microphone. "I just want my stepdaughter-my daughter-to make a safe and sound return. She is the closest thing I have to my own child, and Bella, you are perfect. I couldn't have asked for anything more." He paused to wipe his forearm across his eyes. I could see the tears running down his cheeks. "Just please-bring her home?" he whispered before backing up next to my father.

My mother approached the podium now, her blue eyes wide with some emotion I couldn't put my finger on. My hands gripped my legs tightly, my fingernails piercing my skin. Renée stared out into the unseen crowd with blankness. Her eyes tightened as they focused on something far, far in the distance and she took a deep breath.

"Do you know how beautiful Bella was when she was born? Or how when she cried as the doctors carried her away to clean her up, I called out her name and she stopped crying and craned her neck around as if she was searching for me? Or the way I felt when I held her for the first time, or her first day at school? Do you know that she was…the most important thing to me in my life? Bella was my rock, my-my best friend. I often called her my 'middle-aged child' because she had always been wise beyond her years and at times, it was as if she was raising me instead of me, raising her.

"When Bella made the decision to move here, it was to give me a start at a new life with my husband. She could see how sad I was when Phil way away and hated it. My Bella was compassionate, a fighter. She was secure in her thoughts, she was-my-my everything…" I bit my lip, trying to cradle in my sobs that wanted to break free as I watched my mother crumble on national television. Renée took a moment to regain her composure. As this happened the screen divided and on the right side, pictures of me flooded the screen. Pictures of my childhood, like pottery class with my mom, pictures of me and my old friends from Arizona, pictures of me fishing with my dad as an eleven year old…So many memories flooded my mind, I couldn't think. I could only sit and watch as my mother continued on.

"Please…bring her back to me-safe. Let her alone. She never hurt anyone, she never deserved this. Bella-if you can hear me right now, baby, I love you so much. And I will never, ever stop looking for you. I will never give up. This is every parent's worst nightmare, a nightmare you have even when you're awake! If-if you have a child, you know what I mean, even if that child is home and safe. Please-please help us bring our daughter back safe and sound-"

The television went black. Olivia began pushing me forward, urging me to move back out into the hall. It was obvious that we weren't supposed to hear the press conference. Vince and Tilly were probably listening in, to figure out how careful they had to be. Trying to be one step ahead. Knowing this made me feel worse, lost in a world where home was just a dream away…

"Keep the girls inside, Tilda," Vince told his wife as he finished his milk. He swallowed. "Especially Isabelle. Good thing those police have no leads. Victor Maloney and Roland Hussey are very good at what they do-I ought to tip them next time…"

Tilly huffed, pursing her lips. Olivia smacked my shoulder, wanting me to move out of the living room so I followed her, leaving their conversation behind me. I followed Olivia down the hall and up the stairs. For a very pregnant girl, she moved with ease, gracing crawling into the shadows. "Your parents are looking for you-they won't give up."

"Why'd you show me that?" I whispered, a new hole bursting open in my heart. My whole body was shaking, from sadness or anger I didn't know. At least I knew the names of my kidnappers now…

"I showed you that because you needed to see it-it'll help you survive. And it makes me hopeful, that when they find you, they'll find me too."

"You parents stopped looking for you? Why would they do that?" I wondered out loud.

Olivia rubbed her belly. "They stopped looking for me a long time ago-I was presumed dead. Besides-I don't want my mom to find me. She'd be awfully disappointed…"

I stared at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious! Olivia, this wasn't your fault-you are the victim here-"

"She'll be more disappointed in the fact that I couldn't fight for myself…and for my son."

At first, I thought she was talking about her enormous belly. I stood up, and as I did, a cry sounded from the living room. Worry replaced Olivia's sadness as she stood up quickly and peered over the railing.

Tilly was carrying Nick as he wailed. Her face was red and her eyes were bloodshot. "Oh, shut it, Nick," Tilly mumbled as she went into the kitchen. "Can't you hold your own piss, you piss bucket…"

"He's almost three…" Olivia's voice trembled, her eyes becoming watery. I looked at her, shock apparent in my eyes. She looked at me, biting her lip. "I-I got pregnant with him shortly after I came here. He doesn't know I'm his real mother…"

"Nicky is your son?" I whispered, unsure of what to say or how to comfort Olivia as her son cried. Her son who didn't know his own mother. I stared at her belly in outrage. "They're going to do the same to that one? Take your new baby away from you?"

"I guess so…but it isn't that bad, Bella. I get to see Nicholas everyday, I get to take care of him as if he were my own…"

"But he is your own! We have to get out of here-this is just ridiculous. You're a minor for Christ sake!"

"NO!" Though her voice was just a whisper, it was said with such force that I stopped. Olivia trembled, tears spilling down her rosy cheeks. "If I leave-I might not see him again. We have to plan this out, Bella. We have to figure out how we are going to…get out of this. If I get rescued now, I might never see my son ever again! I may have one," and she gestured to her stomach as she spoke, "but I won't have my Nicky. He's been there for me through everything…"

Silence. Olivia stared at me, her eyes begging me to understand. Finally, I nodded in agreement. "So, how are we going to plan this? How long?"

"I don't know…and I'm sorry I don't know…"

***

Sorry for the wait, guys!!! I've been busy with work and school!! But please Read and Review!!! It will really mean a lot!!!

Love,

Skye