Stolen

By: Skyela Rickman-Walters

Disclaimer: I do not in any way 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.

A/n: This chapter and a few to follow will completely revolve around Bella and what is happening to her. There may be little glimpses of some other characters, but for the most part this IS Bella's story. I went back to edit this chapter-I was in such a rush to get it out to you all, so sorry if I got your hopes up! Chapter nine should be up within the next couple of days. Thank you, and as always, please read and review!!!.

Chapter 8: All These Lives

June 2006

?

"Please, please, please" I muttered to myself as I listened to the trickle of urine. The constant whirring noise of the fan was distracting, but not as distracting as it needed to be. I counted on my fingers once more, doing the math in my head. Grabbing the hem of my pants back to my knees, I pulled myself off the toilet and looked down expectantly, but tears struck the back of my eyes instead. Damnit…

I washed my hands and patted them dry on a towel, careful not to look at myself in the mirror. So many times I had accidentally looked, and so many times after I had been severely disappointed. How horrible that stranger was-how dirty she was, how sad…. Her sad expression reminded me of another…

Bren looked up at me expectantly as I exited the bathroom. I couldn't look at her; instead my hands touched my stomach gingerly and my eyes found the red carpet.

"Anything?" Bren asked hopefully.

I shook my head and Bren frowned. She pushed herself to her feet and cocked her head to the side as she looked me up and down.

"You don't look…well-" She pulled me to the side so she could look at my profile, and bit her lip. "Maybe your stomach's just jutting out because you're malnourished! That happens sometimes."

"I doubt it," I said ruefully, peering from side to side before leaning against the wall. All I needed was for Tilly to come around the corner and beat me again for 'slumping.' I finally took a gaze into Bren's eyes. "I haven't had a period since April. I've missed two…" I gazed down at my navel. I couldn't possibly be…

"Sometimes when you're under a lot of stress, you don't get your period," Bren put in, trying to think of everything she could besides the obvious. When I didn't answer, she said, "What did Olivia do? How did she get a pregnancy test?"

I sighed. Thinking of Olivia hurt, especially right now. "I never asked her. I never thought I'd end up in this situation…"

It was true; I was naïve enough to believe that I couldn't get pregnant under these standards. In my mind, too many horrible things had happened so far. It couldn't get any worse than it already was. My mind began racing to the future, wondering what would happen if I was rescued-what would my family think about me having a baby? What would I think about having a baby that I secretly loathed?

A cry sounded from the nursery. Bren started before I had the chance to move. From down stairs, I heard Tilly holler, "Get the damned baby, will you!"

I slowly followed Bren into the baby's nursery. Her cries were loud and defiant as she waved her tiny fists in the air. Bren reached down and gathered her into her arms, rocking her back and forth. I could only watch in a daze.

"Shh…shhh…It's okay baby Bella…"

Yep. If my name wasn't good enough for myself, it was obviously good for another. Olivia's child's name wasn't technically Isabella-just Bella. It was a weird thing to get used to, hearing Tilly coo my name from across the hall as I cleaned the tiles with a tooth brush. But of course, I was Isabelle now. Forever and always, Isabelle…. I pushed my hair away from my face-it was suddenly really warm in here…

"I think she's hungry," Bren said, but I didn't look up at her. I pressed my hands to my belly again, and let out a shaky sigh. "Hey," Bren said quietly. "Don't think about it-you'll be fine-"

"I think I'm gonna be-" I clasped my hand over my lips and ran to the bathroom. The bile was racing up my throat and I had no control to stop it. I just barely opened the lid in time before I was spewing up absolutely nothing but stomach acid.

"Bella!" Bren hissed, still clutching Baby Bella in her arms as she stooped over my hunched body. Her eyes widened as I threw up some more, but instead of being rejected from my body, my throat seemed to tighten and close. Breathing hard, I choked, trying to relax my neck muscles, but no avail. It was endless-and I was going to die as I choked. I could feel my eyes popping out of my head as I slammed my fist repeatedly into the side of the toilet, urging myself to get the rest up.

I was barely aware of Tilly coming in the room as well. I collapsed to the floor, clutching my stomach as tears hung in my eyelids, threatening to fall. No period, I've got bump…and I'm sick…No…

"Isabelle. You better clean up your shit! What the hell is wrong with you?" Tilly cried, grabbing my hair and pulling me upward. I hung in the air like a limp ragdoll, void with purpose. I stared at Tilly with dead eyes, unable to speak-unable to let that forbidden word cross my chapped lips. I blinked and looked down at the ground once again.

"Um, ma'am," Bren said uncertainly as I heard her shift Baby Bella in her arms. "Bell-Isabelle has a problem…"

"I can obviously see that!" Tilly snapped, shaking my hair in her hand. I felt so numb; I could barely feel the sharp pull on the nape of my neck. "What's wrong with you, girl?"

My mouth opened but no words came out. Strangled, unable to breath, I looked up at Tilly again with tightened eyes. The cold embraced me, holding me tightly in his arms. I shivered and a small smile flickered across my face as I remembered Edward…. How I always felt safe in his strong arms…

"If you won't answer, I'll just have to do something about it…" Tilly grabbed a pair of scissors that sat on the shelf. Unable to register what she was doing, I continued to stare with unseeing eyes, safe inside the depths of my mind. I couldn't even feel the tears that fell down my cheeks…

"Miss Tilly, she's-she's pregnant! Don't hurt her!" Strange how Bren's voice sounded so distorted and terrified. I watched as Tilly pulled the scissors away from my skin, staring at me in shock. I couldn't move…I didn't even notice that Tilly ran out of the room for a moment. What was the crying sound? Was it Baby Bella? Was it Nicky?

"Bella-Bella, its okay…" Something warm brushed my shoulder, but the cold absorbed it instantly. My world seemed to be spinning in a gray circle…I couldn't find one solid object that wasn't moving…I felt like I was going to be sick again-only I really wasn't about to throw up…

"Bella, my Bella…" his voice whispered, adoringly in my ear. I shook my head. How could he still love me after this? I was dirty-I was bad…

"Move aside, girl," I heard Tilly tell Bren forcefully. I could feel someone lifting me up and dragging me out of the bathroom and down the hall towards Tilly's exam room. The next thing I remembered was Tilly squealing excitedly, and the sound of Bren's shortened breaths.

I looked at the monitor and stared at the flickering white blob in the middle of the screen. The crying noise was back. I looked around at Bren, to see if Baby Bella was still crying-but the baby wasn't in her arms. Nicky wasn't there either. I gasped, placing a hand over my lips as my chest ripped open violently, shaking me harder...

The crying was coming from me.

***

Forks, Washington

Swan Residence

June 19th, 2006

Renée's POV

Hesitantly, almost dreading the thought, my hands grazed the oak door that hid the only evidence that she had ever existed. I found the doorknob, took a deep breath, and slowly turned it.

The door seemed to work at its own accord; I don't remember pushing it open, but there it swung, creaking a bit as the hinges moved for the first time in four months. I stood, staring into the darkness of the room. Not a thing had been moved out of place. Her bed had been made tight, without a wrinkle or lump. Her dirty clothes still sat in the hamper, waiting to be washed and worn again. Books were neatly in place on her bookshelf, and clean clothes hung up in her closet. It was eerie and haunting how normal this room seemed, even now that no one was living in it.

I could remember a time when my Bella was just a baby-right after Charlie and I brought her home from the hospital. I would stand over her, in this very room, watching her sleep in her bassinet, and count her ten little fingers and her ten tiny toes twice, just to make sure that they were all there. Every cry that murmured from her lips, I would be there. Every laugh that was cooed, ever terrifying nightmare and every sweet dream…. I couldn't remember a time when I was so in love.

Bella would come here every summer after Charlie and I split. When she was away, she would send me pictures, pictures of the fish she caught with Charlie, or pictures of their camping trips together. How I would miss her so when she was away! Every mother must feel completely empty when their child wasn't with them.... Bella seemed to feel the same way too-she would call every morning and every night-and sometimes twice in the afternoon, and it was never enough. Even after she stopped coming here when she was fourteen, we remained close, and she always kept me in line...my adult child.

I sank onto her bed, listening to the springs creak in protest. I never thought it would be possible to forget her voice, her laugh…but it seemed that my memories of her were only a piece of her-the way I perceived her as a parent. Sometimes I would sit up in bed in tears, as I realized that I could no longer remember how she sounded when she asked a question-or what her giggles used to sound like. And then there were times when I would hear her voice so clearly, it was as if she were standing right there, touching my cheek. I began to wonder if it was Bella's spirit, visiting in a last attempt to let me know that she was okay…that she was…

No…She is not dead. Bella is alive-Bella is fighting to return to me and Charlie and everyone else who loves her here. How could I even think such things?

It was harder then ever now though, to have faith. It was as if she fell of the face of the Earth.

There was an old notebook jutting out from her side table. Slowly, unsure, I pulled it out and stared at it. For as long as I could remember, Bella had kept a journal. Sometimes she'd write about her day and other times she would write about what ever had crossed her mind. There was a page that had been folded over. Her last entry ever. Now I had never looked into her thoughts before-I wasn't sure anyone ever could. But I had to now more than ever. It would bring me closer to her, it would make me feel as if she were sitting beside me, telling me exactly how she felt.

I unfolded the page, and stared down at the black pen that scrawled over the page.

We live to be remembered, after all, she had written in a pensive sort of way. It was odd how the last entry was about remembering…

People everywhere grope for the desperate hope that they had been wanted and loved in life. For the whispering hope that they would be missed if they were suddenly to have gone away, never to return. That we, (as people) fearing death day after day, would force others to fear with us as we suffered. It's in our nature to want to be needed.

But that's selfish, isn't it?

Why would you want the people who love you to suffer?

When I die, I hope no one will cry for me. I hope no one will even remember me. I hope my name will just fade with the rest of the faceless, nameless strangers buried in those potter's fields, as we rot away in our unmarked graves.

I want to be forgotten when I die.

I couldn't read the rest; I swallowed hard and shut the notebook tightly, and tossed it aside on the bed. My hands grabbed my eyes as I sobbed, trembling in despair at her horrible words-her truthful words…

Was I doing wrong by remembering her? Did she know how much I would struggle-how much everyone would struggle with forgetting? I was on my knees, clutching my head in my hands as I cried. My chest burned in protest as the sobs rocked my lungs forcefully.

"Bella…" I whimpered, blinking to see through the tears that just wouldn't stop. I couldn't stop believing that she was alive-but I wouldn't bring myself to face the reality that maybe she wasn't…

***

Just outside Bella's room

Edward's POV

"…I want to be forgotten when I die."

I couldn't listen anymore-I didn't want to hear Renée's tarnished thoughts anymore. I quietly slipped down the stairs, my face contorted into one I couldn't feel. I didn't want to feel anymore. This was my entire fault…

Bella was alive-she was well. She was-

Alice's thoughts flashed inside my mind's eye, as a whirling vision of Bella's tear stained face danced in front of my vision, practically shouting at me. I saw the back of that vile woman raise the scissors to Bella's back, begin to run the blade down her pale skin. Anger rippled through me like a tyrant wave, lethal and dangerous as the vision faded to black. That crazy woman had it coming, whenever I got a hold of her.

"Edward," Alice's whisper was in my ear, flitting like a bird's wings. I stared at her with dark eyes. She stared at me sympathetically. I was unaware of Phil and Charlie rushing by me at the sound of Renée's agonized screams.

The wolves' eyes were on the two of us, along with my family's. I growled, as I stared down at Alice, blinking.

"Tell them what you saw-but I'll have you know, when I find that woman…" I shook my head as I wrung the sleeves of my jacket, nearly ripping the stitching out.

"Edward-" Alice whispered hesitantly, gazing at me with worry. "I-didn't get a sense of where she is. I-"

"I'll find her." It was all I could say as I slipped out the door and ran into the trees.

***

Bella's POV

?

"I heard Vince and Tilly talking," Bren whispered, touching my shoulder softly. I looked up at her, feeling strangely dead. Nicky cuddled against my leg. Bren bit her lips before continuing. "About Olivia."

I looked down at Nicky, surprised at how he craned his head at his mother's name. Eyes full of surprise, he seemed to be waiting for Bren to continue as well.

"Well?" I whispered, pulling Nicky up into my arms.

"I guess they sold her-got a big chunk of money for it-but it's human trafficking. Said something about Mexico…"

I nodded, excepting the coldhearted truth. We had been wondering for months, wondering where Olivia had been taken. Maybe now she had a better chance at being found. Better than we did, anyway.

"The builder's are working on that wall in the backyard," Bren went on, shifting her weight slowly. "When it's done we can go outside-but I was thinking…Maybe there is a way we can move one of the boards and get out of this place. I think they'll be finished by the end of July, and then we can work on it through the month of August…"

"I'll be five months pregnant," I mumbled, numbness washing over my body as one of my hands went instinctively to my belly. My eyes shot up to meet Bren's.

"We'll make the opening big enough! I promise-I'm not leaving without you."

I stared at Bren, tears welling up behind my eyes again. Repositioning Nicky in my arms, I blinked rapidly, unable to bear the truth. "I don't want this baby, Brendelyn."

"Of course you don't!" Bren soothed, reaching to wrap me in a hug. Her hands smoothed back my hair as I stood in horror at my words.

"Bren-I don't want this baby," I whispered again. I clutched Nicky in my arms as I spoke, my eyes wide with disbelief. I was terrified as my blood pumped through my body, fueling my baby's life. "I-can't have it. I'll always think horrible things when I look at it. I don't know how Olivia could even bear to look at Nicky and Baby Bella with such love and adoration in her eyes-but I can't."

Bren pushed back my hair, staring at me with wide eyes. Her head shook a little as we stared at each other, both not truly able to understand the words that had came out of my mouth.

"Bella," she whispered, shaking my shoulders. "Bella-that baby inside you-it may be Vince's, but…it's your baby too. It's your baby. Don't forget that."

"I know, Bren, but-" I shook my head mutinously as I gazed down at my belly. "I don't want my baby to grow up the way Nicky and Baby Bella are going to grow up. You know that Vince and Tilly are never going to tell them about Olivia. I couldn't bear it if my own child didn't even know who I was…" I shook my head angrily, pressing Nicky's temple to my lips. "No-I can't do that to my daughter or son…"

"Then what are you going to do?"

I bit my lip and looked into Nicky's sad eyes. "Mama," he whined, patting my cheek gingerly. I patted his hair and hugged him into my chest before looking back into Bren's ominous eyes. "I don't know yet…I don't even know if I'm strong enough to do it…I just…" I blinked. "I know that it can't happen again."

Sorry it took so long-been working on my novel and got a few queries out in the mail to literary agencies :) Thanks for your reviews-keep at it. I need ten reviews before the next chapter :)

Love,

Skye