Minor Inconvenience

Chapter Eight

I walked around the room, which remained in a state of disarray. After I woke up from a sedated sleep, I went on a rampage. I overturned the mattress, stripping the sheets from the bed and even tried to rip them. It wasn't until I shattered the bathroom mirror that I was able to use a sliver of glass to properly ruin the sheets, mattress, and pillows. Unfortunately, when I broke the mirror with my fist, shards of glass flew and entered my knuckles, as well as slicing my face. All I was able to see was red. I ripped pictures off the wall, screaming profanities that would make Charlie ground me for at least a decade. I shoved a hand towel into the toilet and flushed, flooding the bathroom. I emptied drawer after drawer of clothing – if there were bleach in here I would have poured it on them too. Using my arm, I slammed every item off the nightstands and countertops. Blood droplets smeared as I knocked down photos and other wall decorations. Standing, I panted out my frustrations until I slid against a wall and crouched down.

I was upset about being forced to eat. I was angry at being bathed and changed when I was drugged.

Furious

Irate

Pissed off.

I tore through the room once more, only be shattered from my anger-induced rampage to hear a succession of glass fragments falling onto the floor.

"What have I done," I whispered, guilt settling in.

The door creaked open, "Oh dear," sighed Esme, "It's certainly a mess in here. Bella, why don't you go to Carlisle's study while I…sort through this. It's the second door to the left. It should be open for you." Her genuine smile left a lump in my throat.

"Um, yeah…I – I'm sorry about the room, Esme," I struggled for words, "I…I mean no disrespect."

"Bella, please, don't apologize. I enjoy the new challenge of decorating, though picking up glass is not a favorite activity of mine. Thank goodness for vacuum cleaners," she said with a smile.

I smiled weakly as I exited the disaster zone.

The door was open. Peering in, I saw Carlisle organizing instruments on a medical tray.

My heart was racing when he said, "Come in, Bella. Take a seat on the lounge chair."

"Oh Bella," he seemed to lament, "Can you give me your hand please, sweetheart."

"As if I have a choice." I extended my hand.

"You always have choices in life, Bella, it's just a matter of how you choose to react to what you encounter and what your objective is. You don't want to get an infection or even have unnecessary scarring. I'm trying to help you; please let me at least doctor these wounds."

I looked away and Carlisle continued about his work.

My mind drifted until I looked at my dually-bandaged hands. One was encased in a temporary cast, but the other was lightly bound in gauze. On my wrist was a small, slender bracelet.

With a shrug he responded, "It's a gift, Bella. Everyone in the family carries with them the Cullen crest. I know you may not want to be here, but that doesn't change the fact that you are and will continue to be with us for some time. We want to welcome you to the family. It's a gift from all of us."

"How'd you manage to get it on? It's not sliding off," I mused.

"Bella, I'm going to be honest with you. The bracelet contains a tracking device. If by any chance you're in danger or have wandered too far, we want to know where you are so we can bring you home safely."

"More like if I ever escape you want to be able to recapture me! What exactly am I to you guys? Some sort of wild animal that needs to be tagged so "hunters" don't come after it? I demand you remove it! I don't accept this gift," I spat.

"I wouldn't even if I could, Bella."

"Knock, knock! Carlisle, Bella, it's Alice! Can I come in?" Without waiting for an answer, Alice came bursting in with a gleeful smile. "Bella! Come with me – Esme has made breakfast! I even got to help! Hurry, hurry, while it's still warm!"

. . .

On the dining room table was a single place setting. Sitting down, I noted that in front of me sat a bowl of oatmeal, complete with brown sugar and some banana bits. My stomach grumbled, forcing me to look away from the table. I had to stay strong.

"Isabella, it's breakfast time. Will you be needing assistance?" questioned Carlisle with a tilt of his head.

"I am not some toddler that needs to be coerced into eating. You will do well to remember that, Carlisle. Besides, I'm not particularly hungry at the moment."

"You're a horrible liar," smiled Jasper.

"And you're a horrible person, but let's not state the obvious," I said as I stiffly rose, standing above my place setting, finally noticing why it looked a little off. The oatmeal was in a Dixie bowl, coupled with a plastic spoon.

"Sit down, now. You will stop it with the hunger strike nonsense. Last night proved that we will no longer be allowing you to let your behavior continue. Eat, Bella. You will not be leaving this room until you do so."

"I think it's high time we start discussing my rights here. If you honestly expect to have my cooperation then things better start changing."

Of course, Bella. What exactly did you have in mind – Esme

For starters, I get to decide when and what I eat. None of this three times a day bullshit. If I don't feel like breakfast, then I won't be forced to eat it. Speaking of force, you will NEVER, I repeat NEVER, force feed me. That was just cruel, to lull me into a pacified state only to shovel mashed potatoes down my throat," I vented, still livid about the experience, "And the same goes for changing me!"

"Agreed, as long as you continue to eat by your own free will, we will not coerce you into eating."

"I'm sorry about that, Bella," lamented Esme with shiny eyes, "Alice and I did were very discrete. We did it with only the best intentions. When it comes to your health and hygiene, you mustn't allow your anger to override your own well-being."

Blushing, I look down, mumbling in agreement before addressing Carlisle's prior statement, "It won't be a problem, as long as I am given full access to the kitchen."

"You can have full access, but someone must be in there with you at all times while you're cooking. We've already secured drawers with locks, so you'll need us to unlock them for you anyhow."

Damn. Trying to conceal a frown, I continued with my list of demands, "Full access to all amenities, from bathrooms and kitchens to libraries and living rooms. I don't want to be locked up and confined to a space the size of a mattress. I want to be allowed outside too – and I want this goddamn bracelet removed."

"Bracelet stays on. You'll get one hour a day outside. Every room will be open to you with the exception of private quarters."

"Four hours a day outside and the bracelet gets taken off before I forcibly break it off."

I hear a growl reverberate throughout the room until Carlisle continued, "Two hours outside per day unless Esme or someone else agrees to otherwise accompany you, whether it be gardening, hiking, or playing baseball. Bracelet will remain on until we can trust you. Non-negotiable. Next."

"I would like my clothes back though."

"I'm afraid they've seen the end of their life cycle, Bells," Emmett's voice rang,

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Oh, come on, Bella! It's not as though we're going to restrict you to a single set of clothing. Your clothes were covered in filth – no amount of detergent was going to save them. Ally already went shopping for you."

Grunting, I brought up my final demand, one that I knew would be the most challenging to get approved, "I want to get some stuff from Charlie's."

The house exploded.

"Absolutely not!" "What are you smoking?" "What?" "Oh shit." "Like what?"

"My hair brush, tooth brush, clothes, photos, some books, and a my laptop."

"Bella… do you know what you're asking us to do? That's completely out of our abilities. It would be pure idiocy to venture into Charlie's house to get anything of yours – let alone a laptop!"

"At the very least, I need a laptop. I want to be able to journal without the potential for preying eyes. I have a right to privacy."

"Your rights? Let's rephrase that, shall we," mocked Rosalie, "Since the duration of your stay is indefinite, privileges will be enforced and revoked as we see fit."

I scowled at Rosalie, but before I could comment, Carlisle cut in, "What she means to say is that if you fail to follow through with the agreement, then we'll reprimand you by taking away a privilege. Nothing drastic, mind you, but still a reminder to be sure you understand what's expected of you – and what you could lose."

"I also want to discuss moving, or rather, not moving."

"Bella, this decision doesn't really concern you – don't worry, we've got it under control."

"What? It's BECAUSE of me this move is occurring, I think I damn well deserve to be in on the details."

"Like the bracelet, this issue is both nonnegotiable and inevitable. We WILL be moving, it's just a matter of time. Your misbehavior will be a direct reflection upon the swiftness in which we relocate."

"My behavior? Excuse me? What have I done that is so horrible? You act as if I've actually committed a murder. Oh, wait, that would be Edward."

"Jeez, I've only heard that like twenty times."

"Isabella, we are doing this to protect you and ourselves. You may think that we are the bad guys here, but there are worse creatures out there than us. Now, will you please eat your breakfast?"

Taking a spoonful, I started to eat, knowing it was better to do what was requested of me, at least for now.

Glancing at his watch, Carlisle sighed, "We better be heading out. Behave yourself, Bella."

"Where are you going? Can I come?"

"No, you cannot. I suggest you take the free time you have today to let what we've told you to sink in."

I resumed eating my breakfast, hearing some of the Cullens yell 'good-bye' or 'see you soon.'

I heard two cars leave. Game on.

I shoveled the oatmeal into the garbage, unsure if they had spiked it like they had the potatoes. Unwilling to risk it, I proceeded to the bathroom to get rid of the little I had managed to eat. I searched around the house, only to be met with all the new gadgets and technology pieces the Cullens seemed to add to facility my captivity.

I made my way to the kitchen in search of something to drink. Despite locked cabinets, I still managed to find the one open one that contained the "safe" items: paper cups, plastic utensils, napkins, and some boxes of cereal, fruit snacks, and pudding cups. Beggars can't be choosers.

Sitting on the counter, I munched on Cheerios. Even the cereal was baby—or rather Bella safe. Having already seen the locked pantry, I was surprised to see an unlatched door beside the fridge. I slipped off the counter and headed towards it.

It opened effortlessly.

Inside I was met with the sight of row after row of cars: a yellow Porsche, a red convertible, and a motorcycle. Looks like I just found my ticket out of here. Smiling to myself, I wandered around the garage, looking for keys, money, or even something of mine from that day.

A phone was in the corner of the room… I rushed towards it only to be met with a voice requesting the password. Little bastards. I slammed down and continued my hunt.

I checked each car. All of which were unlocked. How stupid are these people, I mean really. Sitting in the convertible, I flipped down the visor and a pair of keys fell into my lap.

"Shit. I can't believe I found them."

A plan was forming in my head. I rushed back into the house and began filling my arms with food found in "my cupboard." I threw it all in the back seat and returned to the house. In the garage I found a drawer full of money, which I emptied onto the passenger seat. Having found nothing else, I decided it was time to get going. I was done being a hostage.

. . .

MEANWHILE: The Cullen family and the rest of the Forks community have gathered on this morning as a day for remembrance. The ceremony dedicated to the lives lost just over a week ago has concluded, but everyone was quietly mingling and indulging in a collection of foods brought by those in attendance.

It was at this time that Carlisle felt his phone vibrate. Snapping it open he lightly cursed, "Shit."

"What is it, honey."

Whispering, he responded, "I think Isabella has decided to go on a little adventure. We need to get home."

"Carlisle!" It was Alice. "We need to leave – now! She's going to Charlie's."

"Yeah, right. And how exactly is she going to get there?"

"… Your car…"

I apologize for the overdue chapter. I've been thinking about the story but I haven't really been keeping up with it. Hopefully you're still reading and will leave a review or add it to your alerts. If you've made it this far, then congrats for getting through my boring chapters. Here comes the fun stuff :]

Lots of love - PM