-Chapter 29-

Bella's POV

Rosalie and I stayed together on the couch, trying our best to calm down. It started to snow outside, and I smiled a little bit but then realized that in my predicament, I will never be able to enjoy it. It's December, a time to relax around a fire, smiling, laughing, drinking hot chocolate and telling each other Christmas stories. It seems that this year, none of us will be able to do that.

I'm confident that we will be safe, though, as long as if we don't do anything to drastic; like going outside or calling someone. When Rosalie told me we were being watched, I didn't feel panicked. It's not the first time someone was spying on me. It's not the first time something bad has happened. I'm getting used to the feeling of being abandonned, used, and followed. I know that I will never be abandonned again, most certainly not used either but I don't know about that last part. Being followed seems to be my twin.

I heard the sound of the lock being picked. Rosalie and I sat there, frozen on the couch. When the door swung open, we were hit with a sigh of relief. Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Dr. Cullen were back. I was overjoyed to see that they were all safe and unharmed. Rosalie immediately jumped in Emmett's arms and Emmett protectively hugged her back. I made a run towards Edward, tears stinging my eyes.

"You're back. Thank god, you're back." I praised, he hugged me tightly, I savoured the moment, knowing that this feeling won't last for long.

We pulled away from each other and turned towards Dr. Cullen. He had a calm expression on his face, as he stood in front of Alice, blocking half of my view of her. Jasper was next to Alice, holding her hand.

"It's good to see you again, Bella." Dr. Cullen nodded.

"You too, Dr. Cullen." I nodded, shyly.

"Call me Carlisle, there is no need to be formal." He smiled,

"Carlisle." I returned his smile, nodding as well.

We all gathered in the living room, Rosalie sitting on my left, Emmett sitting on the arm rest and Edward was on my right. All eyes were staring at both Rosalie and I, a question lingering in the air that seemed to be thick with tension. Rosalie and I looked at each other and nodded once, confirming that we were going to tell the whole story.

"What happened?" Jasper asked, frowning.

Rosalie took a deep breath before replying, I held on to her hand, giving her my support.

"Bella fell asleep downstairs. I went up here so that she can rest and once I settled down on the couch, the phone rang." There was an eerie silence, followed by her shaky sigh. "When I picked it up, a sinister voice was on the other end, instructing me and telling me that I was being watched. Anyone inside this house is being watched. We had to stay quiet." She looked over at me.

"When I woke up, Rosalie told me that she called you, Emmett." I said.

"That was actually me." Edward confessed.

"Alright, Edward." I confirmed. "We made sure the doors were locked and the windows, too. We stayed on this couch for a good couple hours; waiting for you all to come home."

Rosalie and I both looked down, still holding each other's hands, afraid to let go. We shared the same experience, the same thoughts during that situation, we didn't want to let each other go.

"Who could it be?" Jasper whispered.

Suddenly, the telephone rang, a loud beeping sound. Rosalie and I jumped, and I closed my eyes shut. I let Rosalie hug me tightly, protectively. Edward placed a hand on my thigh, showing me that he was still there.

"H-hello?" Alice's voice shrilled into the telephone. Jasper pressed the speaker phone, and signalled for all of us to remain silent. We obeyed.

"Ms. Cullen." A voice acknowledged. Alice's eyes widened, her fingers shaking slightly.

"Yes?" Alice said, trying to sound confident.

"Listen up, and listen well. I believe you and your friends have someone that belongs to us." All eyes were on me. "We would appreciate it if you would kindly drop her off at Metrotown's mall food court. Metrotown is in Metropolis, right off of Burnaby. Surely your friends there would help you find it. That is, if you all wish to stay alive." Emmett and Rosalie both nodded their heads, telling us quietly that they will help us.

"She will have a lovely life with us. She will be happy and healthy. She will be more loved than she ever was by her abusive father. Hah, what a sick, stupid police officer he was. How could he think he could trust one of her childhood friends? Idiotic, in my opinion. Hasn't he heard that when you play together, you stay together?" There was a cackle on the other end, I assumed it was a laugh, a chorus of laughter erupted. There had been more than one person listening in on the phone.

"Oh, and if that doesn't reassure you, this might..." There was an odd noise in the background, followed by grunts and protests. There was a muffled scream and a 'No'.

"Bella? Is it you? Oh please say it is! It's Lilly. Please help me, I don't even know what's going on...these guys..." Then she screamed. You can hear her scuffling in the background, being dragged away, perhaps. Oh god, no!

"You can't hostage her! She is innocent!" Alice yelled into the phone.

"She may be innocent, but her innocence will cease to exist if you aren't here on time...throw her existance with that mix, too."

Alice's eyes widened as the words processed our eyes.

"The time is ticking, Ms. Cullen." The sinister voice warned. "Oh, be careful of your decisions. They could be fatal." With that, the line went dead. And we were all in utter silence.

I cried freely, not caring who would see me. Rosalie stroked my hair, her silent tears soaking it. I didn't care. Alice cried in Jasper's arms. Edward was rubbing my back, trying to soothe me. It wasn't working. Nothing is working. This is all my fault! This is all my fault.

"How could you even agree to this, Alice?!" Edward started to scold his sister.

"I never agreed!" She protested through her tears.

"I can't believe this." Edward whispered to himself.

I sat upright, the tears falling freely. I wiped them with the cuff of my sleeve.

"We'll have to do this." I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"What? No way!" Edward disagreed.

"We have to." I said sternly.

"Put you in danger again? No!" Edward growled.

"We're in danger anyway, Edward! There's no escaping the Volturi. They'll always be following me. I belong to them. They want me. I don't know why anymore. Charlie is out of the question. The reason is different this time! I just know that if I don't obey them, you'll all end up getting killed. And knowing that it will be my fault, I can't live with myself! I can't do this anymore, Edward. I want to protect you all. And I can't do that if you keep protecting me." I yelled. Edward just looked at me, hurt. It had to be said, it had to be done. This is the truth and there's not hiding it anymore. I'm not perfect, I can't pretend that this isn't bugging me. It's eating me from the inside, and he can't see that!

"You can't..." He started to protest. I cut him off.

"They have Lilly. She didn't do anything wrong. For god's sakes, Edward. Just listen to me! Listen to what I have to say! I'm the reason you are all running from the Volturi! Let me have a say." I begged.

"Listen to her." Carlisle said sternly.

Edward hesitated. I couldn't believe how selfish he was being! I don't care about my safety if no one else can be safe.

"Please." I said one last time.

He looked me in the eyes, his jaw locked and his arms crossed.

"Okay." He agreed.

"I have a plan." Alice announced.

We all sat together, whispering, anxious to hear Alice's plan.