Alright guys, here's a suspenseful chapter for you all. I hope you guys will love it! So READ AND REVIEW!

Disclaimer = I don't own Twilight!

Chapter 17

An exchange

Bella's Point of View

Everything had been going so well. I'd never been so happy in my life.

The weeks kept on coming and nothing happened. Charlie hadn't tried to find me again. But he wasn't found either. I was able to help Esme around the house now. She would actually let me wash the dishes or help her paint when coming home from school. Carlisle was teaching me a few things about medicine. It was nice of him and it helped me understand his job even more. Emmett and Jasper had been coming to the house almost every day, going to see Alice and Rosalie. I hadn't showed anyone the 'Emmett dancing to Single Ladies' video but it was still on my computer, changing my mood whenever I was down. Alice, Rosalie and I… well, our friendship wasn't any longer just best friends. It felt like we were sisters. We'd tell each other pretty much everything. They trusted me even more now, forgetting about my past—which I'm thankful for.

Edward and I had made it official. We were now a couple. He'd bought me—ok, I know it's cheesy but it's actually adorable at the same time—boyfriend/girlfriend golden rings, inscribed inside 'And so the lion fell in love with the lamb'. Frankly, I found it cute and very official. When he gave it to me, Edward had told me that the first time we met, it was like he was the lion and I was the frail lamb. But the lion fell in love with the lamb in the end. Edward might be cheesy at times but he's the one person I can count on more than anything. He's always there for me.

After school, Edward and I would practice our lines for the Romeo and Juliet production. Mrs. Goss said that we were very good. Tanya was the nurse, and every single time she would gaze at me, her eyes shot daggers. At first, it was amusing, seeing Tanya so jealous over me but afterwards, I felt guilty Even if I was just the Ugly Swan, Tanya still should have had her stand in the spotlight. It shouldn't have been stolen from her because of me. Edward had told me that Tanya didn't deserve it but the ping of guilt still stayed within me. I tried to put it past me but with those death glares from Tanya, it was really hard.

One day after English, we were walking and laughing when I noticed that Alice hadn't been with us during the first class. It made me worry about her. What if she was sick or something? Did she go home? "Hey guys, has anyone seen Alice?" I asked which made everyone stop talking and look at me with a confused look.

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her for a while," Jasper said, his tone filled with worry. He loved Alice more than anything. Having her missing was one of the worst things that could happen to him. It would break Jasper to pieces. "Anyone else has seen her?"

"Not since this morning," Rosalie answered, her tone gone sour. After all, it was her sister that was missing. Who wouldn't be upset about that?

"She took her car to come here but I haven't seen her enter the school. We were actually running late. I can't see why she's not here…" Edward said, his arm tightening around my waist. Everyone looked at us in the hallways, making me feel a little uncomfortable and slightly irritated. I wish that they would forget those horrible rumours Charlie had started so many years ago… Suddenly, the bell rang and everyone stopped walking. "Alright, I guess we should go to class."

"I'm just going to skip. It's worrying me. Alice might be hurt somewhere," Jasper said, looking towards the exit of the school. He was obviously love struck but it was true. His worry was eminent in his eyes and was reflected everywhere around the table. We nodded and went towards class when suddenly, my phone—yeah that's right, I bought myself a phone—started buzzing, indicating I got either a call or a text.

Edward looked at me worriedly but I brushed his worry off by saying: "I'll meet you in class. Just going to check this message." He looked at me a few seconds before kissing my cheek, giving me his famous crooked smile and walked towards his next class.

Opening my phone, I read the text message and a look of confusion and shock made its way onto my face.

From: Unknown

To: Bella

I have your friend. Come and meet me in the forest behind FHS or you'll never see her again. You better come Isabella.

This was an unknown number… And they knew my name. Were they referring to Alice? How did they know she was missing? Suddenly, my eyes opened wide. I ran outside as my mind pondered over one thought: Charlie had Alice. He was using her to get to me. Damn it! I knew this would happen! She wouldn't get hurt because of me. I will make sure of that. Running out of the school, I looked around and found no one outside. Perfect. No one would bother me. Just as I was about to walk over to the forest, someone's voice made me stop abruptly. "Bella, what are you doing?"

Turning around, I found that Jasper was walking towards me, his worry still written on his face.

"Um… I was just… going for a stroll?" I asked which he didn't seem to buy. Sighing, I gave in. "Alright, fine you win." A smile made its way onto his face as he stood in front of me. "I think I have an idea of where Alice is," Jasper's face lit up with hope but I stopped him before he could ask anymore questions, "but I'm going to need to figure this out alone." It was horrible to lie to Jasper, knowing that he would want to know where his girlfriend was but Charlie could not get to him. Charlie already had Alice and that was enough for me. She would get out safely, that's for sure.

"Why alone? Bella, that's a forest. There could be something out there. Charlie could be out there looking for you." Damn it! He was thinking about me when his girlfriend was out there, hopefully unharmed, with Charlie. "I'm not letting you go alone."

"Jasper, I'm just going to look around. She's my best friend and your girlfriend. We're both worried about her, so is the rest of the gang. Rosalie and Edward are missing a sister; Emmett's missing a friend as well… I'm going to go look for Alice in that forest and you should look around the neighbourhood. Edward said that she got out of her car but never came inside the school. Maybe she's still in the area," I said, walking towards the forest but, once again, Jasper had to stop me by grabbing my wrist.

"Bella, if you find anything, give me a call. You have my number," Jasper said with a cautious smile. Letting my wrist go, we both walked our separate ways. A stray tear fell down my cheeks as I walked away from Jasper, probably never going to see him again. "Be careful Bella!" He shouted at me, walking around the corner and looking around, shouting Alice's name.

"Goodbye Jasper…" I whispered while walking into the forest, tears running down my face. This was the end of the road for me. Charlie would want to probably kill me, just luring me to him because he held Alice hostage. I'd never see Rosalie or Emmett or… Edward. Tears poured down my face at the thought of leaving Edward. I'd never see his bronze hair or those beautiful green orbs or… him again. Looking back at the school, it looked so far away, he was so far away. "Goodbye Edward… I love you…" were my final words as I walked further into the forest, further away from my love.

Walking forward, I could see two people standing in the middle of the forest, one person pacing around holding a gun while the other was sitting on a log. While approaching the middle of the forest, I could make out the two people in front of me. Charlie was pacing around impatiently, keeping his gun pointing towards Alice's head. She was sitting there, fear covering her features as she looked at my father. When walking towards them, Alice's head faced me and shock filled her eyes. "Bella?" She asked surprisingly while standing up. Charlie spun around, noticing me and recovering himself. He grabbed a hold of Alice, placing an arm around her shoulders as well as her neck and placing the tip of the gun against her head, ready and armed.

"Don't hurt her!" I screamed, hoping he wouldn't fire. Alice placed both of her hands on his arms, trying to release his hold on her but it was nearly impossible. Charlie was way too strong.

"Bella, get away from here! He's after you!" Alice screamed at me. But I just looked at her, unable to do much more.

"What do you want from her?" I asked Charlie as he smirked at me, knowing I'd give myself willingly to him if Alice was still alive. She wouldn't get hurt, not on my watch.

"Oh, I don't want her. I want you, and she was the hostage. Get it bitch?" He said, using his foul language to anger Alice even more.

"Don't call her—" But Alice was cut off when Charlie placed the gun right under her cheek bone, scaring her even more. Fear held me. Would he actually shoot her just to get to me? He better not. Charlie seemed to be armed with much more than a gun. Frankly, I didn't want to know what he was holding. It would endanger Alice's life too much.

"Shut up," Charlie threatened as he held Alice even tighter, hurting her. Taking a step forward, Charlie looked at me. "So, I see you got my text."

"Yes I did. So, now I'm here. You can let Alice go. She has nothing to do with this. It's me you want. So let her go," I said, trying to bargain with my father. His laugh made me shiver in hatred. How could one man be so cruel?

"Oh, I don't know. This cutie right here," He teased while running his gun down Alice's face. She shut her eyes tightly, like I had done so many weeks ago when Charlie had taunted me, and tried to act strong. Sweat poured down her face as Charlie placed the gun back under her cheek bone, "is actually interesting, when she's quiet that is. I think I might keep her as a pet."

"You will not!" I screamed, taking a step towards him. Charlie grinned and suddenly, his gun was pointed towards me and the trigger was pulled, making a large bang echo through the forest. As soon as the trigger was pulled, a sharp pain erupted in my sides but I didn't show it. I knew he had shot me in the side, probably just grazing me but I didn't want to show Alice how hurt I was.

"Bella!" Alice shouted, horror-struck.

I placed a hand on my side, not showing the pain it gave me, while keeping my gaze steady on my horrible father. "Just let her go. I'll come willingly if you just let her go free and unharmed," I said, persuading Charlie as he placed the gun back on Alice's neck. She whimpered at the heat of the tip of the gun as I stopped walking towards them. "Charlie, I'm here! Now let her go. I'll go without a fuss and you can do whatever you want to me. Just please, let her go." I was pleading now. Great, had I stooped so low? Alice looked at me with sorrow filled eyes as Charlie thought about my offer for a second and smiled.

"Alright, I'll exchange her for you," Charlie said with a sadistic grin. Oh my god… I can't even begin to imagine what he would do to me. He pushed Alice forward and waited with that grin still on his face. "Just make your final goodbye quick," He warned as Alice came up to me and hugged me fiercely, making the pain in my side hurt even more.

"Bella, you can't do this," Alice said, looking deep into my eyes as tears fell down her face. We switched places but still kept our gazes. I knew this was the last time I'd see her. As she looked down at my side, my hand flew to the bullet hole in my side and hid the blood that was slowly falling down my shirt. "Please Bella, don't do this."

"I have no choice. I'm not going to let you get hurt any further than you already are," I said while looking at her burn mark on her neck. It was already starting to become red. Great… "I'm so sorry he did that to you… I never wanted any of this to happen."

"Oh get a move on already! I don't have all day!" Charlie yelled while I turned my head around and found his eyes blazing with anger. If I didn't get Alice out of here soon, he'd kill her to anger me, maybe kill me afterwards out of pleasure. "I'll give you a minute," Charlie warned once more as he looked around to see if anyone was coming.

Only one person knew that I was coming here and that was Jasper. Would he find me now?

"Alright Alice, you have to go. Jasper is looking for you around the neighbourhood so—"

"Bella, I'm not leaving you with this creep!" Alice practically screeched at me while tears streaked her cheeks. I'd miss her personality and everything about her. "You've got to come with me. Dad's going to look at—"

"I just want you to tell Edward one thing and that's that I love him. I'm really going to miss you Alice…" I said before giving her a bone crushing hug. She sobbed into my shirt as I clung to her, remembering her scent and everything. "Thank you…"

"Bella…" Alice said when suddenly, a ping was heard from behind me and then a sharp sensation in my neck. Pulling away from Alice, I felt around my neck and found a little dart. What the…? My senses were shutting down fast and I realized what Charlie had just done. He'd drugged me with a little knock-out needle. "Bella?" Alice asked as she focused in and out of my vision. It would take seconds before I'd collapse. "Bella? What's wrong?"

"Alice…" was my last word before I collapsed into her arms.

Alice's Point of View

"Finally got her to shut up…" Charlie grumbled.

"Bella?" I asked as she collapsed onto me. Trying to wake her up, I noticed that something was sticking out of her neck. A tranquilizer filled with drugs to knock her out. "You're a monster!" I screamed as Charlie walked towards me.

"Shut up." He grabbed Bella by the waist, pushed me backwards as he hauled her into his arm. It was surprising he had so much strength.

"Let her go!" I screamed, punching and hitting Charlie.

He seemed quite annoyed by my little outburst. Looking at me, his eyes held anger and frustration. "Oh shut up!" He lifted his hand and then next thing I knew, his hand came down on the back of my neck, knocking me unconscious on the forest floor as he took off with Bella, my sister.

"Alice! Alice, honey wake up!" A sweet, manly voice screamed at me. A sharp pain came in the back of my neck as my eyes squinted open. Looking up, I saw that Jasper was shaking me awake, his eyes filled with worry and panic.

"Jasper…?" I asked, my voice shaky and weak. What had happened? Getting up, I kept a hand on the back of my neck where the pain was most imminent and annoying. My vision was a little fuzzy but Jasper just placed himself behind me, trying to keep me awake.

"Alice, are you alright? I found you here, unconscious and… you wouldn't wake up at first. What happened to you?" I tried to remember what had happened to me. It was hard. My memory was a little fuzzy but I did remember being kidnapped and then held hostage by… Charlie. Bella came to find me… Charlie had shot her and burned my neck a little. Placing a hand right under my cheek bone, I noticed the pain from the burn. My skin was sensitive there. "What happened to you honey?"

"Charlie…" Jasper's eyes filled with horror.

"Charlie? He grabbed you?" His voice was filled with intense worry as he looked at my neck. "I can't believe he dared to do that…"

"Jasper. Jasper, listen to me." I placed both of my hands on his face and made him look at me. His attention focused on me as his hands found their way to my face gently. "Jasper, Bella came after me and gave herself up to save me. He shot her, drugged her and knocked me out. He's going to torture her, Jazz. Charlie's going to beat Bella to death."

So, I better go in my little cave now and hide before I get an angry mob wanting more from me. So please REVIEW instead of sharpening your pitchforks! :P Love you all!

Bellacullenswan17

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