Chapter 5:

My breathing stopped. This couldn't be happening. This just wasn't happening, right now! Slowly the window opened and the figure perched on the small ledge, looking me straight in the eye.

"Hello, Bella," Victoria grinned like a Cheshire cat. I gulped, taking a glance at the sharp pointy teeth. Seeing where my gaze was directed to, she gave a smirk. "What, is the little human scared? I would have thought –considering how you're in love with a vampire– that you would feel quite comfortable."

I couldn't do anything besides open and shut my mouth, trying in vain to recapture my ability to speak. Victoria watched me with a look of satisfaction; she was clearly enjoying this.

"Or," she continued, "is it just me? I do hope that I'm not making you feel… unsettled or anything." Her grinned widened, if that was even possible. "Well, let's get straight to business, shall we?"

I somehow managed to find my voice again and asked in what sounded like a squeak, "And what business is that, exactly?"

She gave a deep, throaty laugh, throwing her head back. "Silly, silly Bella." She looked up at me with a scary glint in her burgundy eyes. "Well, killing you, of course."

I swear my heart stopped beating. I could tell that all the colour –or what was left, anyway– drained from my face and my eyes practically bugged out of my head. "What?" I rasped out.

She grinned evilly, "Or rather, torturing you, as I am far too impartial to simply letting you die quickly. That wouldn't be much fun at all. And you know how much I like my fun." She titled her head to the head with that freaky smile still on her face. "Well, if you didn't know; you'll find out very soon."

I saw her lunge for me, so quick that my head spun. That, combined with my lack of oxygen, caused me to pass out. All I saw was black, but the one thought that registered in my head was: Shit.

When I blearily opened my eyes, I had a massive headache. It was like a buzzing just above my ear. I tried to sit up, but my left arm and my back really hurt. Lifting my head up the tiniest amount possible, I could see my arm twisted at a funny angle. Oh fantastic, it's broken! Just what I need.

I attempted to sit up again, this time not moving my arm at all and my back only a little bit. By doing this though, I stirred my legs, and white, hot, searing pain rippled through my torso, causing me to cry out. I then heard a cruel voice in the distance.

"Oh how great, I love to hear how good my handiwork was."

My head snapped around to the source, which made me shriek in pain again, but I tried to ignore it. I could see Victoria standing there, watching me with some kind of sick anticipation. My eyes darted around, looking at our surroundings. All I could see was grass, trees and sky. Probably a field or meadow of some sort.

I looked back at Victoria quickly, only to see her a mere few inches away from me. I jumped a little, biting my lip to catch the sob that tried to escape from the action. I glanced up to the vampire with what I imagined was a pleading look. She simply chuckled, lightly kicking my side. Although, this was vampire-light not human-light.

I couldn't help it. I screamed. Somewhere through the pain, my mind guessed that she had broken some of my ribs as well.

I didn't like this feeling; helplessness. Because that's exactly what I was right now. I wasn't a vampire, I was a human. A stupid, little human girl with no brain. Man, I am just swimming in self-loathing right now. I made myself focus on Victoria. She was just standing there, still observing as all these emotions flew across my face.

"There's something wrong with you," she said in deep thought. A frown made its way onto her forehead. "Oh well, more fun I suppose." She shrugged carelessly and bent down to grab my foot.

The force she used crushed some of my bones, effectively breaking my ankle. She flung me like a shot-put across the grassy areas. My back came in contact with a tree and I heard some more bones break. Oh God, please let it stop! I prayed, though I knew it was pointless.

I slumped down the tree trunk until I came in contact with the floor again. By this time, Victoria had already made her way over to where she had threw me and was smirking down at my crumpled form.

She reached down and I flinched. I could see her eyes dancing with amusement. She gently picked up my right hand, almost in a motherly gesture. And then, she took my pinkie finger and snapped it. I let out an anguished yelp as she continued to break each and every one of my hand's digits.

When she had finished, she picked me up again and swung me around like a ragdoll before letting me go flying into another tree. I was ready for it to be over; so, so, so ready. This pain truly was torture. I could tell she was no where near finished though.

Paige's POV

I am so bored.

I have no job to go to, no boyfriend to spend time with, and no kids to look after. Well, I don't exactly want any children; at least, not right now. And okay, I don't really feel like going to work right now, but come on!

With Phoebe out writing her article, Piper out at the park with Wyatt (see, I can't even take care of him for something to do!), Chris off out somewhere – I don't actually know where, and Leo up with the Elders; there is nothing to do!

I have already cleaned up a bit around the Manor, made myself lunch, watched a little TV and read some more of the Book of Shadows. So now, I'm all out of ideas. I sighed. Might as well go back to bed. I got up to walk upstairs, when I felt a tingly feeling shoot up my spine and a loud, desperate yell of 'Help!' echo through my head.

Oooh, yay! I got a new charge! Thank God, at least now I have something to occupy my time with. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and orbed to wherever my charge was. What I saw was shocking to say the least.

Bella's POV

I'm not sure how much longer it has been, but I do know that nearly all of my bones are either broken or sprained badly. I must look like a blueberry with all of the purple, blue and back spots stretching over my normally pale skin, from the bruises Victoria has gave me. I glanced back up to see where she was.

About a few feet away she just stood there. Then, I saw a shift in her expression as it became wilder. She advanced towards me, smirking. She pounced on me, pinning me to the ground.

"Help!" I cried, to no one in particular. This was it, I was going to die. Suddenly, just behind Victoria, I saw an arrangement of blue lights. They were glowing and transforming into the shape of a person. I didn't have much time to look because, without warning, I fell unconscious; slipping away into the black void that was my escape.