Author's Note:

Hi guys-

Once again, I'm sorry about the delay again. I'm actually sick, again. I am fighting a sinus infection and I have bronchitis. The doctor said if I had waited a few more days to come in it would have turned into pneumonia. I'm done with being ill this year, seriously I am. This was my second sinus infection and I was so congested and in so much in pain that my teeth hurt. I'm thankful for the Z Pac medication!

I hope all is well with all of you. Please keep the comments coming. I would especially like to hear what you guys think at the end of this chapter.

Happy reading!

-Lisa

PS- thank you to everyone who added the story and me to their alert lists! It is appreciated and I am glad you are enjoying this story (and my writing!).

Chapter Thirty One

Bella slipped into the house not bothering to close the front door. She tip toed towards the closet and opened it quietly. She touched her cell phone in her pocket once more and took out Peter's baseball bat and held onto it. She froze while she listened to the murmurs coming from up the stairs.

"No, no, please no," Charlotte cried from her bedroom. "Jared I said no."

Quietly and quickly, Bella hurried up the stairs. She had reached the top of the staircase when she heard a male voice laugh from Charlotte's bedroom.

"You stupid little spoiled brat. Do you know how easy it was? How easy it was to manipulate you? You silly school girl," he laughed.

Finally making it to Charlotte's room, Bella looked into the room and saw that Charlotte was pinned under the boy, who didn't look much older than her. She froze as he continued degrading and mocking Charlotte.

"You trashy, slutty gullible little girl. You have such mommy issues. It was so easy to get you to believe every word I said. Do you think that MILF of yours really didn't care about you? She's the fucking poster woman for every kind of step parent who every child has. She would probably give her life for you and your bratty little brother's. She is so selfless and such a great role model and all of that shit. She isn't like my step father who beats me and Embry while my real dad sits in jail. Do you know why he's there? Do you little girl? He's there because your father had him put in jail. This is where it gets good Charlotte so listen carefully. Your father had mine thrown into jail because my father had too much to drink at a party and got into a car accident on the way home. He hit and killed a woman driving. Do you know who that woman was, do? It was your mother. Your dad was so upset he made sure my father got the most in his jail sentence that he could get. My father didn't get to see my brother and I grow up, except on weekend visits. He still has years left on his sentence. Dad has it good. My step father is a respectful lawyer. Do you think people would believe me if I told them? They wouldn't and why should they? Our own mother doesn't believe us.

"You however, you have it completely different. All along you had someone who loved you and cared about you and all you did was push her away with your attitude. She probably still loves you. Still wants to have a relationship with you. She doesn't understand why you just don't love her.

"You don't need to worry about us getting even with your dad. Embry my big brother and I are getting our revenge. While I'm up here finally getting busy with you sweet girl, he's downstairs taking some of daddy's precious belongings that he worked so hard to get. Not too many things but he is going through the basement and will be in daddy and mommy's bedroom. When he is done loading the shit and I'm through with you pretty girl, we will all leave," the boy promised.

Immediately following the boy's speech, Bella ran into Charlotte's room and began to hit the boy behind his legs. He instantly fell off of Charlotte and onto the floor. He swore and moaned in pain while Bella hit him two more times, once in the head and once hard in between the legs. She then took Charlotte and dragged her into the bedroom she shared with Carlisle. She locked the door and looked at Charlotte who was in tears. Both Bella and Charlotte heard the boy calling for his brother. Bella looked at Charlotte and put her hand over her mouth to hide her crying and led her to the walk in closet. She looked around. She wasn't sure what their next course of action would entail. She then thought of a diversion. Bella looked at Charlotte and began to whisper.

"Honey, look at me. I'm going to run to the bathroom. I'm going to close and lock the door and then come back here. I'm going to knock once lightly on the door and then, well, then we'll wait here. Don't say anything but nod your head if you understand."

Charlotte shook her hear head no but Bella reassured her. "It'll be okay Charlotte, I promise we will be okay. One light knock and let me back in, okay?" She watched as Charlotte nodded her head with tears in her eyes. Bella kissed the top of her head and held back her own tears. "I love you and I'm coming back, I promise."

Bella opened the door slowly and heard the men arguing in what sounded like the hall way. Quickly she grabbed the door knob to the bathroom, pushed the lock in and closed the door as quietly as she could. She then went back, knocked once and was let back into the closet by Charlotte. When the door was locked and closed, Charlotte wrapped her arms around Bella. She tried very hard not to show her worry to the child clinging to her for life.

"Bella," Charlotte spoke softly before pointing above them. The attic was above them, of course!

"Okay, I will pull down the stairs and you go up first and then I will follow you up and pull up the stairs," Bella planned. Within moments, Bella pulled the stairs up. She and Charlotte were above her bedroom as she heard voices in the bedroom. They had finally got the door opened.

Bella looked around. Not much sat in the attic. Some of Elizabeth's belongings and a few pieces of random furniture. Bella then remembered her phone in her pocket. She sent a text message to Carlisle, Peter, Edward, Alice, Esme, Ed, Emmett and Rosalie. The message stated:

Call 9-1-1. Send them to our home address. Charlotte and I are up in the attic. Home invasion and attempted child rape. Two young men one under eighteen.

Charlotte ripped Bella's phone from her hand. She opened the notebook app and typed, "I'm sorry Bella. I'm really sorry."

"Oh honey," Bella whispered pulling Charlotte into her. She kissed the side of Charlotte's head. "We are going to be fine. We'll talk later sweetie. Just-"

"MILF-y where'd you go?" Bella heard the voice of the punk who was on top of Charlotte. "I would like to play with you too."

"Jared, I don't think they left. I didn't hear or see anyone come downstairs."

"Well she got in, didn't she? Embry use your brain," Jared shouted at his brother. "We haven't checked that other room, that soccer room. Let's check in there."

Bella and Charlotte sat perfectly still as they heard the two males walk out of the master bedroom. Bella figured they were safe until she heard Embry.

"You know Jare, some of these houses of those pull down attic things. Think this one does?"

"Embry you idiot, I think we should get the stuff and leave. We'll be out of here. No harm, no foul, right?"

"We came this far, we have to finish the job. Charlotte knows us she would snitch on us. Just look at the ceiling and look for the pull down string, there has to be one around here. Let's look or maybe they are in the basement," Jared suggested.

Charlotte panicked and held onto Bella tighter. Bella was frightened but didn't want to show it.

"Bella, the cedar chest. If we can put it over the opening they won't be able to get up here," Charlotte suggested.

They both slowly crawled towards the wooden box. They pushed, pulled and shoved and it wouldn't budge.

"What are we going to do?" Charlotte whispered once she heard the boys go down the stairs. She had tears in her eyes.

Bella squeezed her hand. "Hey, we will be okay. We just need to be patient. I texted everyone and someone should have called nine one-one by now. We need to think."

"Can we jump out of the window?" Charlotte asked unsure.

Shaking her head, Bella looked at Charlotte. "It's too high up, but good thinking sweetie." Charlotte looked at Bella without saying anything and started crying again. She couldn't believe that she actually listened to Jared and that he in return used her. "You need to stop Charlotte. I know it's hard but we need to get through this, then we will talk about everything, I promise."

Nodding, Charlotte wiped her eyes. She looked up and remembered. "Bella, dad built a closet up here a few summers ago. It's over there let's go in-"

"There it is!" Embry said interrupting Charlotte's explanation. "Jared you were right. There is a cord in the closet in the big bedroom!"

"Well I'll be damned! They do have one, look at that. Pull it on down Em. Ladies we are coming to get you!" Jared laughed amused with himself.

Without thinking, Charlotte pulled Bella towards the closet she talked about. The closet was in the far corner of the attic. If one didn't know about it, it could easily be missed. Bella motioned for Charlotte to lay down. Bella laid on top of Charlotte to protect her from any intruders that may have entered. Bella took a deep breath as she heard footsteps getting closer. She squeezed Charlotte a little tighter.

Embry and Jared search through everything they could find. Bella tried to remain calm while with Charlotte but the truth was she was getting more and more scared. She did feel some relief knowing Charlotte couldn't see her face filled with fear.

"Did you hear that?" Jared asked his brother.

"Nah man, you are just paranoid. We should just give up looking for these bitches and leave. For all we know they could be gone by now."

"There could be some good shit up here. Let's just take a quick look around and-"

"Freeze! Stop where you are and walk towards us with your hands up!" Bella and Charlotte heard whom they assumed was a police officer shout.

"Fuck!" Embry shouted as he watched Jared walk towards the police with his hands in the air. Sirens could be heard getting closer.

"Came on man, come closer. It's over. The house is surrounded," the voice tried to convenience Embry.

Thinking quickly, Embry raised one hand and reached into the back of his waistband and pulled out a gun. He aimed it at the police and fired a shot.

Charlotte let out a whine as Bella hugged her tighter. "Honey, shhh, it's almost over," Bella reassured her as more rounds of fire were exchanged. After what seemed like an eternity, the exchange ended and the police had Embry.

"Is anyone up here? This is Officer Ferguson."

"We're in the closet!" Charlotte yelled.

The officer opened the door and looked over Bella and Charlotte. "Are you two okay?"

"We're okay just scared. Bella, you can get off of me now, please?" Charlotte asked Bella.

"I don't give a damn who you are," Carlisle's voice could be heard into the attic. "This is my house. I don't give a fuck that this is a crime scene. My daughter and my fiancée are up here and I want to see them now and make sure they are okay."

"Dad!" Charlotte shouted still under Bella.

Carlisle pushed his way through the police and ran up the stairs. As he figured out they were in the closet, he ran that way but not before hearing a police officer call for an ambulance.

"Daddy!" Charlotte cried again as she finally ran towards Carlisle. She had blood on her.

As Carlisle got closer to Charlotte, a police officer stopped him.

"Sir, you can't right now," the officer began.

"I sure as hell can. That's my daughter. Charlotte baby," Carlisle called as he held his daughter. Both had tears in their eyes. "What happened?"

"Dad," Charlotte cried again.

Carlisle looked down and saw the blood again. He pulled himself away from Charlotte. "Honey, where are you hurt? There is so much blood all over you."

"It-it isn't me. It's Bella," Charlotte began again with water rushing from her eyes. "Bella saved me dad. The police are with her in the closet. I'm sorry dad, I'm so sorry," Charlotte told her father.

Turning his head, Carlisle saw where Bella was being worked on. While holding onto Charlotte, Carlisle burst into a new round of tears. He walked over to the paramedics.

"Sir, I can't let you get closer."

"She's my fiancée, she's, she's," Carlisle paused for a split second. "She's my everything," Carlisle began to explain.

"I understand sir. Please let us take care of her and do our job."

"Garrett we've got to go now. She's going to crash," another paramedic stated.

They watched as the first paramedic ran over and began to work on Bella.

"Is she going to be okay?" Charlotte questioned.

Carlisle shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know honey. Are you sure you are okay? There is a lot of blood on you."

"No I'm fine dad. I'm not hurt. The blood, it isn't mine."

Shaking his head Carlisle looked at his daughter. "Tell me what the hell happened."

Charlotte looked down at her fingers as she began to speak. "Dad, I've been lying to you for a long time."

"Lying? I don't understand what you are talking about. Charlotte please explain what you are thinking to me."

Charlotte sat down on a chair. She was quiet at first. She wiped her tears as she began to tell her tale. "This summer you told me that I couldn't see Jared because he was too old for me. I've actually been sneaking around seeing him since July. Jane doesn't even know." Charlotte looked at her father who began to show disappointment in his eyes. "Recently you thought that I was staying at school tutoring kids, I wasn't. I was with Jared. Most of the time we were here, alone. We've kissed and fooled around but we never, well, you know." Charlotte paused and looked at her father who looked betrayed. Charlotte continued. "Today we planned on, well, you know, but I didn't want to. I told him to stop. He laughed at me and said we were going to anyway. He then said he and his brother were going to take some of our stuff too. He said he was going to take me too," Charlotte cried.

"For whatever reason, Bella came home and she must have heard him. She took Peter's bat and hit him. That's when we hid. First in the closet and then up here in the attic." Charlotte stopped and cried uncontrollably. Carlisle had a blank reaction. He was shocked. He knew that he should comfort his daughter but he physically couldn't. He was too in shock. He barely heard Charlotte continue. "I'm so sorry daddy. He made me feel special. He made me feel like I mattered. It was stupid now I see, but I began to confide in him about things going on at home. He convinced me that Bella didn't love me or care about me. He was the one who told me she hated me. I thought he loved me and would be honest with me. He didn't. He made me believe that Bella could care less about me. Earlier, when he was-when he was on top of me, he laughed at me and told me I was stupid. He told me that I was too stupid to see that Bella loved me. He said I was easy to manipulate. He called me a stupid little girl. He laughed at me."

Carlisle collected his thoughts. He had a hard time forming words. "I-I don't know what to say Charlotte Anne. I'm furious that you have been lying to me for months. I don't know how to react to that but I am so thankful you are okay and you are safe, but you lied sweetheart." He paused as he saw the paramedics packed up and ready to go. Bella laid on a stretcher and looked dirty with all of the blood on her clothes and face. The first paramedic walked towards him.

"She is unresponsive right now. We're taking her to Forks General."

"We'll be there." Carlisle promised as he watched Bella being wheeled down the stairs. He turned and stood in front of a police officer.

"Dr. Cullen, I'm Detective Malloy and I hate to do this, but we have some questions for your daughter. She needs to go to the station to be questioned.

"Of course, right. Does it have to be immediate? I'd like to go to the hospital and check on-"

"Jesus Christ, I am family! What the fuck happened to her and why is she being taken away? Bella? Bella! Bella god damn it, you aren't funny, answer me! Bella!" Carlisle heard Edward yelling from below them.

Carlisle and Charlotte walked down the stairs and saw Edward and Alice on the landing. Carlisle confirmed that Edward was indeed Bella's family. Carlisle looked at Edward and began to explain that Bella was shot and was on her way to the hospital. As Carlisle told the story to his friends, Edward sank to his feet with grief and cried. Alice cradled his head while holding Charlotte's hand and looking at Carlisle.

"I can take Charlotte to the police station, you can't be in two places at once," Alice volunteered.

Not missing a beat, Carlisle looked at Alice. "Thank you Alice, I appreciate it."

"Not a problem Carlisle. After the questioning, we'll meet you guys at the hospital."

"Where is Emily?" Carlisle asked.

"She's with my mother. I got Bella's text and I wasn't sure where else to leave her. Esme and Ed are at the lake house, but on their way here. I talked to Ed. Esme was very distraught. They are on their way home. I hope that is okay I left Emily with my mom. I couldn't think of any place else to be," Alice explained.

"That's fine, thank you. I'm glad she's safe and kind of away from all of this," Carlisle said offering a half smile.

"Dr. Cullen," a police officer said. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I am heading to the hospital to get a report on Ms. Swan's condition. Would you like a ride? I really don't think you should be driving."

"Thank you officer, I think I will take you up on that," Carlisle said extending his hand.

"I need to go too," Edward spoke up. "I should be able to pull myself together by the time we get to the hospital." He turned to Alice. He kissed her and held her tight. "Thank you for taking care of Charlotte. I love you."

Alice leaned into Edward and kissed his lips. "I love you and I love your family, of course I'd help out. I'm going to let Charlotte change and then we are heading to the police station."

"I don't know how to say this in nicer ways but you need to bring the clothes, that you are wearing, with you for evidence," the officer told Charlotte.

Charlotte nodded her head and promised to bring the items with her. Within a few moments, every split to go to their respectful places. Bella remained on the mind of all. They wondered if what her fate would be. Charlotte felt completely responsible for everything that unraveled that afternoon. Carlisle couldn't stop thinking about how he couldn't lose another person he loved more than his own life.

Author's Note two:

Okay-

I'm not usually good at throwing a curve ball, however I think I did all right with this chapter. Thoughts? Thanks for reading :)