Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

23. Help

Epov:

I woke up screaming. Although I don't know what woke me and I couldn't remember if I had a bad dream, but I knew something was wrong. Esme and Carlisle came running into my room.

"What is wrong Edward? What happened? Did you have a bad dream?" She asked concerned while I glanced at the clock. Seven am, I sighed at least it wasn't early morning. What woke me? All I knew was that something was wrong. I had the same feeling I had the day Bella and Jacob had their big fight.

"Edward, please talk to us." Esme said as I ran my hand through my hair. My hair was drenched with sweat.

"I don't know what's wrong. I just have a feeling that somewhere something is terribly wrong. I'm sorry if I woke you." I said as I stood up to take a shower. Maybe I was just nervous about the motorcycle lessons Bella was going to give me today. Thinking of Bella made me feel better instantly. It was funny how just thinking of her calmed me. Even on a subconscious level she had an effect on me. As if she was a drug, my own personal brand of heroin.

"You didn't wake us honey. We were about to make some breakfast and then heard you screaming. It sounded as if you were being killed or tortured. Are you sure nothing's wrong?" Esme asked while she and Carlisle looked at me concerned. I was still thinking about Bella and it was easy to smile at them warmly, putting them at ease.

"I'm sure. It was probably just a nightmare. Carlisle maybe you should check under my bed, just to make sure there's no monsters after me." They laughed and the worry that still lingered in their eyes disappeared.

"Maybe I should check your closet too." He said mockingly and they turned to leave and give me some privacy.

"Feel free to join us for breakfast" Esme said before she closed the door.

I walked into my bathroom and took a long relaxing shower. The dreaded feeling was long gone by the time I was done and dressed in my oldest pair of jeans. In my hands were a black and white helmet, a black leather jacket and leather gloves. This was Bella's only condition before she agreed to teach me how to correctly drive a motorcycle. I smiled as I remembered her answer when I asked her what exactly the correct way was.

"Oh, not crashing or dieing, forcing someone to remove what's left of you from the road with a shovel. I swear Edward If you crash and die after I teach you how to drive a motorcycle, I will bring you back to life and kill you again myself. Then I will bring you back, shove a toothbrush in your hand and force you too clean up the mess." I smiled. I could remember so clearly how she jabbed me in the chest glaring at me, reminding me of a harpy. I would have cringed away in fear but she looked so damn cute.

I sighed and walked to the kitchen, I could hear Carlisle and Esme laughing as I neared it. "What's so funny?" I asked as I placed the motorcycle gear on the counter and helped myself to some scrambled eggs and bacon.

"Oh nothing, are you still planning to learn how to drive that monstrosity? You know how I feel about this Edward. Bikers are…"

"Organ donors, I know Carlisle but Bella is a really good cyclist and the safest driver ever." I said rolling my eyes. Carlisle was on a mission to make me forget about riding bikes. He even downloaded some pictures from the internet, they were about gruesome motorcycle accidents but when I remarked how one particular one would take ages to clean with a toothbrush he gave up trying to convince me to let go of the idea.

"You could be the safest driver in the world but it takes only one stupid person to drive into you." Esme voiced her concern.

"True but they could drive into me even when I'm in a car. Stop worrying about it. Anyway Forks has twelve sunny days a year, it's not like I'll be driving a bike everyday." This fact comforted them somewhat since they didn't voice anymore concerns.

After breakfast I played on the piano for a while before Carlisle challenged me to a game of chess. We sat at a table in his study with multiple empty cups of coffee next to us bent over the chess board. My plan to lure Carlisle into a trap was paying off as he moved his knight opening his queen to my powerful bishop when our little war was interrupted.

"Edward, what time were you expecting Bella?" Esme asked and I glanced towards the clock behind Carlisle's head. Holy crap! It was almost one o'clock. I took out my cell phone and checked it for missed calls or messages. A blank screen stared back at me.

"Shit, my battery is dead. Bella should have been here two hours ago." I said as I reached for our house phone.

I dialed Bella's number and listened to the dial tone. Why wasn't she answering and why didn't she try to reach me on the house phone? Dammit, why didn't I check my cell phones battery? Come on Bells pick up. Her phone went to voicemail.

"Bella it's me, please call me as soon as you get this." I placed the phone back on the receiver. "She's not answering her phone." I stood up and started pacing the study. Where are you Bella?

"Calm down Edward. I'm sure she's fine, don't get ahead of yourself." Carlisle said placing his hand on my shoulder. "Did she say anything to you last night?" He asked and I stopped pacing sighing in relief.

"She said she was going to talk to Jacob, maybe she is still with him."

Esme smiled, "You see, she's ok. She probably just got held up. She'll call you back any minute now." I sat down returning her smile and while I hoped she was right I couldn't help but keep an eye on the clock.

She didn't call. I sat there waiting and fought off multiple anxiety attacks. I tried calling her again at two pm to no avail. I tried again at three and placed the phone back on the receiver before I even heard the second word of her voicemail. By five pm Carlisle and Esme began to get worried too.

"I can't handle this anymore. I'm going to her house." I grabbed my car keys and headed for the front door.

"Edward wait, were coming with you." I didn't slow down when I heard Carlisle shout after me but got in my car and started it. I revved the engine as I waited for them to get in, why did it look like they were moving in slow motion? As soon as they got in I pulled away with screeching tires, Esme didn't say anything as I sped towards Bella's house.

I stopped in front of Bella's house and my brakes screamed in protest, as I got out I could smell the burnt rubber. I walked up to the front door briskly and was about to knock when it was opened by Alice. "Edward what is going on?" She asked worriedly.

"Alice is Bella here?" I asked without bothering to answer her question. She glanced behind me towards Esme and Carlisle and then looked at me with wide eyes.

"She's not with you?" I forgot to breathe and my knees buckled as I shook my head. I collapsed on the front porch, shaking from head to toes.

"Carlisle what is wrong with him?" Alice asked concerned as Carlisle and Esme knelt down beside me.

"Edward breathe, you need to breathe. Alice he's in shock, are your parents home?" He gripped my head between his hands. "Edward breathe, you have to calm down."

My lungs ached inside my chest and I finally listened to them as I breathed. The pressure on my chest seized but my heart felt ten times heavier than usual.

"Carlisle what's going on?" Charlie said suddenly as he appeared next to Alice. She must have fetched him from wherever he was in the house. I was captured in such a haze, I barely noticed as Charlie and Carlisle helped me inside one of my arms swung over their shoulders. "

Do you know where Bella is?" Carlisle asked Charlie as they helped me to the sofa. I snapped out of my haze when I heard her name.

"No we all thought she was with Edward. We tried calling her but she's not answering her phone." Alice brought me some sweet tea and sat down next to me. I sipped the hot liquid when something dawned on me.

"Did anyone call the others, maybe she's with them?" I asked hopefully.

"I was with them the whole day and we didn't see her at all." Alice said and I slumped back spilling some of the tea on me but I didn't care.

"Wait, are you telling me Bella is missing?" Charlie asked his voice an octave higher with each word.

"Bella is missing! What do you mean she is missing?" Renee shouted from where she just entered the already too crowded living room. Esme went to comfort her while Carlisle turned to Charlie.

"Edward said she mentioned going to Jacob this morning did she return from La Push?" Charlie shook his head.

"We haven't seen her all day." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. We all waited in silence and I could hear Renee sob where she stood in Esme's embrace.

"Billy did Bella visit Jacob this morning?" I saw how the little hope on his face disappeared. He hung up on Billy without another word and started dialing again.

"Harry, I want every deputy in my office in the next thirty minutes. It's an emergency… I don't care if you have to fetch each one of them at their house personally, just make sure they're all there." He hung up and turned to Alice.

"Alice phone Emmett and explain to him what happened, ask him to pick up Jasper. They have to search the surrounding forest. Then go and pick up Rosalie and search the nearest beaches starting with La Push. Renee and Esme search through the town. Carlisle you're with me and the rest of the police force. Edward, go to the Blacks and ask Jacob to take you to the tree house. All of us will meet back here in a few hours" The chief of police ordered us. Without waiting for a response he hugged Renee quickly and beckoned for Carlisle to follow him.

Renee followed Esme as she walked to the door and grabbed her car keys. Alice stared at me for a minute before she took out her phone and dialed a number. She talked to Emmett briefly and started to walk to the front door.

"Alice!" She spun around looking at me quizzically. "How do I get to Jacob's house?" I asked while I joined her at the front door. She informed me quickly and jumped in her Porsche. I sped towards La Push ignoring my pounding heart and only focused on finding Bella. If I had to face a thousand Jacob Blacks to find her then I will do just that. I stopped in front of a small house in La Push and pushed every emotion aside. I walked to the door and knocked praying that he would help me.

Billy opened the door and smiled. "Edward, my boy, what brings you here?" He motioned me inside and sat down on a small sofa. I closed the door behind me and stood in the middle of the room.

"Billy, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Is Jacob here?"

He frowned. "Does this have something to do with that strange phone call from Charlie?" He asked and I could only nod. "Jacob, get in here now!" He shouted and we waited about five minutes before a door opened and Jacob walked out. I noticed that his hair was longer it was about shoulder length. He stopped a few feet away from me. He folded his arms looking as cocky as ever. I took a big breath and decided telling them straight. It was the best way to break the news.

"Bella's missing. We don't know when or where she went missing and we started searching for her about half an hour ago. Jacob we need your help. I need your help."

Jacob fell down on the couch next to his father, both of them was speechless. Billy got up first.

"Where is Charlie?" He asked already searching for his car keys.

"Police station, I think." He nodded and headed out, I looked at Jacob who was looking at the ground. A few emotions played across his face

"What do you want me to do?" He asked finally looking at me. For the first time he looked like the old Jacob.

"Charlie said something about a tree house." He nodded and got to his feet.

"I'm sorry Edward, I wanted to apologize so many times but I didn't know how." He said walking over.

"No apology needed, come we better get a move on. We have to meet the others in a few hours." He nodded and led the way out of the house and into the forest.

We hiked together in silence for a while. With every step I gave, hope burned in me like a fire. I didn't think about what might have happened to her and only focused on finding her. I wasn't going to lose her too.

"I was wrong about you. I can see that you do love her, maybe even more than I love her." Jacob said suddenly breaking the silence.

"I do love her, I'll always love her." I stated simply knowing that it was true.

"We'll find her Edward." We both picked up the pace with new determination.

"Why does Charlie think she might be at the tree house?" I asked just to have something to talk about.

"Two years ago Bella was depressed over her Grandmother's death. She disappeared for two days and we finally found her at the tree house. She said that being on her own in nature helped her to work through her issues and she was a lot better after that."

I never thought that Bella could get depressed or that she suffered the loss of someone she loved. I realized that there was still so much about her I didn't know. We hiked in silence the rest of the way and when we walked into the clearing. The hope that burned inside of me died when Jacob climbed up to the tree house and shook his head when he found it as empty as we were inside. We turned our backs on the clearing and walked back to Jacob's house.

We didn't say anything as worst case scenarios ran through our minds. It was about ten pm when we finally arrived at his house. We got into my car and drove to Bella's house. Every light accept the one in Bella's room was burning. There were cars everywhere in the street. We walked into the crowded house dragging our feet. I didn't have to look at the people to know that Bella was still missing. Charlie was studying a map and looked up when we entered only to look down again when he saw the hopelessness on our faces.

I walked trough the crowd of people to her room, I opened the door wishing that she was waiting inside for me. I walked in to the dimly lit room and saw that her bed was unmade and her room in the state she left it this morning. I walked over and grabbed her pillow. Walking to the rocking chair I sat down cradling the pillow in my chest wishing I could hold her instead. Her strawberry smell still lingered on the pillow and it calmed me enough to glance around the room.

It was almost as I remembered it, books strewn everywhere over her desk. The new Wuthering Heights book I bought her was now lying dog eared next to me on the ground. Old socks were lying in the corner…I stood up. There was a pair of old socks in the corner. I ran down the stairs bumping into a few people but didn't care to look. I burst into the living room and everyone turned to look at me.

"Does anyone know what Bella's jogging route is?"

Bpov:

I felt pain, endless pain. It felt like my head was covered in thorns and no matter which way I turned my head I felt even more pain. I opened my eyes and saw a dimly lit wall. I tried to move my hands but rough bindings bit into my flesh, I quit squirming since it only brought on new waves of pain. After I while, through the pain I felt cold and I dared to glance at my legs. I was still dressed in my tracksuit and my feet were bound by rough rope. I was on my side lying on a white mattress on an even smaller bed. I heard voices coming from somewhere and the gurgle of water somewhere nearby before blackness swallowed me again.

Pain greeted me again when I woke up but this time, I welcomed it. Pain meant I wasn't dead yet. They say that before you die your life flashes before your eyes. Well they were wrong, I didn't see my life I saw everything I still wanted to do. I wanted to tell my mother I thought her latest interest, yoga, was a waste of time. She was going to end up breaking her back. I wanted to tell my father that he should get of the couch and into the gym. I wanted to be Bella Barbie for Alice at least once more. I wanted to make peace with Jacob and I wanted to tell Edward that I love him. I wanted to finish school, go study, get a job, get married and have children. I wanted to live. Death, death is easy. Life is much harder.

I don't know how long I have been unconscious, a day... a week... maybe only a few hours. I was in a small room. The bed was the only furniture. Suddenly the door opened and James came into the room.

"Isabella, you're awake. Good, Victoria will take you to the bathroom shortly. Laurent will then tell you the rules to our little game and I'll bring you some food later. Do you have any questions?" He asked as he sat down beside me trailing his hand down my leg. I suppressed a shudder.

"What time is it?" I asked he smiled and took his hand of me.

"About four pm, ah Victoria right on time. See you later Isabella." Victoria entered the room and he left.

"Welcome to the land of the living." She sneered and took out a knife. She cut the ropes by my feet. "As long as you listen to us you'll stay alive longer. Personally I hope you don't, that way I can teach you some manners. Come on let's get a move on." She said as I sat up and prodded me in the ribs with the knife.

She escorted me to the bathroom right across the room I was kept in and all I could make out was that we were in some sort of cabin. She pushed me into the bathroom quickly before I could get a good look at the rest of the house. She cut the ropes around my hands, I rubbed my sore wrists.

"You have ten minutes and if you're not finished I'll pull you out by your hair." She closed the door and left me in the little bathroom. There was no window so she had no need to stay. Escaping was out of the question since the only way out was through the living room. For now, I had to do as I was told to stay alive. I stripped quickly and took a quick shower. I found some clean clothes set out on one side and dressed quickly. I was just pulling the top over my head when she entered again. "Good, now back to your room."

Laurent was in the room waiting for me. Victoria closed the room door behind me leaving me alone with him. "Come sit down Bella. Do you mind me calling you that? I know that is what Edward and your friends call you." I shook my head and went to sit down on the bed. He took out a knife and started cleaning his nails with it.

"James wants me to explain the rules to you. The rules are simple..." He moved so quickly I could barely see it. He pressed the tip of the knife into my throat, "The rules are simple. Do as you're told and we won't kill you...soon. Do you understand?" He asked as I, by instinct, tilted my head back to escape the tip of the knife.

I swallowed, "Yes." The door opened again.

"That's enough. Clearly she gets the point." James said and Laurent grunted leaving the room.

"Here is some food." He placed a tray with soup and bread next to me. "Oh, and a comb. I thought you might like to brush your hair." He placed a small black come next to the tray. "Oh and before I forget..." He trailed his hand down my cheek and down my throat. He hooked his finger around the silver chain Edward bought me. "May I?" He leaned over me and unfastened the chain. "Mm you smell nice, don't worry Bella the game is about to begin. Soon it will be all over, for you mostly in anyway." He stood up and looked at the trinket in the air.

"Edward will never let you get away with this."

He smiled and chuckled. "I'm hoping he would do just that. It's far more interesting when a vengeful lover comes running in to save the day." So that was his plan to use me as bait to lure in Edward.

"You bastard! You won't get..." He spun around and back handed me before I could finish my sentence.

"See what you made me do. I don't want to hurt you unnecessarily Isabella. So don't force me to." I rubbed my burning cheek while he walked out the door locking it behind him.

Jpov:

I really didn't want to hit her and even felt a little bad about it. But she should watch her mouth the sooner she learnt her lesson the better. I walked into the living room. Laurent was sprawled on the couch and Victoria stood against the wall.

"Here Babe it's time you made a small delivery. I think it's time Edward knew what happened to his loved one." I held out the chain to her.

"Great but remember he is mine to finish." I nodded and smiled to her. She took the chain and left.

"Don't ever interrupt me again James. I like to play with my food before I enjoy there forbidden fruits." I cringed when I heard the way he talked about Isabella. What the hell? Since when did I feel sorry for her?

"Patience Laurent, you were drooling all over her. You'll get to have you fun when the time is right."

He snickered. "She reminds me of Tanya. Maybe she'll put up a better fight."

I chuckled. "Maybe..."

A/n so things are hectic at my side. I'm moving into a flat (apartment) with my brother and between packing and working I had almost no time to write. Plus, I had a little writer's block so yeah just bare with me and I will update whenever I can. Ok so Jpov is back but once again it was necessary to let you know what they are planning. A little Bella pov too, to let you know how she is coping with everything and the return of Jacob. Yeah I like him as the best friend but not as a boyfriend so I had to bring him back. And even a mention of Tanya... what this brain of mine cooks up, even I don't know sometimes.

Thank you for all the great reviews. If I kept you awake during the last chapter dew to the suspense that was the intended idea and I hope nobody went crazy waiting for this chapter. Thanks for adding the story to your favorites and alerts lists I would like to thank my great beta, Princess Briar Rose, for polishing this chapter to perfection and for all her support.

Thanks for reading.