CHAPTER NINETEEN– ENIGMA

BELLA POV

A hundred things were going through my mind at once as I walked up the steps to the porch. The main one was what I just revealed to Edward. I have had trust issues since I came to Forks and now he knew why. My best friend betrayed me the worse way possible and I would never get back what he took from me my innocents and my virtue. Over a decade we spent together being friends and he threw that all away in the matter of minutes all because of one drunken mistake. I couldn't tell Edward his name because I knew that Edward would indeed follow through on his plan to get revenge. I wasn't protecting my ex friend, I was protecting Edward because I didn't want him to go to prison. My so called friend has already taken so much away from me and I would not let him take anything else including Edward.

Edward is the only person except for obviously myself and, well ill say the 'unknown' who knows what happened. I never told anybody else what happened because I had nobody else to tell. Of course I have other friends but they were all wrapped up with the own silly lives that they barely even took notice of me most of the times. I completely shut down and built walls around myself because in my mind if my best friend who knew me for years could betray me like that then everybody else could.

After the incident I avoided him like the plague. He tried so many times to approach me and to apologize but seriously how the fuck can you even apologise to somebody after you raped them? I locked myself away in my room and shut out my other friends and even my own father. My father kept questioning my sudden attitude change and why I didn't speak to the unknown anymore but I just kept brushing him off then eventually avoided my father like the plague as well. A little over a month after the incident things started to get easier because the unknown had to move to Chicago because his father had a better job offer. I was ecstatic that day because the further he was away from me the better.

A short while afterwards I tried to push what happened to the back of my mind. I return back to my normal life like going to school and hang out with my friends but it wasn't the same anymore. Everything I did didn't feel right I had become solid on the outside and empty in the middle. Everything I was before the incident was gone and disappeared into nothing. It wasn't until I met Edward that things started to change. The first time in over a year he was the only person who looked right through me and seen the girl I used to be and without any effort he managed to smash right through my walls of comfort and solitude. I only hope that we could both escape this town together because I would not go back to who I was. I could not go back to being a quiet, useless nobody.

I shook my head and exhaled deeply then knocked the door. It didn't take long for my father to answer. As soon as he looked at me I could see the worry and concern in his eyes. Did I really look that bad?

"Bella!" He screamed pulling me into a hug.

I didn't want to return it and the thought of him even touching me made me want to through up, but I had to play my role so I unwillingly put my arms around him. He held me for ages and the lack of oxygen from being held to tightly started to make my legs buckle so I had to pull away from him.

"Are you hurt?" He questioned.

"No"

"Here come and sit down" He said ushering me away from the door.

He closed the door then locked it place. He proceeded to put the alarm on as I walked into the kitchen. My eyes scanned everywhere in search of his briefcase but it wasn't in here. I walked to one of the stool by the island and sat down.

"What's happened?" he asked walking into the kitchen with his arms folded.

"I just realised that I belong here that's all" I whispered looking down.

"It about time, I told you that boy was nothing but bad news" he grunted.

I held my tongue and bit my lip from arguing with him.

"Where's your stuff?"

Time for one of your fantastic quick come backs Bella. I told myself

"I left them at his house" I lied.

"Well let's go and get them"

"No" I said to eagerly "It's alright there only clothes anyway" I quickly recovered myself.

"And the rest" he said raising his eyebrow.

"What rest?"

He rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Isabella I know you took some money from my safe" He informed me. "I don't know how you managed to get in there"

"I should know my own birthday" I interrupting him.

"However I'm not upset that you took it but there was a lot of money in there and I plan to get it back"

"You mean this money" I said reaching into my jacket pocket.

I threw the rolls of money onto the table and thanked god that I had the same jacket on as the other night. I didn't like where this conversation was going, he knew that I looked in the safe so he could have thought that I looked in the envelope that he was tiring so well to hide from me.

"There's your money, I don't care about my stupid clothes so can we just forget about it. Forget about him, about the money, about everything and just start again" I said changing the subject.

He arched his eyebrows and walked over to me. He kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arms around me.

"Alright Bella and I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you"

No he wasn't sorry, for anything. I swallowed my words that were fighting to get out and bit my lip again.

"And I'm sorry I lost my temper before I didn't mean to hit you and I'm ashamed of my actions" He apologized again letting go of me.

"It's fine" I lied.

"Are you hungry?"

Was I fuck, little did he know I had already eaten the majority of the food outside with Edward. I shook my head because I didn't want to chance any unexpected words to come out.

"Oh come one, you look like you haven't eaten in days and besides it isn't everyday you see me attempt to cook?" He half smiled.

Actually him being in the kitchen gave me an advantage.

"Alright" I half smiled back.

"Ok, go and watch some TV or something and I'll call you when it's ready" He said walking off to the cupboards.

"Actually I'm going to take a quick bath" I told him.

"Alright kiddo"

I slipped off the stool and proceeded into the hallway. I walked out to the living room and scanned the room for his briefcase but yet again nothing. I walked up the stairs in a normal pace and went straight to my bedroom. I proceeded to my on-suit and turned the shower on. I left the door opened as well as my bedroom door to make the sound of running water echo around the house. As I walked out to the hallway a beam of light shone through the window and reflected into my eyes.

I continued to the window and looked out through it but couldn't see any signs of life. Just then there was a tiny flicker of light coming from something in the trees which caused the light to reflect in my eyes again. I looked into the direction and noticed Edward perched on top of a branch with something shiny in his hand. What the hell was he doing in a tree? I couldn't make out what it was but he obviously used the sun's rays to reflect a light off it to me to get my attention.

He was too far away from me to talk to without shouting so I didn't bother opening the window. He mouthed something to me but I couldn't make out what it was so I shrugged. He pointed at me then placed his hands palms up then opened and closed them as if he was opened and closing an invisible book. I knew he was tiring to ask me if I had found the documents yet so I shook my head. He nodded and gave me a smile then I returned it. It was hard but I eventually tore my gaze away from him and proceeded with my search.

I went straight into my father's room and searched everywhere from his closet to the side of his bed. I huffed and crept back out his room closing his door behind me. The only place it could be was in his study. I listened for the sounds of pans and cutlery from the kitchen then I quietly crept downstairs missing out the steps that creaked. I stopped in the hallway and peaked out to see Charlie stirring something on the stove. I turned around and crept through the living room and in the hallway to his study. I opened the door and noticed the brown briefcase sitting at the side of his desk. I walked in and closed the door behind me then quickly ran to the briefcase and pulled it off the floor. I placed it on the table and hunched over to examine it.

Luck was on my side because the combination was already punched in and staring at me in the face. I pushed the two buttons and the clasps sprung up at the same time. I opened it and searched through a pile of papers and folders scanning through all the names to make sure that there wasn't anything else we could use. My stomach started to do back flips when I came across the words confidential. I grabbed the envelope and neatly put the rest of the papers back before closing the briefcase. I set it down in the same position and walked back to the door holding the envelope tightly against my chest. The first part of the task was done, now I had to get out of here with it.

I couldn't go out the front door because it was locked and alarmed. I couldn't go out the pantry window because Charlie was occupying the kitchen so what could I do? The most important thing was getting these papers out then I could worry about myself afterwards and I knew exactly how I was going to do it. I folded the envelope in half and unzipped my jacket. I placed it by my chest and pulled the zip all the way up to my neck making sure the envelope was completely hidden. I opened the door and crept out the hallway to the living room. I picked up the remote and closed the drapes because it was going to make my plan a lot easier. I placed the remote back down and headed towards the stairs.

"I thought you were in the bath" Charlie said startling me.

I jumped out my skin and my heart plummeted into my stomach. I spun around on the stairs and held my hand to my chest.

"Dad you scared me" I replied.

"Sorry" he laughed "What you doing?"

"Going in the bath, I had to wait for it to fill up" I lied again.

"Ok, dinner will be ready soon so hurry up" he smirked walking away.

I took a deep breath in and out and headed back up the stairs. I walked straight to the window in the hallway and searched the trees. I wasn't long before my eyes fell onto Edward who was still sitting comfortable on the branch. As soon as he seen me he became aware and ridged. I lifted the window up and peered out of it then I unzipped my jacket and reached in to grab the envelope. I knew this was no way to treat vital information but it was better to get this out now then to possible get caught with it. I held up the envelope to show Edward I had it then I threw it out the window and watched it swirl around the air and land on the grass just outside the living room windows. It was a good thing I shut the drapes because now the envelopes and Edward would be unseen to my father.

Edward got to his feet on the tree branch and pointed at me then to the ground. I nodded to confirm that I would be out as soon as I could then I closed the window. I retreated to my bedroom and into my on-suit. I striped out of my clothes and stepped into the already running shower. Forget having the bath that would have taken too long so instead I had the quickest shower possible. I got out and quickly died myself and my hair. I wrapped the towel around myself and as I was tying my wet hair back the sound of a door opening made me pause. I waited for a moment but it was silent again so I presumed my ears were playing tricks on me. I retreated to my bedroom then into my wardrobe and grabbed the first clothes my hands touched. I slipped into a pair of dark blue denim jeans and put a white tank top on. I slipped back into my converse and adjusted the knife that was still in there. I pulled my jacket back on and headed back out my room and downstairs.

"Just in time" Charlie grinned.

He was still stirring something in the pan and was beginning to plate up as I walked over to the island and sat down. It smelled nice but looked disgusting. My stomach was still stuffed full of junk food and the sight of this dinner made me want to puke.

"Did you say you wanted them in the red folder?"

My head snapped up to the voice I knew all too well standing in the hallway. I blinked a few times to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. My heart plummeted into the pit of my stomach then I sat frozen on the stool like a block of ice, I couldn't even speak let alone move.

"Yes thank you Ms Conner's" Charlie said.

What the hell was she doing here? Looks like my ears weren't playing tricks on me in the bathroom. I looked at Charlie with wondering eyes hoping that he would somehow give me an explanation.

"Isabella, glad your home safe" Ms Conner's smirked. "You had your father worried"

"She did indeed but it's alright now, she back home safe where she belongs" Charlie smiled.

"Yes it's a good thing the bad influence is now out of her life" She smiled a sinister smile.

I didn't like the way she phrased that comment which reminded me. Edward wouldn't have let her just waltz right into the front door so where the hell was he? Had she hurt him? Had she killed him?

"I found this" She said reaching into her blazer "You must have left it at the office"

She walked over to the island and placed the brown envelope down in front of me.

"We wouldn't want this to end up in the wrong hands now would we?" she added.

My eyes were now fixated on the envelope with the words confidential written across it. My breathing excelerated and the tears slowly rolled down my cheeks one by one. The thought of her hurting Edward, the thought of him lying dead just outside the house made my whole world collapse around me. In this moment I truly understood Edwards's words that he once said to me. Edward was my life, my world, my everything so without him what was the point. I didn't care if I died right this second because I had nothing to live for without him.

"Bella" Charlie said pulling me out of thought.

I turned to him but said nothing. He walked over to me and tried to reach his hand out to mine but I pulled it away from him. What the hell was she doing here? Did he know that I was playing him all along? Did he invite her over to kill me and worse was he going to let her kill me? He sat back and did nothing when they killed others so why should I be any different.

"Is she here to kill me?" I whispered standing up.

My words took his breath away and I watched the colour drain from his face.

"Bella what the hell are you talking about?" He replied.

I tore my gaze away from him and glared at Conner's. I felt nothing but hatred for her, I was that enraged I was like a bull ready to charge at the colour red.

"I'm not going to kill you Isabella" She laughed.

"Fuck you bitch" I growled.

"Isabella!" Charlie scolded me

"Well at least not yet" She smiled.

"Excuse me" Charlie spat walking over to her "Are you threatening my daughter?"

"It seem so" Conner's smiled.

"That's it get out of my house" Charlie shouted "This program is terminated as of now"

"Luckily for us you can't terminate something that is not part of the program anymore" She countered.

What the hell were they talking about? This whole thing was a fucking enigma to me. Why couldn't they just speak in English instead of riddles and shit?

"I will not stand by and defend this program anymore! Mr Langford is going to hear about this!" He hissed.

"Save your breath his a very busy man and besides why trouble him with a problem he already knows about" She smirked.

Charlie stood there in shock and disbelief while I stood there in confusion.

"This program has escalated out of control for far too long. I will put an end to this wither you like it or not!" He shouted then began walking off.

Before I knew what was happening she had Charlie throat clasped tightly in her hand. She lifted him off the ground effortlessly like she once did to Edward. Her fingers dug into his throat causing blood to pour out of his jugular and slide down his neck.

"No!" I screamed.

Not a moment too soon I brought my knee up and grabbed the knife from inside my shoe. I didn't even think about what I was going to do because the plan was already in my head, and I didn't hesitate. I ran at her and jumped on her back. I held the knife with a firm grip and brought it up to her head. I used all my adrenaline and drove the blade right into her neck. Her grip on Charlie's throat loosened and she dropped him to the floor. I left the blade in her neck as I jumped off her and expected her to scream out or collapse to the floor but she did neither. Instead she quickly turned around and I felt a blow to my face. It happened that quickly I couldn't even make sure if it was her hand that struck me. I flew backwards and hit the floor, my face was throbbing and my vision was blurred by the sudden attack. Her blurry outline came into view then and I felt her hand clasp around my throat. Her grip was that tight I couldn't breath, I clawed at her hand then I felt myself being lifted off the floor. My vision came back and my eyes were fixated on the huge gash on her neck. The blade was still in there but there were no traces of blood. As if things couldn't get any more fucked up!

She picked me up like I weighed as thin as a piece of paper then she threw me backwards making me land on the island table. I rolled off and crashed on top of the stools then hit the ground taking the stools with me. I groaned in pain as the metal from the stool smacked right into my hip bone. Why couldn't she just kill me quickly instead of throwing me around like ragdoll? If there was a god then why make me suffer? I wasn't a bad person, I hadn't done anything to anybody so why wasn't entitled to a quick and easy death?

I heard the clicking of her heels approach me so I closed my eyes and waited for the next blow. I flinched when I heard a huge bang then waited for the pain to kick in, but it never did.

"Surprise bitch!" I heard a growl.

My eyes snapped open to the sound of his voice and my eyes frantically searched for him. His was standing in the hallway with two other people I have never seen before. Even with the blood pouring out of his head, his bust up lip and the black eye, Edward still looked perfect as ever. He was holding a gun, something I have never seen him with before as were the other two. There was a man who was quite tanned with a shaven head and a tall African American girl with brown eyes and a heart shaped face. I could see the little black heart tattoo in the shape of a tear on the side of her face so I knew that she and the guy was part of the gang.

"Well this is a surprise and I see you brought followers" Conner's mocked.

"The names Lexi bitch" The girl spat at her.

"Well bigmouth" Conner's spat at the girl called Lexi "Seems as you're so talkative ill just kill you first"

"Try it mother fucker" Lexi snarled pointing the gun at her.

There was a slight pause before the gunfire began. Conner's darted past me then I heard the sound of smashing glass.

"Mother fucker!" the other guy shouted then took off out the door.

"Check on him" Edward asked the girl.

I looked over me to see the kitchen window smashed into pieces then I flinched as I felt movement beside of me.

"Shh Bella it's me" Edward whispered dropping his gun and wrapping his arms around me.

"What Happened?" I asked.

"Are you hurt?" He frantically asked ignoring my question.

"No"

He took my hand and pulled me up then I hissed and gripped at my hip bone. That was defiantly going to be bruised in the morning. I thought to myself.

"You are hurt!" He growled.

"Edward I'm fine" I lied.

I wasn't hurting that much but my whole body was exhausted, I felt like I could sleep for years. He wrapped both arms around my waist and planted a hard yet passionate kiss on my lips. The feeling our euphoria excited me again knowing that he was alive. Not a moment too soon we both pulled away to the sound of somebody clearing their throat. I looked at the girl called Lexi feeling slightly embarrassed and looked away from her intimidating gaze.

"How is he?" Edward asked.

It took a while for her to answer which made me look back up to her.

"His dead" She whispered.

After everything that my father had done it didn't change the fact that he was still my father and that I still loved him. I didn't know if it was the sudden rush of euphoria that made my legs shake or the realisation that my father was dead. I felt Edwards grip tighten around me as my body went flaccid then the darkness devoured me.