Chapter 9

Third Person's POV

A few hours had gone by and the ramblers found themselves cutting across the desert with Richie and Bella still sat talking while Scott Kate Jessica Angela and Jacob were sat quietly in the back not saying a word and just going with the flow until they could find a way to get away from their prisoners.

The group were on their way to a bar called the Titty Twister, an all night bar where the Gecko's would meet up with Carlos and finally close their deal. Though Richie had other plans in mind about the money and just how he was gonna get pay back on his brother. He knew Seth had already cut his whore of a wife in on the deal without so much as consulting him, but you know what? It was all good because by the time it was over Richie would leave Seth in the lurch and take off with the money keeping every last cent for himself and Bella.

Speaking of Bella she had informed him all about her latest vision and Richie was shocked as hell. He had always wondered what it would be like to see your own death before it actually happened but for poor Bella to actually experience such a thing was stomach turning. It was no wonder she was so pissed at Seth, hell even he wanted to tare into his brother. Had Bella not changed things round she would have fallen prey to the slut and wanna be and died without him knowing it.

"Jesus christ" said Richie.

"My sentiments exactly" sighed Bella.

"Well that explains the whole heated discussion with my brother before and why you kept snapping at him like some sort of hellhound" Richie joked.

That last part caused Bella to give his arm a playful shove.

"I suppose I did kind of overreact" said Bella.

"No you had every right to say and do what you did. I would have done the same thing if I was in you're position" assured Richie.

Bella fidgeting for a moment shifted her gaze from Richie to her lap to the group of five to the floor and finally back to Richie.

"Listen, before we go any further I just need to know what this...is" Bella said gesturing her hand between Richie and herself. "Am I just a thing for you to take advantage of to pass the time? Or are we...more?" she asked afraid of the answer.

"I hadn't really thought about it. Relationships have never been one of my strongest points in life, mainly because I didn't care for them" said Richie.

At this Bella felt her heart sink and swallowed back a lump in her throat feeling the disappointment wash over her.

"But I know what I want in life Bella and I knew without a doubt in my mind that from the moment I first saw you that I wanted you in every way I possibly could. Which leads me to believe that whatever this is isn't just some random I'll scratch your back you scratch mine thing going on. I'm not entirely sure what we are, but I do know that I want to find out" said Richie playing with a lock of her hair.

"I know its a weird thing for me to be asking because we've only just met but considering how we both feel and whatever's awaiting us at the end of the line I need to know whether or not I can trust you because there's... alot of stuff about me Richie that I've never shared with anyone in my life. Mainly because I've never met anyone who I felt like I could trust or be myself with, which hurt to say the least. That is until I met you and all the pain seemed to just...vanish, well almost anyway" said Bella.

Richie not knowing what to say just listened with full interest.

"So I'm asking you now. Richie Gecko. Can I trust you?" asked Bella.

At that moment Richie saw something behind the eyes of the brunette beauty that could only be described as a desperate yearning of a lonely young girl that was so powerful yet so sad it broke his heart.

"Yes. I swear you can trust me" nodded Richie.

It took a minute for Bella react to this before she then nodded her head in satisfaction.

"Okay. Take my hand" she said stretching out her opened palm to him.

Richie doing as she asked took her hand in his as Bella placed her other hand on top of his and closed her eyes. And before Richie could question what she was doing he suddenly found himself overcome with by memories that weren't his own.

Flashback

A three year old Bella was sat on the floor in her room playing with her toys whilst singing a beautiful melody the goddess had taught her when her parents came walking through the door.

"Hey there baby" said Renee smiling at her daughter.

"Hi Mommy" smiled Bella.

"Watcha doing there Bell's?" asked Charlie.

"Pwaying" said Bella dressing up her doll.

"Watcha playing?" asked Charlie.

"Save de snake wady" said Bella.

At this both Charlie and Renee winced looking at each other in utter sorrow.

"Bell's honey listen. You're Mom and I...we're gonna take you on a little trip okay?" said Charlie going to kneel at his daughter's side.

"Where to daddy?" asked Bella curiously.

"Somewhere real special" Charlie assured her.

"Wexico!" said Bella excitedly.

"Err no not Mexico. Why would you say that?" asked Charlie furring his eyebrows.

"That where de snake wady is. She ted dat she waiting for me at her pawace. Can we go daddy pweeaase" begged Bella.

"Bella..."

Right before Charlie could say anything further he heard his wife clear her throat giving him a stern expression.

"Sure we can Bell's" said Charlie faking a smile.

"YAAAAAAAY!" squealed Bella with absolute joy.

She jumped up to hug her mother and father before going to pack her things as Charlie returned to his wife's side.

"Are we doing the right thing?" asked Renee whispering into her husband's ear feeling insecure.

"Its either this or spend the rest of ours live watching her fall apart. Which would you prefer?" asked Charlie.

The two said nothing more of the matter and just watched on with heart ache as their daughter raced round the room throwing sets of clothes into her little blue suitcase.

- Time skip -

"No! No! I don't wanna go! I don't wanna go!" yelled Bella clamping onto her mother's leg for dear life.

They had tricked her, both of them. There Bella was thinking they were taking her on vacation or something, but oh how she had gotten it wrong. Instead of sandy beaches and palm tree's they had taken her to a children's mental home.

"Bella please. Don't make this any harder than it already is. Let go of mommy's leg" said Charlie trying his best to get his daughter to loosen her grip.

"Nooooo!" Bella screamed with tears streaming down her eyes.

"Please sweetheart it won't be for long, just a week or two and we'll be back before you know it" said Renee looking down at her daughter with tears in her own eyes.

"Nooo! I don't wanna...pwease...I don't wanna tay" sobbed Bella hysterically.

Renee then bending down so she was at eye level with Bella gently took her daughter by the upper arms.

"We love you Bella, so so much. But these people are gonna look after you now and give you the help that your father and I can't" croaked Renee.

"Pwease don't weave me momma. I'll be tood I pwomise" pleaded Bella now gripping onto her mothers arms.

"I'm so sorry baby" cried Renee.

She tore herself from her daughter's side after Charlie signaled over the doctor and nurse whom had been stood behind them watching the entire scene. They approached the little girl with caution but as Bella spotted the two she broke out into a fit.

"NO! NO! MOMMY! NO! DON'T WET DEM TAKE ME! I DON'T WANNA GO! I DON'T WANNA!" she bellowed.

Bella then suddenly found herself being lifted into a set of arms but thrashed her body round in a desperate attempt to get to her parents.

Charlie and Renee watched completely guilt ridden as the doctor strapped their daughter down in a wheel chair seeing as she wouldn't stop struggling and continued to fight.

"Love you Bell's. Stay strong for us" said Charlie who's face was puffy and red from the tears he continued to shed.

"She's in the best care Mr. and Mrs. Swan. I can assure you that" spoke the doctor sympathetically.

The couple unable to watch anymore stared at their daughter one last time before turning to leave the hospital with shattered hearts as they continued to hear their daughter's pleas.

"NOOO! MOMMY DADDY DON'T WEAVE ME! TUM BAAAACCK! MOMMAAAA! PWEEAASE! DON'T GOOOOO!".

- Time skip -

Age 7

On a cot in the corner of the tiny white room little Bella laid weeping silent tears asking herself over and over what she had possibly done to deserve this?

It had been four years since her parents had left her in the hospital and since then she'd seen neither hide nor hair of them. They'd promised to return but in the end had abandoned her.

The doctor's had tried to convince her to take some medicine that would help her to feel better but Bella simply refused each time and told them all to go away.

"Their never coming back are they? I'm going to be stuck here forever" whimpered Bella to the goddess who was sat beside her smoothing down her hair.

"Have faith my little one, it won't be long now. You must stay strong" assured the goddess.

"Stay with me" pleaded Bella.

"I'll never leave you mi princesa (my princess)".

Right at that moment one of nurses walked into the room carrying a tray of food causing Bella to sit up wearily.

"Dinner time Bella. You must be hungry" spoke the curly blonde haired nurse.

"Don't do it Bella. It's a trick" warned the goddess.

This said Bella shook her head at the nurse keeping her eyes on the woman as she placed the tray down on the bed.

"Come now you haven't eaten all day. Just try something even if it's a little bite" pleaded the nurse.

"They're trying to make you sick" said the goddess.

"I don't want it" Bella told the nurse.

"You have to eat sometime Bella. You don't want to make yourself ill now do you?" asked the nurse.

Bella staying silent just sat there staring daggers at the woman who shifted on the spot looking rather uncomfortable.

"At least take a sip of your juice" the nurse said picking up the glass for the little girl to take.

"I SAID I DON'T WANT IT!" yelled Bella.

She threw out her arm to knock the glass out the nurse's hand sending it smashing to the floor.

"Bel..."

"Piss off bitch!" snapped Bella.

The nurse unable to believe what had just left the little girls mouth just stood there in shock.

"Cut her Bella"

She heard the goddess whisper in her ear as Bella's eyes wandered down to the metal tray where a folk and knife lay.

"Cut her"

Knowing what she had to do Bella picked up the knife and got off the bed to stalk toward the woman.

"Miss Swan...put down the knife" spoke the nurse carefully.

"No" said Bella holding the weapon up. "You tried to poison me you bitch" she seethed.

"She wants to be free"

"I said put that knife...ahh!" yelped the nurse.

She had gone to disarm the child only for Bella to strike out before she could do so slicing the back of her hand.

"Bella please. You're a good girl, don't do this" pleaded the now terrified nurse holding her wounded hand whilst backing away from the little girl.

"Don't be scared Hannah, its for the best" said Bella.

"H-how do you know my name?" stuttered the nurse completely taken back.

"She told me. She tells me many things" smirked Bella.

"Who did?" asked nurse Hannah.

"That's for me to know, and you never to find out" spoke Bella flatly raising the knife. "Don't worry, I promise I'll be quick. Though I can't promise it'll be painless".

Right then Nurse Hannah's back hit the door as she then frantically reached for the handle and scrabbled to get it open, but unfortunately for her the door wouldn't budge.

"No. No. Help me somebody!" cried Hannah banging her hands on the tiny glass window.

This filled Bella with such satisfaction to know that the person who had tried to hurt her was now petrified beyond belief.

"Do it" egged the goddess.

"You want to be free Hannah?" asked Bella closing in.

Hannah at this point was desperate to get out the room and away from the insane little girl as she continued with all her might to try and yank the door open.

"Doctor Walsh!" she screamed.

But turning her back was the worst mistake Hannah could have made.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed the middle aged nurse falling to her knees in agony.

Bella had lunged forward and jabbed her in the lower spine.

Hannah then watched in utter despair and hopelessness as the little girl stood over her with a sinister look behind her eyes.

"I'll set you free" smirked Bella.

"NOOOO!" yelled Hannah seeing the girl raise the knife.

And then...silence.

End of flashback

Bella slipping her hands out of Richie's just sat there staring at her lap unable to look him in the eye.

"After I was certain she was dead I got the hell out of there and ran as fast and as far as I possibly could. The law did catch up to me eventually but not for a few weeks. In that time I tried to worm my way to Mexico on foot, but as you can already tell I never made it" said Bella chuckling slightly before getting serious again.

"The day I was found I was in Dallas cutting through some woods one night when I got chased by a wolf and ended up on a main road only to get hit head first by a passer by. I awoke to find I'd been in a coma for at least a year and five days, none knew if I was gonna make it or not and claimed it was a miracle. However I'd suffered from amnesia and literally lost every memory I ever had of my protector. The doctor's finally diagnosed me and found the reason behind my supposed dementia" said Bella swallowing a lump in her throat.

"What did they find?" asked Richie not liking where this was going.

Taking a deep breath Bella finally dropped the bomb. "A tumor. They found a tumor".

Richie feeling like he'd suddenly been soccer punched in the gut could do nothing but sit there totally at loss for words.

A tumor? A fucking tumor? Why had he not learned of this before? Of all the things for him not to pick up on this was the worst.

"Is it...I mean do you still..." he stuttered unable to ask the question.

"Have it?" Bella asked as Richie nodded. "Yeah. They managed operate and rid of it years ago but for some reason it came back with vengeance when I was fifteen, and that was when my memories came flooding back. The goddess came to me again but I was petrified because in my mind I thought she was the one causing me the pain and forcing herself back into my head" she paused. "I see now though that wasn't the case, it was just me being controlled by those around me. I was an idiot".

"You're not an idiot. You were scared, anybody in you're position would have been" assured Richie.

"I'm dying Richie. Its getting worse everyday and this time there's nothing I can do to stop the inevitable. It's only a matter of time" spoke Bella feeling a tear leak from the side of her eye.

Richie gently brushing this away looked his girl straight in the eye.

"I don't believe that. We were brought together for a reason Bella, the goddess herself told me so. We're meant to save each other, I don't know how but I think that whatever's at the end of the line is gonna help you in some way or another. It has too" said Richie.

"I hope so. Because I'm not ready to die" sniffled Bella shaking her head.

"We'll find a way to fix this" said Richie gently pulling her into his arms interlocking their fingers as she rested her head on his chest. "I promise".

Yes he did promise, Richie promised he would personally kick death's greedy ass before he allowed Bella to slip away because of something so cruel as a tumor.

He'd help her overcome this, mark his words.

...…...

Another half hour went by they had finally arrived at the Titty Twister to see bikers and truckers surrounding the bar. There were fire flames bursting left and right as a special effect to the badass joint as well as skull heads on pikes.

Richie and Bella were the first ones off the RV taking in the amazing scenery with a huge smile plastered on their faces.

'Home sweet home' Richie thought to himself.

"Well...we made it. Are you happy now brother?" they heard Seth who had come to stand beside them ask.

"Never been better" said Richie through his grin.

He then turned his gaze to Bella who looked completely amazed with the place and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"We made it baby" smiled Richie.

"Yes we did" agreed Bella showing off her pearly whites.

The group then begun walking toward the entrance hearing some Mexican fool in a top hat yelling out all sorts of profanity the closer they got.

"COME ON IN DEVIL DOGS! YOU HEARD ME COME ON IN FOR THE ALL YOU CAN LICK BUFFET OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TASTIEST DELICACIES SOUTH OF THE BORDER!" called the door man.

'Fucking idiot' thought Bella of the man.

"I did my part. We got you across the border, now its time for you to keep your end of the bargain. Let my family go" spoke Jacob.

"Actually we're far from done here padre. As you seem to forget I have the keys to your motor home so your not going anywhere" informed Seth.

"I'm not taking my kids in there" said Jacob gesturing to the bar.

"Neither are we" spoke Jessica in disgust with Angela nodding along to this.

"Fine, you five stay out here with the devils rejects and meanwhile my brother and I will be inside enjoying ourselves" said Seth.

"This wasn't the deal" argued Jacob.

"No the deal was that we stick together until Richie and I finish our deal before we can all go our separate ways" said Seth.

With that the argument was closed and the eight carried on walking.

"WE'VE GOT ONLY ONE ITEM ON THE MENU THATS TRUE, BUT WE'VE GOT EVERY FLAVOUR UNDER THE MEXICAN MOON! WOOOOOOO! YOU HEARD ME DEVIL DOGS AND BAD BITCHES! COME. ON. IN!

WE GOT PAN DUICE OF EVERY FLAVOUR JUST FOR YOU ANYWAY YOU LIKE IT WITH ALL THE FILLINGS! CAMOTE! PINA! CALABAZA! COME ON IN AND GET IT!" bellowed the doorman.

Just then though his eyes landed on the girls and that's when things took a slight turn for the worse.

"OH NOW WAIT! We've just had new items added to the menu. Sweet, hot cherry pie" the man said staring at Kate before turning to Jessica.

"Pineapple soufflé" he smirked at her. Next Angela.

"Raspberry ice cream" he said snapping his teeth at her.

Then last but not least, Bella.

"And here we have the main course. Strawberry cream cake surprise" spoke the man licking his fingers whilst slowly stalking up to Bella.

Richie about to loose his bloody mind stepped in front of his girl in a defensive position ready to decapitate the perverted bastard if he dared to lay his filthy paws on Bella.

"Okay alright easy Tex their not gonna be on the menu" spoke Seth getting between the man and his brother.

"You leave that up to the puta's" the man seductively spoke smirking at Bella.

'What the fuck did he just say?' thought an enraged Bella.

And just like that Seth pulled back his fist right hooked the perverted in the face who then fell to the ground clutching his now broken nose.

"Nicely done" said Bella complimenting Seth who just nodded her way.

The group walked on passed the man to go through the double doors and as soon as they stepped over the threshold all jaws dropped at the scenery that beheld them.

'Holy. Mother. Fucking. Shit' thought Bella. This place was off the hook.

There were girls in nothing but bras and panties (well mainly just panties) dancing on tables. Some were on stage grinding up and down a pole, the other half were serving drinks and some were dancing in gapped boxes on the walls.

As suspected the place was packed out with horn dogs who were whooping and whistling at the entertainment. Very unsurprising.

The entire bar was ancient looking with multicolored lights surrounding it with a band in the corner, but the thing that caught Seth's attention was the symbol on the wall. It was the exact design that was on the pocketknife that Richie had carried round with him. Coincidence? Maybe, but he'd soon find out.

In other minds Richie was scanning his eyes round the bar with interest wondering whether or not the goddess was here and if she was gonna make herself known soon because god knows he had questions and desperately needed answers. For now though...

"Want a drink?" he asked Bella.

"Sure" said his girl.

Richie deciding to leave Seth and the others to it led Bella away as the two approached the bar where a man with long black hair and a beard stood having just served a customer.

"Hey can I get a shot of bourbon on the rocks and...what are you having?" Richie asked Bella.

"A vodka and coke" she informed him.

"And a vodka and coke" Richie told the bar man who just seemed to stare between the two for moment before going to get their drinks.

"What's his problem?" asked Bella frowning at the bar tender.

"I don't know" shrugged Richie looking just as confused.

The man then came back with their drinks placing them on the bar.

"That'll be twelve dollars fifty" said the bar man.

Richie paying the guy then picked up his drink and turned to face Bella who'd done the same.

"So what do you think? Are we home or are we home?" asked Richie.

Bella narrowing her head to take in the Twister's enchanting aspect once more smiled before turning back to her bad boy.

"Definitely home" she said as Richie smirked at this.

The two then raised and tapped their glasses together toasting in celebration. It had been one hell of a journey one that was sure to go down in the books, but they'd made it.

Destination reached. Mission accomplished.

Now the real games would begin.

Author's Note: They've finally arrived at the Twister, its all down hill from here now lol. See ya next time.

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