Edward's POV
I couldn't see anything but Bella. When I had burst into the room that had been keeping her and that girl a prisoner, the only sight I saw was Bella's eyes, opened wide as she laid pinned underneath that monster. He was passed out cold, but I could understand why she couldn't move. There was nothing to her frail body and he was a massive creature. I didn't think about anything as I threw his body off of her, as I heard it land on the concrete floor with a sickening crack. I could hear Charlie calling after me, but I couldn't do anything but go to Bella. It was her. I would have known her anywhere, regardless of the time that had passed.
I pulled her into my arms, she didn't fight me, but she didn't grip me either. I told her my name. I told her who I was, but she laid there, the shock evident in her eyes, the fear and confusion and recognition flashing as she watched me telling me everything I needed to know.
Seconds later and Charlie was there. He knew like I did. It was her.
"Mark… take care of him." Charlie ordered and then he was beside me, telling me to put Bella down. As I did so, he looked her over, covering her with the ratty sheet from the bed, and telling her how much he had missed her. I could see the recognition coming back stronger, could see the light brighten from deep within her eyes.
"Where's Nessie? Where's my baby?" Her voice was cracked and raw and I felt the tears streaming down my face as I nodded, unable to speak yet. "She's with Esme. She led us to you Bells." Charlie answered and I tried to smile.
"I need to see her." She began to struggle, to push both Charlie and I away and then she stood up, the sheet falling down without any concern from her, her body a shocking sight as we both saw the extent of the scarring that littered her entire body, the severe malnourishment prominent.
"Let's get you dressed, and we'll take you out to see her." I encouraged Bella as a team of paramedics made their way down and into the tiny space. I tried not to look around. I tried not to look as they assessed James, and began to work on him. Apparently he wasn't breathing… I couldn't even remember if he was breathing when I had thrown him off of her.
Bella moved quickly, leaving Charlie and I there staring after her. She pulled a long skirt out of the pile of clothes in the corner and pulled a men's sweater off of the back of a chair. This was as dressed as she was getting as she pulled the door open further and paused, staring at the steps that would lead her to her freedom.
"She's really out there? She's okay?" Bella looked back at us with hope in her eyes and I nodded encouragingly. "She's with my mom. It's okay… I promise." With that, she bolted, as fast as her legs would move. I couldn't help but to notice the limp as she hop-ran up the stairs and out of the shed. I knew that both Charlie and I would have a chance to ask her questions, to find out what had happened, but for now, we could respect that she needed to get to the person who depended on her for all of these years.
Following her out, I could see as she stumbled, the brightness of the day blinding her sensitive eyes. Again, I could understand why. She had been living in a concrete bunker.
"Momma!" The girls cry was loud and both excited and terrified as I saw her coming towards us, Esme's hand still clutched in her small one.
"Momma, I found the helpers." She sobbed as Bella grabbed a hold of her, the two of them clutching on to one another tightly.
"You did baby girl." Bella soothed through the tears, holding her closely. "You did such a good job finding the helpers… you were so brave!" She kept soothing over and over.
I had seen a fair bit in the last two years working for Charlie and the Forks police department. But at this particular moment in time, I was speechless. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. And then my Mom was by my side, her arm reaching around my waist to hold me. I broke down. I cried. Hard. Twelve years. It had been twelve years today.