Thank you everyone for your kind reviews. Much appreciated! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter.

TW: Physical and emotional abuse

Chapter Two

The room was dark. A mere candle flickered in the corner, the light providing little warmth to the huge, three-story mansion that seemed more like a prison than a home. A lone figure sat on a lounge chair beside a small, round table where the candle was lit. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and her thin, limp arms wrapped around her legs as she waited in fear for the moment when he would walk in. She knew exactly what would take place when he did, and just that thought had her heart racing double time.

She sat like this for what seemed like an eternity until the familiar sound of tires crunching against gravel snapped her out of the daze. A soft whimper escaped her throat, and her eyes began to dance frantically around her surroundings, wondering if there was a place where she could hide and escape from it all. But she knew that there was nowhere she could go, and with bated breath she waited for the dreadful moment when he would walk in...

The door creaked open, and her heart froze in its place. Deep brown eyes widened and then squinted shut when she heard the slow, resounding footsteps making their way down the hall and towards the living room. Several seconds later a tall, broad figure stood blocking the doorway, his dark blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and his fierce brown eyes narrowing in on the small woman huddled in the chair.

"Pathetic," he snarled, striding forward angrily across the room to stand in front of the girl. "All you are is pathetic. Look at this house! It's a mess. Did your mother ever teach you how to clean? How to pick up for yourself? Do you know nothing?"

"I-I just finished vacuuming a couple hours ago," she whispered softly, not daring to lift her chin and gaze up into his red, bloodshot eyes. "The dishes are all cleaned. If you want, I'll-"

"Shut up!" She winced as he grabbed her by the arm and began to shake her. "Look at you! When was the last time you showered? Do I have to tell you to do everything?" She let out a soft cry as his grip on her tightened. "And look at me when I'm speaking to you!"

She raised her eyes to his face, and then nearly gasped with shock when she saw his expression. It was hard and filled with so much hate. Hate…what had she ever done to deserve it?

"Well?" he demanded. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Rage suddenly boiled up inside her, causing her eyes to flash and her hands to curl up into fists. Knowing what would happen even before the words left her lips, she narrowed her eyes and stated flatly, "Fuck you."

Pain shot through her very core the moment his fist came into contact with her jaw. The wind was knocked out of her as she collapsed onto the floor, and as she laid there recovering from the fall, she was not prepared for the kick that came out of nowhere, crippling her side and leaving her gasping for breath.

"Pathetic," she could hear him saying, over and over, as she laid there on the floor, her spirit broken. She closed her eyes and allowed the pain to course through her body, quickly taking over everything until it was the only thing left in her.

Chastity woke up with a gasp, her whole face covered in sweat. Mattie whimpered softly from beside her, beginning to lick her hand in a feeble attempt to give her master some sort of comfort. Chastity glanced down and smiled weakly before gathering the little dog in her arms.

"Oh God, Mattie, what do I do? I can't let him take advantage of me again. Not ever again. There has to be some way…something I can do…" And then, like an instant light bulb appearing above her head, it came to her.

Carlisle.

He would know what to do. He would be able to help her. Hope sprang in her chest as she scrambled up and off the floor, scurrying towards the kitchen to grab her cell phone. She punched in a few numbers and then waited in silent anticipation, praying hard that he would pick up. Please, please, please pick up. I need you, Carlisle.

"This is Mr. Cullen, how may I help you?"

Chastity let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"Carlisle, this is Chastity. I-I need help. It's…it's him. He's found me. I don't know how, so don't ask. I…I was so careful, Carlisle. How did he find me? It's been six years, Carlisle. I thought this was over. I…I thought I was safe. What can I do, Carlisle? Please just, tell me what I can do."

Chastity stood there silently as she listened to Carlisle speak to her in soothing tones over the phone, nodding and murmuring occasionally to his words every now and then. After about ten minutes they had managed to think up of a plan, and no matter how much she would hate to go through with it, it had to be done or else it would be her ass on the line.

She would have to leave. Her home, her job, San Francisco – she would have to leave it all behind in order to remain safe. Her heart broke at the thought of abandoning her program and the animals that needed her. She knew they would be in good hands; Carlisle had promised her that himself. But even though she had that small reassurance, a little of her heart broke at the thought of leaving the one thing she had helped build and create. The HEART Animal Rescue Center was, without a doubt, her baby. She could feel the tears start to prickle at the back of her eyes and heaving a sigh she strode forward and into her room.

Suck it up, Swan, she thought, pulling a suitcase out of her closet. This is no time to be weak. I'm not going to let that bastard ruin my life a second time around. I'll be out of here by the time he even thinks about coming back. And when he does, I'll be long gone.

She couldn't believe that she was going to South Dakota. That was the last place she had ever thought about visiting, let alone living. Carlisle had some relatives that lived there who he knew would be willing to let her stay for a couple months until everything settled down again. A couple months? She thought, letting out a soft snort as she threw in a couple of sweaters which she knew she'd be needing. I better be back here before a couple of months. Screw it if that bastard is still hanging around then, I'll get rid of him myself if that's what it takes. I won't let him ruin my life again. Not ever again.

After she had packed up most of her belongings, Chastity glanced at the clock. Eight thirty. She was supposed to meet Carlisle in thirty minutes at his place. She'd be sleeping the night there and then in the morning he would have someone take her to a private jet, where she'd be flying eight hours to her destination. Letting out a sigh, Chastity glanced down at Mattie who was sleeping like a queen on top of her pillow on the bed, and with a small shake of her head she went over and gave her a quick kiss on the head.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but we can't stay here. We'll be back though, I promise. I won't let that jack ass steal our life away from us."

And with that thought ringing loud and clear in the back of her mind, Isabella Swan left the cherished life of Chastity Ann Tucker behind, leaving a cloud of fear and uncertainty in her wake.

Chastity pulled into Carlisle's driveway at precisely five minutes after nine. The moment she turned the engine off she heard the door swing open and saw Carlisle standing there on the front porch, his expression extremely grim. Inhaling a deep, shaky breath, she stepped out of the car and walked towards her friend, who took her immediately in his arms.

"Oh Carlisle," she whispered, tears already running rampant down her cheeks. "I wish you would come with me, even though I know you can't. You're all I have."

"That's where you're wrong, Bella," he murmured, and she stiffened at the utterance of her real name. "My family will protect you. They know how important you are to me. You will be safe with them."

"But…what about you? What if he finds you in order to get to me? Oh Carlisle, I don't know what I'd do with myself if he harmed you-"

"Bella," Carlisle traced her cheek reassuringly with his thumb as he said softly, "I won't let him get me. You do remember that I worked as a private investigator for three years before I met you?"

Chastity nodded, but fear and anxiety still shown in her eyes. "I know, but Carlisle this is James we're talking about. He's smart. Really smart. And you know he's an attorney. He knows how to trick people, how to manipulate them... even if it means blackmail. He'll do anything to get what he wants."

"Well then, we'll just have to be smarter than him. To make sure he doesn't get what he wants." Carlisle stated firmly.

Meaning me, Chastity thought, biting down softly on her bottom lip. "You'll have to find him first."

Carlisle sighed. "Even if I did, how could we prove that he's abused you? It's been over five years, Bella. He'll find some way to turn everything against you, to make them believe that you're lying. If you want me to help you turn him in, you have to at least find something that'll prove the hurt he's caused you. You need some form of evidence."

Pain flitted across her face. "How? I left everything of me, of Bella, when I got myself a new identity. There's no way I can just pick up where I left off. I can barely even remember my old street number. And even if I went back to my old house, I wouldn't find anything there. All I have are…are memories."

Nightmares more like it, she thought.

"You'll find a way, Bella. We'll find a way," Carlisle said softly in determination, and gave her wrist a gentle squeeze. "Come on, let's get you inside. I'll get Mattie."

Chastity walked inside, expecting to be greeted by Carlisle's ten-year-old golden retriever who always knew how to make her smile.

Instead, she walked straight into the presence of the most handsome man her eyes had ever seen.