A/N: Trigger warning.

12 SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH

'Edward. Can I ask you something?'

Another three days had passed since the revelation of the pendant owner, but this one question refused to leave my mind any time soon. It had bothered me since, every awake moment of mine hell-bent on solving this unsolvable mystery.

Edward let out a sigh, rolling his eyes briefly, turning his chair so that it was facing me, the efforts in his movement overly visible. 'Will you let it go if I say no?'

'Nope.' I stated with a half-smile.

He let out a huff. 'Go on, then. But make it quick. I don't have all day.'

I nodded my head in agreement, a small smile on my face. Things had improved between Edward and I since he had saved me from Boss's evil eyes and grabby hands. I was still a prisoner- that hadn't changed, but Edward's behaviour towards me was worth taking note of. He was calmer and more tolerating. I was getting food two times a day and was no longer forced to survive with my hands and legs tied together.

Yes, he had thrown those merciless ropes away, never to be seen again. I was now free to wriggle my fingers, or to scratch my nose.

The only downside of said freedom being that Edward no longer left me alone, not for longer than a spare second. He was always around, when I woke up and when I slept. He avoided his nighttime walks, doing with more smoking breaks instead. And with him being an extremely light sleeper, it was impossible to even cough or sneeze without waking him up.

So, apart from the obvious lack of privacy, things were going pretty good between us.

Well, as good as it could be between a captor and a captive!

'You about to tell me anytime today?' Edward sarcastically questioned. 'Or I can get back to my work?'

I rolled my eyes at his impatience. 'No need for that. I am speaking.'

He nodded his head, melodramatically sighing, asking me to continue.

'So,' I let out a hesitant sigh. 'I wanted to know if…' I paused, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. 'Um, do you know the motive behind my…er…kidnapping?'

I had pondered over this question since days; he surely knew a bit, but how much?

Could he answer my questions for me?

Did he know the truth behind my kidnapping?

'What?' He looked taken aback as he stared at me for a few long minutes.

His expression surprised, but not angry.

That's good. I breathe a sigh of relief.

'I…. I just need to know, Edward.' I whispered in desperation. 'This question is driving me insane….'

'Hold on.' He cut me off, his eyes wide in disbelief. 'What do you mean by motive?'

'The motive, Edward.' I winced. 'Why am I here? I am not blaming you,' I clarified before the tables turned and I was accused of doing something that I had not even thought of doing. 'I know that the person who wants me here is…not you.' I phrased my sentence carefully. 'I don't want anything more than the motive behind why I am here. You don't need to tell me anything more than that. I won't even ask!'

'He is doing this for the money.' He gave me the duh look.

'Well, obviously.' I rolled my eyes at him. 'I know that. That is a given. I want to know if there is anything more to that. Maybe an age-old enmity or something?'

He stared at me, expressionless.

'What?' I demanded to know, slightly offended.

He let out a dramatic sigh. 'This is not a movie. He just wants the money, princess.'

'Well, can you blame me for assuming so,' I sarcastically muttered. 'My life has become one big soap opera these days! I am sitting here, experiencing a life I had never believed I would be forced to experience. Can you truly blame me for wondering if there is more to it than what appears at first sight?'

He shrugged in response, going back to staring at the wall, apparently concluding that I was not worthy of an answer.

'Okay, just,' I let out a gulp, refusing to let this topic fade away in thin air. 'How well do you know…Bo…my actual kidnapper?' I refrained from the usage of the word "boss", sceptical of how he would react to the knowledge that I had heard almost every personal conversation of theirs over the days. He was being nice right now; I dared not bring out the monster in him.

He let out a sigh, frustrated. 'Why do you want to know, Bella?'

'Please.' I pleaded, folding my arms one on top of the other. 'For the sake of my sanity. I won't bother you with any more questions. Just this one.'

'Fine.' He let out a sigh. 'I will tell you what I know.'

I nodded my head in impatience, my eyes wide as I waited for him to continue.

'This is my first dealing with him,' He began to speak, his voice filled with boredom, desperately waiting for this speech to come to an end. 'I don't know much about him, needless to mention, but he is a weird man. Has all these rules that he expects everyone around him to follow. You believe I have mood swings,' he let out a humourless laugh. 'That man's mood swings can give even me a whiplash! He wants to make you suffer, but without causing you any permanent damage. At times, he cares about your well-being, and on other days….' He trailed off, waving a hand in air.

'Why?' I whispered in confusion. 'Why care about me, if he only wants the money?'

'Heck if I know.' Edward shrugged. 'All I know is, he pays me well.'

I let out a frustrated sigh, Edward going back to his work, the conversation having come to an end.

This was of no use!

I was no closer to my answer than I had been fifteen minutes ago.

Rather, I was even more confused than I had been earlier.

He cared about me, why?

If he was doing this solely for the money, why worry about me being fed, or that Edward never caused me any physical harm?

Why pretend to worry about me?

But on the other hand, he was also the one forcing me to be locked up in here! He was pulling the strings; it being his decision whatever bad had happened in my life of late.

It was… so confusing.

I needed to find out more about him.

But how?

It didn't seem like Edward would be imparting anymore knowledge on this subject!

'Bella.' Edward grabbed my attention, my eyes looking up to meet his. 'Take my advice, don't bother yourself with all of this.'

'Excuse me?' I offered him a puzzled expression.

He let out a sigh, clarifying. 'This kidnapping- the motive- what is he to gain- you will not achieve anything from wondering over these questions. There is just no answer to them. He is doing this for the money; let your parents pay the ransom, he has promised to set you free.'

'He has?' I asked in suspicion, my eyes narrowed together, unbelieving the man's word.

'Yes.' Edward shrugged. 'Once the work is done, he wants nothing to do with you. At least that is what I know of.'

'Oh.' I stated in a whisper. 'That's…um…good. Of course.'

He waved a hand in air, going back to staring at the wall, the man not that great a conversationalist.

'Edward.' I frowned. 'If you don't mind me asking,' I took another pregnant pause, framing my words carefully. 'What are you going to do after…'

'Why? Do you want to get me arrested?' he threw an amused glance my way.

'NO.' I instantly protested, not willing to take that chance of ruining the "good mood" currently prevailing between us. 'That's…not why I am asking. Honest.'

He nodded his head, accepting my clarification. 'I will leave the country for a while. I have sources waiting to get me out. Won't return for a decade or so. Till the matter cools off.'

'And go where?' The words slipped out before I could stop them, curiosity dripping off me.

'Ah!' He smiled. 'Like I would tell you that!'

'Fair enough.' I quipped, nodding my head in agreement. 'But what about your family? Won't they miss you while you are away?'

Where was his family?

Were they even aware about his job profile?

If yes, were they truly okay with this?

The expression on his face changed without a warning, anger setting in as he glared at me, mercilessly spitting the words out, my simple enough question having gone completely awry. 'I have no family! And even if I did, why are you this keen on getting into my personal business? Have you forgotten that we are not friends? I have kidnapped you; you are not here on a vacation. Maybe,' he gritted his teeth together, menacingly staring me down, 'I need to remind you of this fact. Then you will understand!'

'Edward,' I instantly backpedalled, my voice a scared whisper. 'I did not mean to offend you. I am sorry….'

My pleads though, fell on deaf ears, as he instantly jumped up from his seat and walked towards the front door, leaving me there alone to repent over my stupidity and carelessness.

I was such a fool!

What had caused me to bring up the topic of his family? He was slightly touchy about it; this wasn't the first time this topic had been raised!

And each time he had reacted in the same manner- metaphorically throwing chairs and pretending like it was the end of the world.

I had known about this, and yet I had displayed this immense feat of dumbness!

I probably deserved the consequences to come…

Did not make it any easier though.

'This will make you understand.' Edward re-appeared in front of me, mumbling to himself, the one thing I had dreaded most- my ultimate enemy- smiling up at me from where it comfortably lay in his hands, its comfort about to become my discomfort.

'Edward.' I shuddered in fear, taking a step back. 'Anything but this. Please.'

He ignored my protests, shaking his head, as he grabbed my hands together, a scream leaving my lips at the sudden usage of force. 'We. Are. Not. Friends.' He growled out in anger. 'Don't for a second assume otherwise.' He pulled at my hands tightly, another painful gasp leaving my lips. 'Do you understand?' He continued to glare at me, an answer expected and demanded.

Tears lined my eyes as I wordlessly nodded my head, looking down at the tight thick ropes that once again held me a prisoner, my hands and feet once again at the mercy of this unreliable monster.

'This will teach you your lesson.' He declared, shoving me away from him, my feet losing their balance and landing on the rough ground with a painful thud.

I winced, shutting my eyes briefly.

I still hadn't completely recovered from my earlier injuries, and now this?

Would I even survive this ordeal, irrespective of who claimed what?

And even if I did, at what cost?

My parents' money?

My own physical, mental and emotional health?

My willpower to live?

Or the happiness that had often shone in my eyes before I had been captured and imprisoned?

Would I even be myself by the time I walked out of this room?

Or would I be a completely different version of myself, the fact that I had seen things no one ever should experience, visible in my eyes?

What would I be like?

Would I even get to walk out of this room unscathed…or even alive?

Or was that just a daydream never to come true?

The latter seemed to be the most likely now.

'Edward.' I begged, sobbing. 'Please don't do this. Please let me go. You are not like this. I know the real you. You don't have to pretend to be something you are not. Please untie me….'

'SHUT UP!' He growled the words out, his eyes wide as they menacingly bore into mine, silencing me at my place as I gulped in fear. 'You think you know shit about me? You know nothing! You only know how much I am willing to expose you with. Nothing more than that. Don't give yourself this much importance; you don't matter in my life. Not even a slight bit! Get that?'

'I know you are not like this…'

I knew I should have stopped; he looked angry enough for me to take the hint and shut up. Yet, despite knowing better, I continued to argue, protesting with all I had in me.

Now that I had seen the freedom of roaming around without these death traps attached, I refused to go back to how it had been before.

No.

I just could not bear that.

'Edward, you are good. Don't become a monst…'

I never got to complete that sentence, a gasp leaving my lips, as I was forcefully pulled towards him, nails pushed into my arms as they squeezed tightly, a yelp leaving my lips from the sudden, terrifying pain.

'Get this straight.' He growled out at me, squeezing tighter, my breaths heavy as I futilely attempted to push him away.

'It is paining me!' I cried the words out, angry red Charlies littering my arms. 'Let me go, you monster!'

He ignored my protests, squeezing tighter, as I squirmed in his hold. 'I am not done yet. You will listen to me.' He grunted the words out, the hatred visible in his eyes making me shiver at my place.

'No. I will not.' I protested out loud, glaring back at him. 'You have to let me free. I will not tolerate this…'

'What will you not tolerate?' He demanded to know, the restraint on my arms lifted, as his hands came to rest over my collarbones. 'What will you do?' He questioned, a finger trailing downwards. 'You are at my mercy. You cannot do anything to stop me. Nothing at all.'

'Edward.' I whispered, frozen.

Please don't.

He ignored my silent protests, leading his hands downwards, my legs rigid as my blank mind rushed around to find a way to stop him.

Please don't do this.

A hum left his lips as he trailed a finger over my stomach, squeezing tightly, a painful gasp leaving my lips as I shut my eyes tight.

I could not see this.

I did not want to see this.

He then began the journey back upwards, humming to himself, as he ran a finger through my cleavage line, drawing small circles, my feet stilled as he cupped my breasts in his hands, a tear leaving my eyes.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way!

He squeezed them tightly, his eyes fixated on them as he began to play, moving them clockwise and then anti-clockwise, pinching my nipple as a wince crossed my face.

'Beautiful.' He mumbled to himself, his hands trailing downwards, roaming over my pubic region, my eyes wide as I panted in fear, attempting to wriggle myself free of these tight ropes.

I needed to push him away.

I needed to get him away from me!

'So, so beautiful,' he repeated, his eyes never straying far as he admired my body at its weakest.

I had never felt this helpless before in life!

He could do anything to me today…and I wouldn't be able to stop him.

My hands and feet were tied. I couldn't kick him, slap him, or even push him away. Shouting for help was of no use. No one was about to come to my rescue.

No. I had to save myself.

I wasn't giving up this easily!

I just had to wait for an opportunity- before it became too late, my opportunity coming in the form of his wandering fingers as he once again led them upwards, on a tour of its own across my body, his body coming forward as he attempted to kiss me between the breasts, my body ready and alert as I let my mouth forward, opening and biting him on the cheek, pulling with all I had in me, refusing to let go till blood oozed out, its metallic taste swirling through my mouth.

I wasn't going down without a fight!

He let out a surprised scream, jumping away from me, the angry red bite mark on his cheek giving me all the satisfaction I needed.

'Are you fucking crazy?' He ran a finger over his cheek, glaring down at me in anger and disbelief.

I shrugged in response. What other option did I even have?

I wasn't going down without a fight!

He could try again, and yet he would end up with the same experience.

He let out a grunt, sudden realization visible in his eyes, as he frowned to himself, taking his head in his hands the very next second, the regret of his actions evident in his body language.

It was too late for that though.

The action was done.

And he could not take it back, no matter how much he came to regret it!

As for me, I just lay there, exhausted and crying.

I was tired.

I wanted to go home.

I just wanted this to end.

I could not take it any longer.

'I…I am sorry.' Edward spoke in a whisper, refusing to meet my eyes. 'I lost control over myself.'

I refused to answer. What was even there to answer?

I wasn't about to accept his apology; it would be impossible to do so!

'I...um…I will be outside if you need me.' He mumbled in discomfort, quick to turn and walk out of the room, banging the door in his haste.

I collapsed to the ground with a painful gasp as soon as he took that last step out, shutting my eyes tight as tears freely flowed down my eyes, certainly thankful that he had stopped, but equally traumatized by the thought of what would have happened if he hadn't stopped.

No.

I did not even want to think of that.

I could not deal with this any longer.

I wanted to go home!

I needed to get myself out of here…back to safety and back to familiarity….