A/N I would also like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Also, all the new readers. I'm grateful to you all.

TRIGGER WARNING Izzy is going to talk about how she feels about the town and her friends. But she will talk about her time as a foundling.

Chapter 31

Narrated by Shelly Cope.

Teddy

Over the next week, while he was off sick, Teddy decided he needed to see a therapist. Over the years, many people had held him responsible for Izzy's disappearance. It had taken its toll on him.

He wasn't excusing his involvement in the teasing as a child, but according to an internet article, he read that a child who has been bullied may become a bully themselves. That bothered him, as it also indicated it's learned behavior. He knew he hadn't learned this at home.

It dawned on him he had learned it from his then-friends Mike, Jess, Lauren, Tyler, and Siobhan. He was worried if they found out Izzy was back in town. They would try to continue the bullying she had had to endure in elementary school. He knew for a fact that Mike and Jess hadn't changed. They still bullied people.

Izzy

The air was heavy with tension when Charlie was around. Izzy was feeling frustrated as the days went on. She even resorted to getting in her car and just driving, not knowing where she would finish up. She only came home after a frantic call from Leah. She just didn't know what to do.

Helen had gone back to New York for two weeks, but her dad had decided to stay. Everyone was glad when Sue came back with Helen.

She felt that even after all the years since she had escaped the Woolf and the rest of the loonies, she would never be free from captivity. People were always trying to make her do what she didn't want to do. With a lack of trust in others, she believed they would force her into unwanted actions.

As time went by, her frustration grew, and she sensed her life was spinning out of control. Giving something up was inevitable, even if it meant hurting her dad.

To make everyone understand, she had to show them that this was her life, and she would handle it at her own pace, not based on others' expectations. She wasn't going to be bullied into doing something for which she just wasn't ready. If she wanted to drive places, she would. It wasn't a law saying you had to walk. Izzy, working in her studio every day, was similar to someone working from home for 40 hours. Many people worked extra hours. What was the problem with her doing that?

Izzy's heart ached as she prepared to break the devastating news to her dad and to the Cullens. She had spent so long trying to make herself heard; she wondered if they would even listen to what she had to say.

~T&I~

Izzy

The Cullens house two days before Thanksgiving.

"Thank you for agreeing to do this. It has to be done for Izzy to make progress in her recovery. I know Izzy hopes none of you take offense to what she is going to say. I do, however, ask if you would not interrupt unless she asks a question. This is how she feels and the way she sees things," Helen explains. "But if you interrupt, you will do more harm to Izzy's mental health than she has had to endure over her brief life."

Izzy sat on the over-stuffed chair she and Teddy once shared as they watched cartoons or read a book together. But this time it wasn't Teddy who shared the chair, it was Bobby.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to say everything that I need to today, but I will do my best. I don't intend to upset you or point a finger, but in truth, I feel every adult in this town was to blame for what happened to me. Please indulge me and let me explain bearing in mind this was from the view of a seven-year-old," Izzy said as she blew out a breath.

"Now Izzy, there is no need to be rude to people just because you will not get your own way," Charlie said.

"Charlie, she's a grown woman, not a child. Just let the poor girl speak. I, for one, want to understand what she has been through," Alice offered.

"I agree with that. Despite not being here when you were taken, Izzy, Emmett and I are curious about your feelings and the challenges you faced," Rosie added.

"Thank you. Please continue Izzy," Helen instructed.

"I now know that people change and also change friends over their lifetime. But I just have so much hurt from the way you stopped being my friend, Teddy. I know I'm a girl and you kept saying I had cooties. But I didn't know what they were and why Jessica, Lauren, and Siobhan never had them as well," Izzy began. Esme's giggle interrupted her.

Glaring at her, Izzy continued.

"I knew I was having to come here because my mother had left, and Gran was sick. But when I tried to tell you, Dad, that I didn't want to stay at the Cullens, you just ignored me. No one realized I wasn't here. Why did neither of you ask how I was getting on with Teddy or if I needed any more clothes? Dad, you should have asked Esme questions about my well-being. You both should have questioned my dad about why I was not coming here. For eight months I was staying anywhere but here," Izzy sighed. "This isn't coming out the way I want to say it."

"Have a little water and try to get your thoughts together," Helen instructed.

Izzy didn't notice Alice moving onto the stool near Izzy's chair until she took her hand and smiled at her. She felt encouraged to continue.

"Why did you believe me so easily when I told you both that Dad wasn't working late or nights anymore so I wouldn't be coming here? I was seven years old. Why didn't you ask him? I would have asked him myself if I were in that situation. You must have known he was still working nights," I asked Carlisle and Esme.

"I don't have an answer for you other than Teddy was bullying you. We thought that was the reason. We knew your dad was angry with us, so we never pushed it. I thought it was strange that your dad asked me to pick you up from the party, but I just didn't question it," Esme admitted.

"I have to ask you the same question. Esme always used to check on the days I was coming over to stay here. They had to make sure that both Teddy and I had childcare if she and Carlisle were working late. Didn't it seem strange she had never asked you, Dad?" I asked.

"I was busy with your Gran, and I just thought everything was fine," Charlie tried to justify.

"You never even looked at any letters I brought home. You never came to any recitals. You didn't read any letters or sign a consent form, which caused me to miss school trips. But you knew when the football team or a kid was going to have a party. You simply bought a card and present, never checking if I was actually invited to a party," I blow out.

"I began staying with Gran. I washed my clothes there, and I slept in bed with her. Heidi never checked on her, so she didn't know I was there. Gran would wet herself, and I tried my best to clean her and put on fresh sheets. That's how I knew about the sores she had. I started staying in my treehouse after she was put in a home until I found Mom's house key. That's when I started sneaking into the house. At least it was warm and dry. But I couldn't take food, or you would have noticed. Without you noticing, I attempted to wash my clothes using the washing liquid and bathing in cold water. Izzy took a drink, feeling upset and frustrated.

"When I was supposed to be staying at the Cullens' house, I would take an empty lunch box to school with a little water in my container. Sometimes it was days before I got something to eat, and I was getting so hungry. No one sat with me in the canteen and after a while, the only seat I could find was on the floor. People began to throw food at me. I came to the realization that the only place offering protection was near the trash. Micky once saw me eat out of the bin because I was hungry, and he was teasing me until Ms. Denali stopped him. However, by that time, almost everyone was calling me "smella."

"I thought they called you that because sometimes your clothes smelled and you needed your hair washed," Teddy grimaced.

"That as well, I suppose," Izzy laughed.

"How did I miss this?" Charlie moaned.

"You missed everything when it came to me. I should have been your priority, not a spate of things going missing from people's gardens, or the football team having parties."

"No Izzy, that's not fair. It's my job, and I thought you were with the Cullens," Charlie began.

"Like I said, you should have checked, but you didn't," Izzy growled.

"There was a green van driving around this small town for almost a week asking questions about me. The people were sitting and watching me at school during recess. The teachers must have noticed it. Why didn't any of the good folk of Forks tell the Chief that strangers were asking about his daughter?" Izzy hiccupped.

"I went unnoticed by everyone. Someone grabbed me. No one noticed for six hours. By then, they had taken me to Seattle and changed my appearance, including cutting and dying my hair. I was in a motel with three strangers. I felt petrified.

Alice passed me a tissue. I didn't realize I was crying.

"I knew no one was coming after me. I asked Meadow and Buzz why they took me and if I could go home. They told me that they knew you were abusing me Dad and they were taking me to safety. They had seen me sneaking about and told me so, and that no one would notice I was gone. I knew that was true. It didn't stop me from leaving clues whenever I could, but I knew it was useless," Izzy sighed as she shook her head. Once again, feeling as vulnerable as she did as a seven-year-old.

"As we got closer, Sparrow said to leave me at a gas station. That confused me because he was the one who wouldn't let me escape. I heard all three of them arguing. That's when I found out Renee had their son. She had knowledge of people's affairs and exploited it for her benefit. She had overheard their plan to escape the cult so she took their son hostage," Izzy broke down and couldn't continue.

No one could comfort her except for Bobby. Much to their frustration.

"Are you okay to continue now or do you want to continue tomorrow?" Helen asked.

"No, I want to continue," Izzy said.

"When I got to the compound, Renee met me. She changed me into some weird clothes and the next thing I knew, this man with long hair pushed me underwater and told me my name was now Sky and to forget my past life because I had been born again. I thought he was crazy, and I told him so. They gave me to a woman who was called Apple. Renee or Harmony as she was called expressed that I had fulfilled my purpose, and that I was no longer necessary. I just thought they would let me come home, but I was mistaken. This just made little sense to me," Izzy sighed.

Taking another drink, Sue encouraged her to continue.

"I would not live by their stupid rules. That's when they placed a chain around my middle and at night, they bound me with other people using chains. We slept on the floor. Sometimes with little ones whose parents either didn't want them or had abandoned them. I excelled at hiding food and surviving. People warned me never to drink the cool aid. Once, I received it, but I poured it out and pretended to be dead. That was my first attempt to escape."

Izzy looked up when she heard someone sob and saw Emmett holding Rosie.

"After that attempt, Renee came to our little compound and beat me until my back bled and my clothes had to be removed from the cuts. Phoenix decided he was going to have to help me survive. He told me to focus on something that made me happy. He said it was my happy place," Izzy said with a smile, remembering.

"My happy place was with Teddy. The Teddy who I used to have fun within our tree houses, learning to swim in his pool. Teaching him how to climb the jungle gym, and being his partner in gym lessons. It didn't matter that you had a birthmark or a leg that made you limp. I loved my Teddy. He was my happy place."

Izzy looked up and saw that Teddy had tears rolling down his face.

"I became scared of the dark from being chained in underground bunkers or in small rooms. When one of them collapsed with some of our friends inside, we attempted to dig them out, but the guards responded by shooting a gun at us and releasing the dogs. I cried as the guards dragged me, along with everyone else, and chained us in the storm cellar. I think they didn't give us any food for four days. Or it could have been longer. The days merged, it was difficult to even know what season it was or how long we had been there."

"I can't remember how many times I had tried to escape. I had my feet broken to stop me from running, but it didn't stop me from trying. They kept beating me until I passed out. Then chained me up in a small room. There was only enough space to stand up. But my legs gave out, and I ended up being wedged in a small space. Someone poured food through a small hatch, but I didn't have the strength to eat. I have no recollection of being taken out of the room. My memory comprises drifting in and out of consciousness. While I was in a car with Sparrow driving, Saffron was holding me and trying to get me to drink. With the scent of orange, I mistook it for cool-aid and refused to drink anything.

"Let's take a break and grab something to eat," Helen suggested.

"There's not much more to tell Helen. Couldn't we just carry on?" Izzy asked.

"Honey, this is taking its toll on the people hearing this. I know it happened to you, but they have to live with what you have told them," Helen continued.

"Are you sure you can continue, honey?" Sue expressed her concern.

"Yes, I just want to get my life back," Izzy responded.

"Izzy, what would you like to eat? I don't mind getting you something," Teddy asked.

"Anything. I'm not hungry. My tummy always hurts when I have to speak about this," Izzy replied.

Teddy appeared a few minutes later with strawberry milkshakes and a few cupcakes.

"I remember this was your favorite snack," Teddy said, handing a milkshake and cupcake to Izzy.

Izzy took them and smiled, whispering, "Thank you."

"If everyone has finished eating, shall we continue?" Helen asked.

Everyone took their seats and got comfortable again.

"I was now in Bethel, New York, at Yasgur's old dairy farm," Izzy began.

Carlisle asked, "Wasn't Woodstock held there?"

Chuckling, Izzy answered, "Yes, his daughter had set up a commune, and he gave her some land. But he sold the farm on the understanding that the new owner left his daughter and their friends be. The commune was small when I was there."

Izzy continued, "Sparrow took me to Flora and River, or Meme and Pop, as I called them. The thought of being chained up again scared me. I decided that if I were to die, it would be by my own hand. Exhausted and in pain, I struggled. As soon as I laid eyes on a stream, I leaped right in. My feet were sore, so I just floated and let the stream take me. I hoped it would take me somewhere I could die in peace. But as usual, I had no such luck."

Sighing, Izzy continued, "There were some kids fishing. One of them jumped in to drag me out, but I think I might have been too big for him to get me. But they got their father, Sonny, to pull me in. They lived the furthest to the edge of the compound. His partner Petal argued with Sparrow about something, but I was too tired to even care," Izzy began.

"Sorry to interrupt, but what's with the names? They were not born with those names, were they?" Emmett asked.

"It's a hippy thing. The names are supposed to be elements of nature," Izzy shrugged.

"That's why you wear hippy clothes and sing songs from the 60s," Alice offered.

"Yes, I got yet another new name. This time it was Bluebell or Bell. They thought of Bell as it was closest to my given name. It wasn't too bad. Meme was a trained teacher, so we did some lessons, but we worked as well. My job was collecting the eggs and milking the cows. Then churn the cream to make butter and cheese. I know how to make baskets out of cane, spin wool, and use a loom to make blankets and mats. Also, as you know, I can knit. I helped with the harvest, and I could fish. We sold the surplus food and crafts at a farmer's market. Whenever anyone came, they hid me. I was never on my own. Someone always stayed with me, and we played games or read a book. I once even made cheese and butter while I waited for them to leave. Sometimes it was days, other times just a few hours. After a while, I forgot Sparrow was going to take me back home," Izzy sighed.

"Those two used her as a bargaining chip. If they hadn't gotten what they wanted, we wouldn't have ever gotten her back," Charlie growled.

"When Sparrow brought my dad to get me, I didn't recognize him at first. It had been so long since I had seen him. I didn't think he wanted me to go with him because of the way I was treated before I was taken. I was wary of him. But I spoke to Meme that night and she asked me to give him a chance and if it didn't work out, there was always a place for me with them," Izzy finished.

"But what Izzy didn't mention was that they treated her as an unpaid slave. You did more work than some of the others. The way that girl, Willow played everyone was wrong," Charlie ranted. "That's why they wanted her to go back."

"That might be, but I had a warm bed with proper food, and received the medical attention I needed. I was part of the family. Echo made some shoes for me that helped me to walk more easily. So don't say anything bad about them. They saved me," Izzy growled.

"Angela, Ben, and I tried to find you when we were in high school. We went on so many sites leaving messages. We received a reply from two people who knew you. They said they never stayed in the same place. They were the ones who told us you were dead," Teddy began.

"What were their names?" Izzy asked.

"Indigo, I think, but the other was Phoenix. I think he could be the one who is that painter," Teddy offered.

"Phoenix was the one who helped most of us to survive. I thought he was dead," Izzy said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Teddy moved over to the stool that Alice got up from. Taking Izzy's hand, he said, "We tried to contact him again. He was no longer on the server. They had hijacked someone's server and used it to contact parents and other victims. He said they had to keep moving. But now most of the cult is in prison, they might not still be hiding. I'll help you find him if you want."

"No, if I come across him, that would be great, but I'm not finding them. I want to put it all behind me," Izzy replied. "Do you wear contact lenses when you don't wear your glasses?"

"Yeah sometimes. I only need them for my one eye," Teddy said, pointing to his eye.

"Teddy, what have you done to your face? Where is your birthmark?" Izzy asked.

Pulling his t-shirt down.

"What the hell have you done to yourself? How did you get burned?" Izzy gasped.

"I wanted to get the birthmark removed because I knew girls wouldn't like it, or that's what Siobhan said. I went to a cheap place, and they didn't know what they were doing. They burned me and damaged my eye," Teddy offered, blushing.

"You selfish pig. Your birthmark was beautiful. You want to see ugly and repulsive? I'm never going to be able to wear the clothes I want to wear or have a boyfriend. They would get sick of the nightmares. My body is such a mess, and it would make you feel sick," Izzy ranted.

"Nothing about you would repulse me Izzy, nothing," Teddy said.

"Well, let's start with my feet," Izzy growled as she took her boots off.

She could hear someone gasp.

"Then, look at my legs. These are dog bites I got from trying to run away. Phoenix tried to sew the wound up with a needle and thread, with no numbing. These two bites have no muscle. The guards used us as a sport. They would drive us into the woods and drop us off. Then we would have to get back to the compound before the dogs got to us first," Izzy sobbed.

"That's enough Izzy. No one wants to see that," Charlie said.

"Why not Charlie? She has the right to show us what she looks like. She needs people to know she isn't a victim. She's a survivor," Rose said.

Izzy seemed to not hear anyone as she pulled off her top. "These are where the chains broke into my skin. Since I was first taken there, they made no changes to them. All this on my back is what Renee did to me. Some of the cuts were stitched, and some just healed on their own. They branded my shoulder with a hot iron like they do cattle. The pain was so bad I blacked out. It became clear that I was a foundling of the cult and considered worthless. They bound me with chains on my wrist and neck. As tears fell down her face, Izzy whispered, "I'm ugly."

Charlie moved forward to cover her up, and then attempted to pull her on his knee. But Sue and Helen pulled him back.

Teddy scooped her up and sat in the chair with her pulled to his chest. Wrapping a throw around her. As everyone left the room.

Izzy's crying and Teddy's attempts to comfort her were the only sounds that could be heard.

Thanks as always to Kellie (Klcivinski) my pre-reading for taking the time to read through the chapter even though she is busy.

Also, thank you to Donna (EdwardsFirstKiss) for sprinkling your magic on my work and making it readable.