Chapter Sixteen: Game over

Phoenix Arizona, June 26th, 1993

A group of young girls sit, huddled close to each other, in a rusty steel cage. The cage is in a dark and dank basement that has been sound proofed by Mass-loaded vinyl with sound curtains and a layer of drywall over it.

Across from the cage, on the floor, is a dingy mattress that has blood staining the center. All the girls are terrified. They are wearing ballerina outfits that are damp. Some, unlucky few, have bruises and blood running down their inner thighs.

A piece of the wall to the right of the cage slides open. In walks a tall slight ginger with long hair and piercing green eyes. Her face is made up with light colors and she's wearing a black leotard with pink stockings. She has oddly hard and sharp features for a woman.

As she closes the door she looks at the girls and smiles.

"Hello my angels."

Her voice is deep and gravelly. While walking towards the girls she takes off her leotard. She has no breast, her pecks are completely flat with two pink nipples. When she is only in her tights the faintest outline of a bulge is present. This is no woman.

He walks over to the cage then crouches down. The girls try to move away from the entrance but the cage is to small so they curl up tighter. He looks over the girls till his eyes lock on one with dark skin.

"Hello Astrid. Are you ready to play?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Phoenix Arizona, 2005 APOV

I walk into my run down old ballet studio. Honestly I never thought I'd come back here, not after what happened twelve years ago. It's so run down now. The wood floors are chipped and scrapped. Most of the windows have been busted out. There is satanic and vulgar graffiti on the moldy stone walls and beer cans scattered around.

With a sigh I walk straight to the back room. This is where I use to practice with my friends. This room was untouched by the vandals and partying teens. The only thing hurting this room is time. Each step I take towards the wall of mirrors across from me the quicker my heartbeat.

Stopping in front of the mirror I push it into the wall then slide it to the left. There is a dark stairway behind it. Slowly I walk down the steps till I reach a rusty metal wall. Placing my hands on the wall I slide it to the left. Past it is a dark and dank basement.

I've tried not to think of this place. I don't even like to tall about living in phoenix. It's crazy how one traumatic event can change a persons. For instance what happened here twelve years ago is what made me the killer I was before I moved to Forks.

With a sigh I open my bag and pull out some C4. It's time to start, I have to get this floor done before James calls.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Phoenix Arizona, June 26th, 1993

He opens the cage then grabs the girl by the hair. She screams in pain as her hair clings to her roots. After locking the cage he starts to drag her to the bed. Twisting around a bit the girl punches him in the nuts. He lets her go as he doubles over and grabs himself.

She tries to run but he grabs her by her leotard, ripping it a bit, and throws her across the room.

"You stupid little bitch!" He yells as he starts pacing like he's trying to compose himself a bit.

The girl lifts her head then notices a broken rusted pipe beside her. She grabs it and pulls it to her chest. He stops pacing then looks at her.

"And to think I was going to be nice." He says as he approaches her.

Once he gets to the girl she swings the pipe. It hits in the side of his knee causing it to give way. The child kicks him in the groin again, harder this time, then hurries to her feet. Using all the strength she has she hits him in the head with the pipe. He falls to the ground, stunned, so the girl keeps hitting him in the head.

She doesn't stop not even when strong arms wrap around her waist.

"Honey stop, he's dead."

Her arms go limp causing her to drop the pipe on the ground. Astrid's eyes stay on the corpse. His head is bashed opened to the point where you can see his mashed up brain. Oddly enough she doesn't feel sad or scared she feels satisfied. The corner of her lip twitches as the man puts her down. He spins her around so he can see her.

As soon as she sees the eyes that mirror her own she smiles.

"Daddy?" She asks.

Charlie Swan smiles with tears in his eyes. He pulls his daughter into his chest and holds her tight while he sobs.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Present day APOV

The hunter moves forward so that my gun is pressed to his forehead.

"Do it." He order.

I pull the trigger causing blue flames to engulf his head. The flame spreads across his body faster than Edward runs. The man screams I agony as he starts to crack. My lip twitches as I pull up my sleeve revealing a rubber tube taped to my arm. The tube is connected to my gun on one end and my water bottle bag pack on the other. To bad for James it's not filled with water. I pull out the tube then take off my bag pack and throw it at him.

Jogging out of the studio I run to the ally across the street. Once I round a corner in the ally I pull a small plastic rod out of my pocket and hit the red button on top of it. A loud boom sounds that shakes the area. Peeking around the corner I see the whole studio is up in flames. Good that place needed to be destroyed.

With a smirk I look to my left where a sleek black Lamborghini waits. I skip to the passenger side and get in.

"So how was the flame thrower handgun prototype?" A soft voice asks.

I look at the older man in the driver seat. He looks like a stereotypical nerd; thick rimmed glasses, scrawny frame, neatly parted hair, a sky blue button down, and khaki pants. His weathered tan skin is marred with burns due to some of his more volatile prototypes. I guess that is the down side of being a pyromaniac genius that has a knack for engineering weapons. The sad thing is no one really buys his unique weapons. Lucky for him I may need some shit to deal with rough vampires, like James.

"Perfect. Did you get the video feed?" I ask as I hand him the gun.

"Yes and like you advised I didn't watch it. Here." He answers while handing me a SD chip.

I take the chip and slip I into my pocket.

"Did you put that trace on the number I gave you?" I inquire.

"Yeah they're at Phoenix hotel at the moment. Want me to drive you there?"

"Yeah thanks Luke."

He smiles at me then looks at the flames behind us. With a sigh he drives out of the ally. Luke always hates leaving a burning flame.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When we get to the hotel he lets me out of the car.

"Thanks Luke. I owe you." I say.

"Well I do have other products you can test. I'll send them to you just text me your address."

With a nod I close the door and turn around. Of course Edward is standing in the doorway of the hotel. Smiling I walk into the hotel and wave.

"Hey bae." I greet as he pulls me into a hug.

"Where were you I was worried sick? I thought James had you." He whispers.

"I'm fine baby and don't worry James is dead." I inform.

"WHAT! How?" He asks.

"Lets talk up stairs." I prompt.

He nods then takes my hand and leads me to the elevator. Edward wraps his arm around me so he can keep me close. I don't mind his smell is really soothing to me.

"Are you ok?"

I nod. The elevator doors open and he leads me out. We take a right then a left before stopping at room 210. He opens the door to a beautiful room where his family are waiting.

The walls are white but the rug and bed spread are black. There is a desk on the right side of the room and a night stand beside the bed.

"Alice could you get my laptop from my bag?" I ask.

Before I can blink she's holding it out to me. I take it then walk to the dresser and open it. After unlocking my screen I grab the SD card and put it in the slot. Opening the video file I put it on full screen then walk away.

"I'm going to order some food I'm kinda hungry." I inform as I walk to the bed.

Sitting down on the bed I pick up the phone and dial room service.

"Hello how may I help you?"

"Hi I'd like to order some food to my room." I respond.

"Alright what would you like?"

"A large pizza topped with barbeque chicken and bacon. As well as a strawberry banana smoothie and a big slice of red velvet cake." I in form.

"Ok ma'am it will be up in less than half an hour"

"Ok tha-"

"GOD DAMN!" Emmett yells.

I look at the Cullens. Esme and Carlisle have turned away from the screen and are both covering her ears. Emmett's jaw is on the floor while he looks between me and the computer. Rose and Jasper are also shocked but they're absorbed in t video. Edward has a smug look on his face while Alice is peeking between her fingers.

"Thank you I'll be here." I say before hanging up.

The video ends with a loud boom then they look at me.

"I told him not to fuck with me." I state while kicking off my shoes.

I move under the covers then rest my head against the pillows.

"Respect." Rose and Jasper say simultaneously.

Emmett nods so fast it gives ME whiplash. Edward just beams at me as he struts over to the bed. I don't know why he's strutting when I did all the work.

"I'm so proud of you love, you're an amazing woman." He says while sitting on the bed.

"I commend your wardrobe choice, it's sexy and badass." Alice says.

"Thank you."

"You were very brave Astrid. Come on everyone, lets give her some time to rest." Carlisle prompts.

The rest of the family nods with soft good byes.

"Come here." Edward prompts, now under the covers.

He no longer has on his shirt or his pants. Smirking I take off my own top and pants before crawling into his arms. As I curl up against his cold hard chest he wraps his arms around me. I may be a badass but that doesn't mean I don't like to cuddle.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx