Summary: What would have happened if Bella came home from her 'slumber party' while Riley was still in her room?

Okay, this was actually my very first little story, and I had already posted it on here some time ago, completed. But then today I accidentally deleted it. Don't ask me how I managed that one, because I already feel extremely stupid about it. I mean, honestly, how can you accidentally delete your own story when it asks you 'Are you sure you want to delete this story?'! -_- So stupid.

On the plus side, though, it gives me the opportunity to go back over it and fix mistakes. :D

Anyway, here it is again. Hope you enjoy it...again.

.:BPOV - PART 1:.

I was glad to finally be going home. It felt like I spent more time being girlie this weekend than I ever planned to do in my life. Alice was dropping me off, to keep up with the slumber party charade. She had packed me a few bags of new clothes as clear evidence that we had gone to Olympia as promised, and threatened that I had better put those clothes to good use. I sighed.

"Oh," she said suddenly, right before we turned onto me street. "Charlie's not home yet, I suppose Edward could have dropped you off after all."

Charlie must be working late tonight, I thought. Or maybe he was at Billy's. Either way I wasn't complaining. It was nice to come home and not have to play up the charade immediately.

We pulled up in front of my house. Despite being relaxed about Charlie's absence, the house looked so empty, so lonely... "You'll tell Edward to come over now then, right?" I asked Alice hopefully.

She laughed at my expression. "Don't worry, Bella. As soon as I get home I'll tell him it's safe to come over."

I got out, shut the door, and waved after her as she sped off down the street. Once she was out of sight I carried my things up the porch. To my confusion, the door was unlocked. I pushed it and it swung silently open, creaking a bit before hitting the wall. I stared into the quiet house for a moment before I shuffled in, dropping the bags at the foot of the stairs and kicking the door shut behind me. Nothing seemed out of place, I noted.

In the kitchen there was a post-it note hanging from the fridge.

Working late tonight…again. Sorry. Don't worry about waiting for me for dinner. I'll order pizza at the station. -Dad

I crumpled the letter and threw it in the trash. I still had a little time before Alice got back to the house and Edward came over. I decided to clean up and take a shower before he arrived.

Reaching the top of the stairs I felt oddly tense and on edge. My subconscious instincts were reacting to something, but I couldn't tell what. I slowed my pace, trying to be as quiet as possible, listening for any sound. All was silent. I looked behind me cautiously, but everything seemed normal. I brushed it off as nothing. I was just being paranoid with all the newborn talk, and with Victoria— I winced at the name— still out there, and the door being unlocked when it shouldn't have been….

I pushed my bedroom door open and walked in. A sudden chill ran down my spine, and immediately ice cold hands slid around my throat and pulled me back, pinning me up against the wall in a tight grasp. I gasped as I stared into the deep red crimson eyes of a vampire.

I could feel my heart pounding, terrified against my chest.

The vampire stared at me thirstily but made no attempt at my throat. I stared back at him with wide, panicked eyes. He seemed to be deliberating something. He was fighting the urge to kill me, I recognized. But why?

I realized then that I was holding my breath. I exhaled slowly, but stopped when the vampire's lips curled and his venom soaked teeth showed. A low grumble came from his chest as his grip tightened.

I had no idea why he was here. He was not familiar, I did not recognize him at all. Did he just randomly choose my house to wander into? Maybe he happened upon my strong scent and followed it here. But that was too much of a coincidence with everything that's going on. I suddenly remembered Charlie, and was glad he had to work late.

But still, no explanation I thought of could tell me why I was still alive. I should have been drained lifeless by now. Yet here I was, still pinned, still terrified, still waiting to be eaten. The vampire only continued to glare at me.

I heard the engine of a car shutdown from outside and a door slam. The vampire's head snapped in the direction of my window.

My thoughts went directly to Alice. She would have seen this. She must have come back immediately. Probably called Edward on her way, and they were coming for me. Maybe I wouldn't die here, I thought hopefully.

The front door opened and my stomach sank in absolute fear and alarm when Alice's voice was not the one that echoed through the house.

"Bella!" Charlie called from the front room. "Bells, you home?"

Dread washed through me. My own life suddenly seemed extremely unimportant. My father couldn't be here, not now! I thought he was working late tonight? What was I going to do? I couldn't let Charlie die.

"Please," I whispered through my fear. It was barely audible, but the vampire seemed to have heard it just fine. He hissed as his head shot back to me. I struggled to find the right words. "You can have me," I managed to say, "but please don't hurt him."

He tilted his head slightly to the side, contemplating my request. Then something else caught his attention, and he looked toward my window again. I didn't know what it was, too faint for my ears probably.

"Bella?" Charlie called again, coming up the stairs.

No! No, no, no!

He reached the top and his footsteps grew closer. I whined softly, as the strange vampire turned his attention back to me. He looked just as panicked as I felt. Charlie knocked on my door, but began turning the handle without waiting for an answer.

"Don't come in!" I screamed as loud as I could. The vampire hissed quietly at my sudden burst.

"Bella?" Charlie asked, worried now. Luckily he didn't come in. "Is everything alright? I was calling you-"

"Yeah," I gasped out. The vampire stared at me, letting me talk for him. "Everything's fine."

Charlie hesitated outside my door. "What are you doing?" he finally asked.

I wracked my brain for an answer. My eyes wandered around the room, trying to find anything that could possibly be a good enough excuse. "I'm…changing." It was the best I could come up with, but it worked.

"Oh, alright. I'll be downstairs." Charlie said walking off. I sighed with relief.

My capturer's head snapped to look at my window again, this time his face was fearful. Before I registered what was happening, he flung me onto his back and flew out my window.

We were flying through the forest, the air suddenly much colder than I remembered it being. I held back my terrified screams, unsure of whether we were far enough away from Charlie so he, or any other warm blooded human for that matter, wouldn't come looking for me.

It felt like minutes had passed before the vampire finally stopped, abruptly throwing me down on the ground. I scrambled up and away from him until my back hit a tree. I was too afraid to budge from my spot, too worried to make any sudden movements. I had no clue of what to expect from this odd intruder.

I swallowed, noticing how dry my throat actually was.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice hoarse. It was the only thing I could think of to say. I knew what he wanted though. He wanted me, my blood. It still made no sense considering he was still struggling greatly to fight that burning urge in his throat, but I knew there was nothing else he could possibly want with me.

"Just stay there and wait," he spat, finally speaking as he scanned the area. His voice was fierce. He sounded frightening and frightened at the same time.

I looked around too. We were not anywhere special, not from what I could tell. Looked just like any other part of Forks, if we were even in Forks still, which I highly doubted considering how long we ran, and at our speed. It made me wonder what happened to Alice. Didn't she see this? Why hadn't she come back? My eyes rested on the creature in front of me. He looked more dangerous now that I actually have a better view of him. Maybe I'm glad Alice didn't come back. I couldn't imagine her fighting this guy. I shuddered, thinking of her crouched, ready to spring at this hungry, dangerous looking vampire, who would snarl in return and lunge for her in defense. The thought made me sick.

Yes, I am grateful Alice had stayed away, no matter her reason for doing so.

"Riley!"

The sound made me jump, a soft scream that had been building in my throat released. Another vampire appeared from the left. Her black hair was untidy, and her eyes glowed bright red, like she had just feasted on a human. I felt how wide my eyes were as she glared at me.

"Riley, that's her!" she said menacingly. She sniffed the air and crouched, facing me. My body was trembling as I slid clumsily around the tree. "That's her…" she said again. Her voice trailed off in a hiss, and suddenly she lunged herself at me.

I screamed, ducking and clasping my eyes closed in a panicked reaction.

There was an angry growl and frustrated snarls from two different directions. I realized, with a sense of mixed shock and relief, that I was still, somehow, alive. I braved a peek and saw the black-haired female being fought back by Riley— I suppose his name was— and someone else. I had no time to focus on the other one, as there was a screeching cry that pounded in my head. I had to cover my ears and turn away. I opened my eyes again and my gaze focused on the open path in front of me. Instinctively, to get away, I sprinted forward, dodging trees as I went. The crying had stopped behind me, though I still heard hissing and snarling. I paid it no attention. I was running on pure instinct. Or stupidity. I knew I had no chance outrunning a vampire, or running without falling over for that matter, but I had to try, didn't I?

Something snatched my arm and yanked me back. I felt my shoulder blade pop, and I gasped at the uncomfortable pain. I was thrown to the ground again, and I immediately pressed my hand against my shoulder. I could feel it wasn't connected right.

"Bella, Bella, Bella."

When I looked up, the pain vanished, and my whole body and mind became numb.

There, just a few feet away from me, with her wild orange hair waving destructively in the breeze, and her dark eyes glaring murderously at me, was my nightmare.

Victoria.

"You've been out of my reach for far too long," she said. "It is a real pity you had to get mixed up in all of this, really." Her voice was more angelic and high, than the fierce, deathly sound I always imagined it to be. Then she laughed, the sound like wind chimes. "Well, actually, I not a total loss. Your blood does smell absolutely appealing, more than anyone I've ever encountered. I am just dying to taste it, figuratively speaking of course. I never noticed your scent before, though. Maybe that's why James took such a liking to you— he caught your scent more than I did." Her smirk grew serious at the sound of her deceased mate's name. She narrowed her eyes.

The more she stared, the more I cringed away. This was it. It was over. I would die here by the hands of Victoria, just as my nightmares had predicted. There was no escaping. Tears swelled up in my eyes.

I tried to look on the brighter side of it, as I tried not to cry. It was better if it ended here. With me out of the way no one will have to fight Victoria. No one will have to get hurt because of me. Jacob and his pack. Charlie. The Cullens. Edward. They won't have to worry about Victoria anymore.

A salty tear escaped down my cheek.

"Tears already?" she laughed in disbelief. "You really are a weak creature aren't you? No challenge at all. At first I was having difficulty, I admit, with your pet dogs." She sounded disgusted as she spat the word out. "But then the Cullens returned, and I realized I wasn't the only one those wolves irritated. Their petty arguments, and anxiety over whatever truce they made, created quite a fun little game." She laughed delightfully at the memory. "It was also more challenging with the psychic, but I was hoping to put my strategizing to good use. I sent Riley," she nodded her head in his direction. My heart jumped in instinctive fright. I had forgotten him completely. "I sent him to your home..." She paused when she assessed the look on my face. "Not to get you," she assured. Like that made me feel any better. "But to get everything he could with your scent."

I tried to make sense of it, but I couldn't. Victoria already knew my scent.

"I figured your psychic vampire would be watching me, so I consistently kept changing my mind. She had no idea did she?" She grinned wickedly. Her venomous sharp teeth exposed, causing more terror to strike my already paralyzed mind. "But he comes back with you instead," she continued, shaking her head in visible disappointment. "All that time-consuming work for nothing."

She eyed me strangely. I backed away automatically. My body was in fight or flight mode, and I knew I couldn't fight. Running was my only instinctive option. But logically, I knew there was nothing humanly possible I could do.

Suddenly she was gone. My eyes widened further. I scanned the area, my eyes rapidly moving from one spot to the next, but I couldn't spot her.

Something pounded into my back. I went flying, face first into the ground ahead of me. I felt Victoria's ice cold hands wrap around my ankles.

"Hmm…you won't try to run, will you?" she asked thoughtfully.

I jumped as a buzzing sound erupted from my pocket. It was my cell phone. The noise shifted and was no longer coming from me, but from Victoria's hand.

"Ah, it's Edward." She smiled down at me. "You think he's worried?" She asked doubtfully. "I don't see why he should be," she said harshly through her clenched jaw as she stepped down forcefully against my left ankle.

I heard my bones crack and break in agony, and I screamed as the pain spiraled up my leg, my fingers digging into the dirt. I gripped the earth like it was my savior, that it could stop the torture I knew was coming, that I was already in. I could hear Laurent's words even now, the words that haunted me up till this day: If you knew what she had planned for you…

She laughed without humor. "If anything, he probably should be thanking me. He no longer has an obligation to you. No more having to worry. No more anxiety and siding with werewolves." She placed her foot lightly on my other ankle.

I attempted to move. I pushed myself forward— half crawling, half slithering— not making any progress at all. My focus was blurring as my pain filled tears gushed out. I gasped and fell limp as she crushed my other ankle. My body trembled from the pain being inflicted. I could feel that my feet were twisted in abnormal directions, though I refused to look, to see the evidence.

"Maybe I should answer," she said, as the phone continued to vibrate, seeming to pay no mind at all to the quiet whining slipping through my lips.

I helplessly crawled forward yet again, scraping my nails across the ground, and grabbing anything I could to pull me away from the vengeful fiery red-head determined to make me suffer in absolute torment before killing me off completely.

Victoria was walking at a steady, slow human pace, keeping with me as she continued to talk to herself. I wasn't getting anywhere. I wondered why I was even trying.

"I'll let him talk to you," she concluded finally, as she kicked me harshly in the side to stop me from trying to get away. I heard a couple of ribs crack in the process. I whimpered, trying to keep in control of myself.

Another buzz from my phone and she flipped it open, putting it to my ear. "Say hello," she paused and added, "or, more appropriately, goodbye." Her smile was that of hateful enjoyment.

Edward said nothing at first, until he realized someone had answered. "Bella? Bella, are you there? Bella?"

I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"Please answer me!"

I cleared my throat, and he reacted to the sound. "Is that you, Bella? Answer me! Please!" Worry was obvious in his unusually loud voice. I pictured the way his marble forehead would crease from the anxiety, how his eyes— whether topaz or onyx— would look pained. I felt horrible at once. Worse than my ankles being broken and mangled was Edward's face when he was troubled and hurting.

"Ed-ward," I tried again.

"Bella!" He didn't sound even a bit relieved. It sounded more stressed, if anything. "Bella, where are you? Are you hurt?"

"Edward," I said again. I didn't want to talk to him, didn't want him to hear me like this. But I knew Victoria was giving me no choice. So I knew I had to apologize to him. "I'm…so sorry, Edward…"

"What's wrong? Bella, please! Where are-"

I interrupted him with a heart wrenching scream, which very nearly ruptured my eardrums. I threw my head back in pure pain, and cried as Victoria distorted my leg, slowly twisting it around in the most unnatural way possible. I felt my limbs tear, and knee pop piercingly out of place, cracking deafeningly through the air. Numbness took hold of me. My head swam in fuzz and darkness. I whimpered loudly, straining in evident torture as I battled unconsciousness. My mind was clouded. My surroundings were outlined in bright red and black, sometimes appearing green, while white spots sporadically popped up everywhere I looked, making me dizzy.

Victoria was telling me something, but I failed to hear her. My senses were momentarily crippled, or permanently for all I knew. I rolled on my back, gasping for air, for a sign of life, but I couldn't grasp anything. No sense of reality was around me anymore. I was lost in a thick haze of distress.

My hearing came slowly back. Victoria's words became more clear as she spoke.

"You should be grateful. I let you say goodbye, an option James and I never got," she spat.

She kicked me in the same side with the fracturing ribs again. I moaned at the stab it brought, but it was nothing compared to how my leg felt, how it still feels.

Victoria's laughter sounded more maniacal now than it was before.

I thought I was beginning to lose myself when the earth started to shake. I gripped the ground for support, clawing away until my nails were dull and the tips of my fingers were raw and bloody. Sobs escaped from my dry lips, and I realized what the shaking was. I had broken down and was panting for air, tears flowing nonstop out of my blind eyes. The damage was too great, I couldn't stand it.

"If you would like, I could save you some," her dark trill laughter rang through the forest. Something snapped. I jumped, bracing for the pain I knew was on it's way, but I felt nothing new. My body was possibly comatose from all the pain. It would be no surprise to me.

Processing her last words through my muffled thoughts, I couldn't make sense of them. What was she talking about? Save me some? Some of what? It came to my attention that she might not have been even talking to me this whole time. And the snap might have been the shutting of my cell phone.

"Bella, you smell absolutely inviting."

I could hear the thirst simmering from her mouth as she spoke the words. "However, the fun isn't over yet."

I flinched internally, but my body was unresponsive. I just wanted to die. I wanted to be free from all this agony. I wanted to be away from here, away from her. I wanted my nightmare to end.

I'll be posting up chapters as I finish editing them. :]