This should have been just another normal night like all the others.
It was an easy six hour gig he'd been told, nothing to worry about. He'd be guarding a silly building that looks like a castle for five nights a week-there'd even be free pizza thrown in on occasion. Honestly he had been intrigued when he read an ad about a 'security guard' position right here in his boring home town of all places, but more importantly he saw it as a simple way to get some quick cash. That very pay offered by his current employer wasn't bad at all, it was pretty damn good actually for something as simple as sitting in a chair, being bored, and really doing nothing of value in the middle of the night. So he was no idiot-he took the position that very day he was given an interview and an offer.
Yet, here he was now... Wishing he had never fucking read that stupid ad in the paper.
"Just one more hour…"
It was nearly six that warm Saturday morning, and still the time couldn't move any faster for the security guard working there named Cooper Wulf. The small snug office he sat in was eerily quiet for the time being, but unlike the four other nights it was completely lit up with all the possible light sources and bulbs inside the room. The ceiling fixture was shining down bright, tarnishing everything yellow from its perch above. From the large wooden desk pressed against one wall of the room was also a lamp that was craned towards the door on its bendable neck. Then lastly a flashlight sat slick and cold in the boy's clammy sweaty hands.
Despite being twenty years old, an age deemed by him as a time to throw away childish notions and silly fears, the young five foot eleven (and a half he liked to say) young man sat absolutely shaking in his chair. Fear was thickly coiled around every inch of him, smothering him from head to toe in a stuffy blanket of dread.
He seemed to be waiting-just sitting there in his chair while his limbs flinched and trembled, hardly keeping the flashlight in his doubled grip.
Just then a loud metal 'CLACK' broke the veil of heavy silence. It echoed from outside the door and nearly had the young man sprawling out of the computer chair that very second. He regained himself immediately after, even if he'd fallen half way down from his seat, while never allowing the beam of his light to flicker away from the gaping mouth of the doorway.
"Who the hell is there!" He cried out in a voice that cracked from how high his pitch had risen. Keeping his voice quiet for any longer was becoming unbearable with how terrified and sick he was starting to feel. As impossible as it seemed to be with his nature he hadn't said a single word in three hours after the first set of loud strange noises had begun to drift up the corridors and into the room. Sure, he'd heard a few odd sounds before-here and there, the last few nights, but nothing like this!
"If this is a joke it's not f-funny! Stop fucking around with me!"
Quickly he turned after calling out and reached for the small tablet like device sitting in its propped up rest upon the desk. Grabbing it hastily, near about dropping the thing, he pushed a button on its side and caused the tablet to flicker to life with a tiny jingle of a tune. The screen blinked, booted up, than began to show an image feed of what had to be the large buildings front doors from a camera placed right above. It looked as if nothing was wrong or unusual with the empty scene before his eyes so he struck at the screen with his index finger, flickering through the video to another image. Flash after flash, flick after flick, showed other parts of the dark building within his unsteady hands.
One flicker lead to a video of what looked to be a hall down to a large empty room with several giant wooden tables set as if for an upcoming birthday. Then with another flick the screen showed what was clearly a rather vast kitchen. He continued on as the screen flickered to outside some doors with bathroom signs pinned to their fronts, a large stage that was too dark to see much of anything, a long hall filled with doors, and even to a video feed of what looked to be right outside the security office itself.
But, through out all these videos and images nothing was seen out of the usual.
And it made everything that much eerier.
"That's it-I'm going nuts! Oh god, I must to be so fucked up right now. Shit!" The young man laughed to himself nervously and wiped his sweaty hand against the front of his uniform, soiling the white button down shirt and blood red tie.
As the bout of fear died down Cooper began to regret making some jokes with his friends from three days ago. He had sworn to them about seeing ghostly images flicker across the security cam footage as he worked, the same kind he was looking at just now. Of course it'd been a complete utter lie just to get some shock and looks of surprise from his buddies who had far more interesting and 'real' jobs than him... None of them really bought what he said either, but it had been funny for all of them to think in the safe daylight hours about it if he actually had.
With such weird things happening out of the blue now though… It seemed like karma was getting him back good.
Another loud 'CLACK' echoed down the hall abruptly, and Cooper looked up to the door, scrambling for the flashlight he had set down absentmindedly. He aimed it right at the thick darkness that seemed to swallow the world outside the small office with greedy glee... The glow revealed nothing once again-thankfully.
Without warning static, sharp and noisy, started to crackle from the security tablet to the surprise of the young man. Cooper fumbled for it in fear, making an attempt to turn the volume down on its side panel. For some reason the usually clear images of the cameras were now starting to flicker from normal to a fuzzy snow and then back rapidly with the snap of the speakers. He wasn't sure anymore if his mind was making this up now, even with how fucked up he knew he was, as it felt too real to be some hallucination.
Yet, it continued to hiss and growl, and so the young man smacked the tablet with force. "Fucking hell! Work you stupid thing! Come on!"
Frustration over took him so without much thought he threw the tablet at the door, causing it to clatter against the ground and slid into the black hall to be completely consumed. Mortified at what he'd done the security guard smacked himself in the face with his palm before allowing himself several seconds to calm down, afraid of what object he might throw next in his jittery state.
This was getting ridiculous! Despite the strange and frightening sounds in this surprisingly hellish family fun center he had not seen a single scary thing during his shifts the first four nights he'd been working the stupid gig. Thinking about that helped Cooper somewhat, and so he leaned back in his seat, trying to focus on other things to ease his already wigged out mind. The rapid beat of his heart declined further when he recalled the fact about buildings often making noises because of their foundations bending as well as from air movement. Perhaps, this one was just extra noisy-after all Avonlea had just remodeled a few months ago so there was bound to be some parts of the new structure shifting and adjusting...
Yeah, that helped a lot... There was nothing to be so freaked out about-whatever he was experiencing was all in his head.
None of this was real.
Feeling confident now Cooper grabbed at his flashlight once more and then flicked it back on as he stood up from the chair which squeaked with his missing weight. The beam of ebbing light drifted across the floor so he could find the damn useless device that had finally gone silent, snag it, and just await the clock to reach six from the safety of his office without pissing himself. God... The young man realized he hadn't even been brave enough to make it to the bathroom just down the very hall from his cooped up office the entire time.
As he was turning from his chair to glance up at the clock hanging above the desk another sharp metal sound ricocheted through the air. He jumped again, his heart nearly shredding through his chest and bursting out between his ribs with how loud it was. However, this time the strange 'clack' of metal bouncing against metal sounded as if it was…
As if it was right…
Slowly, Cooper looked from the desk to the empty door frame.
It had... It sounded as if the horrible noise had been right outside his office.
The beam of the flash light wobbled like a drunkard from how bad Cooper's hands were shaking, though it managed to cross the door's wooden frame to peel back the darkness beyond.
And there in the door way that he exposed was a face looking back.
'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-'
The monstrous face screeched violently before the young man could even comprehend what was happening. Wild yellow eyes and an abyss full of daggers for a mouth reached forward from the stalk of nothingness it was seemingly raised up upon, flying towards him with deadly speed.
Yet, Cooper could hardly hear its cry from the shriek of terror ripping out of his own throat.
—
It'd been a while since she'd last been here, in Storybrooke.
Sure she stopped on occasions to visit her father, but she didn't do that near as much as she first did when she moved. It must have been several months now since her previous trip, causing a bit of guilt to rise up in her chest. Yet, even if she'd been away for a decade-or a century perhaps, she was absolutely positive the sleepy town in a woodsy portion of Maine would be just exactly the same as it always had been. Surely she couldn't be the only one strolling about its streets who constantly felt as if the town was somehow stuck under some loop of time that kept repeating the same twelve months over and over again.
That's the stuff only found in silly fairytales though, and she knew that this was a reality far from having magic abound or fairy godmothers. Things had indeed changed even here while she was away... For better and for worse, whether she liked it or not.
However, one of the many things that had stayed the same was the town's tiny little treasure called Granny's Diner. It was a quaint little local owned restaurant named after the establishing woman herself that had been around beyond when Belle was young. Surprisingly, the unanimously favorited eatery (given it was one of the town's few eateries) was actually slow this morning. It was a regular old Tuesday, but normally there were more occupied seats at the bar and usually several booths all taken up-according to her memories of this place in the past. The few lingering customers inside, whom she eyed discreetly from her seat, were busy stuffing their faces with fresh hot pancakes or fueling themselves with a simple cup coffee before heading out on their way. Looking around, she noticed all the decor within remained just as it had always been, giving off a hint of the eighties with a small woodsy twist that was starting to age surprisingly well.
Everything was fine from what one could see... Except one empty red leathered booth in particular had Belle French a bit puzzled. That one was notoriously known to be occupied right on the dot every day, and that occupier was one friendly face she'd been looking forward to seeing since being... Well, back. Then again not many people knew about her returning after all this time, so she hadn't been expecting a surging crowd of people to be welcoming her as she tumbled back into this quiet isolated world.
Unfortunately the reason for her making a reappearance to the town she had lived in for seven years was not at all a happy one.
"Well look who it is! You need some more ice tea Belle?" A familiar voice rung happily in Belle's turned ear, and she looked back to nod in response since her mouth was full of a bite of delicious scrambled eggs. Ruby Lucas, a tall, dark brown haired, elegant, and wild woman-known for her unique one of a kind version of the Granny's Dinner uniform as well as her rather tough yet loving relationship with said grandmother, filled her glass of tea to the brim. The bright red from her short waist apron stuck out as much as the streak of her hair, enhancing some of the cream of her skin showing beneath the crop of her white button up shirt. It was an intentional display, for the wearer herself and more so any wandering cutie's eye, that was simply just part of Ruby's lifestyle.
"Thanks." Belle wiped at her face with a napkin, attempting to keep her lacy blue dress from becoming a mess thanks to the smorgasbord of breakfast before her. After a long sleepless night and the worry she endured she thought it only right to chow down one of her favorite meals. "Sorry, I forgot how good the pancakes are, and I just had to have some since it's been so long. It's good to see you again."
"Feelings mutual Belles-I was wondering when you'd stop back on by." Ruby gave a toothy grin, her pearly whites showing behind lovely painted lips. "I've been hearing some rumors drifting about by the way... Someone mentioned you might be moving back here to little ol' Storybrooke. I wasn't sure if that was true or not, but I'd have to say I'm very excited if they happen to be accurate." Those full lips fell into a slight pout as the waitress crossed her arms over her chest. "Everyone here have become such fuddy duddies anymore, it's becoming unbearable-and I've missed you, your nonstop talk of books and all."
Belle had to laugh at the blunt address to the not so lively community, one that they both had found frustrating time and time again growing up (though their own reasons for finding it frustrating were severely different). It was just another example of Storybrooke's consistency to try to avoid any change where it could.
"I'm probably no better than those fuddy duddies you talked about, but I've missed you as well."
"Shoot-I should have asked this first, I'm sorry, but Is your dad okay? I heard from a customer earlier this morning-who I'm pretty sure is one of his friends talk about him having to be checked into the hospital last night."
At that Belle's expression fell a bit, the previous joy being snatched away by the cruel reminder of the terrible changes that had occurred. Through it though she kept her small worn smile upon her features while she pushed some eggs around on her plate. "Let me just say first that the rumor about me moving back is going to be most likely true... My dad's not doing well overall, he's having issues breathing, chest pains, as well as other complications. I'm nearly positive after his final check up today I'll be packing up my apartment and moving back down here before the month is over." Belle's auburn curls bounced around her shoulders as she shook her head, an unmistakable sorrow dancing across her vivid blue eyes.
It was terrible to even think like this after her father had suffered as he had... How everything she'd built these last seven years away from here-from Storybrooke, felt as if it was crumbling to dust against her fingertips... But then, there was the even worse truth beneath that selfish notion, because what she 'had' truthfully wasn't much at all with how easy it was going to be to pack up that meager life and move on without even blinking an eye.
Softly a sigh escaped her throat, but the young woman quickly fought off the self pity, indulging it just a moment more. "Boston's been nice and different, I've really enjoyed living there for the last few years, and I think a small part of me is going to miss it… The freedom was refreshing."
"You're so lucky you managed to get away from this bore fest-I'd kill to get some proper taste of that 'freedom', but I get what you mean… By the way, are you and your dad still not seeing eye to eye?" It was less of a question on Ruby's part and more of a statement if anything, the truth was obvious enough.
"It's gotten a lot better over the time I moved out, we're both just too stubborn for our own good to live together. Even though I say that I can't imagine it being any other way with me and him, but still, I can't go back to living with him in his apartment over the shop. I'm going to need to find myself my own place near by... Somehow." The blue eyed beauty mumbled before taking another savory bite of her pancakes, focusing instead on the delightful taste instead of the unsavory past fights between her and her father. Despite Moe French and his daughter not being able to agree on lots of things, like her with his need to still sneak a smoke and lack of proper organization with his own business, and him with her need to throw herself head first into everything-recklessly almost, they were family.
No matter what when the other was in really deep and over their head the other was there to help, just as she was right now.
"I've got some good news for you then!" Ruby exclaimed as she set an elbow on the counter, but she removed it just as quickly when Granny, a smaller woman with a head of curly grey hair and sharp eyes behind a set of bifocals, glared from over at the register while an older couple paid for their meal. "Anyways... There's an available one bedroom apartment here in town with a pretty decent price for rent right now. I've been thinking about it myself... Buuuut, I'm still needed at Granny's and I pay way less for rent by staying with her." Ruby was forcibly pouting now, and Belle had to bite back a chuckle so her friend wouldn't feel offended by her sudden amusement.
What amused her wasn't so much the pouting as it was the simple fact that it was such a Ruby thing to do. As different as they were the two of them had been rather good friends since their middle school days when Belle had first moved to Storybrooke from Australia at the mere age of eleven. The seemingly 'exotic' new classmate had been greeted eagerly by little Ms. Lucas on her first day, and since then they had always kept in touch. Belle was one of the few who knew of just how much the wild blooded woman longed for her own sprint at freedom-having been born with an insatiable spirit for 'adventure' that Belle felt akin to, but Ruby was more loyal than anything else-even above being adventurous, and couldn't leave her only family behind.
In that regard she was the far better person...
"No way? There's really an available apartment here with decent rent? That's a bit shocking." Belle tore herself away from her mind stoking at her inner failings, though she truly couldn't quite believe that part of Ruby's tale-more or less the claim of decent rent. While she was behind on the politics or ongoings of Storybrooke she knew that a man named George, nicknamed 'King George', owned a fair share of the apartments and buildings in town. From what she'd heard it sounded like he was generally rather 'brash' about rental prices and payment being made on time.
"Well, the apartment is above the library, which would be an issue for some people having to keep quiet and no pets, but if there's anyone who wouldn't be bothered it's you, ya' little bookworm. Maybe you could get away with paying part of the rent by lending out books from your own personal library too." Ruby looked rather smug at her joke, causing Belle to lid her eyes in a playful unamused manner.
Before the bookworm could ask further the door to Granny's dinner opened with a loud jingle of the door's bells. Curiously Belle glanced over her shoulder to see the newcomer, and those blue eyes of hers lit up when she saw the very someone she had been hoping to see in that empty booth. The town's sheriff-a Mr. Graham Humbert, strolled into the little dinner and slumped into his usual spot he had always seemed to sit in years ago. Like most days he was sporting the sheriff uniform he was known for while emitting a presence of gentle authority.
This morning though he seemed quite haggard from hime immediate slouch, and both Ruby and Belle glanced at each other with a gleam of interest in their eyes.
"I was going to ask what can I get you today, but I don't think I even need to ask. I'll have it right out." Granny spoke brashly as she approached Graham with a little notebook in hand, already jotting something down.
"Yes, the usual please, perhaps extra caffeine if you can spare." Graham gave a sluggish smile and Ruby, overhearing from this distance, went right away to getting to a full mug of caffeinated coffee for him before the other server could even make a move. Looking up after running his hands over his weary scruffy face and hair, Graham seemed to notice a familiar sight sitting right at the front counter.
"Ms. French? I thought I recognized you when I walked in, it's been a while." He called out, catching the beauty's attention again and setting off a wide smile.
With her food finished Belle picked up her ice tea before striding over to the sheriff's booth to sit across from him, her happy grin still dappling her rosy lips. "It has been a while, how are you doing?" It was asked in partial concern to his haggard look as well as the general nature of his job-even if Storybrooke was never home to any wild car chases or intense gun shootings keeping the local police in a frantic state of panic.
"Oh, just some late night calls recently. I had to help look for a missing kid last night, but he was found and returned safely home. Because of that I've missed my few hours of needed sleep as a result, but duty calls before beauty."
Belle chuckled softly along with him, their chatter mingling with the noises from the rest of the diner. "I guess there has been a lot more going on around Storybrooke than I was expecting."
Ruby, swishing along in her skirt and apron, appeared at the table side a second later with coffee in hand for the worn Sherif who nodded his thanks. After taking a short sip he reached over, adding a single packet of sugar to the mixture while he spoke. "There's been quite a bit going on as of late-I'm sure that has to be surprising when we're talking about Storybrooke of all places… But since you're here I'm sure you've already heard and know all about what's happened to your father, but I still want to give my condolences to the two of you. I was keeping a closer eye on him this last month when I noticed he seemed to be a little out of sorts here and there, and I should have spoken up when I first saw he was having some issues... But if you need help keeping an eye on him I'll be sure to stop by the shop more often."
Such kind words caused Belle's eyes to lidd heavily as they tried to contain her own weariness from the kind man's sympathy or anyone's in general. There was only so much the young woman could handle after enduring two years of sorrowful eyes and half hearted 'condolences' all those years ago when her... No, she had to remind herself that this was different-Graham wasn't like that, nor Ruby and Granny, or the other kind people she knew around town… And it did feel nice for a change to have other people seem to genuinely care.
"No need to rush-the two of us should both be fine for the time being with all the nurses keeping an eye on him-I just got here late last night and saw him for a few hours before I crashed at his place. In fact, I just got back from seeing him again at the hospital about an hour ago too, just so you don't have to worry Dr. Whale confirmed that it wasn't an actual heart attack... But it was pretty close. They're going to be doing some testing on him to see if there is something worse going on than the typical health complications-which I'm positive there is besides his high cholesterol. That means I'm staying here for another night to watch over him too." Belle finished, finding her lungs nearly empty from the deluge of information as she let her hands beneath the table grip tightly at the hem of her dress. "I really want to thank you though… For keeping an eye on him, it shouldn't be your job to do so-I should have been there-"
"Please Ms. French don't push yourself, and it's what decent people do after all." Graham interrupted, giving Belle time to brush aside the tears threatening to escape in a casual swipe with the back of her hand. "I do have to ask, does this mean you're planning to move back and staying in Storybrooke for a while?"
"It's strange that everyone seems to think I'm going to be moving back." Belle's voice found a hint of humor as she quirked her head. She'd been wondering about it since Ruby piped up at the counter about such a rumor, but it didn't make sense in her mind-who was gabbing about little forgettable Ms. French as if it was big news?
"I'm afraid the whole town practically knows. I myself heard your father gushing about the possibility of it on Sunday-before his health fell, when he stopped by the mayors office to bring her an order of flowers or something. He kept going on about how you were going to be possibly moving back to Storybrooke in the nearby future and how happy he was you would be."
It was then that Belle felt the burning at her eyelids become too great, the tears freeing themselves as they slipped down her fair cheeks. Coming to her rescue Ruby swiftly gave her a napkin to help the young woman save her makeup from ending up a giant messy smear down her face.
"There I go again-I'm sorry, I really don't try to make ladies cry." Graham joked which made Belle laugh too as the urge to sob subsided amidst the happiness his words about her father had brought her. To know that he had missed her that much-that he'd been so happy at the mere thought of her moving back closer... It meant the whole world to Belle and more, lighting her flushed face once again with a painfully wide smile.
"Geez, I didn't know you were the heartbreaker type... You do kind of look like one though." Ruby scoffed in fun, though the poor sheriff eyes pleaded with her in shock. "Oh come on, you know I'm kidding-you'd need to date someone first for us to find out."
After a few moments more of the antics before her, Graham turning the most red she'd ever seen and the waitress smirking at causing it, Belle regained ahold of her composure. Reaching for a napkin from the dispenser on the table the beauty nearly grabbed at the daily newspaper tucked behind the condiments instead, upon doing so she also caught the immediate attention of the man across from her.
As if a light bulb had gone off his blue eyes lit up in thought. "Belle, if I'm recalling right you worked part time as a security guard in Boston right?" His statement earned him another puzzled look, she didn't know how he knew of this either though she was starting to gain a good idea. "Your father also talks about how you are whenever he gets the chance-never mind that, what I was-"
"You really did go and get a certification! I thought you were just saying you wanted to do that as a joke to all the dicks who said you couldn't-I didn't think you actually did." Ruby stated, glancing down at Belle with more than a hint of disbelief in the arch of her brows.
"Hey, I got a part time position at the college guarding the dorms for a while because I took that very class to get the certification, which then in return helped me get my current job at the library there too. Besides, it wasn't difficult at all for someone like 'me' to obtain one, and if it happened to bother some guys along the way that's not my problem." Ruby rolled her eyes when Belle was done, seeming confused why she'd ever do such a thing. Even though her friend was a rather understanding person there were still somethings Belle chose to do that not Ruby-or really anyone else who knew her could ever entirely wrap their heads around. That was fine with her, the beauty knew a long time ago that she was odd-her lack of an abundance of friends spoke for itself, but if there was one thing she hated most it was when people tried to decide what she could or couldn't do...
That coupled with her stubbornness tended to get her in things she even didn't expect herself... Like ending up with the credentials to be a security guard of all things when she'd went to school for library science...
Brushing aside all that for the time being she focused back on her conversation with Graham. "While that is true why do you ask? Because if you're needing help at the sheriff's station I'm unfortunately not qualified for that kind of work."
He shook his head in response to Belle's question, continuing on after Ruby had to scurry away when Granny yelled at her for abandoning her post with pot of coffee still within her grip. "You know of 'Avonlea' right? That family fun center and pizza place right near the interstate exit headed towards Portland?"
With that single name Belle's mind jumped into a flurry of associated memories to the faintly forgotten castle like building sitting at the edge of town, the images coming back sharp and clear. "Of course I know it! I spent way too many Saturdays there during the first summer I lived here when I was in middle school. Between playing in the arcade and hiding in a corner to read my books I practically lived there."
"Marco, or as you know him, Mr. Getto, needs a security guard position filled since the last person just up and quit out of the blue. He asked me a few days ago if I knew anyone interested and I didn't really, till now. You'd be perfect for the position, it's a simple shift-nothing too crazy, and it's actually not bad pay for the work. You already have a certification and reference so he'd be crazy not to hire you right off the bat."
Spurred further Graham reached for the newspaper she had nearly snagged, Storybrooke's 'The Daily Mirror', and thumbed it open to the job listings for them both to see. Sure enough there in the tiny classified section was an ad for 'Avonlea: The Fantasy Family Fun Center' looking to hire a part time security guard.
"It's not enough to pay off all the bills if you're looking for only one job." Belle took the paper thoughtfully, rereading the small ad over while Graham went on explaining. "But, it could be a part time job close to home so you wouldn't have to worry about being so far away your father, especially at night or in the evenings. So long as you do plan to move here of course."
Truth be told it wasn't a bad proposition at all Belle noted as she read the typeface text and all over again. In fact, as strange as it sounded, her finding this almost seemed… Fated in a weird way. What were the odds of her returning to little ol' Storybrooke with not only the chance at snagging a fair apartment but also a decent part time job that would help both her and her father keep up with his bills while he was down and out?
Still, she'd need to actually go talk to Mr. Getto and see for herself if this was really worth it as a part time job, even for a short while. There would be part time openings in Boston that would pay a bit more than this with probably more hours. But with this job she would literally be right here in Storybrooke so if her father had another fit or near attack she could be there to his aid much faster, letting her keep a better eye on him too would be worth it.
It was at a sudden thought of her father, alone and hurt while trapped sputtering on the floor of his little apartment, that cemented her choice on the matter. She decided with a small smile to herself that'd she check it out and take any offer the second she knew it would be what they both needed. A strange giddiness she had not felt in a long time fluttered up in her stomach with her hopeful thinking. All the past memories she had with that almost magical place weren't helping her usual logical mind frame keep the bias feelings out on her choice no matter how hard she tried.
"Thank you." Belle told her booth companion again before tucking the newspaper into the maw of her purse. "I think I'll give Marco a call tonight and see if it'll work out or if I'll even get an interview. Hopefully it does, it'd be awfully nice to have a job so close by… I'm getting excited the more I think about it!"
"Just hold onto that hope Ms. French. Things will work out for the two of you, I have faith." With that said Graham drank the rest of his coffee with a long hearty swig before setting some money on the table for his tip. Abruptly a buzzing sound started to reverberate from the sheriff's pocket, and with a quick glance at the phone he withdrew he sighed out loud, reminding Belle of how tired he must still be. "I'd love to talk with you more, but I've got to get going, I'm getting a call from Ms. Ginger... It's probably about Archie's dog barking again. Also-if I see you sometime soon be sure to remind me how it all went with the job hunt-and don't forget if you get the job at Avonlea to haggle Marco for free pizza as well."
The reminder only made Belle laugh again-in truth she'd be sure to keep that in mind. "They do have delicious pizza, that's not a bad idea at all."
"Just remember me when you have that free food, there's a hard working officer at the police station that can't keep the peace on an empty stomach." He gave her a last smile then and a wave to both Ruby and Belle after paying up at the register. The door's bells jingled through the din of the dinner's air with his departure while Ruby came back to the table to pocket the fair tip he dropped. It was in that bit of silence she let out a snicker aimed in Belle's direction.
"What?" Belle asked, a bit put off at Ruby's random snigger. Worried that maybe she was more of a mess than she thought her dainty fingers touched her face. "Oh no-is my makeup all over the place or something in my teeth?"
"No, nothing like that... It's just… I'm imagining you in the uniform they wear over at Avonlea-I'm all for everyone wearing whatever they want, but just so you know... I would not be caught dead in that."
—
Despite the hardships of the last few days the next morning had Belle up bright and early with the dawning sun.
Sleep still clung to her eyes as she forced herself up after crashing at her fathers apartment from another long tiring evening at the hospital. Though she was tired enough she could easily curl back into the guest bed (that had once been her's as that very room had been too), the blue eyed beauty found she couldn't. Instead, she got up and went about doing a bit of cleaning around the small place to still the remaining nerves she harbored as well as make her stay there more comfortable. It was a perfect way to bid the time before she would have to stop at the hospital and check up on her father once more, bringing him some fresh clothes that she just washed and dried alongside her own.
When the young woman had gotten herself cleaned up too and out of the apartment lodged above Storybrooke's floral shop 'Game of Thorns' she found herself shortly having some standard breakfast with her old man in his current room. At least there had been some good news upon immediate arrival as one nurse told them both she could take him home in the evening since he only had one last visit with Dr. Whale before he was to be released. Overall her old man was doing well from what she'd been told by the kind nurse named Lance manning the desk out front-far better than expected. Her bubbling hope was sparked further when she walked from her fathers room after bidding him goodbye till later, hearing his laugh was still loud and boisterous as it always had been even after such a horrible fit he suffered.
It was in that mean time, between the wait for the evening to retrieve him, she had to get changed in her spare clean clothes and make her way over to Avonlea. Fortune had taken a fair liking to Belle it seemed, as odd as it was... After her chat with the Sheriff she had called Mr. Getto yesterday evening, finding the old time acquaintance very eager over the phone to hear from her-especially her interest in the job. He asked her right away to come over the next day to talk about the position if that was the best time for her to do so, and she quickly agreed. It was probably her emailed resume that had sealed the deal-she assumed anyways, and the bookish woman thanked her past self for taking that certification course despite the mocking and teasing of some of her classmates.
Things happened for a reason as she liked to believe. Her taking that course upon a random whim (as well as to prove some others wrong in thinking she was incapable) seemed so silly at the time, but now seemed to have been so important. Though Belle wasn't sure how much she believed to be predestined in a person's life more so than their own choosing-this somehow ensured her further… That it was meant to be.
So as she drove in her small car, turning through neighborhoods and past places she recollected from older memories, she quickly found Avonlea just where it always had been. Despite the fact that it'd been nearly fourteen years since she'd last been there it didn't feel near as long as it truly had been. She was a tad bit impressed knowing that the place was actually still up and running full time. Not that Avonlea ever had seemed to hit hard times, she knew the business did particularly well for being a solo venture-born by one man's dream just a little over thirty years ago. What was strange was the fact that it did so well while being located inside a hardly tourist attracting town, one that's biggest building and industry happened to be a fishery and cannery combo.
Yet, each year the family fun center managed to attract enough people to drive all the way out, from within the state and beyond, to experience the one of a kind entertainment and fun.
When she finally drove up into the parking lot, parking her car in the closest spot she could manage, she had to stare in 'awe' at the physical difference this building had with the one she knew and visited as a kid.
It had been entirely remodeled on the outside and it looked breathtakingly amazing. A new light up sign rested up on the tiled roof, with large script font scrolling out the building's name. Fresh paint and distinct modeling made the outside reflect its medieval fantasy vibe more than the flat older building previously had. To top it off there were now rugged 'stone' towers edged alongside the corners of the building with little flags of the businesses color, deep blue and red, gently waving with the low hot wind.
It looked like someone planted a castle right in the middle of Maine. Perhaps, a bit of magic had indeed seeped its way straight into Belle's world.
A few other cars were out in front of Avonlea while she strolled through the lot with the 'patter' of her heels rhythmically following suit. She noted there were quite a few customers for a Wednesday afternoon. The summertime always ensured an endless onslaught of parents treating their children to surprisingly good pizza and a world of fantasy fun. Belle blushed upon the nostalgic feelings swarming her, the memories she herself had here blossomed back in her heart, thus creating a surge of excitement within her that was begging her to step inside and see the changes also made inwards.
The large doors emulating a iron wooden wrought gate opened for her without the hassle of real ones, leading her into a large space that was the best described as the main party room. Belle grinned sillily as she gazed about seeing the once familiar building in a whole new light with the continuing reconstruction. There was the dinning area to her left, which used to be much smaller and less ornate, with the wooden grand tables with matching high back chairs that sat there in several rows.
A birthday get together seemed to be going on for a small girl, as a large group of people were seated at one table, adorned with party hats. There was a pile of gifts upon a nearby table top in matching colors to the plastic table runner and streams draped about the chairs. It was easy to spot the birthday girl herself with the pointed pink crown resting against her head and the bubbling laughter coming from her at the end of the table. One of Belle's dainty hands pulled at part of her purse strap at the sight, feeling the age old desires she had as a kid of having a birthday celebrated here as well still tug and pull at her even now at the age of twenty five.
"Hello and welcome to Avonlea traveler!" A voice approached the young woman lost in thought, and Belle turned to see a younger blonde haired girl sporting an Avonlea uniform. While it was not the most flattering apparel it was rather 'cute' in her opinion against Ruby's otherwise claims, and Belle's eyes quickly spotted a name tag clipped to the younger girl's shirt reading, 'ASHLEY'.
"Are you here for the party for Grace Hatter?"
"Oh no, I'm Belle French, I'm here about an interview for a position involving a security guard." Belle stuck out her hand politely and Ashley smiled nervously and returned the gesture. "Do you happen to know where Mr. Getto is?"
"I thought I just saw him here a minute ago, he's been doing some repairs around the place so who knows where he's at now. Let me see if I can find h-"
"Ms. French?" An older male voice, hinted with an accent she couldn't place, called out to her from somewhere unseen. Belle quirked her head and watched as a quite familiar face appear from behind a machine in the arcade area which was just to her left as it had been in the older building as well.
The white haired man, sporting mustache and beard, had a rag and screwdriver in hand but tucked them away into his pockets when he approached. "It's been quite a few years since I've last seen you! I still remember when you were much smaller than you are now, and how you hid away with your books here all the time."
Belle gave a soft laugh, her cheeks beginning to flush at the fact that he still remembered her occupying one of the former tables at Avonlea on the weekends all those years ago. That tiny mousy girl should have hardly been an impressionable figure out of amongst the unique visitors Avonlea had, but maybe she had been if Mr. Getto noticed her of all things.
"It has been a really long time, but I have to say everything is so different-I don't even know if I'm at the right place. Avonlea looks like a god honest castle now!" Belle replied, attempting to tone down her wonder even thought it failed as it always did when she got excited.
Mr. Getto looked towards the dining area in a flush of pride as a roar of laughter erupted from the ongoing birthday table. Besides the party girl was an man in a top hat, oddly unique itself, that laughed beside her and made a silly face towards the girls direction, causing another spurt of giggling to ring from her.
"We just did some intensive remodeling about ten months ago," Mr. Getto spoke while withdrawing her gaze from the warm vision of the father and daughter duo. "It was quite a lengthy process but worth every penny. Let me properly welcome you to the new and improved Avonlea."
"It looks… Amazing. It's so much bigger than the older Avonlea, you must have built outward by a lot to accommodate for all of this." Belle was still looking around even now, her curiosity had yet to be sated by few sights she'd seen so far. Just then a small group of people came in through the entrance doors with excited little ones in tow attempting to run off and play. Ashley left Belle and Mr. Getto in order to take the newcomers to her counter to assist them, leaving them alone to talk further.
"You're quite busy even on a week day." Belle commented as the older man lead her aside, more towards the entertainment area where a large polished stage took up occupation in the back. The old Avonlea had a stage many years ago too but not this big nor furnished as this imposing one. Back then there hadn't been the two flat screen TV displays nestled above in the corners where the stage ended either-surely intended for the empty seats out front of the stage when they were full.
"There's even more staff too now that I notice. How many people work here exactly and what do they-wait! Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is that-that's a dragon!" Belle interrupted her own series of questions in an excited gasp when she saw at the corner of the stage top the most amazing animatronic dragon she'd ever seen. Breaking away from Mr. Getto's side the young woman bounced up the stage steps to look at the mechanical scaled contraption even more closely.
"The remodeling included more than just the building and structure, we have much better technology than what we started out with-tenfold. It's very up to date or at least my installer said so." The older man chuckled a bit, moving towards the bottom of the stairs as the young woman gawked some more at the robotic creature. "I still have someone to come and check up on the equipment now and then, because I don't understand all of the new fangled programs they've had to use, but it's pretty impressive."
All Belle could properly focus on was the incredible sight before her, a mass of metal disguised as a dragon with joints and pivots where the mechanical bits were cleverly exposed. There had never been such a thing like this when she had been here as a kid, and instantly she knew younger self would have loved it to death.
"And you got animatronics!" Belle blurted rather childlike, but her wonder was out winning the need for formality.
Mr. Getto laughed, a glimmer of pleasure in his dark eyes. "Yes, we got animatronics."
"This has to be the coolest thing I've seen all year..." Belle reached out a hand and touched the dragon's muzzle, feeling the strange mixture of fake scales molded from foam and the cold touch of metal. It was obvious that it was a machine, but it had been intentionally created in a way that made that idea part of its aesthetic design. The metal beast before her, as she wandered around it, was crafted obviously with passion and care, and her quick mind caught sight of the lower half of the dragon portioned into the fake castle wall on stage. Black fabric hung around it to make it blend in as if it were creeping out from the mouth of a cave.
'It must not have an actual lower half then.' Belle deducted easily enough. Its front legs stood on a fake rock as if at any moment it would rise up and emit a mighty roar, but right now it looked almost as if was sleeping blissfully away the going hours.
Mr. Getto stepped on stage and entertained her curiosity even more so, showing her the points it operated from behind the castle wall as well as some of the machinery for the stage backdrops. He was eager to show her the other animatronics that were back stage too, all hiding out of sight behind the grand red curtains. These animatronics were not nearly as ornate or complicated as the sleeping beast, but there was a typical looking prince, a beautiful princess, and a wicked looking evil queen, all semi bent over while awaiting their turn at acting out another story again. They too looked to be stuck in place where they stood, though there were some tracks underneath their clothed limbs that must have allowed at least some minimal movement.
These machines were all done in the same cartoonish manner as the dragon, obviously created by the same company or manufacturer. According to Mr. Getto, as Belle soon found out, they all ran several different kinds of shows and were programed to give a different experience each four weeks.
"Maybe, someday soon we'll even get a few more machines to add to the collection of stories. By the way, you'll be able to see one of the shows we have going on today in just about an hour if you're interested. Till then let me give you a tour of the rest of the building and then we can talk about the position and hold our interview during a little break."
Belle walked with him off stage, minding her heels against the slick metal steps, but eagerly nodded. "That would be wonderful Mr. Getto!"
"Please, just call me Marco."
—
The tour she was given was extensive as Belle was taken from room to room, shown near about everywhere-even beyond what the public eye could see. The kitchen in Avonlea was quite large, with several ovens as well as metal island counters standing with overhead cabinets in the middle of the room. Mr. Getto was told security had accesses to the fridge, coffee maker, and microwave in the break room if they needed to snack or rehydrate-as not to have to worry about getting 'lost' within the kitchens vastness. She was shown a maintenance room, though he told her that not really anyone was supposed to go in there besides him and his mechanics because of the complicated equipment. Instead, for everyone else there were easy to find closets near the play floor and the back for standard supplies.
As the tour continued she was shown other new sights, though not nearly as impressive as the animatronics she adored. There were two private party rooms followed by a large equipment and fake armory filled play area that surely would have made a younger Belle jealous from what it was before. Glancing through the door way allowed the beauty to see it had a large bridge platform play area that lead to a ball pit, all sorts of swirly slides, and medieval themed play pieces for the kids to enact all sorts pretend imaginative battles.
Avonlea now even had a laser tag area! The rooms were occupied unfortunately when they passed by, but Mr. Getto promised to show it to her another time.
After being lead back to the other half of the building, and down the long hallway to the various other 'staff' used rooms, they stopped in the pre-mentioned break room where Belle got something to drink from a vending machine. Satisfied with the flavored water, for she was thirsty after a good time spent wandering around this seemingly endless place chatting away, Marco showed her to the small security room right down the corridor.
"This is where you'd be stuck most of the time with your shift." Marco simply said as he opened the metal door reading 'SECURITY OFFICE' and lead them inside. Belle studied the space with keen blue eyes when she nosed her way in. There was a large wooden desk with a computer and a metal fan that looked kind of ancient sitting atop it as well as various other things desks tend to always have. Her gaze roved over more of the room, spotting a cabinet she assumed probably held all the paperwork necessary for her position, a two seater couch towards another wall, and a large armoire that probably held uniform pieces, coats, jackets, and other supplies.
"I know it's a a little snug-it used to be my office before the renovations, but it's not bad for one person at all."
"I like it, it's pretty cozy, but would I really need it all the time if I'm to be patrolling the building most of my shift? I mean, I'd be just out and about on the floor to make sure kids are okay, that no mischief happens, and that things are not getting damaged, right?" Belle inquired honestly, as she was growing a bit confused over the 'general' description the job the more they had talked about it. Overall what she had seen in the paper and heard by ear had sounded pretty good so far. It looked almost like she'd be more of a babysitter than an actual security guard, but Belle was fond of kids so that was fine with her. The pay Marco spoke of earlier was pretty good for a job like this too-a little bit higher than she expected, so that didn't lessen her opinion.
"Ah, I see... The Sheriff must have forgotten to mention it you." Marco stated the fact oddly, causing Belle to quirk a brow. "Forgive me, I should have told your right away then, but you see this position is for a night time security guard."
Well, that would have been important fact to know off first hand. Belle tucked her lip between her teeth when she recalled the newspaper-she had scoped it over several time and now only realized it hadn't mentioned all all what the hours would be. "I had no idea. I can work at night, that's no issue at all, but I'm curious to know why you need a nighttime security guard."
A daytime guard made complete sense, but what was the point of being inside this tightly locked up building when you were the sole occupant? Storybrooke didn't have rampant burglaries all the time, theft did occur, but would anyone honestly try to break into this place that literally could be called a fortress?
Marco looked as if he were to say something, but then he took a seat on the couch and offered Belle to join him. Sitting beside him with a rather curious look stamped about her features she listened to him and drank from her water bottle quietly.
"There's a reason it wasn't mentioned in the newspaper, and that's because I wanted to keep it private… Eight months ago we had a break in here at Avonlea. Not the first one in all the years I've been open, but it was a pretty hard hit-there was damage to the building... The burglars stole a whole bunch of new equipment we had just gotten in-not all of it, but they managed to get away with some. Strange thing was it seemed as if they had left in a hurry because… Well, never mind that. Still, I decided that with all that I've invested in this place, for the kids and myself, I needed to not only improve the building but the security too. We've got a new security camera system set up and an alarm system-eh, the whole 'works' as you could say."
"But… I'm a man born from a less technological time, so I felt I needed a little bit more than just some more equipment to comfort my worry. I decided six months ago to offer a night guard position. It's a fairly simple job that doesn't require a lot. Working the shift means you get use of a tablet device that allows you to interact with the camera's to check out the building outside and inside with the several ones we have installed. If anything goes down the alarm will go off, or you have access to an instant program that will allow you to contact the police department immediately."
What he said made everything more clear, and Belle could easily understand where he was coming from. When she looked at it from his perspective the place was practically a haven now for crooks and the like to try breaking their way into to make a dirty profit. Yet, even with that information something still felt amiss with the whole story-from how the man beside her had worded one unfinished sentence.
The question was out her throat before she could stop it. "Did something else happen beside that break in?" Belle's innate intuition was rising, her gut clenching when she could tell Marco was keeping something from her with his semi withdrawn look.
"Besides the break in then? No, not at all... The truth is for some reason or another I just can't seem to keep a night guard to work the shift ever since I opened the position. The last young man who worked here only worked a week before he just up left without saying so much as a good bye… I'm not sure why-perhaps, everyone just finds the job too tedious or lonesome. With it being a late night position I can see why it's not easy for some people to get use to or find comfortable." He gave a slight tired laugh while Belle contemplated the information further, however she didn't dare pry more into it.
The young woman definitely felt there was something else to this, like a sticky film of sorts lay over the surface of everything around her as she walked this building, but she was not going to be turning down this job just because it and its circumstances were slightly… Unusual.
After another swig of water an amused expression crossed her full lips as she asked boldly. "Sounds like everyone is getting scared off, the place isn't haunted is it?"
"I most certainly hope not! Ghosts are not something that would bring kids in nor their parents in." Marco turned more to her, lifting a hand slightly as if he was meaning to say more. "Despite the 'odd' circumstances, I would like very much for you to work here Ms. French. I know you're a smart and sharp witted woman who wouldn't back down from a challenge-also the fact you do have an active certification and experience as a security guard before is a sign to me you'd be perfect for the position."
"I will admit that I am very interested, but you should know I won't be able to start right away if that's what you're needing." Belle told him, but she was still grinning like a fool at her current luck of seeming to have snagged herself an extra part time job so quickly. "My stuff and belongings are still in my apartment in Boston. It'll be a bit before I get that settled into a new one, if I happen to get it, and my other job will still be taking up some time."
"No worries Ms. French-I can wait if you need a week or so. I've got Graham saying he will be checking up Avonlea occasionally when he's out at night for a while. But does this mean you'll take the job?"
Tucking some hair back behind her ear the now to be security guard tried her hardest not to simply blurt her answer out excitedly. "Yes, I would love to work here at Avonlea."
Without containing his own excitement Marco slapped a hand on his knee, looking fondly and proudly towards her. "Wonderful!"
"Any paperwork I need to fill out then today before I leave or get back to you? Or do we do that later after I get settled back into Storybrooke?" Belle stood up from the rather comfortable couch with him, and threw her empty bottle into the trash with unusual luck.
"We'll take care of all that when you start your actual first day," Her now employer stated as they both left the security office to make their way back to the entertainment room. While they did Belle couldn't help but let her feet glide over the black and white tiled floor with an eagerness near to burst out of her chest. Even when things seemed to be going horribly wrong it had all turned around before she knew it!
"I will get your pay all set up and the legal requirements before then. There'll be a bit of paperwork you will have to fill for me, but that can be something you do your first night."
"I look forward to my first day soon, especially if it means I also get a discount on pizza."
Marco chortled once more while their footsteps 'pattered' and 'clomped' through the halls. "Of course, I can't let the night time guardian go hungry."
After they escaped the narrow corridors of the back the two of them walked into the large open entertainment room that was now alive and humming with children romping about. Not only were kids seeming to be waiting for something to occur but sets of parents were lingering or sitting in the chairs patiently too. It had Belle blinking in confusion at first as to what was going on, but she caught sight of the lights shining down in florescent halos upon the finished wood stage, preparing for a scene about that was about to unfold.
"We're just in time for the show." Marco gestured, and so the two of them moved in closer to get a better spot for viewing behind the rows of chairs. Looking about Belle found the little birthday princess was there in the very front row too, bustling with untaped energy alongside the man still sporting that ridiculous top hat. Other kids continued to swarm over as a voice overhead ushered them on, claiming the show was about to start and that everyone need to 'please remain in your seats'-and off the stage like one boy desperately attempted to remain upon.
Finally, the show began when the rest of the buildings lights nearby darkened to faint glows with the music drifting down from overhead.
The grand red curtain curled back from both sides, and the lights swiveled above to pull everyone's attention over to the noble looking prince animatronic that stood forward and alone on stage. He began to speak while his limbs flew into movement, still clearly robot like despite the somewhat close imitation to a human as it could muster. As he spoke his voice reverberated off the walls from the speaker system, him-it, spooling forth his tale, speaking of his beloved princess being kept from him by the horrid dragon in the far north and of his desperate need of a magical sword strong enough to slay the beast.
Belle figured the show would be quite silly, and oh... There was already cheese to be had as she found out quick from the childish dialogue, but it actually intrigued her enough from a storytellers point of view that she found herself following along just like the excited children.
The prince, sporting the typical armor and cape that hung behind his form, began to sing a song with the change of music. The prerecorded lovely voice flowed around them, and several kids dappled about the seats and floor even sang along with the aid of the two TV's above the stage. It seemed they had the purpose of sharing the lyrics across the screens so the little ones could join in whenever they liked.
"It sure has a modern tune to it." Belle commented, with a sparkle in her eye, on the pop-esque music that seemed a bit of an odd combination with the fairytale get up.
"Times do change I'm afraid. The old music just didn't work, and one must move on when it is what's best to do, no matter how strange." Marco simply replied on an amused note, letting the two of them glance back to the stage light and moving mechanical pieces.
The show went on, and even some of the staff who more than likely had heard this show before, far too often if they'd been here long enough, watched in quiet contemplation.
Story wise so far, as Belle kept up easily enough, the knight had went off on his quest and fought the evil queen when they crossed paths. He lost badly and nearly met his doom-only to be saved by calling upon a kid from the audience to take sword (a foam one given by the show attendee), and fend her off. Another silly song was sung by the evil queen, who had forced the dragon to steal the princess, whom she then had locked in a tower, gloating about her victories and soon to be kingdom. A bit of plot moved on, and later had the crowd seeing the prince call upon the kids from his spot on stage to help him fight off an evil monster made of shadow (created by the effects from the lights above), before he made his way to the tall tower.
With wide eyes Belle watched as what appeared to be the finale, set before her.
Belle at this point had been completely engrossed into the unfurling journey, despite having guessed all the turns and twists before they even happened. Something broke the magical spell the animatronic show had on her though, even with the adorable mechanical dragon waking from its slumber at last. Discreetly, she glanced about the room, wondering what had her feeling so strangely off. Nothing appeared wrong from what she could see in the dim lighting, no matter how hard she looked.
Just as she was about to brush it all aside and blame her worried nerves she noticed something that caught her interest.
There was something odd at the two metal doors leading into the kitchen area. Someone... At least what she thought was the shadowy shape of a person, looked to be peeking through the round circular window almost as if…
It was almost as if the person was staring right at her.
Belle blinked in concern, trying to make out the face that lurked behind the tinted window, but whipped her head around when the metal dragon gave a mighty roar. The kids squeaked and cried out in awe of the mighty beast moving and craning its long neck about, a giddy laugh escaped her too.
After a few seconds of awe, Belle glanced back to the metal kitchen doors with a flick of her eyes, but whomever was there behind them had disappeared altogether.
'It was probably just another one of the staff.' She easily concluded, letting herself get back to watching the amusing and rather cute dragon snort and growl at the daring prince. More than likely the person she saw had been one of the cooks trying to catch a glimpse of the show too (she had met the two kind women staffed in the kitchen today just a while ago during her tour).
Yet, she didn't, and couldn't overlook the two cooks-right at that very moment when she couldn't help but glance back, setting down fresh hot pizza pies for the birthday party table.
She blinked her dark lashes once more, her soft lips gaping open to display her apparent shock.
"Who was it…" Belle muttered under her breath barely above a whisper, but pushed all queries aside to watch the shows grand finale alongside Mr. Getto.
The prince who had fought and won against the mighty scaly beast, who sadly had his head laid down as if he were 'sleeping', was now locked in battle with the evil queen once again. This time however, with the help of the birthday girl whom held a large sparkly wand the show attendee helped her with, ended with him defeating the evil queen and her dark terrible magic. With that the princess was saved while the evil queen escaped off to her castle to fight another day. The two lovers reunited, sharing true love's kiss while the prince narrated their joy, but of course the show couldn't end there without one more song as the final goodbye.
When the show did come to an end after the soft drop of the joyous song (about believing in love and all that other kiddish themed logic) the animatronics bowed as if they had enjoyed performing for them all before the gorgeous red curtains dropped down dramatically to conceal them. The entire room had grown silent during the ending but was soon filled with kids shrieking and laughing.
As the normal lights flickered back, letting the beams of different colored spotlights shut off, the stage returned to its normal appearance. To Belle it was if the grand display hadn't occurred at all.
Belle gave a quiet round of applause of her own amidst the noise of kids ready to go back to playing and the birthday group heading over to their table to gobble up the fresh hot pizza. Marco was practically beaming another proud smile at her honest appreciation when he turned to her.
"I have to say, I've been impressed all day, and I've been impressed again. What I wouldn't give to let younger me see this, all of these changes." A wistful note entered her voice as her fingers curled gently around the strap of her purse. Like before she couldn't help but think of that year again, of all the tough changes she'd gone through at a tender young age-how that doe eyed girl she'd once been would've been enthralled watching such heroic adventures.
"Ah Ms. French, but she has." Marco gently patted her shoulder, though his words were more surprising than his action. "That little quiet girl with her nose stuck in a book is still right here, just much more grown up-and much more lethal with her security guard training if I might add." Marco teased and Belle felt a painfully wide smile break across her features for that second time that week.
It was nice... And unexpected, to be back in Storybrooke and actually be able to smile like that, even with the not so magical world outside this imaginary fantasy one remaining as it was. Even as enchanted as she was Belle knew reality laid just beyond those large faux wooden doors, it was best to not let herself get caught up within too much daydreaming.
"I suppose I should ask if you have any other questions at all before you go?" Her tour guide asked as they walked back towards the large front doors she was not ready to face as strange as that sounded. Taking her time Belle chose to talk with Marco a bit more about the changes at Avonlea and beyond in Storybrooke itself before she looked at the fading time and realized that she had to depart. The older man wished her well, and for her father also, which she appreciated greatly amongst all the other kindnesses shared today.
Before leaving the woman managed to at least say good bye to a few employees-not to mention get one last sneak a peek at the excited birthday girl who was now digging into her food... All while eyeing her presents with a clearly impatient desire to see what wonderful secrets laid within them.
Then, in a moments notice, the magic she felt peeled itself away with the opening of the entrance doors.
It became quiet when Belle stepped outside and made her way back to her car. From where she stood she could still hear the sounds of human life escaping the building through crevices and spaces, if just faintly. No matter how hard she tried, the beauty's pretty grin could not abstain from her lips, and so she teased herself for being so easily swayed into this job. Soon she'd be a working cog in this clockwork system, an unnoticed piece amongst the daytime glamour, even if meant sitting at desk bored out of her mind at the late hours of the night.
To go from being the little girl hoarding books in her hoodie and escaping to this place for solstice and comfort because of the emptiness of home, to now having to protect it five days a week all by herself seemed quite ironic... Too ironic. But maybe this was her way of giving back to the place that had looked out for her when it felt no one else had…
With that final tender thought Belle buckled into her car and began to drive off when the engine growled to a start-determined that her life was going to make a good change right here, right now. Her new job might not be the ideal job, nor the dream job of her-or anyone's choosing... It may not be what she truly wanted at this point in time either, but it was going to help her and her dad…
And maybe that's all that mattered for the time being.
—
Time passed, grew, and changed, till the bright suns rays were swept away, allowing the creeping hungry black to swallow up all the colors in the sky.
So far everything had been the same these last few days as well as nights. The entirety of Avonlea after closing was as it should be-completely dark and devoid. Even the neon bold sign above the grand doors was not shinning vibrantly in display of the establishments name, for it too was weary and allowed respite as everything else with the building was. The festering quiet set in throughout every room and hall too-with only the pipes humming beneath floors and walls to disrupt its complete hold. Ah... How beautiful the silence was, it was able to speak and whisper of the days events more than anything else without saying anything at all.
Of course the only reason it was dead silent within the walls and halls was because finally there was no security guard tonight. The small office sat just as empty and dejected as the rest of the rooms within Avonlea as once again the office's last habitant was gone-the young man had abandoned his shift for over a week now and looked to be never coming back to reclaim it. All would be well if it could simply remain that way as Avonlea had spent years on end and survived without a security guard defying the stillness it always had...
Yet, the momentary tranquility was going to change, and far too soon like it had been for these last few months. Not before long a young woman named... Ms. French, would be residing in that office chair to monitor the building in the wee late hours of night. She'd be occupying this lonesome vacant place as well as breaking the quiet, peace, and offer of freedom that had been long denied to the sole occupant who stood in the thick dark contemplating this very night.
"No… Not again..." It whispered to the nothingness as it began its nightly routine of wandering down the halls, rooms, and spaces of this now hollow structure.
Just as the last boy had abandoned his duties so too would this new security guard-'It' would make sure of that. Avonlea only needed 'it' to protect itself during the rule of the moon as the few hours of the night was the only time 'it' could be free to exist.
"I-I'll scare her away, just like the others. Ev-ven-entually they'll stop… There won't be anymore… Go away… G-go away…"
An eerie giggle filtered through the air then, breaking the hold the quiet had consumed in an instant with its high pitched ring.
Even worse... From the shadows of a blackened doorway shown a pair of wicked yellow eyes before they too disappeared into the darkness.