Behind A Fair Façade
Chapter 1
"Honestly, Papa, I'll be fine," seventeen-year-old Belle Lecteur smiled, burdened with a neon-pink suitcase, a black hold-all that was slowly cutting permanent grooves into her palm and the silver-and-purple hiking bag her mother had bought once many, many years ago. "The campus is very friendly, the guide said - and besides, it's not like I'm leaving you forever!"
"I know, I know," her father sighed, "but still, Belle - I'll miss you."
"Oh, come on, papa, it's not that long. Only eight weeks from now to October - and then I can come back here for two weeks." Belle looked up, drinking in what was possibly the last view of her home town - the high-rise buildings, the glittering river, the castle up high on the mountain - and closed her eyes in peace. Three months ago, she would never have dreamed of leaving her father alone and journeying off to a small town in the Scottish Highlands for at least three years of university; she'd have almost gasped in horror at the thought of seeming so callous as to leave her papa. But now . . .
"That's the train," Maurice observed, blinking vigorously as if he had something in his eye.
Sure enough, the familiar purple and blue locomotive pulled up to the small station, and Belle hugged her father fiercely, three full bags be damned, before struggling into the carriage. She barely had time to stow her luggage safely away and get a seat (unfortunately not one with a table) before it pulled out the station. Silently she waved at the ever-decreasing solitary figure, before discreetly wiping at her eyes. Tears would be for later, when she was alone in her dorm room.
It wasn't until an hour had passed that Belle realised she hadn't even said goodbye.
Three changes, two awkward conversations and an unsatisfactory train meal later, Belle finally found herself at her destination : Dunbroch. It was a half-hour bus journey away from the university, and the furthest place Belle could go, within reason. As she lugged her cases up to the campus, which seemed to occupy the entire town, she found herself again worrying whether this was a good idea or not. It might have been better to go to the police after all - but then he would have had to go to jail. Despite everything, Belle still couldn't wish that upon him. And besides, knowing the amount of horror stories she'd heard, they might not have even believed her.
As the path started to turn into a slight hill, Belle felt the strain on her calves and knees; they were hideously out of practice, even though she'd only taken a break for a few months. Belle was currently working as a member of the ensemble in a local production of 'Footloose', and surprisingly she'd actually made some good friends among the cast.
There was, of course, Mr Domarchy the bookseller, the first person she'd really felt friendly with since the move from Edinburgh. He had the best kind of bookshop - one that had hand-written signs with little quips on them, with a little coffee shop hidden in the centre for those who wanted to sip as they read. If you were brave enough to try one of his (always disgusting) 'new blend coffee's', it came free of charge.
The only other people Belle actually liked at the theatre group were the Gerard triplets, Celeste, Helen and Theresa. They were tall, blonde, identical seventeen-year-old's who had a ridiculous talent for dancing and a penchant for swooning over - him. That aside, the three of them were loyal to their friends, from what Belle had seen in school, and they weren't afraid to get in a screaming match if someone they loved was hurt. And yes, Belle was aware she was thinking about the three of them as a single unit, but it really was difficult to tell the difference between them unless you'd known them their whole lives. Still, she reflected, it wasn't like they were very close anyway. Belle and her father had lived in the village for nearly seven years, and until June she hadn't gotten so much as a hello from the triplets. They were really acquaintances, when she thought about it.
Turning around a tight corner, Belle was finally face to face with the university halls of residence.
"Wow," she murmured.
So apparently, she was staying in a castle.
The imposing grey stone walls towered above her, a strong rectangular main hall the focus of the eye. Four high towers at each of the compass points spiked high into the sky, with shimmering gild covering the turrets, battlements and cornerstones. For some reason Belle was reminded of the fairy tale her mother used to read to her every night.
Once upon a time, there lived a young prince in a shining castle . . .
Smiling slightly at the remembrance, Belle pushed open the door with the brunt of her weight, stumbling slightly into the reception area. It was almost pitch-black, filled with dark shadows and an overarching sense of finesse.
"Hello?" Belle called out. She wandered over to the desk, which was abandoned except for a small paper sign reading 'Be Back Soon!'. "Hello - is anyone there?" She shivered, and out of habit reached up to tug on her ponytail. "Hello?"
Behind her, a door opened, spilling light into the corridor. A short, dumpy silhouette slowly marched up behind Belle, nearly silent over the carpet in pink slippers.
"AAHH!"
A/N: It is set in Scotland because I know nothing about French universities and I decided to make up one in the Scottish Highlands.
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