Haunted

*chapter 1*

We all know the story of the Beauty and the Beast, right? It's about a girl named Belle who has been taken prisoner by a monstrous beast in an old castle blah blah blah they fall in love in the end breaking the witch's curse transforming the beast back into a human through the kiss of true love.

That's the story right?

BUZZER!

WRONG!

That's not the real story. That's what the people created because they were ashamed and disgusted by the real story. Want to know what the real story is? It's rather a much much more complicated version.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

Once upon a time, in a small little town atop the mountains, lived the Kon Family. They were a jolly bunch, always ready to help those who need it most. The father Air Kon was a scientist trying to create a cure for cancer. A little lost in fantasy at times but a great father to his two children, Lee and Rei. Lee was Air's step-son but Air considered him as his own. Fal Kon was Lee and Rei's mother. She was very very beautiful and Rei inherited this resemblance making people mistake him for a girl at times, while Lee got his looks from his true father, rough and masculine.

Fal died when Rei was only 11 years old. Air was devastated and concentrated on his work; he became so into it that he neglected his sons. And this is where our story begins …

"Dad? DAD?" Lee called as he opened the swinging door down their basement, "Are you here?"

"I don't think he's there, Lee." Rei said, sighing. The two of them had been searching for their dad since this morning and still there was no sign of him. "Where could he have gone? I don't think he'll even think of leaving his laboratory."

"Why don't you go down to town and I'll just wait for him here," Lee suggested, smiling at Rei, "Incase he comes back."

"But –" Rei started to protest but Lee covered his mouth with his hand.

"No more buts, Rei, who is older?" Lee reminded, grinning, "ME!"

Rei removed Lee's hand and sighed, "Alright. I guess it also gives me an opportunity to buy some books." Rei smiled to himself as he grabbed his coat hanging by the porch.

"Don't forget the food, Rei!" Lee called out, "Some of us actually eats."

Rei lifted the okay sign at Lee and continued on. It was going to be a long day.

The little town was in a quiet bustle when Rei arrived carrying his basket and red hood. He was feeling a bit excited thinking of the new books he was going to read. He loved reading, you see. It takes him to places he has never seen or heard of before. Rei wanted to travel, to be out of this small town where everybody knew everybody, to be able to taste different kinds of dishes, and to meet new people.

"REI KON!" A loud squeal was heard before a bundle of pink appeared in front of Rei. It was Mariah Wong. "I knew this day, today, is going to be special!" She wrapped her arms on Rei, "Please, visit town more often!"

"Uhh, I'll try Mao," Rei replied, smiling. Mao was his nickname for Mariah since he could pronounce 'Mariah' when he was little, he said it like: Maomaya. "I'm heading to the library, wanna come?"

Mariah dropped her arms. "Library? Hell no. It's booooring. Let's go somewhere else instead, Rei!"

Rei chuckled, "Sorry, Mao, I'm on a tight schedule. Hey, have you seen my father? We've been looking for him since this morning."

"Uhh, sorry, Rei, I don't think anybody saw him here today." Mariah said, thinking, "Hmm, but I might have seen him yesterday. He was buying a lot of things at the grocery. Yeah, I remember now! He was saying something about he found the cure and he was going to the city or something like that."

"WHAT?" Rei gasped. His eyes almost jumped out of their sockets. His father must be going crazy! No one leaves this town and survives! Rei glanced at the tall dark castle by the east of town. It was far from this town but you're able to see the castle. "I'm sorry, Mao! Gotta run!"

"Hey!" Mariah called out, "Where are you going?"

Rei was going to the gatekeeper. Surely, Tala would know if his father did leave the town. He sees and hears all. Puffing and panting, Rei paused for a moment to catch his breath. What in thunder's name was his dad thinking? It's suicide.

"TALA!" Rei called while banging his fist on the door, "Tala! Open up! It's an emergency! TALA!"

The door suddenly opened, revealing a groggy Tala Ivanov. His bloody red hair was a mess, his blue eyes were still a little dull and he still had no clothes on revealing his porcelain like skin!

"Oh my God," Rei flushed as he raised his basket to cover Tala's little boy from his view, "Sorry to wake you, Tala. But have you seen my father? Mariah said that he was saying something about leaving the town. Have you seen him?"

"Geez, Rei," Tala groaned, staggering back to his bed. "Why are you bombarding me with some many questions so early in the morning?"

"Well, have you seen my father?" Rei repeated.

Tala looked up at him, "Yeah, actually I did. Just a couple of hours ago. He was carrying a lot of baggage. I told him to stop but I guess he didn't hear me."

Tala shrugged his shoulders, "Or, meh, maybe I was still dreaming." Tala blinked, "REI?" Rei was gone.

"That was fast." He commented before going back to sleep. Being a gatekeeper or for better understanding, a night guard, was no easy task. Hey, he needed his rest.

Rei was panicking by the time he arrived back at their house. He forgot about the books and the food and everything else. "Lee?" He called hurrying up to his room, "Lee!" He grabbed his duffle bag and grabbed some clothes, underwear and some socks. He grabbed another bag and filled it with shampoo, comb, hair ties since he had long onyx hair. "LEE!" he continued to call.

"What? What?" Lee appeared at his door way, confused and a little bit pissed. Lee noticed his brother's bags, "Hey, what are the bags for? Where do you think you're going?"

"Dad left town. Mariah saw him at the grocery store yesterday," Rei explained as he went down the stair case; Lee following closely behind him, "She said that he was blabbering something about him finding the cancer cure." Rei turned back to Lee, "Are you aware that he left the house yesterday? Or that he found the cure already?" Rei turned his attention to their stock room, "I didn't want to believe her so I headed to Tala's house and got it confirmed. He left town just hours earlier. I can't believe we never noticed!"

"WAIT WHAT?" Lee exclaimed, all confused by Rei's fast speaking, "Dad left town? Seriously? Don't tell me you're going after him?" He grabbed Rei's duffle bag, "Y-you can't leave! What about me?"

"Do you want to go after him?" Rei asked, pulling his bag back. He filled his other bag with bread and water. "That would be a sure no, so I will go. I'm pretty sure he hasn't really gone very far. I'll find him in 3 days time."

"But, what about the Beast?" Lee asked, concerned.

"It's just an old folktale, Lee." Rei said, smiling, "Maybe you should learn to read up some books sometimes."

"WHAT? Are you saying I'm illiterate?"

"No. And yeah, maybe a bit," Rei responded heading out their door and into the barns where the houses are, "Anyway, I'm taking Drigger. Remember to clean the house and stock the storage room with food. You don't want to starve." Rei secured his bags on the tall white horse. "I'll come back, give me two weeks time the most."

"But, REI!" Lee protested, "Let's just go to town and form a search party! It's safer!"

Rei shook his head. "The town doesn't care, Lee. Remember: Two weeks time!" Then he left.

Lee face palmed. "Great."

In the next chapter:

Rei gets attacked. And dies. HAHA just kidding. ;)

Who could save Rei in the middle of the forest? Will he ever find his father? Will Lee starve without Rei?

Stay tuned in the next chapter of: HAUNTED.