Prologue:

The fifth of November is typically remembered as Guy Fawkes Day but nothing more than that. It holds no special value to most people, but things can change. Destinies can be forged. People can make brave choices that will change their lives forever.

November 4th, 2027, 10:09 pm:

Belle French had a lot day at work. The SBN was not the most forgiving of places to work or to make mistakes. But it payed the bills and for that, she could not completely complain. Ruby, her coworker, had made a just at her that she needed a good man in her life to take off the edge of the stressful days. Belle laughed and replied that there had to be a good man around in the first place. Ruby sighed and went about her usual responsibility.

Both Belle and Ruby were what most of the world would call errand girls. Yet to them it was more than that. They were the ones fetching the coffee, making the forgotten phone calls, and making deals between the producers, mangers, presenters, and the stars. Of course, this all went unnoticed by everyone around them, as they both were under paid and under appreciate. Belle liked to think it was because of her and Ruby's honest work that the network kept afloat, but that was just a personal joke. Belle knew that she could be replaced in a heartbeat and that she would be nothing more than an errand girl of little consequence.

Then she had to ask herself why she got so much blame for even the smallest mistakes, like a room temperature latte. Now, of course she had Zelina's latte hot but then she was forced to help Gaston, one of the camera men for stage 3 and that had made her late too. Then Zelina had lectured her and Belle's whole day was running behind from there.

Now that she was home, late, Belle thought she would had to dress simple when it came to meeting this Whale guy. She had received the note in her purse one day stating simply that on behalf of the Red Dragon, Dr. Whale, medical expert on stage 4, would like to speak to her and that she was supposed to come to the listed address on November the 4th at 11:00pm. After curfew.

Belle realized she didn't have time to take a shower and she would have to keep her appearance simply but classy. She flipped on the tele to channel 5, where Malcom Pan, the Voice of Storybrooke, spoke about the depravity of the Enchanted Forest and its desperate plea for help from its drought and plague reeking havoc in its lands. Belle couldn't take much more listening to the utter crap and nonsense filling her ears. She heard enough of it at the SBN when on the clock. She didn't need to here it at home at well.

She glanced down at the clock and curse. It was almost 11pm and if she didn't get where she need to go before then, she ran the risk of dealing with the Red Guard. They were not the forgiving sort. Quickly, Belle grabbed her coat and thew it over her dress, made sure she had her wallet and keys, and ran out the door into the brisk night air of Storybrooke.

November 4th, 2027, 11:15pm:

Belle hurried down the side walk, realizing she had no idea of where she was really supposed to go and then she heard what she had been trying to avoid. The curfew warning.

"A red coded curfew is now in affect. Those outside of their homes with be detained. This is for your own protection."

Belle walked a little faster, thinking she had heard someone behind her but then there was no one behind her; she was being paranoid. As she kept walking, she heard footsteps that were behind her and louder this time but when she check again, there was no one there. Going out to meet the Whale guy had been a mistake on her part. She slipped down a side alleyway to get on the main road and realize her mistake when she saw a man. Belle tried to turn around and go the way she came, but then there was another man and then another.

This was bad. Very bad. Belle had never been this scared in her entire life. If she made it out of this situation unharmed, she would never step out of line again.

"What do we have hear gentlemen?", the first man said, with a slimy grin on his face.

"Looks like we have someone out after curfew. A lady of the night", the second man added.

"Don't mess with me", Belle responded, panic filling her voice, " I don't want any trouble from the likes of you."

"Was that a threat lads?," the third man inquired.

"Why, yes, I think it was", he first man declared, his sliminess spreading across his face.

"I'm warning you to stay away." Belle realized yelling at the men wasn't going to save her but it made her feel at least she tried to protect herself.

"Now, is that anyway to talk to men of the Red Guard, miss?"

Shit.

Belle realized that not only was she screwed, being surrounded by these men, but she had also insulted the Red Guard. God in heaven, she needed a way out of this.

"Well, well, guess she realizes her mistake by the looks of her face. Sadly, we still have to teach her a lesson, don't we lads?", the first man continued.

Belle froze. She felt her limbs turn to jello and her inside turn to liquid. But she would try to keep her fear showing from these men. They continued to move closer and closer to her.

"Please...I swear I won't do it again. I realize my judge of error. Plea..please just let me go. I promise not to say anything."

Belle was begging for her life at this point, unashamedly. The men were all around her now, the leader right in her face as she plead and begged so she could go home. But it didn't seem these Red Guard men could care any less about her pleas and promises. They liked that she was scared.

"Well, I would like to she you free love, but the truth of the matter is that you broke the rules. But I think instead of sending you to one of Cora's interrogation room, I can think of better plans to punish you."

Belle's tears had begun to run down her face at this point. What she had always feared as the worst was coming to be a reality. No where run, no place to hide.

The other two men grabbed Belle by the upper parts of her arms, and restrained her. The slimy smiled leader ran his hand down her face, opened her coat, and leered at body through her dress.

"Ah. You may not be the brightest female but you quite gorgeous. I'm going to enjoy myself with you."

"Please...", Belled screamed, "Help...some body...please..help..."

"Spare the rod, spoil the child..."

The men held her tight, so she could barely move. They were going to hold her down so their boss, slimy smile man would do God knows what to her. Belle wanted to die. All she could so is scream, once more to call for help.

"NOOO...!"