Chapter 2

He let go of her hand and moved it under her chin, gently lifting her face up so that it caught the faint light coming from the other cell. Looking her up and down quickly, he then moved his focus to her eyes. She stood there, looking back, unsure of what exactly he was doing, but she didn't want to interrupt. The way he looked at her, it was as if he was analyzing every feature of her face, trying to figure out where he knew her.

After about a minute, his eyes widened and then he stepped back, casting himself almost entirely in the darkness. She began to step forward but he held up his hand for her to stop.

Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes, in a similar way as Dr. Hopper had, deep in thought. Then to her surprise, he began laughing again. It wasn't the same shrill chuckle as before; it was calmer, normal but still imbalanced. What in the world could be so funny right now? She wondered.

"Why are you laughing?" She braved to question. He didn't answer. She was getting aggravated. No one ever answered her questions.

She stepped towards him once more but this time he let her. Standing in front of him she asked again, "What…what is so funny? Why do you keep laughing?"

No answer again.

"You're crazy." She said and that shut him up. His face turned grim, so much that she wished she could go back and let him continue laughing. She stepped backwards slowly and he followed, until the back of her knees hit the bench. He grabbed her arms tightly and pushed her so that she was now sitting. Towering over her he whispered, "I am not crazy."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…" He held a finger against her lips and shook his head.

"Neither one of us is crazy. Yet here we are."

Her face lit up. He knew she wasn't crazy. He knew that she didn't belong here. Finally, someone who understood.

"You don't think I'm crazy?" She asked just to clarify, her lips parting into a small smile at the thought. He shook his head again.

"No. I know your not crazy, Belle."

Her heart dropped. He called her a name, Belle. The sound of it was so familiar, but why?

"I'm…I'm sorry what did you just say?"

"I called you Belle. That is your name."

"How…how do you know that?" She stood up so that they were now only inches apart. Her eyes were anxious and pleading for answers. He stood there watching this elation build inside of her.

"I know a lot of things. I know why you're here. I know who put you here. And I know how long it has been since you've seen the outside of this basement.

She stood there shocked. Words were unable to make their way through her lips. Hundreds of thoughts were running so wildly through her mind that she couldn't decide on what to say first. He smiled, this time widely as though revealing this information gave him great pleasure.

"But I didn't really answer your question did I? How do I know?" She nodded. It was a start.

"I guess you can say I'm special. You're special too. There just hasn't been any chance for you to show it has there?"

She continued to stare into his eyes with so much hope she thought she might explode.

"No. I didn't think so. How about we sit down and I tell you everything I know about you. And then I can answer your question last, about how I know these things? Sound good?"

She nodded quickly and they both say down on the bench.

Jefferson took a deep breath and then turned himself to face her completely, grabbing her cold hands in his.

"What if I told you, Belle, that you were once…"

Suddenly he stopped, glancing quickly over at the main door. He jumped up and sprinted across the room, through the new door and shut it behind him. Belle continued to sit there, shocked and very confused. The door that had just been formed appeared once again to be just a wall. She then looked at her own cell door and noticed that sounds were getting louder; someone was approaching. She quickly laid down, pretending to sleep. Just as she did, the door opened, the sounds of a keychain rattled as someone approached.

Her heart was pounding, could they have heard her and Jefferson speaking? Perhaps they heard his laughter come from her cell. What would they do to her? To Jefferson?

All of a sudden two large hands were shaking her.

"Wake up!" A deep, familiar voice begged.

She turned around and there was Chief, clenching onto a metal loop that held all the keys to the asylum. His eyes were fretful as he sat her up; leaning in close he quickly spoke, "You're free but you have to hurry!" Belle couldn't process what was happening. Where were the guards? How did he get the keys?

"What…what are you talking about? How did you get those?"

He didn't answer but grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside of the cell.

"There isn't any time for questions, you have to get out of here now." He turned her towards her, placing both large hands on the sides of her face. It was as if he was saying goodbye to his own daughter.

"You didn't deserve this. Any of this. I'm so sorry." As he hugged her, Belle clung onto him, a tear running down her cheek.

"Thank you." She muttered into his chest. She wasn't quite sure what was happening, but she knew she had to take advantage of this opportunity. She had to get away. She started to leave but then paused.

"What are you waiting for! Go!"

"I need the keys." Chief looked questionably at her, but he tossed them her way. She turned to the cell next to hers and unlocked the door. Jefferson was standing by the wall with his head pressed up against it.

"Jefferson!" She yelled at him. He turned towards her, awe-struck.

"What…how did you…"

"Never mind about that we have to hurry! Come on!"

With no hesitation he joined her in the hall. He took one glance and Chief and then grabbed Belles hand, guiding her towards the exit. Belle took one last look at Chief and then they began to run.

On their way they nearly stepped on at least five guards who were lying unconscious, scattered around the halls and main area. While Belle took this all in, Jefferson didn't even glance twice at any of the bodies. He was focused on reaching the door. As they headed to the stairs that would lead them up to the hospital, Belle noticed Mildred slumped over her desk, looking as though she had just passed out for a nap. But Belle knew the truth; Chief most likely drugged her or worse.

"Come on!" Jefferson tugged on her hand and they flew up the steps.

They burst through the doors into a hospital where it was for the most part empty, except for a doctor and a couple nurses with some patients. Not trying to draw attention to themselves they stopped running and merely walked at a quick pace. Still holding onto her hand, he guided her through the halls, undetected by anyone, or so it seemed.

They were only a few feet from the front door when a voice called after them.

"Hey! You two! Where do you think you are going?" They spun around to see a doctor standing by the front desk, next to him was a receptionist.

"Excuse me, but what are your names? Do you have authorization to leave?" The woman asked them. They looked at each other, hoping the other might have an idea or some kind of story to rely on. But it became clear that neither one did.

Jefferson squeezed Belle's hand tightly and whispered, run. They both sprinted out of the hospital, drowning out the yelling and orders to stop. Belle was about to turn around and see if anyone was following them but Jefferson tugged her forward, "Don't look back. Whatever you do, do not look behind you. Keep running!"

She was in no place to argue, he was right. As far as she knew they had no place to go, they would have to keep running until they could find shelter somewhere, and who knew how long that could take.

As they reached the end of the parking lot, Jefferson jerked her to the right, towards the forest.

"Where are we going? Jefferson, we should try to find shelter with someone. We can't live in the forest, we'll freeze!"

"We aren't going to live in the forest. I have a home. It's up on that hill there." He pointed to a large manor place on the very top of Storybrook.

"But won't that be the first place they'll look. They are going to be looking for us, we can't just…"

"We aren't staying there long. I have to get a few things. Then we are going to stay with a friend."

She took a deep breath and for once she felt relieved. It seemed like he had everything worked out. As they trudged through the forest, Belle was finally able to take in her surroundings. She had never seen anything more beautiful, of course she didn't have a lot to go off of. But the smell of pine and the cool air was enough to make her never want to be indoors again.

It was a chilly night, especially barefoot and in a hospital gown. But she barely noticed. All she could think about was how exuberating it was to be free. She thought about Chief too, and what would happen to him once Mildred and the guards woke up. She shivered at the thought. Jefferson saw this and took off his black jacket, wrapping her with it. Belle was about to refuse but the warmth felt incredible.

"Thank you." She said, grateful that he was with her.

"No, thank you. You didn't have to free me. You could have left, but you didn't. I will be forever in your debt."

"No your not. I could have never done this without you. I'd have likely already been caught and back in my cell by now."

He chuckled lightly and then become serious again. He turned his head upwards, as if listening to something. His arm shot out in front of Belle, stopping her in her tracks.

"Wait. Do you hear that?"

She did. It sounded like someone was in the woods. Multiple people maybe. She looked in every direction, expecting to see the police or someone from the hospital out looking for them. But she could see no one.

Then suddenly Belle felt Jefferson shove her quickly behind him. He was looking at something in the forest but she couldn't make out who or what it was. Then, as it got closer, her heart dropped. It was a wolf.

"Stay behind me." He muttered to her.

They stood completely still for what felt like a few minutes as the wolf slowly approached them. It wasn't growling nor did it seem a serious threat. But they continued to remain motionless in case it felt threatened by any sudden movement.

Jefferson decided to test it. He stepped forward slightly, still holding onto Belle behind him. Nothing happened. He stepped forward again. Nothing.

He took this as a sign that they might be able to move past the animal. But as they got closer, the wolf began to follow their moves. When Jefferson tried to go around the wolf, it stepped in front of him, as if blocking him from going further.

His eyes furrowed in frustration, "Why won't it let us pass?" He muttered quietly. Then he did something Belle really wasn't expecting, he spoke to the animal. "Can we pass through here? We are trying to my home. That one right on the hill." He pointed to his mansion.

"Jefferson I don't think it…" He held up a finger and motioned her to stay quiet.

He stepped a little closer to the wolf, but Belle grabbed his arm and tried to get him to back up.

"Come on there is no point. We can find another way."

But Jefferson wasn't listening. He leaned forward, analyzing the wolf.

"Red?" He asked it. But the wolf stood in the same spot, giving no indication that it heard him.

"No. No you're not quite large enough are you?" He mumbled under his breath.

Meanwhile, Belle continued her attempt at getting him to step away.

"Why won't it let us pass!" Jefferson was clearly getting frustrated.

"We'll find another way…"

"There is no other way! Not one that we can take without drawing attention to ourselves."

He suddenly released his hold on Belle and walked right up to the wolf, quickly trying to maneuver past it. The wolf was one step ahead and blocked his path, growling fiercely now. It was angry.

"Jefferson please! It's dangerous we have to go!"

"Why! Why won't you let us pass!" He knelt down to the level of the wolf, pleading with it. The wolf stared at him and then slowly turned its head so that his eyes were looking directly at the house. Jefferson followed his head, staring at his manor. He stood up slowly, squinting his eyes as to make out something.

Then his eyes widened. Although they were a great distance from the house, it was still possible to see flashing red and blue lights along with a few vehicles lined up around his driveway. He stepped back, looking down at the wolf.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Jefferson gave a single nod to the wolf and then pulled Belle away. They trudged quickly through the forest, back towards the direction they came.

"Jefferson please tell me what is going on. Where are we going?" Belle pleaded.

"We're going to visit a friend. We'll be safe there."

"We aren't going to your house anymore?"

"No. No, not anymore."