Once beautiful dreams were darkened by the thick layer of nightmares in her thoughts, and when they were fully consumed they flickered rays of darkness through her mind.
She dreamed of rope restricting her arms, her mouth taped shut harshly and her eyes forced to gaze onto the man that stood high in front of her. His shaggy light brown hair contrasted with the jet black suit he wore, the only colour coming from his vibrant lips that glimmered and glistened red and pink. And when he leant down in order to stare into her eyes, his mouth opened, and his heart shattering voice caused her to suddenly awake.
She gasped and shook her own bed. Breathing heavily she swept her hair out of her face and climbed out of her bed. Stumbling out the door, the glittering sun that entered through her window helped to cure the fear. She realized it wasn't night after all, but a sunlit Friday morning, the sunshine seemed to fill her head with new joy.
She looked at the couches, which faced each other, separated slightly by the clear glass table. She remembered the time she'd invited Gaston to her home. It was rare, inviting someone there, she told herself it was for security, but she knew it was the fact that she didn't really know anyone.
She could remember how he'd held her softly like a piece of fragile china, and how he set her down gently. He treated her like a possession, something he had to protect, but she knew she didn't need it. And he called her Lacey Williams, and she told him her lie of a backstory. But her name was Belle French, something he would never know.
Leaving the empty room to itself she walked over tiredly to the bathroom, turning the knob on the shower and letting the bursts of water emerge. Exhaustedly taking off her clothes, Belle walked into the shower, and let the water cleanse her skin, making her feel renewed. As the fluid turned her hair an even darker brown she began to hum herself a tune.
Stepping out from the shower Belle again turned the knob, switching it off and leaving complete silence. She leant over and dried her body with the towel that hung on the wall of the bathroom. Wrapped in her towel, she stepped over to the kitchen, filling the kettle and readying a nice big cup of tea. As the kettle boiled she returned to her bedroom, opening her wardrobe harshly and choosing out her clothes. A white blouse, partially covered by the jet-black blazer, which matched with the dark pencil skirt. Belle took her equipment and put it in her dark leather purse, along with several files and papers. She looked like a typical businesswoman, although the work she did wasn't ordinary.
And when the kettle finished boiling Belle poured the water into the teacup, letting the tea bag infuse as she sipped it. And when her eyes simply glanced at the clock she realized she was late, and carelessly dropped the teacup in panic. She groaned, looking at the partially smashed china below her. She slipped on her high heels and left the cup for when she returned home. Belle left her apartment into the dim light hall, where she walked along to the elevator.
Hearing her every footstep because of her ridiculously loud shoes, she worried someone would awaken in the early light. But Belle continued on anyways, pushing the button for the elevator, as she heard the rickety structure move downwards towards her. And when the doors jolted open she shook at the sight of the woman who appeared in front of her.
"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" the woman asked guiltily.
"No, of course not." Belle answered. "I just wasn't expecting to see someone so early."
Her name was Ariel, and her fluorescent red hair made it hard not to notice her, and her bubbly personality made her name imprint in your mind.
"I'm just on my way to work." Belle said smiling.
"I'm off for breakfast with my boyfriend," Ariel said excitedly. She gestured Belle to enter the elevator, and as she moved inside, the doors shut immediately, leaving Belle with her.
"Eric's doing great by the way, we're going for breakfast to celebrate his new job at the harbor, I couldn't be prouder." Ariel told her.
Belle just grinned and prayed she wouldn't ask about her own love life, but she did anyways.
"How's Gaston?" Asked Ariel.
Belle laughed. "Great, work's been stressful so we haven't spent a lot of time together."
"Oh I'm so sorry, you work in the Empire State Building right? I love it there, it's got a nice point to it."
"Yes I suppose it does." Belle answered. There was a strike of silence, the only sound was the awkward elevator music which tensed the mood. And when the elevator finally stopped and the doors opened, Belle felt a sense of relief.
They walked out together in the building's lobby, as Ariel waved goodbye to Belle and left to her date, leaving Belle standing on the busy sidewalk of the street. The building wasn't too far from here. She walked in the noisy shoes, the faces of the citizens passing by her, disappearing quickly into the crowds, and she would probably never see any of them again.
The people walked all directions, sometimes stopping in the middle of the crowds, forcing her to move around them and try not to get in anyone's way. And the frantic rush of everyone getting to work early meant an increased pressure in her mind.
She didn't want to think about work, about Gold, and she told herself that this day would slip by gracefully and be forgotten. Perhaps it was her daydreaming state of mind, but she found herself at the Empire State Building's doors quicker than expected.
Inside, she walked over to yet another elevator, but this time making sure there wasn't a soul with her, or watching her. She rummaged around in her bag until she pulled out a card, which she placed in an elevator scanner, confirming her identity and causing the elevator to reveal a new button. She pressed it and felt it move far down underneath the city, and the journey which seemed to last for eons everyday made her realize how far down she went.
And when she finally emerge from the doors she was greeted by the woman, her thick dark hair flowing over her shoulders, making her look innocent, but also dangerous. She had all the power imaginable and Belle had to do whatever she said, for this entire place was run by her, she commanded them all.
"Miss French." Regina smiled. "Come, we've been waiting for you."