Beauty and the Thief

Chapter Two: Crime and Punishment

When Vincent returned from his patrols, he sensed immediately Father's foul and distracted mood.

"What's wrong, Father?" Vincent asked gently. Father just sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Oh, Vincent, you're back. I can't talk about it yet, I just need you to find Mouse and bring him here. Tell him it can't wait."

"Vincent! How are you? Need something? For Catherine? She's here?"

Vincent smiled. Mouse's exuberance was always like a bright rainbow of light in the dark tunnels. "No, Mouse. Father wants to see you. He's not happy with you, I think. What did you do this time?"

Mouse shrugged. "Hmm… think nothing … unless Father found out about – no wait, did find out, yelled and yelled last week. Or maybe – no, already apologized for that. Hmm, don't know. Chances are did something wrong, though. More rules every day, seems like."

Vincent chortled and patted Mouse on the back. "Well, whatever it is, if you can't remember it must not be that bad. I'm sure Father will forgive you. Now, let's go, or he'll get even more angry because he had to wait."

But Vincent couldn't have been more wrong. When Mouse and Vincent returned to the library, it was filled with the people of their world, every one of them tense and worried.

"Not that bad, huh Vincent?" Mouse muttered, then strode out towards the center of the room with all the false bravado he could muster. "Hey, Father! Having a party, didn't tell me! Is it Father's birthday? Is it my birthday?"

Father was not at all amused. He took off his glasses and folded them in his hands. "No, Mouse, it is not."

"Too bad. Birthdays are nice. Maybe should pretend it is Father's birthday. Maybe that would cheer him up!"

"I'm afraid that wouldn't help, Mouse. Something of mine has gone missing, and I am afraid that you may be responsible."

"Something missing? Didn't make Father's stuff missing. Wouldn't take things from Father."

"Mouse, I know that you try to be good, but we all know that you have taken things that weren't yours before. And I can't think of another person who would want to steal a map from me."

"Didn't take anything," said Mouse, emphatically.

Jamie stepped forward and put a hand on Mouse's shoulder. "Mouse, maybe you were working on another invention? Maybe you were going to ask Father's permission and you forgot?"

Pascal piped up. "Mouse, you must know how valuable the maps of the tunnels are. If they fell into the wrong hands our whole world could be in danger."

"Exactly, Pascal," said Father. "Except for in emergencies, removing a map from the library has always been forbidden, with punishment of silence or even temporary banishment."

Vincent's insides had turned to ice. What had he done? How could he have stolen a map without even thinking of the consequences? Now his friend was being blamed for his crime.

"Mouse, we don't want to banish you," Father continued, sternly. "If you confess, we will be lenient."

Mouse had begun to cry. "Didn't – never – "

"Father, stop. Mouse is innocent." Vincent spoke the words without a thought. They came out louder and more forcefully than he had intended, and the whole room went silent. "I took the map."

Father was angry now. "Vincent, you – I know he is your friend, but you mustn't lie to protect him. This is a very serious matter."

"I'm not lying!" Vincent almost growled. "I can prove it. I know exactly which map is missing. Number 37, isn't it?" Father nodded, almost imperceptibly. "Mouse is innocent and I am guilty."

The news seemed to hit Father like a freight train. He sat down in his chair and put his head in his hands. "But Vincent – why? Why would you do this?"

"I took the map to give to Catherine."

There was an audible gasp in the room.

Father stiffened and took in a deep, painful breath. When he looked back at Vincent, it was like he was a different man – cold and angry, betrayed, bone-tired.

"Vincent, you mean to say that you not only took a secret map of our world out of this room, but you actually brought it above ground? Do you have any idea how risky that is?"

"We can trust Catherine. She's one of us." Vincent looked around the room for support, but the people of his world would not meet his gaze. Some even looked angry.

"Vincent, it's not a matter of trust. Someone could steal it from her. A co-worker or a friend could find it. There's no telling what could happen. And the truth is, she isn't one of us. She's helped us a great deal, it's true, but she doesn't live here, doesn't rely on this place for shelter and community. You had absolutely no right to give that map to her."

Vincent stepped towards Father, wanting to make him understand. His voice was softer and more apologetic. "I didn't think –"

"No, Vincent, you didn't think." Father cut him off. His voice was like ice. "You have a responsibility to this community and you must obey its laws. We can… no longer make exceptions for you." The old man hardened his resolve. "Do you admit the charge?"

"Yes, but – "

"Then I must recommend a harsh punishment."

"Father, please –" This was all happening so fast. Vincent was panicking.

"No one will speak to you for a week. You will be confined to your chamber. You are forbidden from seeing or contacting Catherine during that time." Everyone else in the room saw the way Vincent's spirit sagged at his sentence, but Father's eyes were downcast, purposefully avoiding the sight of his son's misery. He could not allow himself to waver, or play favorites. "All those in favor of applying the punishment, please so indicate."

Vincent's vision had gone blurry – he was crying, he noticed almost numbly – but he saw, clearly enough, the people he considered his friends – his family – turning their backs on him, and he knew that he had lost.

Author's note: Thanks for reading! Just wanted to add, since I forgot to mention it before, that this story takes place roughly around the end of season one. I'm a very new fan (thank you netflix! I wasn't alive in 1987) and I haven't seen anything past the season one finale - don't judge me, I want to wait and really savor it since this show had such a short run. Anyways, hope you're enjoying my story and please send me a review! I haven't gotten any yet :(