Lefou excused himself to give Gaston and Sarah some space, by going outside to converse with the search party. Maurice went into the bedroom where Belle was and sat with her. Gaston removed his hand from Jesse and looked up at his wife. Sarah was standing at the far end of the dining table, staring down. Gaston sighed heavily and straightened up and came to her. She didn't reach out her arms to hug him, but she didn't tell him to go away either. She just gazed endlessly at her feet. Gaston looked at her unhappily. He came behind her and affectionately gripped her shoulders, and ran his nose against the side of her head. "Did you speak to him?" She asked without looking.
"I tried." Gaston replied quietly. "But, he's not ready for that."
"Can you blame him?" Sarah spoke with a hint of irritation.
"No." Gaston shook his head. "I lost it completely, like a fool! I was so wrong about him, right from the start. And I haven't given him much of a chance to be our friend, have I? I only hope he'll give me a chance to make it right!"
Sarah didn't offer any words of encouragement, after the way her husband had acted earlier. But she did reach her hand up and clasp his as it rested on her shoulder. She leaned her head back and let him nuzzle her. "I'm disappointed in you, Gaston." She said regretfully.
"I know, darling. So am I. I'm terribly sorry." Gaston winced. "You don't know how sorry I am."
Sarah bit her lip. "You'll try to make amends with him, won't you?"
"Yes, I will! For Lissa's sake, I will!" Gaston declared. At this point, Sarah turned and leaned into him. "I'll find her. I will!" I have to! He kissed her head. "I have to go. We need to start searching for the next clue."
"Be careful!" Sarah warned him.
As Gaston came outside, he found Lefou, Tom, Dick, Stanley, and the prison officers waiting for him. "Well, Captain?" Rousseau spoke up excitedly. "Monsieur Lefou tells us you found a clue. Lead us on! The sooner we find this scrub, the better!" Gaston nodded, but Rousseau's attitude nagged at him. This officer seemed to think this was a glorious adventure, and not a matter of life and death! It reminded Gaston too much of how he himself used to be, especially the night he said he'd help Maurice find Belle.
With lanterns, torches, and weapons, Gaston and Lefou led the search party into the dark out of the village, and up the hill to his mother's grave. Gaston felt as if they'd come to ridicule his dear mother, when her resting place should be treated with respect. He dismounted and scoured the area for another note, or a stone with a note attached to it, but they found nothing! There were no other words of hint around in the dark as far as they could see. But Gaston and Lefou would not give up! They had to find something.
"Captain, perhaps this is a wild goose chase." Officer Leroy said.
"It's not!" Gaston argued. "It, whatever it is, has to be here! Somewhere!"
"Maybe we should try again in the morning, or perhaps you miscalculated the meaning of the hint." Officer Gillette said.
"Enough already." Gaston hissed. "I can't think with you all wracking my brain!"
"Gaston, they may be right." Dick added. "We're not going to find anything in the dark. Let's give it another try at first light."
"We can't do that!" Gaston wailed. "My sister's life is hanging on every thing we leave unturned! I failed her once, and it's not going to happen again! If you all want to go sleep in your beds, be my guest! I'm staying here!" The party slowly dissipated, all except Lefou. "What are you doing?" Gaston frowned.
"I'm going to help you." Lefou said. "Maybe we overlooked something."
"Thank you, Lefou. I really appreciate it." Gaston smiled wearily.
"Hey, she's my friend too. She practically is my sister also. We owe it to her."
When Adam returned to the Legume house, he went straight to his wife. He closed the door behind him and removed his hat. Belle was lying on her side with her back to him. Adam didn't want to disturb her if she was sleeping, so he tip-toed over and hovered over her. He leaned his head down and kissed her chin. "You're back!" Belle exclaimed sleepily.
"Sorry." Adam sighed. "I didn't mean to wake you!"
"I wanted to be awake when you came back." Belle whispered, turning her head to look up at him. "Any news?"
"They've started searching. I'm going to join them soon. But I wanted to see you first." Adam said. He gripped Belle's hand.
"Don't worry about me, dear." Belle said. "Just please help them find my friend!"
"I will do all I can to help." Adam said confidently. "But you still come first, you and our little one."
"I love you." Belle smiled with tears.
"I love you too." Adam kissed her lips. Belle began to cry again, "Shh." Adam shushed her tenderly, stroking her face. "Belle, it will be all right. We'll find her!"
"I just realized..." Belle sniffled, "we never told her!"
"Darling, we agreed to wait till after the child's birth."
"I know, but...maybe we should've told her before!" Belle wept. Adam held her close, rubbing her arm.
"Shh. Go to sleep, Belle." Adam whispered and held her to himself till she fell asleep, then he slowly left the room after he kissed their unborn child and covered Belle with the blanket. "Sarah? Will you please keep a sharp eye on her?" Adam asked. "The midwife said that she could go into labor at any time! And with all this happening..."
"Of course I will." Sarah nodded kindly.
"Thank you." Adam smiled back. "Where is Maurice?"
"He's joined the search." Sarah said. Adam stepped out the door. Sarah knelt down next to Jesse, pulling his head into her lap and stroking his back. "They'll find her, boy. I pray so!"
It was nearing sunup. While Adam and the others had split up during the night into other villages, asking questions, Gaston and Lefou had remained at the grave site. Lefou was spent. They'd been there all night, feverishly searching for anything out of the ordinary but found nothing! Lefou had finally had to lie down on the grass for a breather. Gaston refused to rest. "The sun's up, Lefou! On your feet, come on!" He shook Lefou's shoulder.
"Umph." Lefou groggily moaned. He ran his hand through the grass, feeling jagged strips of dirt. He looked up curiously. "Gaston?" He spoke as he got to his feet and backed up. "Gaston? Do you see what I see?"
"What?" Gaston groaned, looking down toward the ground. His eyes widened. There in the grass was what looked to be a message strewn in the dirt! "You don't suppose..."
"Read it." Lefou interrupted.
Gaston bent down and squinted, trying to make out the words. "Out of...the...w-w-walls...out of the walls, and...in...into the...the...open! Out of the walls, and into the open, ch-choose...choose your...your way c-carefully. One...one way will lead you...to...to what you want to find, the other...will...lead...somewhere...you...don't...want to go! What does that even mean?"
"Let's head back to town." Lefou suggested.
The moment they reached the village, Dr. Tanner rushed up to them. "Gaston, Lefou, anything?" He panted.
"Possibly!" Lefou smiled.
"That's good. Have you either of you seen Dr. Travis this morning?"
"Why, no." Gaston shook his head.
"Not since last night." Lefou added. "Why? Isn't he here?"
"I'm afraid he may not be." Dr. Tanner shook his head grimly. "He hasn't shown up at my office at all, and he's always very punctual. I checked his room at the lodge, and didn't find him."
"Well, we'll keep an eye for him surely!" Lefou told him.
"You have our word." Gaston nodded.
"Thank you, gentlemen." Dr. Tanner said and scurried away. Gaston briefly went home to see Sarah while Lefou made his way to the square and sat at the fountain. He recognized the officers from the prison as they rode toward him.
"No luck." Officer Leroy shook his head.
"Well, we got a little lucky!" Lefou announced excitedly. "You see, we were expecting to find a note, but didn't. And it was dark out, so we didn't see it, but then the sun came up and we did see it! There was a message written in the dirt, right under our noses the whole time." He repeated to them what Gaston had read.
"Sounds like a crank to me." Rousseau shook his head.
"Perhaps, but right now it may be all that we have to go on." Lt. Bouvier corrected him. Gaston rejoined them.
"Is Belle and the baby all right?" Lefou asked.
"So far." Gaston nodded.
"Belle, is it? I thought your good woman's name was Sarah." Rousseau sneered at Gaston.
"It is." Gaston growled.
"So...Belle and Sarah...hmm." Rousseau cocked his head in connivance.
"Belle is a good friend!" Lefou spoke up defensively. "Her husband is the prince."
"That's right!" Adam huffed as he and Maurice appeared. "Enough gossip, Rousseau." Adam said firmly. "We must not waste a moment! A young lady's life is at stake."
"Of course." Rousseau bowed his head scornfully.
"Gaston!" Stanley was hurrying to him.
"What is it, Stanley? Did you guys find a clue?" Gaston asked hopefully.
"No. They're bringing back Dr. Travis."
"For questioning?"
"No." Stanley shook his head. "For a doctor's care. He's been hurt." Gaston's eyes widened with worry.
"Tom, Dick, and I were heading to the next town up to ask questions, and we found the little fellow lying on the side of the road, out cold." Stanley explained. "Looked as if he'd been robbed!"
"How do we know it wasn't those scoundrels who stole Lissa?" Lefou asked.
"We don't." Stanley shook his head.
"He must have been trying to find her." Lefou suggested. Gaston grimaced when his friend said that. He wouldn't let Robert join them, so the small fellow had decided to find Lissa himself, and ended up getting beaten by ruffians. He was truly afraid for her! Gaston felt even more sickened. All he wanted was his sister back, safe and alive, but it seemed that all he was accomplishing was hurting and driving away his friends, those who cared about him, those whose help he needed the most!
Dr. Tanner emerged from the examination room. "Doc, how is he?" Gaston asked worriedly.
"Lucky." Dr. Tanner shook his head. "They roughed him up pretty good and he's bruised. He may have a concussion. But he's very lucky no bones were broken!"
"Gosh." Lefou stated. "Is he awake?"
"Yes. But don't overwhelm him with a wagon load of questions." Dr. Tanner said firmly. They stepped into the examination room and stood around the table. Robert looked as if he was sleeping. His arms were tensely crossed over his chest. His left cheek was swollen, he had a black eye, and there was a white bandage wrapped around his head. He moaned.
Gaston gazed down solemnly at the little guy. He looked like an innocent little boy asleep. This is all my fault...again! If I hadn't been so harsh with him, if I hadn't driven him away, this would not have happened. He wouldn't have rushed off by himself and gotten overtaken by those thugs. D- you, Gaston! You pig-head! I've misjudged him so. Gaston would never admit it, least of all to Lissa, but Dr. Travis had actually been growing on him. And now every harsh word he'd ever said to Robert was gnawing in his gut right now.
Robert slowly opened his blue eyes. His vision was blurry and his brain felt fuzzy. "Ugh..." He grunted.
"Hey, pal. How are feeling?" Lefou smiled.
"Hmm? I feel...like a pile of stones." Robert replied groggily. "Feel like someone tried to grind me into powder."
"I think someone did." Stanley added.
"I could have...told you that." Robert tried to smile, but he winced instead.
"Robert, what were you doing out there in the middle of the night?" Adam asked seriously. "Can you tell us?"
Robert's countenance went from irritated to sad. "I was...trying to find Lissa!" He blurted out hurtfully. "What do you think?" He huffed.
"You shouldn't have gone out...alone, and unarmed." Gaston said. Robert ignored him, pursing his lips.
"I don't care about that!" Robert cried. He tried sitting up, in spite of how battered his body felt, but Adam, Lefou, and Gaston all pushed him back down on the table.
"Slow down. Where do you think you're going?" Adam scolded him.
"You have to take it easy!" Lefou begged.
"Well, then I guess you have me right where you want me, huh?" Robert sighed dejectedly, looking right up at Gaston. Gaston hung his head shamefully. The cold words hit him hard. Worst of all, because they were true. "Look, you fellas are wasting time worrying about me! Lissa is in trouble! Did you forget?"
"We just wanted to make sure you were all right." Lefou said.
"I'm fine, really." Robert nodded sadly. "Don't worry about me, please. Lissa...Lissa needs help...she needs...you have to..." Robert's voice became more incoherent as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
"Doctor?" Adam looked to Dr. Tanner.
"He's all right. But he needs lots of rest. He should be back on his feet in a day." Dr. Tanner reassured them. "In the mean time, I'll have Matilda look after him while I make my rounds. You gentlemen be careful! I pray that Lissa is unharmed!"
"Thank you, Sir. We're trying!" Lefou replied.
"What can that message mean?" Lefou asked.
"It sounds as if he means you have two paths to cross." Officer Gillette remarked.
"A bunch of gibberish if you ask me." Rousseau shook his head impatiently.
"We didn't ask you." Adam glared at him.
"It has to mean something." Maurice sighed. "Out of the walls, and into the open...it doesn't seem like any literary quote I've heard before. Perhaps we should ask Pere Robert." They went to the library, but the priest also was unable to give them an acceptable answer.
"Well, Adam? You're the educated genius in this place." Lefou shrugged. "Does this seem to remind you of anything?"
"Not to my recollection." Adam shook his head gravely. He glanced around at their surroundings.
"You know, out of the walls sounds as if someone is leaving a vicinity," Officer Gillette spoke up. "A place with walls...going out into the countryside?"
"Of course!" Lefou cheered.
"There is a fork in the road outside this village, about four miles out." Gaston said. "One leads into the woods heading to the castle..."
"And the other leads to rough country." Adam finished.
"Let's go!" Lt. Bouvier ordered.
Gaston led the men out of town to the said fork in the road where they stopped. "So? What now?" Dick asked.
"There has to be another tidbit around here." Tom mumbled.
"Well, where is Benoit, Captain?" Rousseau cocked his head. "You said it was him."
"It is." Gaston said.
"Well? When do we find him, eh?"
"Give the poor man some breathing space, will you?" Bouvier scolded his partner. "Can't you see he's distressed?"
"And it's perfectly understandable given the circumstances, but the sooner we find Benoit, the sooner we get the reward! And whoever helps me find our scrub, will get part of what I collect when I bring him in!" Rousseau announced grandly. Gaston whipped his head around and clenched the officer by the collar, pulling him off his feet.
"Gaston, take it easy!" Lefou begged.
"I don't give a h- of your d- reward!" Gaston snarled in Rousseau's face. "I just want my sister back! And I'm going to find her, with or without your help. Do you understand me?" He seethed.
"Yeah, yeah." Rousseau nodded quickly. Gaston scowled and released him. Rousseau brushed off his precious coat and smoothed out the vulgar wrinkles. "Touchy, isn't he?" He asked casually with a grin.
"Does he have to be with us?" Lefou whispered to Adam.
"That's enough, Rousseau." Adam warned him.
"Lighten up, men." Rousseau shrugged. "I was just trying to cheer him up." Adam growled under his breath.
"I'm really beginning to not prefer that man's company." Maurice whispered.
"Me too." Adam groaned.
"Me three!" Lefou agreed.
The men scouted around for a note, or some sort of other message. "Gaston!" Dick called. "Look, does this look familiar to you?" He handed Gaston a scrap of torn teal colored cloth with red stripes in it. Gaston bit his lip.
"Yes." Gaston tried to speak. "It's hers! It's from her dress!" Gaston clenched it to himself. He could only pray that the frayed cloth wasn't a symbol of what Lissa's current state was at this moment.
"Where do we go from here?" Maurice asked.
"I fear there's only one way to go." Gaston mumbled. "We take to the left, out into rugged country."
"I have to agree." Adam approved. "Maurice? I suggest you go back and keep an eye on Sarah and Belle. If Belle goes into labor, and I'm not there," Adam hung his head regretfully, "well, she'll need someone...someone who cares about her very much at her side."
Maurice was torn. He wanted to help search for his dear friend Lissa. She was like a second daughter to him, and he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her. But his daughter was back there, carrying her first child, and Adam was right. Maurice had not been able to prevent Belle from taking his place in the dungeon, but he could help her now, especially if Adam was going to be absent for hours, if not days! "All right." He agreed.
"Hang on, Lissa. We're coming!" Lefou spoke to no one in particular as they rode off to the left, away from the castle with no idea what their next clue would be.
Gaston gazed down closely at the shredded piece of dress in his large palm. His heart jumped into his throat when he saw streaks of blood in it! Lissa had probably tried to fend off her kidnappers, to no end! Gaston clutched the cloth to his chest and sniffed loudly to keep from breaking down. Gaston was sickened as he imagined colorfully horrid scenarios that Lissa was most likely being forced through at this moment, each one uglier than the one before! I'm sorry, Mother! I am so sorry. I promised to take care of her, and I...I've failed her again. But I swear on my life, I will not rest until she is found! Just, please still love me! His mind screeched.
"If these are not mere idle threats, Andre is not going to make it easy." Officer Leroy remarked.
"I know that!" Gaston growled. He knew it too well, and hated being reminded.
Alone and afraid in the dim room she called a prison, after crying and shuddering in dread if those men came back in, Lissa finally rose to her feet. Her head hurt worse though from all that weeping. She struggled to wriggle her hands out of the ropes bounding her wrists together, but they had been tightly sealed. She gnawed at them with her teeth, but that only made her hands more scratched. "I'm not gonna just sit here and wait to be killed!" Lissa told herself firmly. As best she could, she felt along the walls, hoping and praying to detect a possible loose stone brick that she could pry out and start to dig away at.
Lissa doggedly poked, prodded, and palpated her surroundings for what felt like an hour. She felt along the floor, hoping for a trap door, or just anything that would help her escape from this isolated prison! "Lord, please help me..." She prayed over and over again. But it seemed not to make any difference. She finally had to stop and drop on the floor again, trying to ease the relentless pounding in her head. She curled up on the dirty floor, against the wall, as far away from the door as possible. Endlessly confined in such a solitary bubble of isolation from the outside world, it was easy for one to wallow in self-pity.
"If I was clever like Belle, I'd figure out some way to get out of here!" Lissa moaned to herself. "But I'm not clever enough. I'm not Belle!" More tears filled her eyes as she thought of home and all the dear people she loved. "If he kills me, I'll never see them again!" Lissa whimpered. I'll never get to joke with Lefou again, or sneak secret glances in on Adam and Belle when they think no one's looking. I'll never get to hear Lumiere or Plumette again, or feel Mrs. Potts' hugs, or read to Chip...ohh! Dear Chip! I'll never get to romp with him again, or act out stories with him, or hug him again! I'll never get to ride my beautiful Brisa any more! I'll never get to hear Maurice's gentle voice, or see his newest art piece, or visit Gaston and Sarah! Jesse...I miss you so much! I hope you're getting better!
'I'll never write again! I'll never get to create worlds and make stories. I'll never see my brother or my dog again! I'll never get to tell Robert that...Lissa sobbed more as she thought of that sweet, kiddish, caring, cute doctor who had captured her heart. To her, he was like a mix of Maurice, Lefou, and Lumiere all wrapped into one, making a unique and very lovable person. His deep sense of compassion reminded her of Adam, yet differently. He treated everybody the same, and went out of his way to help them. Lissa's heart ached to hear his cheery, raspy voice, to see his fun smile, and her arms longed to snake his neck. "I'm sorry, Robert." She wept. "I didn't plan for this to happen. But now I'm truly afraid...that I'll never see you again." Her temple screeched in excruciating pain, but her deeply hurt feelings were too unbearable to keep inside.
Lissa longed for Jesse. He was her faithful companion. He was almost constantly at her side. She would give anything, anything, ANYTHING to run her hands through his soft black fur right now! To have him lick her face with his soft tongue, or place his large, heavy paw on her knee as a gesture of reassurance. Jesse…
Gaston, maybe...maybe it would be better if you don't come here! But I can't face this without you! I need you, now more than I ever have! But if you try to get me out of here, you'll die! Gaston, I'm so scared! It feels like this really is the end, and I'm so alone! Lissa gripped her head, writhing on the floor from a relentless migraine headache.
I'll never get to meet Adam and Belle's baby!
"If that swine lays one harmful finger on a single hair of her head, I swear, I am going to kill him with my bare hands!" Gaston vented.
"That kind of talk won't do you any good." Adam said seriously. Gaston threw him a look.
"Adam, put yourself in my place." He said. "What if it was Belle who was being held hostage? Belle and your little baby she's carrying? And you knew that this person would stop at nothing to hurt you and those you cared about? Now tell me, how would you feel?"
"I'd want to kill him. I'd want to break every bone in his body." Adam replied angrily, already feeling bristled at the mere thought.
"Then don't berate me for wanting my loved one safe, until you've stood in my shoes!" Gaston huffed. Adam didn't judge Gaston for his anger, he understood perfectly where it was coming from. He just hoped Gaston would keep his cool and not do anything stupid!
"This lawman's pretty soft, isn't he?" Rousseau scoffed as they rode along.
"Hey! You can't speak that way about him." Lefou said indignantly. "His sister's very important to him, and he feels responsible. He's very worried about her, and so am I."
"Well, once we find Andre, all will be put right." Rousseau cocked his head.
"I hope." Lefou mumbled.
"Captain?" Officer Leroy spoke up. "We've been going at it for hours. You've taken us through gulleys, into the woods, and across the river. And I'm sorry to bring it up, but we've found nothing, and we've doggedly spent the daylight hours already. We'll become stranded out here in the dark before too long if we don't turn back now."
"Not with Gaston leading us." Lefou said with a smile. "He's the greatest hunter in town, and he knows this country better than any man!" Gaston tried to receive the praise, but it only drooped his spirit more. Yep, he was the greatest hunter all right, and look where it had taken them! If only Jesse hadn't been injured, Gaston would've brought him to track down those thugs. Maybe they would've found them by now!
Andre leaned back in his chair, with legs crossed on top of the table. He was still sharpening his knife. Bastien sat across from him, easing back, smoking his pipe and drinking his whiskey as he played solitaire with cards. "You're gonna wear that blade out, you know, if you don't give it a rest." Bastien joked.
"Don't interrupt my thought process." Andre groaned. Bastien shrugged and kept at his game.
"She's a pretty little lady, ain't she?" He grinned.
"Mph." Andre agreed, grunting. "She doesn't know what she's missing! You know? We could have a lot of fun with a frail flower like that!"
"We really could, couldn't we?" Bastien chuckled evilly. "What's hindering you anyway?"
"Not sure. She's a fighter." Andre said wistfully.
"She could show a lot more fight if we give her the pleasure of our company."
"I know. But, I'm very interested to see what pathetic little sob story she comes up with next. It's only gonna come back to bite her in the end." Andre snickered. Truth was, Andre was secretly afraid that by some supernatural intervention, that Jesse would take him by surprise and tear him up if he tried to sensually go after Lissa again. Every time he'd tried, that dog had been right there, giving him the most unwanted affection. Andre was not normally a fearful man, but it was just that he'd been viciously snapped up too many times when he'd directly preyed on this woman. If he took another chance, he wanted to be absolutely sure that he wouldn't be attacked again.
Phineas walked in through the door with a puff. "Your turn." He said to Bastien. "Let me have a break! I need a drink."
"Anything?" Andre asked him.
"Nah. Nothing yet." Phineas shook his head. "Look, boss, do you really believe that army hero is going to show up? After the paper chase you rigged for him? He may be too baffled."
"You boys whine too much." Andre laughed. "We have his sister. This guy is very protective of her, unlike any brother I've ever seen! No need to fret, fellows. Trust me. He'll show up!"
At the Legume House
Sarah had fixed a warm dinner for her guests, whom she was delighted to have in her home. Maurice and Belle kept her company while she waited for Gaston, and together they reassured themselves that the best possible help was on the way to find Lissa. Sarah tended to Jesse's needs and tried to console him, but the forlorn dog was so disheartened that he refused food and water.
It was four hours before daylight. The men, well, most of them tried to get some sleep so they'd be refreshed for the resumed search at first light. Gaston hadn't slept a wink at all. He sat away from the group, by himself, staring down at the whistle he'd given Lissa, fiddling with it upside down then back upright again. This little piece of wood was supposed to be used as a tool of safety, to summon help for her if she needed it. Now she desperately needed it, but without it, how could Gaston find her? Gaston went back in his mind over the passed month and a half: his breaking the truth to Sarah, her painful departure, her joyous return, his asking to marry her, their beautiful wedding! But most of all right now, his thoughts were of his sister. She'd been attacked and preyed on like an innocent little animal in the woods full of predators. Gaston remembered the fear on her face and in her hands when Andre had gone after her, and he remembered all too vividly how horribly it had effected her, how withdrawn and discouraged she had been. Gaston remembered that he had made her a promise! He'd promised her that no one would ever hurt her again! "A lot of good that did her." He censored himself severely. "Some brother I am!"
Adam and Lefou had remained awake for the longest time and tried to encourage him, but they both knew that Gaston's mind wouldn't be at ease until he'd found and rescued Lissa. He was grateful for their support, but the constant reassurances only made him feel more guilty instead of hopeful.
Lissa tossed and turned all night on the cold floor. She was plagued with horrible dreams, about Andre using her, about Gaston finding her then being killed before her eyes. That and other tragedies. Lissa felt completely abandoned, by everyone and everything she loved and this horrid rat hole only increased her fear and loneliness.
At one point, Andre came in with a lantern, and Lissa shrieked in fear, scrunching up against the wall. "Leave me alone!" She begged. "Don't come near me...please!"
"Would you relax?" Andre rolled his eyes. "You make me feel like such a fiend." Lissa gulped hard and hugged herself tightly.
God, keep his hands off me, I beg You! She screamed inside.
"It must be so lonesome in here." Andre tsked nonchalantly. "You know? You don't have to stay in here the whole time! You could join us and let some fun-loving fellows entertain you. Now wouldn't you like that?" He asked creepily.
"No." Lissa said vehemently.
"Aww, now that's pretty ungrateful." Andre sighed, coming toward her. Lissa braced herself tensely. "I hate to break it to you, my little pretty, but you don't have much longer to live, you know."
Lissa let out a sickened breath. How could this be real? How could this have all happened? She felt completely nauseous and mortified. Would this nightmare never end?
"I'm offering you a chance to enjoy yourself on your last day and a half." Andre smiled hideously. "Seems a shame to let all this loveliness just go to waste." He reached out his hand to stroke her hair, but Lissa quickly kicked his shin. "Look," Andre leaned down toward her face, "I want you to listen to me real good. Now, we can do this the easy way or the ugly way. And trust me, you don't want to do it the ugly way!"
Lissa fought not to cry in front of him, so he wouldn't have the satisfaction of getting to her, but her throat was burning with a lump. I just want out! Her heart pleaded.
"So, what's it gonna be, huh?"
"Leave me be." Lissa said. "Your company makes me so sick!" She vented, looking away from him.
"Oh! So that's the way you want it, huh?" Andre replied with a hint of delight in his voice. "Well, remember, can't say you weren't warned!" He gripped her by the throat. "Second thoughts? Huh?"
Lissa gulped and gagged, futilely trying to snatch his fingers off her. "Please...get your hands off me! Please let go of me!" She cried. Andre sneered and released her neck. Her hands instantly went to her throat, rubbing it. But then Andre suddenly took his boot hard to her in the ribs then to her stomach, twice. Lissa couldn't catch her breath and fell back to the floor, panting.
"Sorry." Andre sneered. "But you chose it. Pleasant dreams!" He snatched the lantern then locked the door again. Lissa, lying splayed out on the floor sore and dazed, slipped into unconsciousness.
At sunrise, the search party traveled farther on, but found nothing so they reluctantly headed back to Villeneuve, but this time they took a different route to cut down on time. Three hours of backtracking when they finally stumbled upon something. They saw more scraps of bloodied, shredded teal clothing strewn on the ground. "Oh, no." Lefou gulped. Gaston stooped on the ground, picking up the fragments and his heart lurched. He winced tightly, clenching the remainder's of his sister's dress.
No, no, no! Please, God, no! His thoughts begged.
"Gaston?" Stanley spoke up, handing a note that had been poked through with a stake, to Adam. Adam glared at it then handed it to Gaston. Gaston narrowed his eyes as he read it:
"Enjoying the game, Mr. Brave Hunter? I certainly am! Now, let me see. Perhaps you overlooked something back towards your quaint little village. And don't forget: every hour counts!"
Gaston bared his teeth and ripped the hideous paper to shreds, stamping them down vigorously. "Let's go!" He growled. The next item they found by lunch time made his heart nearly stop! Down near the stream, tossed aside like an old stick, dirtied and spewed in the ground, was Lissa's journal! How the h- did he get his grimy hands on this?! Gaston dug his nails into the worn leather. He must have been watching her all this time, and saw her carrying this with her everywhere! Then he stole it when he snuck into our house. D-! Gaston pressed his lips to the little book as tears filled his eyes. He'd always thought it was silly for Lissa to make such a fuss over this diary. Now, it was more precious to him than any of his prize trophies! He put it inside his coat, into the pocket over his heart. I'll keep this safe for you, Lissie!
When Lissa woke that afternoon, she spent the longest day she could remember in years, alone and locked up. She tried to think positively, that Gaston and their friends wouldn't rest till they found her, that they had the brains it took to find her, that they'd make it in time. But as the seemingly endless daylight hours dragged on, Lissa was almost convinced that this was really the end, that she'd never make it out of here! She prayed it wasn't so, but her head told her otherwise. "I'm going to die here. I'm really going to die!" She cried. "And when Gaston finds me, he's gonna die too!"
It was a relief to be home and to wrap his wife in his arms, but Gaston was still restless. All of Andre's clues were vague and cruel. The men, save Adam and Lefou complained that they were only constantly going in circles! Adam took Maurice and Belle back home to the castle. The servants were happy to see them but very sorry to hear that there was really no good news to report. "We're praying that they find her." Mrs. Potts said kindly.
"Every hour." Madame Garderobe added.
"So are we." Belle smiled sadly. Mrs. Potts prepared a heavenly warm bubble bath for her to calm her nerves while Adam was gone.
Adam had suggested to Gaston that they try to get a good night's sleep and resume in the morning, where they could all think straight again. Gaston would have none of it, and when the others didn't agree with him, he made off on his own. He mounted his horse and tried to go back over every road or path they'd taken since they began the search. Alone in the blackness of midnight, physically drained, and mentally spent, he argued that he was not going in circles, but everywhere he turned looked the same. All the facts and clues had not altered themselves and he'd found no new ones since before dinner. "Don't give up, Lissa. I'm coming for you. I'll find you!" He promised with his hand over his heart. Gaston did not return home until after dawn.
Andre stepped inside the room and lit the aged wooden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, spreading more light in the room. Lissa squinted and ignored him, leaning against the wall. "Not looking too good." Phineas shook his head. "How much longer do you think she can go on like this?"
"I bet you 70 livre seventy-two hours. At the most." Bastien winked. The men laughed.
"If she lasts that long!" Andre narrowed his eyes.
"Leave me alone." Lissa groaned, without facing them.
"Oh no. I think she finds our company unsavory! Unsavory is such an ugly word. Well, luckily, she won't have to endure it for much longer." Andre shrugged in mock sympathy. He knelt down next to Lissa, much too close for her comfort and she shuffled away from him. "Well, now don't you worry your pretty little head." He patted her arm. Lissa tensed and scowled. "Time is ticking away. You only have eighteen hours left. Might as well make the most of it, huh? Now why don't you just join us and have a good time, hmm?"
"Get out." Lissa glowered, appalled. Her stomach hurt and she felt sick, physically and emotionally. She desperately wanted out of this hellhole! But she had no means of escape.
"Ooo. Sweet one moment, cold and icy the next. Yeah, I like this girl!" Andre declared. The other thugs laughed.
"Leave me alone!" Lissa cried out.
"She's not so fun after all. Well, might as well forget it, boys." Andre shook his head and rose to his feet.
"Can I please have some water?" Lissa begged. "I need water." She knew it was most likely futile to ask, but she was so very thirsty.
"I don't think she's earned that privilege." Bastien said.
"Noo."
"Please! I need water." Lissa pleaded. She hadn't had any nourishment for fifty-two hours and she felt weak with hunger and thirst.
"Give her some water, see if I care." Andre rolled his eyes.
"Oh, that's just real sweet of you, boss." Phineas chuckled evilly. He briefly left then returned with a small cup of water. "Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?" He asked.
"Yes!" Lissa hissed. She wolfed down the drink given her, but it wasn't enough to satisfy.
"I don't think she likes you, fellow." Bastien chuckled, smoking his pipe.
"All right, enough." Andre laughed, shooing them out. "I'll keep our guest entertained."
"You're really going to do this, aren't you?" Lissa asked nervously.
"Yes, I am. And you're going to help me."
"No, I won't." Lissa gulped.
"Oh, I think you will!"
"Tell me something." Lissa said seriously. "Gaston did something very wrong to you. So, you're going to take the life of another to get revenge. Realistically, in what way...just how does that make you better than him? Is...is this what your brother would have wanted?"
Andre glared and swiped her cup away. He kicked her right in the stomach again then shoved her back against the wall. He pulled out his pistol and pressed it into her collar bone. "Don't ask stupid questions." Andre whispered. "T'ain't healthy. You get me?" Lissa nodded.
"You...you don't have to use that thing, you know." Lissa shivered. He pressed it deeper into her neck and she gasped.
"I said, shut up." Andre said in her ear. "I hear one more word out of your mouth that I don't want to hear, you're dead. You got that?"
"Mmm-hmm!" Lissa nodded quickly. Andre pulled the gun back.
"Good." He puffed. He ran his index finger behind her ear. She whimpered and turned with her back to him. "You really are pretty, you know."
"Don't you have other urgent business to attend to?" Lissa asked through clenched teeth. She loathed the idea of Andre out there placing wild goose chase clues for Gaston to find, but it was better than having him near her! Her stomach twisted in nausea any time he got close to her.
"Ahh, yes. Must not forget that, should I?" Andre chuckled. "Thanks for the tip." He finally left!
Lissa curled up in a ball, shaking again. What was to become of her?
Once again, Gaston and his band were on the hunt. This time, they headed toward the next large town over, but they took the back roads through the woods. "If only we had Jesse with us." Adam sighed.
"Who needs a dumb mutt to help?" Rousseau griped. "I can find this punk with both hands tied behind me and a blindfold over my eyes."
"Then why don't you get to it?" Adam snarled.
"Gaston..." Lefou was barely able to get his voice out.
"What? What is it?" Gaston replied frightfully.
"L-look. O-over there." Lefou said, pointing a shaky finger. The men followed his direction.
Gaston's heart nearly stopped. A horrendous knot twisted his stomach. "No, no..." He whispered, his heart caught in his throat. There on the ground was his sister's cloak! But it was ripped to shreds and covered all over in blood. And, it was cradling a body!
"Is it..." Lt. Bouvier asked.
"I'm afraid so." Adam said grimly. "It's her."
Gaston dismounted and grievously stepped toward it. Everything around him became a blur. He only heard the echo of his pounding heartbeat, nothing else. "No...oh, please, God, no!" He begged. He stooped down with a shaky hand and placed it on his sister's shoulder. Tears falling, he winced and pulled back her cloak. He nearly fell back. It wasn't Lissa!
"Gaston?" Adam furrowed his brows.
"I...I...it's...it's not her!" Gaston called back, his voice hoarse. The men quickly dismounted and came to him. Andre had tricked them...again! The cruelest one yet! He'd used a bedding of straw and formed it just right so that it looked like the shape of a small body.
"Thank God!" Lefou let out a breath.
"But how do you explain the blood on the cloak?" Stanley pointed out. He handed it to Gaston.
Gaston clutched it to himself. He stumbled away to get some air space and dropped to his knees and buried his face in the garment. Another trick! But just how false was this one? He'd thought for sure it was his sister's body. Thankfully, it was not! But that didn't mean there wouldn't be! What if Lissa was badly hurt somewhere? Or worse, dead? Was it her blood on the cloak? Gaston looked up into the sky, tears blurring his vision. "Dear God," he wept, "I know this is all on me. But please, I beg of You...please just give me a little help. Keep my sister safe until I can bring her home! Don't let her die because of me! Don't let her suffer on my account! God, if You can hear me, if You're really up there...help me! Please!" Gaston sobbed like a child.
It seemed as if everything that breathed was conspiring against him, hindering him in finding his sister. As if the whole world, current circumstances were taunting and jeering at him to even dare try to find Lissa, only to come to another dead end!
"I'm getting tired of this charade." Rousseau grumbled.
"Well, then you're in good company." Dick said.
"You old nags can look for the girl all you want. I am going to be a hero, collect Benoit and have that reward!"
Adam glowered and pulled Rousseau aside. "Now you listen to me." Adam said firmly. "Your thirst for the glory of catching this fellow is going to get someone really hurt. Maybe you need to stop thinking so much about your fugitive and start considering the life at stake here. The lass he is holding as a hostage is my wife's closest and dearest friend. If you put this girl in any more danger worse off than she is, or you risk her life without justification because of your arrogance and she gets hurt or killed, her blood will be on your head!"
"Take it easy there, Your Highness." Rousseau smiled casually. "I see what you're saying. No need to get all worked up. Besides, didn't her own brother say that it was his own fault this all happened in the first place? If this guy kills her, her blood will be on her dear brother's hands, not mine." He smirked. Adam glared at him dangerously.
Gaston had heard every single word! He marched off and right up to a thick oak tree. Hollering and growling like an angered mother bear, he slammed his fist against the bark, splitting open his knuckles. He banged his head against it. Then he felt arms firmly shaking his. "Gaston, stop it!" Adam bellowed at him. "Stop it right now!"
"Gaston, get a grip." Lefou said.
He knew what had to be done. When this was all over, when he rescued his sister, if he rescued her, and he made sure everyone was safe, he would sneak off in the dead of night. This time, he would not go to the tree, he would flee far away where they wouldn't find him. There and then, he would put an end to it, for everyone! His loved ones would never be put through this hell again! "Lord, if You're really there, if You really care about her, watch over her, I beg You! I...I can't find her by myself! And I'm running out of time. I can't think straight anymore! I...I need Your help! I CANNOT do this on my own. Please, I need help! Please, I'm asking for just a little help...please!"
"I think you should leave!" Lefou wailed at Rousseau.
"They're right." Lt. Bouvier said to his fellow officer who glowered at him. "Our job is to save lives, not hamstring them! If I hear one more unsavory word out of your mouth, you're off this investigation, for good!" Rousseau's face went crimson, but he remained silent.
"This fellow Andre is a real knot-head." Stanley remarked. "He's downright stupid."
"He's not as stupid as we would prefer. Unfortunately." Officer Gillette muttered. "With how brilliantly he planned this and how he's evaded us."
"Well, anyone who thinks he can mess with Gaston's sister and get away with it..." Stanley giggled, "Well, he just bit himself really hard in the rear!"
"You've got that right!" Lefou agreed laughing, trying not to lose hope.
Gaston did not share in their merriment. He just couldn't. Only twelve more hours and time was up. And when time was up, Lissa would be...he silently prayed with every breath that something would clearly penetrate their thinking and they'd be able to pinpoint exactly where Lissa had been taken, before it was too late!
5 Hours Later
"Gaston, why don't you try to catch up on some sleep?" Maurice suggested.
"No time." Gaston argued. How could he sleep? Every hour they lost of figuring out the next clue, the dimmer chances were of finding Lissa alive! He couldn't give up! But Gaston, loathed as he was to admit it, was at the end of his rope. He couldn't think anymore, he couldn't rationalize the facts they had. Emotionally confined, mentally exhausted, and physically drained from over fifty-seven hours' lack of sleep, he couldn't function clearly enough to deduce the last clue they'd been given. The last clue they'd found had said something odd about medals, torches, and gun powder.
"He's right." Sarah told Gaston firmly, coming next to him and rubbing his weary, aching shoulders.
"I can't!" Gaston shook his head. "If I give into slumber, Lissa will be dead by the time I wake back up." He said hopelessly, as if all hope was gone already. He rose unsteadily to his feet and staggered out the doorway.
"Where do you think you're going?" Adam scolded him.
Gaston gulped hard from his canteen and then poured the water on his face to try and wake himself up. "I'm going out again." He replied. "Maybe it'll...clear my he..." The words barely escaped his lips when his head tilted back and he dropped to the ground. The men, using team effort, hoisted him off the ground and set him in his bed.
"It's really the best thing for him." Dick said.
"Come on, men. We have to save Lissa! We just have to!" Lefou wailed. "We only have seven hours left!"
2 Hours Later
Gaston woke to the sound of sweet, even breathing close to his ears. He felt a slight weight on his chest. He opened his eyes and glanced down. Sarah was lying on top of him, her head over his bosom. She was asleep. Gaston held her close, softly caressing her hair. He really needed to get out of bed this instant and get back on the trail, but his wife's peaceful, physical contact soothed him, more than he'd had in the passed two and half hellish days. Gaston slowly sat up and set her down comfortably in the bed.
"Blast!" Adam pounded his fist on the table. "There must be an answer here!" The men were gathered around the big map displayed out on the dining table.
"We've covered every rock within a hundred miles!" Tom grumbled. "And we're no closer to finding her than when we started."
"Oh, now, gentlemen. It has to be in here!" Maurice interjected firmly, clenching the paper in his fingers. "Medals...torches...gunpowder...it's as if he's declaring war!"
"But that makes no sense at all." Officer Leroy argued.
"With everything he put in there, I'm surprised he didn mention old army boots." Lefou remarked.
Gaston's eyes lit up and he held his head high. It had finally dawned on him! "THAT'S IT!" He declared rapturously.
"What's it?" Everyone gaped at him, confused.
"Lefou! My oldest friend and brightest compatriot, you're a genius!" Gaston blurted out. He tightly hugged the smaller man, lifting his feet off the ground. "What would I do without you?" Gaston smiled warmly as he set him back down. "Come! Not a moment to lose!" Gaston bolted out the door.
"That's what?!" Tom, Dick, and Rousseau groaned loudly.
"What's going on?" Sarah asked in alarm as she emerged from the bedroom.
"I think Gaston just figured this whole thing out!" Maurice smiled.