"What is this place?" Belle wondered as she looked at the castle.
"I don't know. But it's starting to creep me out." Madison answered. Philippe neighed as he looked at the castle until something felt like he was spooked and starts bucking.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Madison quickly held onto Belle as the horse was bucking until Belle got off of him to calm him down.
"Philippe, please. Steady!" she spoke. Belle came to the side of her horse and helped Madison down.
"You alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But I think the castle might have spooked your horse." Madison answered until she spotted something, "Belle, what's that over there?"
Belle turned and gasped at what Madison spotted behind the gates. She quickly opened them and picked a hat which is familiar to Belle.
"Papa." she whispered and looked at the castle.
"You don't think... he could be in there?" Madison asked to her, but she knew the answer cause she knows this movie.
"He has to be." said Belle and was about to take a step forward but Madison stopped her.
"I don't think it's a good idea, Belle. What if... someone or something is in there?" she asked.
"It couldn't be. That castle looks like it's abandon. I'm sure no one lives here, and my father has to be in there somewhere. And once we find him, we'll find something for your ankle." said Belle.
Madison looked at the castle seeing big and creepy is with the fog and dark clouds were above. She sighed and looked at Belle.
"Alright. But I think it's better if we stay close. I don't like getting lost and be all alone." she said as she stood close with her.
Belle nodded her head, and the girls start going closer to the castle.
Belle opened one of the doors and the girls went inside. They looked around seeing how dark it is, but they can see the inside of the castle especially a stairway.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Hello? Papa? Papa, are you here?" Belle hollered but no answer and the girls went up the stairs.
"What's your father's name, Belle?" Madison asked as she kept on limping up the stairs. She knew what his name is but can't say it or else Belle may think that she's a spy.
"Maurice." she answered.
"Monsieur Maurice? Are you around?" Madison hollered but no answered. She looked back at Belle, "Let's keep going."
Belle nods her head and the two kept on walking.
Madison kept on limping as she stood close with Belle. Even though her ankle still sore, she still needs to keep on going. With more walking she won't feel pain, that is what she thought.
"Papa?" Belle hollered again but no answer.
"Maurice?" Madison hollered but still no answer until she heard something from behind. She wanted to turn around but knew who was watching but she can hear what they were saying.
"Those are girls!"
"I know they are girls!"
"Don't you see? One of them could be the one. The girl we have been waiting for. One of them have come to break the spell!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!"
Madison's eyes grew wide. 'One of them?' she thought. Madison knew too well of this movie. She's not the not to be in love with a beast. But Belle is.
The girls advance down a narrow hallway. Belle doesn't know that she was being followed but Madison already knew that.
"Papa? Papa?" Belle hollered.
"Maurice?" Madison hollered but still no answer.
Suddenly, they heard a sound that was behind them. They turned around and saw a door open. Belle opens it wide and see a stairway.
"Hello? Is someone here?" Belle asked and saw a light that was going up, "Wait! I'm looking for my father!"
"Belle, wait up!" Madison spoke as she slowly goes up the stairs with her.
The two finally reached up to the top of the stairs and notice that they were in a tower. Madison felt a chill all over from the cold breeze and see doors with small bars, knowing those were prison doors.
"That's funny, I'm sure there was someone." said Belle.
"Maybe... maybe this place is haunted."
"Don't be silly. There are no such things as ghosts. Have you read any stories about ghosts?"
"One book but I mostly like reading fantasy books." said Madison.
Belle smiled a little and looked back at the place.
"Is anyone here?" she asked.
Madison listened carefully to the room until she heard a familiar voice.
"Belle?"
"Is that...?" Madison whispered to Belle.
"Papa!" Belle exclaimed and the girls quickly ran to a cell door as Belle was holding onto a torch and reached out their hands through the small bars.
"How did you find me? And who is this?" Maurice asked as she looked at Madison.
"She's a friend who wanted to help me." Belle answered but felt how cold his hands his, "Oh, your hands are like ice."
Maurice coughed and looked at the girls with a scared and worried look on his face.
"Belle, I want you and your new friend to leave this place." said Maurice.
"Why?" Madison asked with a concern look.
"Who's done this to you?" Belle asked.
"No time to explain. You two must go...now!"
"I won't leave you here!"
Madison looked at different direction and with her eyes turned wide, she saw something big.
"Belle, look out!" Madison yelled.
"What are you doing here!" a voice roared, and a hand grabbed Belle away, made the torch dropped to a puddle and Madison screamed.
"Run Belle!" Maurice shouted.
"Who's there? Who are you?" Belle asked and Madison sit close to her. They looked around and saw a big shadow. Madison knew who that was, and it was The Beast. Her heart was starting to pound like crazy as she looked at him.
"The master of this castle." he spoke with a low voice as he looked at them.
"My friend and I have come for my father. Please let him out! Can't you see my father's sick?"
"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!" the Beast yelled.
"But my father could die! Please I'll do anything for him. So will my friend." said Belle and Madison looked at her.
"There's nothing you or your friend could do, he's my prisoner!" the Beast moved away as he was about to leave.
"Oh, there's must be some way we could… wait!" Belle stopped them.
The Beast turned around and Belle stepped into the light and looked at him.
"Take me instead!"
"You?!… You would… take his place?" The Beast said as he looked at her.
"If she's staying than I'm staying too." said Madison. Belle looked at her with but Madison nods her head to her like everything will be fine.
"Girls, no! You two don't know what you're doing!" said Maurice.
"If we do, would you let him go?" Belle asked and the Beast looked at her and Madison.
"Yes but... you and your friend must promise you'll stay here forever." he said.
Belle looked at the shadow, curious to know who she's dealing with.
"Come into the light." she said. Madison looked at Belle and looked back at the shadow of the beast.
The girls watched the shadow go slowly to the light, seeing large animal feet. Belle's eyes grew wide, and Madison's heart was still pounding until they saw the head of the Beast. Madison didn't say anything but looked at him with shock, but Belle gasped and looked away but looked at her father.
"No, Belle. I won't let you and your friend do this!" said Maurice.
Belle looked back at the Beast as she got up. She carefully helped Madison up and the two face the creature.
"You have our word." said Belle and Madison nod her head.
"Done!" the Beast ran past her opens the door.
Belle sank her knees and faces the ground, thinking over what she'd did while Madison carefully kneeled down to her with comfort for her. As the door was open, Maurice ran to his daughter and looked at her.
"No, Belle, listen to me, I'm old I've lived my life and-" Maurice tried to convince her until The Beast walked by and grabbed Maurice away.
"Wait!"
"Belle!"
"Wait!" Belle tried to stop them, but it was too late, they were gone.
Madison carefully got herself up and went inside the cell along with Belle. Moments later, they looked out of the cell window and spotted a walking cart and knew that it was taking Maurice away. Belle started to cry while Madison tried to comfort her. She wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words for her until she heard a growl.
The girls looked up and saw the Beast at the cell door.
"You didn't even let me say goodbye, I'll never see him again! I didn't even get to say goodbye." said Belle.
The Beast felt a bit guilty for what he did and looked at them.
"I'll… I'll show you two to your room." he spoke.
"Our room?" the girls asked in concern.
"But I thought…" just before Belle could speak, the Beast interrupted.
"You two wanna stay in the tower?"
"No." the girls spoke in together again.
"Then follow me." said the Beast and walk away.
Belle quickly got up and helped Madison up and the two quickly starts following the Beast.
Moments later, Belle and Madison were following behind the Beast, showing them to their room. Both of the girls looked around, seeing some statues of dragons by the walls. This starting to give Madison the creeps just by looking at them. She loves dragons but not scary looking dragon-like statues on the walls. The girls looked at each other and quickly went off to catch up with the Beast.
The Beast looked back at the girls, seeing Belle with tears and Madison limping and trying to comfort her.
"Say something to them?" a familiar voice spoke which Madison heard. The Beast turned his head over to look at them.
"I...um...hope you two like it here." he said, "The castle is your home now, so you two can go anywhere you wish, except the West Wing."
"What's in the West-?"
""It's forbidden!" he growled at Belle, making everyone stopped for a moment until he continued on.
Soon they stopped to an empty room, the Beast opened the door and let Belle and Madison inside. Madison looked around seeing how beautiful the room is with a comfy bed, curtains, wardrobe closet, a vanity, curtains, and a fireplace.
"Now, if there's anything you need, my servants will attend you two." said the Beast.
"Dinner, invite them to dinner." a voice whispered which Madison heard, knowing what will happen next.
"You two will join me for dinner, that's not a request!" he growled.
The Beast slammed the doors behind them and cause Madison to flinch. Belle looked terrified and ran over to a bed, crying. Madison quickly limped towards her friend and comfort her.
To Be Continued...