Disclaimer:: All characters and situation are mine. The only thing I have stolen from anybody is perhaps, the Beauty and the Beast theme. So credit to that person whoever they may be. That is all. Now please read my wonderful story and tell me what you think.
The sirens had been sounded, and the guards rushed to mount themselves onto their horses and began giving chase after the escaped prisoners. Michelle, and her best friend Chris, were literally running for their lives having been brave, or foolish, enough to bust themselves out of their cells. They ran through woods, back alleys, anything to keep them out of sight. Chris paused in an alley between two of the shops to catch his breath. "Where are we going, Michelle? We have to have some kind of a plan. We surely can't stay here. The townspeople are so scared of the Prince they will turn us in!" She slowed her pace as well, needing the breather as much as he did. "I realize that, and really we haven't even done anything wrong! He'll hunt us down till we die for nothing." She paused in thought. "What about that man who lives on the edge of town? The one who's supposedly a bit ugly?"
"Not for nothing. You just had to insult him and to his face too. Of course you're going to get thrown in jail! Then I get tossed in jail for backing you up. Then, as if that's not enough, you get the brilliant idea to bust out. I assumed you had a plan in mind!" He ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "The man with the limp and the cloak? No one has ever seen him, but supposedly he is some kind of monster. I don't know that that's such a good idea. Not even the Prince will mess with that guy."
"Well unless you can come up with something better, that's where we're going. The Prince won't mess with him and so with any luck he won't look for us there and we'll be safe." They heard the sound of the voices and clatter of hooves getting very close to them. She turned and began to run again, not checking to see if Chris was following her.
After a minute she heard his footsteps running after her and he quickly caught up. The two navigated several streets and finally came to the little cottage on the edge of town. There was no time for pleasantries, and so they ran around the house and spotted a partially open window and climbed in. Chris gazed around looking for somewhere to hide. The man would probably be back any minute. He saw a small coat closet near the door and quickly ducked inside. Michelle ran in after him and frantically sought a place to hide as well. There was a large table in the center of the room with a cloth draped over it that reached well to the floor. She hid underneath this.
They both waited in their respective places for what seemed a good thirty minutes, before they heard a key in the lock and then their hearts felt lodged in their throats. They were depending on this stranger who was supposed to be monstrous, not to turn them in and save their lives instead. The big question was…..What would he do? Should they be trusting him?
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Damien walked alone through the village where he now lived, headed towards his home. He always walked alone these days, as no one else would ever dare to do, especially at night. The little shops and markets lining the main square had closed for the night and there was no one about to witness him. No one would have been about even if that was not the case. They were all much too frightened and intimidated by their prince. He had recently enacted all sorts of laws and decrees for the most ridiculous things. He saw all his subjects as objects who could be controlled and control them he did. They should not have time to be walking at their leisure. They should have too much work to do. Anyone caught breaking any decree or, heaven forbid, speak out against him would be thrown in the dungeon at once. No questions asked. In short, he was an absolute tyrant.
He walked up onto the porch of his rather modest cottage and inserted a key in the lock, opening the door. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and removed his cloak. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and wished to God he hadn't. His dark brown hair was in patches on his scalp. There were scars running rampant through the patches where there was no hair, they were running down his cheeks and on his forehead. His mouth was malformed and half of it appeared to be paralyzed, looking permanently lopsided. One of his ears was shredded almost, and he was nearly blind in one eye. He walked with a limp and there scars all over the rest of his entire body. He was hideous. He quickly turned away from the detested mirror and heard a shriek from across the room.