Author's Notes:

I don't own Beauty and the Beast or its characters. It's the property of Walt Disney and all other versions of the story belong to their respective owners.

Rated M for the usual: language, adult themes, and other good stuff.

Hey there everyone!

I'm so happy everyone is enjoying the story! I honestly didn't know so many of you guys were interested. I loved all of your reviews, they make my days cheerier :)

I'd like to give a special shout-out to ASweetDisposition who got me thinking about Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester! I was stuck in a little rut for this chapter, but I decided to watch the movie. (no, I don't have the book lying around my house although I might go buy it now!) So thank you for the idea, it was very much appreciated!

Alright, I'll quit my chattering, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 3

Adam stood behind her with his hands comfortably tucked into his pockets as he tilted his head to one side. The edge of his lips quirked up in amusement as he watched his agitated guest glare at him.

"I didn't give you permission to leave, did I?"

"And what if you didn't?" Belle bristled with anger, "I'm leaving."

Adam's lips were pursed as he looked down at the rebellious woman. "To go where? Back to a brothel where the repulsive owner abuses you? Back to a pitiful excuse of a life? How amusing." Adam said as he backed her into the wall.

Belle wrapped her arms around her waist as she defiantly stared up at Adam. "As a matter of fact, yes. I'd rather whore myself than be kidnapped, gagged, and held captive in a place I don't know and not told anything about it."

Adam flinched at her response as if he had been slapped. The hard glint in his eyes slowly faded away as he looked down at her smaller figure. He kept her close to the wall, but his voice softened noticeably. "Why would you choose a life like that?"

Belle refused to let her demeanor waver the way Adam's had. She only rolled her shoulders back as she stood her ground against his steady gaze. Although she didn't know what to make of his odd behavior, she was certain of herself and refused to let him get the better of her. The one thing she had learned from her numerous encounters with Gaston was if she could hide away her heart, she'd be able to get through any hardship. She knew through Adam's actions that he had a kind heart buried deep within him and his only mistake was showing it.

"What's a trollop to do when there's something she wants to splurge on? I couldn't possibly be some nobleman's wife neither could I be his mistress. So I stuck with what the Lord graced me with: breasts to entrance a man and wisdom to know not to give him anything else."

Adam couldn't help but smile at Belle's bitter knowledge of the world they both inhabited. "You judge men too harshly."

"You know nothing about me. I have the right to think of men as I please especially since I was kidnapped by one." Belle muttered indignantly, pushing past Adam.

He reached out for her and took hold of her wrist. "I took you away from a disgusting man and a degrading life."

Belle scoffed as she ripped her hand out of his grasp. "I didn't ask for saving so your efforts may have been in vain. I was perfectly fine where I was and you have the gall to presume that you knew what I needed. Don't pretend that your 'valiant' deed was anything but to fulfill your own selfish lust."

Adam only gaped at the brunette as she toyed with the frills at the end of her sleeves. He hadn't understood what possessed him in that brothel. He hadn't had any intention of coming home with a woman or engaging with any of them. The emotions that swept through him when he spoke to the showgirl in front of him were confusing and overwhelming. The lump in his chest where his heart used to reside began to thump again. He was propelled forward by his panic and grabbed Belle yet again and pinned her to the wall.

Belle's eyes widened in shock as his arms wrapped around her. She couldn't find the will or strength to move and Adam's unpredictable nature was frightening her. His heavy lidded eyes closed tightly before he moved his mouth near Belle's ear.

His breath tickled the wisps of hair that had come undone from her topknot. He trembled slightly as he fought to get himself under control. He hated that his emotions ruled him this extremely, but if he had to do this to keep himself from reverting to his monstrous self, so be it. He'd rather act impulsively, swinging between emotions than to let his humanity slip away, but even now he couldn't hold onto it.

Belle held her breath slightly and glanced about the dim hallway. This man obviously had a few screws loose and she wasn't keen on staying to figure out exactly how many. Her hands clenched and loosened at her sides as the minutes ticked away… and Adam still held onto her.

Adam finally released a long sigh and took a step away from Belle. His body had stopped shaking and he seemed in control of all his facilities. Now, though, his eyes held a hard edge. He straightened his shoulders and distractedly brushed off his lapels. His eyes raked over Belle's slightly slumped form, but immediately looked away. He kept his voice low and even as he walked away from Belle, "forget our dinner. I'll have Mrs. Potts fetch some bread and cheese for you. You're used that, correct?"

Belle stood there too dumbfounded to become angry at his insensitive comment. Instead, she only wrapped her arms around herself as she watched him march down the hall.

…

Mrs. Potts shuffled about the kitchen in a whirlwind. She stirred the soup that was simmering on the old stove, pulled biscuits and small cakes out of the oven, and set the tea to boil. She barely had time to wipe her forehead before Mr. Cogsworth burst into the kitchen.

He held his handkerchief tightly between his hands, "The master will not be eating dinner with our new guest, it seems."

Mrs. Potts halted her movements before placing a hand to her side. "Has the young master said this? He wouldn't knowingly cancel a dinner that way! It's rude and unheard of."

Cogsworth shook his head, "He does not care. He wants his dinner brought to him in the study."

"What about the young miss?" Mrs. Potts inquired while wiping her hands on a rag.

"The young miss? The master said that a hunk of bread and cheese will suffice." Cogsworth stated, pocketing his handkerchief.

"A hunk of bread and cheese?!" The older woman nearly wailed. "This is so very unlike the young master! It cannot be. You know what it is, don't you? The young miss is treading too harshly on the master's kindness."

Cogsworth only shrugged his shoulders as Mrs. Potts continued to speak and prepare the trays. "You know what she said to me? That the master had kidnapped her! What a shocking thing to say! No, she must have been tired from her travels with the young master. Spending too much time in a carriage can do that to you, you know. Don't you think- Charles Cogsworth!"

Cogsworth dropped the biscuits he had been inhaling and wiped his mouth repeatedly. "Yes, yes. I agree." He muttered through his last bites.

"Dear heavens. What am I to do with you all? Now, don't stand there assaulting the biscuits. Take this tray to the young master. I'll attend the miss."

He obediently took the tray from Mrs. Potts, but before he left the kitchen, cast a longing look back at the baked goods that were organized along the table.

"Good grief." Mrs. Potts sighed as she took up her own tray and made her way to Belle's chambers.

…

Belle dangled precariously from the window of the room that was provided to her. She looked down over her shoulder to see the long drop below. Vines and coarse branches clung to the side of the building and interlocked with each other tightly. She carefully wedged her bare feet into the spaces between the branches and descended at a painstakingly slow pace.

The brisk wind blew her dark locks into her eyes, obscuring her view of her next foothold. She lost balance momentarily and clung to the vines above her. Her body knocked against the wall several times before she was able to steady herself. She quickly scurried down the side of worn stone building, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Once she landed amongst the shrubs, Belle tilted her head up to look at the darkening sky. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she breathed a sigh of freedom. She grabbed fistfuls of the skirt of her dress and dashed toward the tree line of the forest that surrounded Adam's home.

Belle's feet trampled over dead leaves, crooked twigs, and blunt rocks that dug into her heels. The pain that exploded in her feet didn't stop her from pressing on. She was determined to put miles between her and that odd man and his home. Her breathing accelerated and became tangled in her lungs as her legs groaned in protest. After what seemed like a lifetime, she began to slow in order to ease the burn in her lungs. Her chest heaved and she bent over to catch her breath.

She slid along a tree to the ground as her face broke into a contented smile. If she continued to cover this much ground before day broke, she'd never have to go back. She doubted that Adam would travel so far to find her just to drag her back.

Belle's head softly fell back against the trunk of the tree as she relaxed further. She was willing to spend a few more minutes delighting in her success, but she soon heard a few voices and was startled into a crouching position. Panic exploded in her chest as she quickly stood upright.

"Has that man found me so quickly?" She hissed into the still air as she pressed herself against the tree behind her and waited. She only hoped that he'd have the decency of letting her walk to the castle instead of being dragged back by her hair.

A/N:

Don't you just love Mrs. Potts' nutty behavior? And another cliff hanger! I'm making a habit of this, aren't I?

Please Read & Review :)

-Nightmarish Escape