AN: This is the updated, newer version of the story I started back in 2012. Re-reading it I realized it was all over the place. Grammar, POVS, and just oof it was awful. I have combined some chapters together, made them a little longer and flow a bit better. I won't have all of it done right away, but I will try my best to get it all up to date, and hopefully a new chapter! So, enjoy the new version, I hope you like it.
DISCLAIMER for the entire story: I do not own the rights to Beauty and the Beast.
WARNING: Some chapters do contain content that may make people uncomfortable. Swearing, sex, rape, suicide are discussed in this story and some other content. If you are not comfortable reading these things, I strongly recommended reading a different story.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
"OPEN THE DOOR BELLE! NOW!"
Run…
It was the only thought to go through her mind, and she listened to the primal need to escape. Grabbing her cloak, she ran for the back door, not bothering to grab anything else, it didn't matter in this moment, or any after. As she burst through the door she could hear the front door coming off the large bolts and hinges, he was here, inside.
Run, faster…
She was off. The dark forest everyone was afraid of, that children were told not to enter alone, day or night. The only light illuminating anything around her was coming from behind, the large footsteps sounding like thunder in her ears. The only thing she wished she had thought about was grabbing Phillipe, her fathers lovely horse. She could feel the bushes, tree's and the thistles stinging her skin as she ran, addressing any of them would cause her to stop, she couldn't afford that luxury now. With the sun that had set almost an hour ago, the forest became more unwelcoming, like a warning that it was scarier than the thing chasing her.
"BELLE!"
The voice pierced the eerily quiet forest making her jump and shiver. She pushed the fear down, knowing the consequences if she did stop running, she reminded herself she couldn't stop now. It seemed like she had been running for hours, her feet cold and now the full moon hung high in the forest, giving off a cold feeling. Her dress and cloak were ripped, no amount of sewing could repair them, but she had to keep going. In the back of her mind she was both impressed that she kept going and that he was still chasing her. At that thought she was startled when her body came into contact with a large metal gate, they were rusted and easily higher than her small abode. She pushed herself off the ground and through the gates.
"BELLE!"
She was running across the bridge when her tired, cold feet tripped on an open stone. She could feel the blood run cold as it tried to run down her hands and knees. Pushing up she bolted towards the large wooden doors, she glanced over her shoulder. He had tossed the lantern to the side as he himself made his way across the bridge, she had cornered herself she realized. She didn't care what the building looked like and if it was rude that she was trespassing, it just looked large enough he would lose her when she hid. The door only opened enough for her to squeeze through, her cloak ripping off her shoulders as she pushed through. To her right there was a large curtain and without thinking she bolted behind them. It was a stupid spot, she probably could've looked longer, but she wouldn't take that chance. She jumped and covered her mouth as the doors sounded with him coming through. His voice was laced with malice, and she could hear the anger despite how low and calm he was speaking.
"Belle… Sweet Belle. Why don't you come out? My proposal was beautiful no? You didn't have to run away from embarrassment, I won't take the no seriously, because no one says no to Gaston." He spat out the last part, not hiding his anger very well. When she heard nothing, not even his breathing she silently poked her head out, instantly hating herself for doing so, because he was standing right there, a shit eating grin on his face. He grabbed her wrist before she could bolt, his hot breath on her face, she still sank into herself, trying anything to distance from him. "I told you, I would find you. We have preparations to deal with."
He started dragging her through the large slightly open doors that they had come through. She tried kicking him, yanking her arm out, hitting him, but nothing was working, it was instead making him more angry. Something told her that if she left this building, she was never going to see the light of day again, especially going with him.
"I would rather DIE than leave with you." She tried again to kick him, but missed. He spun her, her back hitting his chest, his mouth close to her ear as he spoke, she could feel the anger radiating off of him.
"I will have you again. The girls will teach you what to do, your father can do nothing, the town, will do nothing. Being my wife comes with some perks. You will be well taken care of." He spun her to face him, his large hand grabbing her chin, turning her head each way. "Yes, you will make the most." He started to drag her again, she could feel eyes on her, but she didn't know from where.
"Leave her, and I may consider leaving you alive." They froze, the voice came from behind them but seemed to carry through the entirety of the building. And though she couldn't see it, she could feel its gaze on her.
"She is mine. Whomever you are, this is of no concern to you." Gaston's voice was stern, but she could feel the slight tremor in his grip. She followed his gaze, but to her surprise she saw nothing but large stairs with the moon trying to get through the curtains and door. A large sound boomed off the walls, she could tell it was a sort of laugh, but something in it made her tense.
"You are trespassing in my home. Loud, yelling, with a woman scared, trying to fight you off, and you tell me to not interfere? Such is the stupidity of man."
Without hesitation, she tried to step back, towards the lord of the building, though he was trembling, his grip didn't falter.
"Let me go." She tried to free her hand again, but he held firm. She was shaking, terribly, but it didn't stop her from trying to get out of his grasp, her breath shook as tears started to form. She was stuck between two evils and her father had no idea where she was.
"No." He finally looked at her again, for the first time, she saw something else besides lust and anger, fear.
She looked away from his gaze, her mind racing to figure something out. Looking down she realized he still had his hunting knives on his belt. She took a step towards him, earning a weary smile from him, and what seemed like a growl from behind her. Grabbing one of the knives, she moved it upwards, cutting the arm that was still holding onto her. She felt his arm release her, and she started backing away, not letting her eyes leave him. He screamed in both frustration and pain.
"BELLE!" He shook his arm, and using his other hand grabbed a different knife. "We are LEAVING."
"No." The voice was back, this time very close behind her, it didn't stop her feet from retreating from Gaston. For once his eyes weren't on her, there were on the thing behind her. She found an odd comfort to that. She could feel the heat now, coming from behind her and only then did she stop moving, dropping the knife in front of her at her feet.
"Belle, here, now." He still didn't look at her, and she could hear his confidence wavering. She could only manage to shake her head. "Belle…"
"Leave." She jumped, the voice seemed to be right in her ear. Taking a step forward, she felt something on her shoulder, holding her in place. "Him." At that it was gentler, though still, it made her jump. Looking back up she could see Gaston was maybe a foot and a half away from them, knife at his side with a hand outstretched.
"Belle, we must do as it asks, leave." He took a small step forward earning a low growl from behind her.
"No.." It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make him look at her in frustration. She saw him shake and though he was afraid, she knew anger was starting to fill him again. She reached out behind her, feeling a piece of cloth, something similar to her cloak and clung to it.
"NOW."
"NO!" She screamed back at him, her entire being shaking from head to toe, she knew from both the cold, fear and adrenaline. As he took another step towards her, but she pushed herself backwards, her back now at the chest of the thing behind her. From the corner of her eye she saw what her brain could only manage as a paw on her shoulder.
"The lady has spoken, leave." As though Gaston wasn't receiving the message he went to reach for her and she stilled, everything in her body stopped working as she stared in horror that he was so persistent to have her. Before he could reach her, the other paw grabbed his arm. "Now." Now Gaston was scared, and very slowly he nodded his head taking a step back and placing the knife back in his belt.
"I will be back, mark my words, I will be back." He kept stepping backwards, his back hitting the door before he bolted.
As soon as he was out of site she collapsed on the floor, her arms coming around her as her head resting on the floor.
"He'll come back, he always…. He will…" She started to cry, shaking uncontrollably as everything left her. She could hear the footsteps move from behind her to front. Still shaking she brought herself to look up, because the moon was behind it, she could only see his eyes, slightly glowing from the candle behind her, when did that get there? It bent down to her level, moving slowly to not alarm her.
"Breathe. For now, he is gone." He gave her a light nod, slowly bringing his paw up to her as though he was offering her to help stand. Shakily she reached out.
"Th-thank you." She felt her body collapse, her eyes rolling back, though she didn't hit the ground, she could hear the faintest voice, but the darkness consumed any thought she may have and she plummeted into it.
