~Chapter 22~

Joel

Eugene and I waited out the night just for the storm to pass and the pack of wolves to move on, but even as dawn came, I still heard their howls echoing. Clearly they dominated a large portion of these woods. Eugene seemed to have slept hard and heavily, but I managed to get maybe only an hour or two tops. I was anxious to get back to Noella. Last night, I did conjure her from the magic mirror Corissa gave me just to be sure she was okay and safe. The image in the mirror wasn't clear, but I could tell she was in a bedroom of some kind beside Belle. Her face was full of concern. I wondered if Belle had given her information about the next magic mirror location. No matter, I would find out soon enough.

We descended the hidden staircase in the floor making our way back to town. It was much easier in the daylight and helpful having Eugene knowing the way back to town of course. We strode into town stopping at the fountain in the town square. By now it was late morning just before noon and people were busy bustling this way and that.

"So do you know where a woman named Belle and her father live?" I asked Eugene.

"Yeah, just outside of town, but first I need to ask around about Rapunzel. I have to find her...she thinks I died." Eugene pressed glancing around nervously.

"Well, I'll help you. It shouldn't take long. How long were you in that tower...like that?"

"I'm not precisely sure, I was in and out of it, but I don't think very long." Eugene shrugged.

I didn't like his non committal answer, something in my gut told me that finding this Rapunzel girl might be harder than anticipated. Eugene quickly began just asking the local townsfolk about a woman named Rapunzel and just describing her appearance: a tall, brunette woman with short hair wearing a purple dress. It was quite the description for people since purple could easily be seen in a town that wears only earthy colors apparently. Even with that specific color detail, several people he asked couldn't place someone matching that description.

"Where do you think she would go?" I asked.

"She was stolen away from her home as a baby, so I imagine she'd go back there."

"Why you asking all these people questions then if you already had the answers?" I asked incredulously.

"I'm just not entirely sure...a lot of her life was lie and those truths were just recently revealed to her...I just wouldn't put it past her to be alone."

"And lead lost…" I said slumping my shoulders.

"We'll find her." Eugene said patting my shoulder confidently.

Soon some screams were heard nearby and a crowd of the townsfolk gathered around the town boundary just outside the woods. Curiously, Eugene and I followed the crowd to see what all the ruckus was about. Eugene went ahead of me pushing his way through the crowd and I was a few steps behind him, but he stopped at the front of the crowd looking down frozen and unmoving. As I got to the front, I saw what captured his attention. There was a dead body on the ground. Purple dress. Short dark hair. The face specifically was unidentifiable. Claw marks encompassed the face scratching out any viable details. Eugene looked on in horror and I grabbed his shoulder.

"You don't know that it's her…" I reassured him.

"Don't I? Nobody else in town wears purple dresses, Joel." Eugene snapped, his tone full of anguish.

"Okay, I get it." I said taking a step away.

"Sorry." He apologized abruptly.

After a few moments, he let me pull him away from the sight and while the identity of that woman couldn't be confirmed, Eugene was certain it was Rapunzel and clearly he was shaken by that.

"You guys were close, huh?"

"Close? She's my wife…" His voice trailed off as he paused clamping his hand over his mouth sliding it down his face quickly. Clearly overcome with emotion.

"Future wife that is…" He added.

I looked at Eugene, back at the body, and back at him.

"I refuse to believe that she is Rapunzel...especially for your sake. I mean, really you don't know."

"I wish I had your certainty." Eugene mumbled.

"Well, I'll carry enough for the both of us." I reassured him.

"Come on, I'll take you to Belle and Maurice's cottage." Eugene muttered without another word.

Eugene led the way leading out of town, though not too far out because soon we turned onto a long dirt pathway leading to a quaint home on some land big enough to include a small stable and animals. We approached the door and there was note jammed inside the door frame with my name written in bold letters. I carefully pulled it out not wanting to rip it. My eyes scanned the page and my heart sank as I finished.

"What's wrong?" Eugene asked.

"They're not here." I replied.

"Well, where are they?"

"They went to look for Maurice and should be back in a couple hours." I said.

"At least she gave you a time frame. We could go kill some time at the Snuggly Duckling. I have friends there." Eugene suggested.

"You don't mind waiting up with me?" I questioned.

"What else do I have to do?" Eugene shrugged glumly. "I'd rather be with someone I know than alone right now."

"Even though we only met last night…" I teased him with a smirk.

"Details…" Eugene said slugging me in the arm playfully.

With our plans made, we went back into town square and to the Snuggly Duckling. It wasn't evening yet, but there was enough people in here to make me think it was much later in the day for the amount of pints going around. Eugene and I pushed our way through the crowds and up to the main counter. We sat and Eugene waved down the bartender who I remembered from the last time I was here. He wasn't my biggest fan. Mr. Hook Hand approached us looking just as mean as the last I saw him.

"A pint for me and my friend here." Eugene ordered.

Immediately the hook handed bartender lightened up and nodded, but quickly snatched Eugene up by the neck with his good arm giving him a noogie in the head. Once he released him, I was so confused by how the bartenders demeanor changed so suddenly. Some persona he had.

"It's good to see ya, Flynn." The bartender nodded.

"Yeah, thanks." Eugene replied.

"Flynn?" I whispered curiously.

"I'll tell ya about that later…" He shrugged.

"Where's your pretty lady? Did you ever figure out your better dream?" The bartender asked as he set two pints of ale in front of us.

"Yeah I did." Eugene replied, "You haven't seen her possibly have you?"

"Sure, she was in here about a week ago. On that white horse galloping somewhere fast. She almost didn't stop to say hello." He replied.

Eugene's face immediately lit up upon hearing this news and I was so happy for him.

"Which way did she go?" Eugene asked standing up anxiously.

"She was heading west." He answered.

"Thanks, we must go." Eugene said as we both stood to leave.

"You should stay, I'm doing a show tonight on the keys." Hook Hand replied.

"Another time, I promise." Eugene said looking back.

As we made our way through the crowd to the door again, I saw him and my blood immediately started to boil. Gaston. He was in a corner of the pub sitting in a tall chair with antlers on it. I was following Eugene until I saw Gaston and stopped and immediately went to confront him. My approach wasn't subtle and as he turned to face me he looked shocked to see me naturally.

"Joel." Gaston greeted cheerfully putting on an act for everyone curiously watching.

In one fluid motion, I slugged him in the jaw. The whole room fell silent.

"What's wrong Gaston?" I growled, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Gaston shook his head looking angry, but still keeping up his friendly facade.

"It's good to see you Joel...I haven't seen you since we went hunting." Gaston replied.

"Yeah, when you tried to kill me leaving me for dead in the woods?"

The room grew loud with whispers and Gaston didn't like that. Eugene was watching amongst the crowd obviously now hearing details I originally left out with him too.

"Nonsense. You were passed out drunk." Gaston sneered. "But I do feel responsible for pushing those last two drinks on you. I deserved that hit."

"You deserve a lot more than that." I snapped.

"Then do it. What are you waiting for?" Gaston stood up challenging me, but I wasn't buying into his stupid competitive arrogant games.

"No, I'm done. I'm not a man like you." I replied.

I began to walk away rejoining Eugene heading for the door now.

"You're a huntsman, Joel...you're more dangerous than I'll ever be." Gaston called out.

I almost stopped walking to face him again, but just clenched my fists and kept walking. There was no way I would give him the satisfaction of turning back again as if his words had hit a nerve. However, they did. Eugene and I left heading in the direction Rapunzel was last seen. As we walked out of town with the little lead we had to go on, we heard someone calling out for help nearby. We followed the voice and found an elderly man in a deep pit out amongst the trees.

"Hunting trap." I told Eugene.

We helped the man out of there naturally, but he had injured his leg when he fell in that he was unable to walk on it. We helped him to his home, which happened to be the cottage from earlier. When we questioned him about his daughter he spoke about how she was imprisoned by a ferocious monster in a castle a few hours ride from town. This man was Belle's father and I quickly asked about Noella, which he informed me that she was there too. I didn't understand when I saw her in the mirror yesterday, she was with Belle but she didn't look imprisoned or terrified by some monster. In fact, she did seem quite calm. Something wasn't adding up. Regardless, now it was decision time. However, Eugene made it for me.

"Let's find Noella."