"Belle?" asked Kevin and he came up behind me.
"H-he's gone," I said. I walked up to where the snowmobile was. The tracks were still there and I saw footsteps. He walked to a snowbank. I looked at the snowbank and written with his finger he wrote: Free. "I-I'm free."
Kevin walked over and saw the snow.
"Yeah, well you have to come with me now," said Kevin and he took my arm again and pulled me towards his squad car which was parked around back.
I felt numb. Chris didn't even say goodbye. How could he just leave me like that? He gave me the most beautiful night anyone could have ever given me…then he just leaves? He couldn't get off that easy.
I looked at Kevin. He was getting the keys out and his grip on my arm was loose enough for me to make a bolt for it.
I acted quickly. I wrenched my arm out from his grip and took off towards the forest.
"Belle!" he yelled. I could hear him chasing after me.
I swatted away tree branches and trucked through the snow.
"Stop! Where are you going?" yelled Kevin.
I was more experienced with running through the snow than Kevin so I was far ahead of him and out of reach. I ran behind a large tree and waited for him to pass me.
He passed the tree and stopped then looked around. He picked a direction and ran for it. I turned back the way I came and ran back to the house.
If I got my father, we could go to Chris's house and we could all live together. It would be good for all of us. Maybe we could live back in the mansion in the mountains where my library was.
I made it to my driveway and I ran down towards town. With every passing car I hid in the forest until it passed.
I made it to town and the hospital wasn't far. I ran to the hospital and stopped in front of a department store. I walked in with my head down. I grabbed a black hoodie and looked up at the security camera. I moved behind a manikin and put the hoodie on. I ripped off the tags and put the hood up. Then I walked out of the store.
I walked to the hospital with my head down and I walked through the main entrance's double doors.
I walked up to the front desk and the nurse looked at me and had a confused expression.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm looking for Charles Oliver," I said.
"Are you family?"
"Yes, I'm his niece," I responded.
She stared at me for a long time then turned to her computer and found his location. "Third floor room 347," she said.
"Thanks," I said and walked fast to the elevator.
I rode up to the third floor and tried to find room 347. I found it at the end of the hallway. I walked in and my dad was lying in bed reading a book.
I put my hood down and tears sprung to my eyes.
He looked up and stared at me for a long time.
"Izabelle?" he asked.
"Daddy," I said and I walked towards him. I took his hand and held it against my cheek and I cried.
"Izabelle, I thought I would never see you again," he said and lifted my chin up so that I looked at him.
I hugged him and sobbed into his shoulder.
"How did you escape?" he asked me.
"I didn't. He let me go," I said.
"That monstrous creature let you go?" he asked.
"He's not monstrous. He's really kind and gentle. He and I are friends," I said.
My father didn't seem too convinced.
"Daddy, we have to go. I'll get you out of here and we can live together," I said and squeezed his hand.
"No Izabelle," he said and took my hand.
"But dad, you don't belong here. You aren't crazy," I said.
"I am Izabelle," said my father.
I looked at him through my confused eyes.
"After I was thrown out into the snow that day, I couldn't find my way back and I went crazy. I've been in this hospital for eleven months."
"You can't be crazy if you know you're crazy," I said.
"I'm sorry Belle," said my father.
I backed up. "This can't be happening," I said.
"Izabelle, call the nurse," said my father.
"What? Why? What's wrong dad?" I asked and his muscles tensed and he started to jerk around.
"You give her back to me! Give her back!" he yelled.
I pressed myself against the wall and tried to fight back the horror that was building up in my stomach.
"You can't have my Izabelle! Give her back! Give her back!" he yelled. Then he started to foam at the mouth and twitch.
"Nurse!" I yelled.
Three nurses rushed in and I escaped while I could. I held my hand to my mouth and tears spilled down my cheeks.
Then I almost ran into Kevin. He also had backup. I couldn't escape this time. I couldn't hear what he or the other cops were saying. My mind was replaying my father's suddenly shift from being my father into being a madman.
I woke up in the police station. An officer handed me a cup of coffee and sat next to me on the bench I slept on.
"Are you ready to tell us where you've been?" asked the cop.
If I told them anything, Chris would be in grave danger. I wasn't going to talk.
The cops asked me questions but I didn't even utter a word.
Then they threatened to arrest me for obstruction of justice. I gave them short answers that wouldn't help them at all.
They kept me until New Year's Eve. It was a couple of hours before twelve. Then they let me leave.
I walked out of the police station and looked behind me. Not one cop was paying attention to me. I headed for Chris's house.
I finally made it and smiled in relief. I ran up to the door and knocked. There was no answer. I pushed the door open and looked around. No one seemed to be there.
I felt my heart breaking. If no one was here then I had no one.
"Chris?" I called.
There was no reply.
"Belle?" I heard someone call. I looked down and Chandler was lying by the couch.
"Chandler!" I yelled and crouched down by him. His leg was bleeding.
"I-I've been shot. It's Kevin! He's gone crazy. He's gonna kill Adam," said Chandler.
"Adam? Who's Adam?" I asked.
"Chris," said Chandler.
I got up and ran up the stairs as fast as I could. I burst through Chris's bedroom door. Kevin had Chris lying on the ground. He had a gun pointed to his head.
"Kevin no!" I yelled.
Kevin spun around. "So this is who you've been with? I never thought I would see my old buddy this way. And he still gets the girl doesn't he?"
Kevin had a mad look in his eye. I looked down at Chris. He looked so helpless and depressed. It was almost as if he wanted Kevin to shoot him. He could take Kevin and his gun if he wanted to. Why wasn't he?
"Oh Adam, this is what happened to you? You turned into some…mutated thing? Damn, that blows bro. But don't worry. I'll put you out of your misery," said Kevin and he was about to pull the trigger.
"No! Stop!" I lunged forward and grabbed Kevin.
The gun shot up and Kevin threw me to the ground. He pointed the gun at me and Chris jumped up and grabbed Kevin. He yanked the gun out of his grip and threw it towards the wall.
He threw Kevin into the wall and he broke through the wall in a flurry of dust.
I stood up and ran into Chris's arms.
"You came back," said Chris.
"You can't get rid of me that easy," I said and tears fell from my eyes onto his shirt.
Suddenly I heard the gun go off and Chris grew limp in my arms.
"No!" I screamed.
I turned to Kevin who had the gun in his mouth.
"Kevin don't!" I yelled but he pulled the trigger and I screamed and squeezed my eyes shut.
"Belle," said Chris weakly.
"Oh God, Chris," I said and I looked at the bullet wound. There was no way he could live with a bullet directly in his lung.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Don't talk. Everything's going to be fine," I said and smoothed his hair away from his face.
"Belle, I…" Chris started then his eyes rolled back and he let out a long slow breath.
I stared at him with wide eyes and I shook my head.
"No. No, please. Please don't leave me. I..." I lay down on his chest. "I love you."
Then fireworks lit the air. It was New Years. I sobbed into Chris's chest and tried to drown out the loud boom of the fireworks and the cheers from everyone in town.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my head. I jerked up and backed up against the wall. The boy I was laying on wasn't Chris. He had a full head of blonde hair and blue eyes. He didn't have any scars or rashes and his face was completely burn free. He looked like a normal teenager. He looked strangely familiar. But I couldn't place his face.
He looked down at his hand and feet and touched his face and hair.
"Belle, it's me," he said and looked at me.
"Wh-who are you?" I asked.
"You knew me by Chris. But, my real name is Adam," he said.
Adam. Adam. The boy in the glass case at the school. It was him. But…how did this happen.
He stood and walked over to me. "Look at me," he said.
I looked into Adam's eyes. They were Chris's eyes.
"You," I said.
"You," he said back to me and smiled.
I slowly reached out a hand and I touched his face. He was warm like Chris. It really was him.
I walked into his arms and he put his head on my head. "I love you too," he said.
He tilted my chin up and I closed my eyes. His lips pressed against mine and it was completely blissful.
When we parted I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. He kissed them and held me close.
"It's ok, it's over," he said and stroked my hair.
I wanted to stay in his arms forever.
Then the police barged into the room.
"Adam Princely?" asked one of the cops. He walked over to us while the other cops went to Kevin's lifeless body.
Adam and I looked at each other and we both knew that we would never be able to tell anyone about what had really happened here tonight.
We walked downstairs never letting go of each other's hand. Chandler was put on a gurney and Mrs. Kettle and Clogs came out of the basement where they were hiding.
Clogs and Mrs. Kettle looked at me then Adam. They had wide eyes and Mrs. Kettle started to sob with tears of joy.
Adam and I were put in a police car and we were driven to the station.
Adam and I decided to make the beast real. But he escaped before we could reveal him. He kidnapped Adam and then when he kidnapped me, we were able to get my father free.
We were both questioned and we both made up answers that would make sense. My father was questioned as well when he was sane. But they never got far with him due to his episodes. They weren't sure what he was saying was true.
Adam and I never left each other's side.
After month of questioning. The police put the case to rest. It was over. Adam and I were free to go wherever we wanted.
We went to town where we parted with Clogs, Chandler, and Mrs. Kettle.
Mrs. Kettle was leaving to live back in France with her son. Clogs and Chandler were going to attend a University.
My father was never going to get better. I had come to terms with that. Everyone, including him, thought it would be best if I considered him dead and to leave and never come back.
But he was my dad. He would never be considered dead to me. I would come back and see him on the holidays.
Adam and I decided to move to Los Angeles. There it never snowed and it was always sunny and bright.
We became married when we turned twenty-one. We left Colorado in the past. It was over. And we lived happily ever after.
Author's Note: I wrote this a long time ago. Let me tell you...not my best work. I just decided to put it up and see how you all liked it. I have written other fanfics that are much better than this though including a different Beauty and the Beast fanfic. I am also currently working on a How To Train Your Dragon fic that will come out shortly. Give me your feedback on this story, I would still appreciate it! Have a great day!
