This is the first chapter of a story that I thought of ages, and ages ago, found it and decided to post it and see what you think.

With very loose inspiration from Beauty and the Beast, and some ideas taken from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Dimitri POV

A burning hot pain went through me.

My mouth was open, gasping for breath I didn't need; my chest felt strangled. It was too full. The pressure was too much. A heavy weight that wanted to drag me down and consume me until there was nothing left.

I curled my fingers, digging into the damp ground under me. Distantly, I felt the moisture on the grass seeping into the knees of my pants. I wanted to crumble to the ground, curl up in a ball and beg for the pain to stop.

"Does it hurt?" A female voice asked me.

I couldn't find the strength to lift my head, seeing her feet coming into view before me. Fingers threaded through my hair before gripping the strands, yanking on them to force my head back.

There was a haze to everything; even my memories were muddled, unable to connect one to another to remember what happened. How did I end up here? Why did my chest hurt so much?

Squinting my eyes, I could just barely make out the form of a woman before me, the bright lights behind her making it difficult to see details. Yet, the anger in her eyes stood out. The emotion in them burned into me—I knew those eyes.

"Does it hurt?" Her voice grew cold as she repeated the question. There was no concern in her tone.

I nodded my head, the motion limited by her hold. My voice was weak, barely above a whisper, "Yes."

"Good." Her voice became sinister, "You deserve it for everything you did. You will suffer for the rest of eternity."

XxX

Rose POV

I dumped my bag at my feet, sliding down the brick wall to slump beside it. I dug through the bag, pulling out the folded foil, treating it carefully as I revealed the contents inside. The halved sandwich looked like someone had sat on it, but to me, it may well be gold.

I took small bites to make it last as long as possible. Lying to myself that it might fool my stomach into thinking it was eating more. It had been so long since I'd had peanut butter, almost moaning from the taste.

When my co-worker said they didn't want it, offering me the leftovers, I had to force myself not to drool when I took it. I didn't have the money left over to get more than one meal a day, which most times ended up being just two-minute noodle packets.

I could only keep my tips to buy food and other things; the rest of my money went straight into the bank account of my guardian. Not that they did anything to deserve it. You would think the money they were already paid to be a foster parent would be enough to keep them happy.

Nope, they wanted more.

I had been living in this foster home for only a month and I was ready to run again. I would have by now if my caseworker didn't drop me in some small town in the middle of the woods.

With no access to money, I didn't have enough for a bus ticket out of this hell hole. I just had to last another three months, and then I turned eighteen. I would no longer be a ward of the state and would have access to the trust fund my parents left for me.

Finishing the sandwich, I took out the little treat I had bought for myself. Christmas was coming up, and the tips have been nice, so as a gift, I bought a packet of Oreos. This time I did moan as I chewed.

It didn't use to be like this. I didn't have to scavenge for food, practically begging for tips while putting up with idiot customers at a diner where my boss would always look at my breasts when talking to me.

Once, I used to be in the latest styles of clothes, living in a big house with a comfy bed; and with parents that loved me. Then they died, and I got bounced around the foster system until I ended up here. Stuck living in a little provincial town with a guardian that takes everything from me and leaves me to freeze and starve.

The wind picked up, and I pulled my layered jackets tighter around me in an attempt to keep some warmth in my body. Though I didn't want to return to that house, as terrible as it was, it was warmer than out here.

Huffing in frustration, I climbed to my feet, shouldering my bag and began the trek home. With each step, I reminded myself it was just another three months, and then I was free.

I could hear the television blaring from the footpath outside of the house.

The large four-bedroom house looked so deceiving from the outside. It was well kept, the white walls and picket fence; practically picturesque with the rose bushes out front. It was depressing how much Dave and Shelly cared for these roses.

If I could get away with it, I would pull them all out.

I walked around to the back, letting myself in through the kitchen in hopes of avoiding the others in the house. Shelly had a daughter from a previous relationship, Melody. Their idea of family time was sitting in front of the television, all staring down at their phones or laptops.

The smell of their dinner made my stomach grumble, eyeing the leftovers still on the stovetop. As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn't take any.

In the first days of them refusing to feed me much more than scraps, I had called my caseworker and told them, but they didn't believe me. I called every day for a week before I accepted that no one would help me out of here.

With a scowl aimed at the family, I opened the basement door and walked down the steps. The room was dark and smelled musty, but it was insulated and kept most of the sound from travelling down.

There once was an attempt at finishing this area, carpet was added, and the walls were painted. A half bathroom was even installed. But then Dave must have given up, leaving most of it unfinished and never maintained. It wasn't great, but for me, it was enough, and at least it gave me space away from them.

My only source of light was the dim bulb above the stairs and the one in the bathroom. I managed to thrift a heart-shaped lamp for three dollars; the shade was red and gave the space an eerie glow. Shelly had claimed it made the basement look like the pit of hell, refusing to step down here. That made me like the lamp more.

A mattress laid on the ground in the corner of the room, my few possessions next to it still in the garage bag I was given before coming here. Sliding off my shoes and jackets, I crawled onto the bed and under the blanket. I was exhausted after my twelve-hour shift and should get up and shower, but lying down for a few minutes sounded too good not to do.

I took a deep breath, not letting my mind wander too much.

Just three more months…

"Wow, Rose. You're in a great mood today."

I very slowly placed my pen down and turned my glare on Mason, staring him down until he took a step back. Today was already a shit day, I overslept, and the light in my bathroom went out while I was showering, leaving me in the dark. Because I didn't get up early enough, I couldn't eat anything before Shelly woke up, so I was starving. And I'm pretty sure if another person told me to smile, I would punch them in the face.

Working with Mason and Eddie was one of the only good things about the diner, but I was only halfway through my double shift, and I was at the end of my rope.

"You know, with a face like that, you would scare the Beast," He joked. I rolled my eyes.

The Beast was one of the town's many legends. I never understood why small towns decided to set up in the middle of a forest and then proceeded to make up horror stories for every sound or weird sighting. The Beast apparently lived in the abandoned mansion in the forest; feeding on the blood of children. Probably just some homeless guy that screamed at the kids to scare them off.

"What do you want, Mase?" I asked, turning back to the pages in front of me. I was trying to calculate my budget for the month, wondering if I could add some more shifts. No way Dave was going to buy my new light.

He shifted on his feet, leaning on the counter beside me. "Uhh… Greg wants to see you, but I'm sure it could wait if you're busy."

I shot him a look. He knew as well as I did that Greg didn't wait for anyone. Greg was a sleazy boss that just so happens to be best buddies with Dave, which was how I got the job here and why my money was sent straight to Dave.

I groaned, folded the paper and stuffed it into the pocket of my pants. "Did he say what he wants to talk about or is he just going to stare at my chest again?"

Mason's expression hardened. "You know, if he tries anything, just tell me, and I'll –"

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself." As good of a guy Mason was, I wasn't a damsel in distress. My mother had been big on me knowing self-defence, being a black belt herself in Judo, and I was more willing to use some of the things she taught me.

I stalked past the kitchen to the back room, where Greg spent all his time at the diner. Greg reminded me of a sewer rat, with receding black hair that he slicked back, sharp facial features and beady eyes. He looked the complete opposite of Dave with his lanky body that looked like it could be blown over by the wind.

Entering the office, Greg's eyes gave me the custom once over, slowly dragging up and down. It always made me feel disgusted; crossing my arms so I felt less inclined to punch him.

"Mason said you needed to see me."

Greg sniffed loudly, eyes settled on my chest, "You closed on Wednesday."

My eyebrows furrowed, already dreading where this was going. "Yeah."

"The till was short. I'm docking it from your pay."

"What?" My jaw dropped, "How much?"

"Two hundred."

I blinked at him in disbelief. "Are you fucking kidding me? It wasn't short; I always double-check!"

"Dave won't be too pleased when I tell him you've been stealing. It's only because of him that I'm not firing you," He told me as if he was doing me some great favour.

I gritted my teeth, anger building in me. I did so much around this stupid diner, taking all the extra shifts but getting none of the money for it. I thought if I just went along with what they wanted, I could just deal with it all until I turned eighteen, but I couldn't.

Gripping the front of my apron, I yanked it away from me and threw it on the ground. "You can tell Dave that I quit. I'm done working for a sleazy, fucking pervert like you. You can shove it!"

I took a small amount of joy from the widening of his eyes. Flipping him off, I spun on my heel and marched back to the front. I pulled my bag from the back, not bothering to change out of my uniform.

Mason was standing at the counter, his expression telling me he heard everything. A sad smile on his face as he clapped. "Going to miss seeing you every day, but that was brilliant."

Still running on my high of telling Greg off, I turned to men that had been telling me to smile earlier, flipping them off too with a wide grin. "Big enough smile for you fuckers?" I'm pretty sure one of the women spat her drink out.

High-fiving Mason as I passed him, I continued out of the diner.

I've fucked up.

I've fucked up big time.

My bravo from the diner diminished as I stood outside of the house. No doubt by now Dave knew what I did. Greg was probably dialling as I left his office. I wasn't sure what was about to happen, but I knew it wouldn't be good.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the back door and stepped through.

Melody was at the kitchen table, her blonde hair up in a messy bun. She was plump just like her mother. When her eyes caught mine, her face twisted into a cruel smile, "Ohh. You're in trouble."

That was all the warning I had as to what was coming before I heard the heavy footsteps of Dave storming in. He was a tall man and looked like a powerlifter from the competitions I'd seen on television.

I tried not to cower before him, standing tall and eyes holding his.

"What the hell are you playing at!" His booming voice echoed off the walls, "I got you that job to pay for your worthless ass, and you do this? I don't think so!"

His words made me laugh. "To pay for me? We both know that none of the money I'm earning is going towards me!" I pointed at him, matching his glare with my own, "I won't be your little slave anymore. Make your own fucking mone–"

I didn't expect it, not prepared for the back of his hand slapping me across the face. Dave was a brute, but I never thought he would actually hit me. The hit knocked me off balance, falling to the ground.

He towered over me, the light behind him casting his face in shadow as he warned, "Don't ever talk to me like that, you ungrateful brat! You're in my house, and you follow my rules. Go back to the diner and ask for your job back. Pay back the money you stole, or I'll call the cops on you!"

Never had I felt this much fear coursing through my veins. I felt paralysed under his stare, pinned in place as I waited to see if he was going to strike out again. I'd been in fights before, and I'd never been one to step down from one. Yet, the pain radiating from my face from just one hit made me realise how outmatched I would be against him.

I forced my head to move, the smallest of nods—willing to agree to anything as long as he backed away. It wasn't until he took a step back that I felt like I could breathe again. Dave sneered and left the room as he mumbled under his breath.

Melody stood with her arms crossed, a satisfied smirk on her face. "Told you." Her cackle of a laugh followed her out of the room until it was just me on the ground.

Angry tears filled my eyes, threatening to fall.

Why was this my life?

What did I do to end up in this situation?

I used to have parents that loved me. I had a possible bright future and happy life. And now I was being hit by my foster parent and expected to work for him. My hands shook as I balled them into fists.

I wasn't going to put up with this anymore.

Resolve flowed through me; I climbed to my feet and ran down into the basement. It didn't take long to grab my things, pushing what I could into my backpack and carrying the rest in the garbage bag.

No one was in the kitchen as I left, swiping a couple of pop tarts from the cupboard on the way. I didn't care if they found out. I wasn't coming back here.

I had almost no money and no idea where to go, but anything was better than being stuck in this house a minute longer. I should have left sooner rather than putting up with everything. It didn't matter that they could call the cops on me; if I just laid low for a couple of days, they would write me off and give up looking.

I halted in front of the house, spying the rose bushes—Shelly's pride and joy. Before I could change my mind, I gripped the stems and pulled. The thrones dug into my skin, scratching and tearing as I yanked them out until the once perfect bush was a mess. The petals littered the ground at my feet.

"Much better," I commented to myself with a smirk.

With a slight wince, I picked up my bag and ran.

I would never come back here.

Unfortunately, with a town this small, there weren't a whole lot of places I could hide out, and then when I heard police sirens, I panicked. Despite how cold it was getting as the sun set behind the mountains, I ran into the forest for cover.

Maybe I could find somewhere out here to hide. I had some food I had been hiding in my room that would keep me going. I could gather the fresh snow that is bound to fall tonight for water.

Now I just needed to find some kind of shelter to stay in before that snow hit and I froze to death.

I clutched my jackets tighter around me, feeling the bite of the chill as the wind picked up, causing my hair to whip around my face. As my surroundings got darker, I started to seriously second-guess my plan.

I don't know shit about surviving in the middle of a forest in winter. What the hell was I doing?

"Yeah, real smart, Rose," I murmured to myself as I tried not to trip over the fallen branches. "Go hide in the woods with no light and no idea of where you're going. In the fucking woods where there are probably mountain lions and bears, and wo–"

I nearly tripped over my feet as the distant sounds of howling broke the silence of the forest.

Fuck.

"It's okay…" I tried to rationalise as my heartbeat picked up. All hopes of keeping myself calm went out the window when I heard the howls again—and they sounded closer.

No longer trying to make my way through the forest at an easy pace, I started running feet catching on branches, barely managing to catch myself from falling face-first multiple times. This really would be my luck; escape a shitty situation just to get eaten by wolves.

Nothing could ever go right.

The sounds of running behind me made my heart skip a beat. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as my stomach dropped. Forcing my legs to move faster, I could barely make out a towering shadow in the fading light, and I raced straight for it. As I got closer, I realised it was a house—the abandoned mansion.

Pushing myself even harder, I headed towards it in hopes that it at least had a door I could use to keep the wolves out. I was just on the edge of the property when my foot caught, and I couldn't save myself in time.

I tumbled to the ground, skidding along the leaves and icy ground. I was exhausted and in pain; pretty sure I twisted my ankle when I tripped. Unsure of what else to do, I covered my head with my arms and listened as the sounds grew closer.

Low growls echoed around me. I bit my lip and tried to curl up. Maybe they would realise that I was just skin and bone and wouldn't make much of a meal.

Suddenly, I heard whimpers, and then the sound of the wolves became distant. After a couple of seconds, I realised the forest was silent again. Slowly, I removed my arms. I couldn't hear anything other than my laboured breath.

"Are you okay?"

A scream tore from my throat, my hand clamped over my mouth as my eyes looked in front of me at a very, very, tall man. Somehow he got within a foot of me, and I never heard him. At my reaction he backed away, holding his hands up in a calming motion.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," He apologised. There was an accent to his words, but I couldn't place it.

Pushing myself onto my hands and knees, I tried to make out more of him; the dying light of the sun made it near impossible. I swore his eyes were glowing, but it had to be my eyes playing tricks. "I'm sorry. I just… there were wolves, and…" I didn't know what to say or how to even explain the last five minutes of my endless day.

"The wolves are gone now." He sounded certain of that, lifting his head away from me to look into the forest. "You should go back to town."

I cringed at his words, becoming defensive, "I don't have to do what you say," I bit out. I gathered my things, having dropped the garbage bag when I tripped. Hastily, I pushed the clothes that escaped back in.

"You're hurt."

I paused, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth. "I'm fine."

"Why are you out here?"

"Why are you?" I countered.

He huffed, sounding almost like a laugh. "I live here."

I did laugh. "You live here? In the abandoned mansion?"

"Yes."

I rolled my eyes. Great, guess I was right about a homeless man scaring off kids. "Look, I'm just trying to find some place to sleep tonight."

The man shifted, still not looking down at me. "You would be safer in town."

I ducked my head, bringing my hand up to my cheek. "No, I'm not."

Silence followed my words until he sighed. "Okay." I wasn't sure what he meant until he moved closer and took my arm, lifting me to my feet. "It's warmer inside."

I was too busy marvelling at how easily he lifted me, still feeling like he was taking most of my weight as we walked. I was grateful he was; the tentative weight I tried putting on my ankle made me wince.

Finally, his words registered. "Inside? Inside there?" I pointed toward the building that I knew had bordered up windows and doors.

"Come on," he responded.

As he guided me around to the side of the house, I realised just how questionable this was. I was following a man I had never met in an abandoned house, and no one knew where I was.

I was going to die, and they would never find my body. Not that anyone would look for me.

Maybe that's why I was so willing to trust this man. I had nothing left to lose.

He opened a door that I could barely see as the darkness of the night. I expected the inside of the building to be even darker, but instead it was filled with a warm orange glow. He led me down a hallway and into a large living area with a fire.

The closer I got to the fire, the more of the night's chill left me, not even realising I had been shivering until he sat me in a chair, returning a moment later with what looked like a long leather jacket.

"I don't have a blanket, but this should help," He explained, carefully wrapping it around me.

The whole time he moved around, he avoided my eyes. Maybe he was just shy?

I snuggled under the jacket and pulled it up to my chin; I sighed, "Thanks."

The man stepped towards the fire, and the light cast shadows on his muscular form. He didn't look homeless, or at least, his clothes looked clean, his hair combed and smooth, the ends brushing against his shoulders.

"I'm Rose, by the way," I offered, a peace offering of sorts. A yawn escaped me, feeling my eyes grow heavy as the day's events caught up to me.

He didn't respond until my eyelids drooped closed, catching the hint of a smile on his face. "My name is Dimitri."