AdamI heard a pounding at the front door, and wondered who could possibly be stopping by this late. Besides, most knew I wasn’t too keen on visitors at present. After what happened to my parents, I just wanted to be left alone… I pulled upon the door to find a woman shivering from the storm. She smiled at me warmly, “Would you be so kind as to let me dry off for a short while. I believe I’ve gone and lost my way.”
Wordlessly, I looked past her at the thundering sky, and quickly noted that she indeed wouldn’t make it far without falling ill in this weather. Sighing, I moved aside and motioned for her to come inside. “Thank you,”
she said as she swiftly tried to remove herself from the cold night. I turned to look at her. In the light, I noted that she was dressed rather peculiar, but chose not to address it, “I’ll fetch you some warm towels.”
Before I could move off, she grasped my arm. Naturally I didn’t hesitate to free myself from her. I didn’t like to be touched. “Is there something else you need? I can have food prepared for you after you are bit warmer.”
She smiled again but this time I noticed that it was more seductive than warm, “No, I’m fine. Are you alone here?”
The question pained me, “No.” “Well yes I suppose you have servants.” “No.”
She looked at me in surprise, “No? Then who is it that you keep here?”
When I didn’t answer she continued, “You really are kind, taking me in like this, and handsome too. Tell me…are you lonely?”
All the while as she talked she moved ever closer to me until she was firmly pressed against me. It was true…I was lonely, but I still didn’t like to be touched. I turned and began to walk away, “I’ll go fetch those towels.”
Her tone suddenly turned icy, “Are you
rejecting me?” “Yes.”
I said without bothering to turn back. She scoffed, “You know I thought I could prove myself wrong, but I guess it’s true…all men are beasts. I think it’s time you looked like what you are!
JackThe Mayor looked as paranoid as usual, constantly stealing glances at his son Gaston, “There have been strange sightings and even reports of disappearances in the Dark Forest lately. They say there may even be a beast dwelling in the forest! I’m starting to think we should shut the whole place off to the town.”
I thought back on my experiences with the place. That’s where I found the portal to the future and to Chrismastown. It was also where Aurora and I found Maleficient. I shook my head, “You’re telling me you think something is
too scary for Halloweentown? It sounds like to me we should add it to the lineup for our next big Halloween scare.”
His eyes were like saucers, “You don’t get it Jack. I’m normally on your side when it comes to thrills, but this is not a scary prank, it’s dangerous. And if it means keeping the town safe,”
he looked over to his son once more, “keeping our children safe, then I’m going to shut the forest off.”
The day after, still consumed with curiosity I told everything to Sally. After listening quietly she patted my hand, “I know what you are thinking, but I would have to tell you that I agree with the Mayor. There is a thin line between creating fear and putting someone in danger, and as The Pumpkin King you walk that line very well. But I think this is one those times that you might be pushing too hard again, and I’m going to ask you to stop. Stop because Belle needs you here as her father, and I need you here as my husband. Can you do that for us?” “Yes”
I pulled Sally close and we both looked over at Belle calmly reading her books. Yeah, I thought, I wouldn’t want to miss a moment with my family.
Belle“For the lovely lady,”
Gaston practically shoved a pearl bracelet in my face. I groaned inwardly thinking, not again. Plastering a smile on my face I said, “It’s beautiful, and I’m sure Vivian would also think it is beautiful so why don’t you pass it on to her?”
I tried unsuccessfully to make my escape. “Well Vivian is not quite so lovely as you, and this bracelet should be worn by its equal.”
Did he just say I was equal with a bracelet? Of course, because all women are objects and conquests in his eyes. “Isn’t your father giving a speech at City Hall in a few minutes? You should probably be there if you want to follow in his footsteps politically right? I mean gain all the insight you can of course.” “You’re right naturally, beauty and brains…such a devilishly attractive combination. Until we meet next my sweet,”
he smiled while placing the bracelet in my hand. I didn’t hesitate to throw it in the nearest bin as soon as he was out of sight. Finally, I made it to the library. It was my refuge. Through books I could learn so many things, travel to anywhere I wanted, and in this place I had the added benefit of avoiding Gaston as he found it boring. Honestly, a library boring? After spending probably a few more hours than I should have in there, I made my way back home. I found my mother knee deep in plants. She had been on a gardening craze lately. “Mother, do you need any help?”
She looked up at me and smiled, “If you could tend to those mushrooms that would be great.”
I know people always think this about their mothers, but I honestly thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. “Where’s dad?” “Oh he went out to do some research or another. I think he just wanted to go on another long horse ride with Ghost. He was so excited about getting that horse.”
I laughed remembering the whole affair, and looked forward to the story dad would tell when he got back. 
It had been a week and dad still hadn’t returned. He had never been away this long without calling to say that he was alright. The Mayor gave me a soft pat on the shoulder as he and Gaston left with the police. I looked over to my mother, the normally calm and put together woman was in shambles. Quickly I went over to give her hug, and I noted that she was shaking. She nodded her head and said firmly, “He’ll be back.”
But the determination didn’t quite reach her facial features. “I think I’m going to go take nap.” “Alright mom, I love you.” “I love you too honey,”
she said weakly. I needed air. Wandering outside I somehow found myself on the edge of town, “Where could he be?”
Just when I was about to turn back I saw a piece of fabric attached to the fence. It was from my dad’s coat! Did he have Ghost jump this? What would he be doing in this forest?! I thought about going back to tell someone, but the thought of wasting precious time irked me. I’m going! The forest was dark and winding, but I wasn’t afraid. I had lived my life surrounded by fear, there was little that could scare me now, but losing my father was one of those things. I had to find my way to him somehow. And after what seemed like hours, I finally stumbled upon a house. Did someone live all the way back here?! I knocked, but there was no answer. Perhaps it was abandoned, and just maybe my father took refuge inside. I tried the door and it opened. “Hello?”
I glanced around at my surroundings, everything seemed too well kept for it to be abandoned, “Hello?”
I said again. “Father, are you here?!”
I finally called out in desperation.
It was then that I heard what I thought to be an argument off in the distance. “Hello?”
I said once more. A teenage boy appeared, he was slim and tall, and when he spoke I caught a hint of a French accent, “’Allo mademoiselle. What can we do for you?”
I was about to question the “we” part when two other teens, a small child, and a woman also emerged from hiding I presumed. “Pardon me, I had no idea anyone lived here. The door was unlocked you see, and I’m terribly lost. By chance would you have happened to see my father? He is a tall man, very pale and dressed in stripes, and traveling with a strange horse.”
One of the other teens, a bit more portly than the first stepped forward, “I’m not sure we can help you madam.” “Nonsense,”
the woman chided, “we could at least invite her in for a cup of tea.”
I smiled graciously, “Thank you very much, but if my father is not here I really should be on my way to find him. I am sorry to have bothered you.”
That’s when I heard it. Booming footsteps seemed to echo throughout the halls, and when I turned to ask them the source of the noise, I noticed that all of their faces had gone pale. “Who are you?!”
He stepped towards me, and they all parted to make room for him. He was completely covered in fur, had vicious teeth and claws, and horns that protruded into the sky. But it was his eyes that shook me. So much anger… “I-I’m Belle.”
I stammered out quickly, “I came here for my father. I did not mean to disturb you sir.” “Your father? You mean that wretched thief?!”
With confusion I looked to the others. I thought they said he was not here, but they would not meet my eye. “If my father is here, will you please take me to him?”
Somehow I did not like the look on his face, “You wish to go to him? Very well then.”
With that he tightly grabbed hold of my arm, and proceeded to drag me to an unknown location. “You’re hurting me!” “Sir!”
the French teenager called after him, but we both only got a growl in response.
Finally he threw me down on the ground in front of what looked to be a dungeon. “Father!”
He was badly hurt, and paler than usual which was saying something. “Belle! Why have you come here?” “For you of course,”
I said incredulously then rounded on my captor, “What have you done to him?!” “That thief broke into my home, and snooped into places he shouldn’t have. So I threw him into a cell, simple.”
I stood and jutted out my chin, “He needs medical attention.” “He needs jail time,”
he said with a low growl. I huffed and looked back to my father. In the next cell I could see the remains of a skeleton. Would he want my father to rot here? I turned back, “Then take me instead.” “There is no way I’m letting you do that!”
I heard my father shout from behind me, but I couldn’t look at him now. I couldn’t afford to let him see the tears fall down my face, “I’m adult now and I can make my own decisions. You don’t have to protect me anymore.” “You’re my daughter. I will always protect you.” “I’m sorry father, but I’ve made my choice.”
I looked at my captor, “Do you accept?”
He stared at the pair of us while my father shouted incessantly, “Yes.”
And just like that I became a prisoner. He knocked my father out and drug him from his cell, and I begged him to be gentle as my father was hurt. I cried and whispered to my father that I loved him as the doors closed. I cried and mumbled that I would be ok. I cried and hoped that he wouldn’t try to come back for me.
