Beauty and the beast

Chapter 2

"Jean!" Bennett yelled running up the hill into Jean and Barbara's home, he slammed the door open as he tried to catch his breath. Jean was startled and looked in the direction Bennett had came from. "It's- Barbara, she. I couldn't. It was so."
"Bennett calm down and tell me what happened." Jean walked over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. His body was shaken to the bone as he tried to calm down, his green eyes were in a panic and his face was paler then usual.

"Barbara was taken, and I couldn't do anything.." A gasp left Jean's lips and she looked down at the boy, his face looked at her with a sorrow expression, he looked lost and helpless, he didn't know what to do. "I'm so sorry, Jean."  Bennett cried as he looked up at the women.

"You need to tell me where she is." Jean said in a calming matter, she knew it wasn't his fault, even if she cared for Barbara dearly she didn't want to lash out on Bennett to start more problems.

Bennett studied Jean with questionable eyes, he balled his fist making his knuckles turn white. He swallowed his spit and looked to the side.
"I'll tell you the way, but my bad luck will only slow you down." Bennett admitted, he shifted awkwardly, Jean nodded and listened as he told her how to get to the Castle. Soon Jean had took her leave.

As she walked along the path, every part of her was saying to leave but she didn't listen to it. Her sister's life was on the line. As the snow path got colder and colder Jean's heart began to pound louder and louder. The dark trees around her looked to be dead as there corpses where tucked away by a blanket of snow.

Jean hugged her chest trying to warm herself. The path was long and as the snow finally stopped she could see the castle in sight. It was huge and looked to be abandoned. The castle sat on a large hill, its dark color made it look something out of a horror book; its unwelcoming presence and its large but abandoned structure.

Jean shuttered at the sight but she refused to turn back now.
"For Barbara." She said as she reached for the gate with a false confidence. The old metal was cool and rusted, Jean quickly ripped the gate open and headed through.

She felt shivers down her spine as she walked through the gate, the architect and the garden seemed to look dead and frighting. Nothing of this place seemed to be welcoming, many signs told Jean to leave, run, go home but she couldn't she had to get her sister that's all what mattered. Her sister was probably so frightened and scared lost in this castle with some kind of beast hunting her down. Her feet dragged with each step, each step feeling weighted as if there was a ball and chain weighing her down.

"You must go.. LEAVE" a deadly whisper called out, its voice sounding horse and old. Jean looked around frightened, her eyes searching and scanning for where the source of this bizarre voice.

"Who's there?" Jean ordered out as she grabbed a lighter from her pocket. The light filled the room revealing its large exterior. In her other hand, Jean pulled her sword out of her sheath, prepared for any danger.

"Leave with your life..." The horsed voice called out again this time sounding a bit more serious. Jean ignored the warning and continued walking, each step echoing in the large castle. The air felt thick, as if it was coated with a layer of dust and nerves.

The interior of the castle was filled with halls that lead to who knows where. This labyrinth seemed to never end as she continued walking only to find more and more halls. At this point Jean started dreading this adventure and the feeling of weary washed over her, was she going to be able to find her sister in this giant maze? Jean shook her head, these negative thoughts must leave her mind at once, if she thinks like this, then they are bound to happen.

As she walked she finally found a spiral staircase that led up to what seemed like space.
"Jean..." Her name echoed as the whispering continued to call her. For the first time ever Jean never wanted to hear her name, she wanted this repeated whisper to end. "Jean.. Jean.. Jean.." Her name sounded like a curse as the whisper got harsher and harsher as she lead up the stairs.

The old stone stairs surrounded by stone walls seemed to go on for eternity, never finding where they lead. The stairs were cracked and falling apart, one wrong move and she would fall down straight to where she started.

Finally, the entrance came to near, a stone arch opened up where the continuous wall once was. As Jean walked through, her thighs ached from the hike, she panted until she realized where she was. The lighter she once held was blown out and instead replaced with a blue glow that came from who knows where.

As she walked further into the room, a mysterious yet familiar figure appeared from the dust. Seemingly unharmed a young girl laid a cell bed whimpering to herself. 
"Barbra!" Jean called as she raced for the cell, gripping onto its cold malice bars. Her voice hiked as she saw the state her once cheerful sister was in. "What happened? Who did this to you?" Questions flooded from her throat as she looked around for the key to the rusted down cell.

"You shouldn't be here." A harsh voice called from the shadows. "Head my warning and leave while you still can!"

Jean clenched her fist to chest. "Who goes there" she called.
"The owner of this castle... you must leave, IMMEDIATELY" the voice was harsh as it seemed to be getting closer. Jean studied the silhouette, trying to make out what was calling to her.
"Step into the light, that's an order." She gulped as she figures malice laughter filled the room. She clutched her sword as she used the other to search for the glowing blue light. As she finally rapped her hands around cool steal she shined it forward toward the voice.

As the light engulfed the figure, Jean saw something out of a nightmare. Horns that curled up like the devils, fangs that could pierce through almost anything, a large fury red body that was seven feet tall hung over Jean. The worse part about this monster was its red eyes that looked into her soul, eyes that looked like they were going to pounce onto her and attack at any moment. Jean froze and dropped her sword, her heart could leap out of her chest by how much it raised.
"You shouldn't be here." The voice filled and echoed throughout the room.
"Please. Let my sister go!" Jean begged, as her voice tried its best to stop shaking.
"Your sister is a thief!"
"She's a child, please!" Jean cried as she walked towards the beast, her mind searching for anyway to get her sister out of this jail. Jean looked for conclusion after conclusion as she tried to find some way to get her sister out, finally her mind settled on the only thing she believed would work. "Then.. let me take her place"

"Jean no!" Barabra cried as she grabbed the cellar bars so tightly her knuckles turned pure white.
"Hush sister, this is for your own good." Jean turned her head and smiled at her sister before turning around.
"I'll allow it." The beast called as he snapped his fingers and small carriage came running up the stairs, opening the cellar and grabbing the girl from out the cell.
"Jean!" Barabra cried in a blood curdling scream as the cart raised out the room with the girl wailing on. Tears formed around Jeans eyes as she realized her new reality. The beast quicky grabbed Jean's arm and tossed her into the cell. As she hit the ground she looked up at him, for a second she swore she saw a hint of sorrow hit his eyes.