𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓#𝟏

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WESTCHESTER LOCAL BAR - NIGHT
𝚂𝚄𝙼𝙼𝙴𝚁 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟹
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
ROZONDA THOMAS, 19, SEXY COLLEGE GIRL FULL OF OPTIMISM, DRIVE AND THE INNOCENCE THAT COMES WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE, IS WORKING HER SUMMER JOB, PULLING BILLS FROM THE REGISTER
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Wow, dollar Lemon Drops, and all of
Westchester shows up.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
FELLOW BARTENDER ASHANTI A HOT LOCAL, NOT QUITE THE SAME SUNNY FUTURE, TOUCHES UP HER EYELINER IN THE BAR
𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈
Never underestimate the power of cheap booze...
Buttering her up and a hot, new, ivy-educated bartender.
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Seeing right through her
I said I'll cover for you.
𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈
What, I'm serious. Roz, you had like
Five guys throwing themselves at you.
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
It was two, and one was borderline unconscious.
Can't help being excited
The other one did seem kinda sweet, didn't he?
𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈
So you sure you don't mind?
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Laughs, she was being buttered up go.
You'll get me when I have something waiting other than an last practice test.
𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈
You're the best!
If I ever get arrested or divorced, you're the one I'm gonna hire.
Make sure u lock up now
𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
WITH THAT, ASHANTI RACES OUT.
ROZONDA SHAKES HER HEAD, AMUSED, THEN STARTS TOSSING BOTTLES,
WESTCHESTER LOCAL BAR - LATER
NOT A BOTTLE IN SIGHT. SATISFIED,
ROZONDA FLIPS OFF THE MUSIC, THE LIGHTS.
SUDDENLY IT'S DARK AND QUIET. A BIT TOO QUIET.
UNSETTLED, SHE GRABS TWO TRASH BAGS, HEADS OUT...
WESTCHESTER LOCAL BAR/PARKING LOT -
LOCKING UP. SHE WALKS TOWARDS A DUMPSTER, WHEN SUDDENLY -- RUSTLING.
SHE JUMPS, STARTLED. JUST A POSSUM.
STILL, SHE HURLS THE TRASH INTO THE DUMPSTER, HURRIES TO HER CAR...
ROZONDA CAR -
PUTS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION.
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
It won't start. Shit.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
SHE GLANCES AROUND TO SEE WHY...
THE VANITY MIRROR'S OPEN, SHIT AGAIN.
SHE GRABS HER CELL, SEES THE TIME, 2:25 AM.
CRINGES AS SHE DIALS, THEN, APOLOGETIC
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Mom...?
PARKING LOT/ROZONDA CAR - NIGHT
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
AVA THOMAS, 40S, IN SCRUBS,
PULLS OUT JUMPER CABLES FROM HER CAR
𝐀𝐕𝐀
I'm like triple a, but with outerwear.
Here, it's cold out.
Hands a sweater to rozonda, who guiltily takes it.
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
I'm so sorry I dragged you out here.
Good news is, I made a lot in tips?
𝐀𝐕𝐀
Enough to cover tuition?
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Books. At least for one class?
𝐀𝐕𝐀
chuckles, bemused
Already a lawyer, like Dad.
You're just lucky I was on call.
He would've killed u.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
JUST THEN, HEADLIGHTS FLOOD THE PARKING LOT.
THEY TURN TO SEE A BEAT-UP CAR PULLING IN
WHO ELSE IS OUT AT THIS HOUR?
𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
we're closed.
But Ava wary.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENS
𝐀𝐕𝐀
We're good here.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
THROUGH THE HIGH BEAMS, THEY SEE A MAN GET OUT
𝐀𝐕𝐀
I said we got it.
No response.
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Uneasily turns to her Mom --
𝐀𝐕𝐀
Get in my car.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
She hesitates but Ava shoots her an urgent look.
Later she'll wonder, maybe her mom knew something, but for now,
Rozonda does as she's told, starts towards the car
𝐀𝐕𝐀
Look, we already called Highway Patrol so--
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
HE PULLS OUT A GUN, SHOOTS HER.
ROZONDA MOTHER FALLS TO THE GROUND ROZONDA,
WHO STOPS, STUNNED, TERRIFIED.
BARLEY COMPREHENDING WHAT JUST HAPPEN
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Mom...? mom! now frantic Mom!
Just as another man emerges from the passenger side.
A horrifying beat as she realizes he's headed for her.
She tears off, darting across the parking lot, into...
WESTCHESTER WOODS - NIGHT
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
BRANCHES WHIP AT ROZONDA FROM EVERY DIRECTION AS SHE RUNS,
TEARS ARE STREAMING DOWN HER FACE, GASPING FOR AIR.
FOOTSTEPS GAIN ON HER AS SHE WHIMPERS IN TERROR.
SHE GLANCES BACK AT HER ATTACKER
TRIPS OVER A ROOT, FALLS HARD, HITTING HER HEAD SMACK ON A ROCK
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Everything's out of focus.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
SHE TURNS TO SEE A FUZZY IMAGE OF HER ATTACKER, RAISING HIS GUN...
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Please, no...
Closes her eyes, bracing myself when a deep, guttural GROWL
Then a dark blur springs out of the woods with inhuman speed
Pounces on the man, sending his gun flying --
𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
ROZONDA BARELY ABLE TO MAKE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT THE SOUNDS ARE CLEAR RIPPING FLESH, SCREAMS OF AGONY.
JUST AS THE OTHER ATTACKER ARRIVES --
𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑#𝟐
What the -- ?
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑
HE RAISES HIS GUN, BUT BEFORE HE CAN SHOOT
THE BLUR POUNCES AGAIN.
ROZONDA TOO TERRIFIED TO MOVE AS, MORE SOUNDS OF A MAULING THEN SILENCE... STILLNESS...
SHE CAN JUST MAKE OUT A FIGURE, BROAD-SHOULDERED, MUSCULAR,
CANINE'S GLISTENING, EYES GLOWING, A WOMAN-CREATURE, THE BEAST.
THEY LOCK EYES, IS SHE NEXT?
AND MAYBE IT'S HER HEAD INJURY OR THE WAY
SHE LOOKS AT HER BUT SHE KNOWS SHE WON'T HURT HER BEFORE SHE CAN UTTER A WORD,
DISTANT SIRENS SOUND ECHO IN THE DARKNESS
THE BEAST TAKES A BEAT, ALMOST NOT WANTING TO LEAVE.
THEN TAKES OFF, DISAPPEARING INTO THE WOODS.
ROZONDA CHANGED FOREVER
𝐑𝐎𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀
Everyone told me it was a wolf.
That this thing I thought I'd seen was the result of my concussion, or ptsd...
You know, the men who'd killed my  mother were beasts,
So I'd created him in my mind as a way to deal.
I believed them, until now.
𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THE MOST DANGEROUS UNKNOWN SECRET SEASON.VOL 1Where stories live. Discover now