Beauty and the Phantom

Chapter Fourteen: Kill The Phantom!

Having a terrible feeling, Lefou approached Gaston.

"Gaston, with all due respect..."

"Do you want to be next?" Gaston asked him, causing Lefou to back off, "Fetch my horse."

Gaston began to walk off while Lefou did as he was told. Standing on the step of the carriage, Gaston addressed the crowd.

"This creature will curse us all if we don't stop him," everyone cheered in agreement, "Well, I say, we kill the Phantom!"

Everyone once again cheered in agreement. But Pere and Agathe were the odd ones out, clearly not agreeing. No one in the village believed that there was a Phantom in the area yet, now that they have proof, they immediately want to kill him. All out of fear. 

'We're not safe until he's dead,' A man spoke up

'He'll come stalking us at night,' another spoke up

'Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite!' Jean said.

'He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free!' An old woman spoke up

'So it's time to take some action, boys. It's time to follow me,' Gaston took a torch and threw it on a wagon of hay, setting it ablaze, 'Through the mist, through the wood, through the darkness and the shadows. It's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride. Say a prayer, then we're there at the drawbridge of a castle and there's something truly terrible inside. It's a Phantom! He's got eyes, glowing bright ones. Horrific face, and killer rope for the feast! Hear him yell, see him foam but we're not coming home 'til he's dead! Good and dead!'

'Kill the Phantom!'

Mounting his horse with a torch in hand, Gaston started to lead the hundreds of villagers out of the village to find the Phantom. 

'Light your torch, mount your horse.'

'Screw your courage to the sticking place,' Gaston lead the villagers towards the woods

'We're counting on Gaston to lead the way!'

'Call it war, call it threat. You can bet they all will follow for, in times like this, they'll do just as I say!'

'There's a Phantom running wild. There's no question. But I fear the wrong monster's released,' Lefou said to himself

'Sally forth, tally ho, grab your sword, grab your bow, praise the Lord, and here we go!'

Stopping for a moment, Gaston told the mirror to show him the castle. Meanwhile, back at the castle, the staff were spending what they believed would be their last moments together. 

"At least he has finally learned to love," Lumiere said dancing with Plumette.

"A lot of good that does us if she doesn't love him in return," Cogsworth said

"No. This is the first time I've had any real hope she would," Mrs. Potts said

Hearing horses whine in the distance, Chip thought (Y/N) had returned. Also hearing them, everyone went up to the window to see if it really was her. Only to see an army of villagers approaching the castle. Seeing that they were about to be attacked, Cogsworth commanded the staff to go and bar the doors. Hearing the commotion, Cadenza came out of the ballroom to help.

'Hearts ablaze, banners high! We go marching into battle, unafraid, although the danger's just increased,' the staff sang as Cadenza and everyone else blocked the doors.

The mob had made it to the door and got ready to break in.

'Raise the flag, sing the song. Here we come, we're fifty strong and fifty Frenchmen can't be wrong! Let's kill the Phantom!' The mob sang

Using a statue of a pig's head they had taken from the village, they started to ram the doors with it, managing to break through the small dog door, knocking Cogsworth off of Cadenza. Knowing that they couldn't do this on their own, Cogsworth left to go and get help. Meanwhile, back in the village, (Y/N) was trying to figure out a way to escape their cage. The coachman had stepped away from the carriage so (Y/N) took the opportunity to try and find a way out.

"I have to warn Erik," (Y/N) said looking for a way out

"Warn him?" Maurice asked, "How did you get away from him?"

(Y/N) sat in front of him, "He let me go, Papa. He sent me back to you."

Maurice stammered, confused, "I don't understand."

Trying to think of a way to convince him, (Y/N) showed him the rose she had taken from their old home. Maurice looked at it in shock. He hadn't seen the rose in so long. But how did she get it?

"Where did you..." Maurice just continued to look at it in complete surprise.

"He took me there," (Y/N) explained, "I know what happened to Maman."

"Then you know why I had to leave her there. I had to protect you. I've always tried to protect my little girl. Probably too much."

"I understand," (Y/N) assured him before kissing the rose, "Will you help me now?"

"It's dangerous."

"Yes. Yes, it is."

Maurice didn't want to try and argue. Despite what he thought of Erik, the little act of kindness he gave (Y/N) made him reconsider. So, Maurice stood up and tried to examine the lock on the other side of the door. While trying to figure out what he needed, (Y/N), as always, was one step ahead of him and took out a gold leaf from her hairpiece. As Maurice was saying what he needed, (Y/N) gave him the leaf to start picking the lock. Back at the castle, the villagers were still attempting to break in. Cogsworth had made it up to Erik on his tower, listening to the people yelling below. 

"Oh, excuse me, Master," Cogsworth said before trying to find the words for his next sentence, "I'm so sorry to disturb you."

"She's not coming back," Erik said, already knowing.

"No. They're breaking down the doors!"

"Doesn't matter now. Just let them come."

Below, the mob continued to chant 'Kill the Phantom' as they attempted to break down the door. Seeing that their plan wasn't working, Lumiere came up with a better one. As the mob continued to bash the door open, they unlocked themselves, making the group fall into the dark and seemingly empty castle. At last, they were in. But where was the Phantom?