Beauty and the Dream Demon

Chapter Three: Losing Their Way

Meanwhile, Jane was looking in a mirror, trying to come up with lines to win Jack's affection. But, while doing that, Templeton approached, asking if he had caught Jane at a bad time. Jane asked what Templeton wanted, to which Templeton explained that Jack was in trouble with the townsfolk. Hearing this, Jane stepped away from the mirror to go see if everything was alright with Jack.

"Jack!" Jane called out to him as he entered his garden, "I heard you had trouble with the Headmaster. He never liked me either."

Jack ignored her and tried to go about his business.

"Can I give you a little advice about the villagers though? They're never going to trust the kind of change you're trying to bring," Jane explained, stepping over the cauliflower that was growing to get to Jack.

Jack was upset at what Jane had just done but turned to the matter at hand, "All I wanted was to teach a child to read."

"The only children you should concern yourself with are..." Jane motioned between Jack and herself, "Your own."

Jack looked at her in disbelief, shocked that Jane would imply that the two would one day have children. He's never taken an interest in Jane. And never would he think of having children with her.

"I'm..." Jack tried to go towards his home but Jane blocked his way, "...not ready to have children," Jack finally got past her and walked through a gate.

"Maybe you haven't met the right woman," Jane tried to argue.

"It's a small village, Jane. I've met them all," Jack locked the gate and walked up the stairs to his front door.

"Well, maybe you should take another look," Jane unlocked the gate and chased after him, "Some of us have changed."

Jack turned to confront her, "Jane... we could never make each other happy. No one can change that much."

"Oh, Jack. Do you know what happens to spinsters in this village after their fathers die?"

Jane pointed to a girl on the corner next to them, begging for any kind of money or food.

"They beg for scraps, like poor Mary. This is our world, Jack. For simple folk like us, it doesn't get any better," Jane explained, taking hold of Jack's shirt

"I might be a farm boy," Jack took his shirt back, "But, I'm not simple... and... I'm never going to marry you, Jane. I'm sorry!"

Jack finally closed the door in Jane's face, hoping that she would finally take the hint and leave him alone. He meant what he said. He would never marry Jane. A woman who was only chasing him because of his beauty. And because she too was good-looking, she believed they were the perfect match. But, alas, taking the hint for now, Jane left Jack's home. Jack walked out of his home through a side door, watching Jane leave.

"Can you imagine? Me? The husband of that boorish... brainless..." Jack started to walk down to his chickens, 'Monsieur Jane, can't you just see it? Monsieur Jane, her little husband. Ugh! No, ma'am, not me, I guarantee it! I want much more than this provincial life!'

Jack ran off to a nearby hill where he could look over his village.

'I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell. And for once it might be grand to have someone understand. I want so much more than they've got planned...'

As the sun set, a storm was forming in the distance. In the forest, George was still out riding with Philippe. Despite going on this trip more than once, George was lost. He found the woods lovely yet he couldn't figure out where he and Philippe were going. He assumed, by this point, Philippe knew where they were going. As they came to a fork in the road, lightning struck the tree in front of them, blocking the left path. Philippe reared in fright at the lightning and the tree falling. George calmed him down, suggesting that they go down the other path to see if it would lead them to where they needed to go.

Philippe went down the right path, taking George down a narrow path with snow down it. This made George weary. While trying to assure Philippe that it was only a bit of snow, he seemed to realise that it was June. Snow doesn't fall in June. But George had Philippe go on regardless. As they went on, white wolves started to take notice of the new strangers entering this part of the forest. It wasn't often that people went down this path. In fact, hardly anyone did because no one knew where it lead. George soon took notice of the wolves surrounding them and ordered Philippe to go faster, hoping to outrun these rather hungry wolves. One of them howled, attracting the attention of the others nearby.

They began to chase the horse and wagon, hoping to stop them in their path. George just encouraged Philippe to go faster, all the while the wagon was starting to fall apart. Soon, the wolves caught up with George and Philippe, blocking the way. The wagon bumped over a log, causing it to break loose from the harness on Philippe, and making George fly off his seat on the wagon. He fell on a small hill while Philippe ran off. George climbed up the hill, only to come face to face with a hungry wolf. Taking his chances, George fell back down the hill, calling out to Philippe to save him from the wolves waiting for him below.

Philippe came just in the nick of time, catching George before he fell into the pack of wolves below. Philippe started to carry George away, trying his best to outrun the wolves. Which worked because the wolves stopped their chase when the two went through some frozen, iron gates. The wolves knew not to go past this point. Inside the gates, George and Philippe wandered through what looked to be a large garden with perfectly trimmed hedges, covered in snow. And, in front of them, a large castle. At last, the two seemed safe. Seeing a stable, George led Philippe there, letting him get a drink and some hay to eat. Meanwhile, George planned to venture inside the castle, hoping to pay some respects to their unwitting host.