Beauty and the Dream Demon

Chapter Fourteen: Kill the Dream Demon

Having a terrible feeling, Templeton approached Jane.

"Jane, with all due respect..."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'So it's time to take some action, boys. It's time to follow me,' Jane 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 Dream Demon! She's got claws, razor sharp ones. Horrific teeth, and killer hands for the feast! Hear her yell, see her foam but we're not coming home 'til she's dead! Good and dead!'

'Kill the Dream Demon!'

Mounting her horse with a torch in hand, Jane started to lead the hundreds of villagers out of the village to find the Dream Demon.

'Light your torch, mount your horse.'

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

'We're counting on Jane 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 beast running wild. There's no question. But I fear the wrong monster's released,' Templeton said to himself

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

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

"At least she has finally learned to love," Bert said dancing with (Y/N).

"A lot of good that does us if he doesn't love her in return," Binnacle said

"No. This is the first time I've had any real hope he would," Topsy said

Hearing horses whine in the distance, Georgie thought Jack had returned. Also hearing them, everyone went up to the window to see if it really was him. Only to see an army of villagers approaching the castle. Seeing that they were about to be attacked, Binnacle commanded the staff to go and bar the doors. Hearing the commotion, Michael 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 Michael 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 Dream Demon!' 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 Binnacle off of Michael. Knowing that they couldn't do this on their own, Binnacle left to go and get help. Meanwhile, back in the village, Jack was trying to figure out a way to escape their cage. The coachman had stepped away from the carriage so Jack took the opportunity to try and find a way out.

"I have to warn Maddie," Jack said looking for a way out

"Warn her?" George asked, "How did you get away from her?"

Jack sat in front of him, "She let me go, Papa. She sent me back to you."

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

Trying to think of a way to convince him, Jack showed him the rose he had taken from their old home. George looked at it in shock. He hadn't seen the rose in so long. But how did he get it?

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

"She took me there," Jack 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 boy. Probably too much."

"I understand," Jack assured him before kissing the rose, "Will you help me now?"

"It's dangerous."

"Yes. Yes, it is."

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

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

"He's not coming back," Maddie 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 Dream Demon' as they attempted to break down the door. Seeing that their plan wasn't working, Bert 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 Dream Demon?