Bookview Valley 4

Chapter Twenty-Four: My Beast

June 16th, Sunday 11:30pm

I know my time is running out. I can feel it in my very soul. Jiggling the bars, I glance around the damp room. The guy beside me sighs with irritation.

"Don't you think I already tried that?"

"Shut up, Flynn," I snap, yanking at the bars once more. I cannot be trapped here. I'm so close to saving everyone. I'm almost there! I have to save everyone.

"Let me get this straight," Flynn says with a chuckle, "You told him you were looking for me, and I've never seen you in my entire life." 

"Flynn, this isn't helping," I turn to him, his green eyes are trained on me. He's wearing a golden vest over black pants; he would so love this outfit if he actually knew who he was, "I need to get us out of here. There's not much time."

"Did Gaston send you?" Flynn snorts, "That guy just won't stop. I've turned him down so many times."

I stifle a laugh at the thought of that, "No, I've never met Gaston. Please, Flynn, we have to get out of here."

"Don't you think I know that," Flynn snaps, "I've been stuck here for days. I actually don't know what day it is or what time it is."

"If it makes you feel any better, I also don't know what time it is," I mutter, going back to yanking on the bars. I pause and turn to him again, "You wouldn't happen to have two small teardrops in your pockets, would you?"

He looks at me like I'm crazy, "So you have come here to steal."

"No, I'm trying to save both of you idiots."

"Rude, calling us idiots," Flynn crosses his arms over his chest, "Why should I help someone who thinks I'm an idiot?"

"Because you also want to get out of here."

He gives me a death stare, "Fine."

"Thank you," I sigh.

"BEAST OH BEAST!" Flynn yells out, "PLEASE PUT ME IN A SEPARATE CELL, THIS WOMAN IS CRAZY!"

Glaring, I open my mouth to snap at him, but then I hear thundering footsteps. My mouth shuts as I turn to see the beast stalk over to us. He eyes Flynn then looks at me. I give him the most charming smile I can muster.

"Heyyyy," I say, "Mind letting me out? I'm really only trying to help."

"See, she's crazy," Flynn whispers harshly for dramatic affect.

"Yeah, I'm the crazy one," I mutter, but I decide on a different tactic, "Sebastien, do you remember your mother?"

"My mother?" The beast's eyes narrow at me.

"Yes, in Poland," I nod continuing, "She's sick. You and Flynn are planning to move there, after all this is over."

"My mother is dead," The beast snarls, "and I have no idea what a Poland is."

I groan inwardly, did the Crimson Skeleton really have to replace their memories with fake ones? I shake my head, a different tactic, "Okay, well nevermind on that. Look, I can help you find your beauty. I can help you break your curse."

"What if I don't want my curse broken?" He snaps, but he isn't walking away.

"I think you do," I tell him, summoning the courage to go on. Flynn has gone silent in the back, "I mean, I'm sure you don't want to be a beast forever. We can turn you back, you can live your normal life, and it can be with someone who loves you."

"No one loves me," Sebastien growls.

"Flynn does," I say. 

"What!?" Flynn exclaims, finally rising from his seat, "I never said that."

"You aren't denying it," I point out, hoping just hoping that this Flynn has already fallen for Sebastien. It would make everything so much easier, "In another life you agreed to go with him to a whole different country. To see his dying mother, and to spend the rest of your time with him." The last part is a lie, but I'm assuming my Flynn actually does want that.

"Did you?" The beast is now watching Flynn with a renewed interest. So, this Sebastien does fancy Flynn.

"I...I..." Flynn trails off, trying to process everything. He then sighs deeply, "In another life I think I would, but in this life I don't know you."

The beasts face falls, "Oh."

"But," Flynn continues and Sebastien watches him expectantly, "I think I could learn to."

"You do?" The beast raises an eyebrow.

"Yes, I do," Flynn nods.

"Mm, okay," Sebastien unlocks our cage door, and it swings open. I watch as Flynn slowly walks out of the cell and turns to Sebastien. Is face is hopeful, but a flicker of doubt shows. Oh no.

Flynn back up, he opens his mouth to say something, but instead, he takes a run for it. Mother-Sebastien lets out a roar and begins to chase him. I want to scream, but instead I chase after them.

. . . . .

I find myself in the palace gardens. Sebastien has cornered Flynn in the maze. Standing back, I watch them. I have no idea where the teardrops are or where to find them. I really want to smack both boys.

"You liar!" The beast shouts at Flynn.

"No, I'm not a liar," Flynn shakes his frosted tipped hair, "I just..."

"What? You just what?" The beast snarls.

"I can't..."There's tears in Flynn's eyes that I didn't see before. What is going on? I feel like I'm intercepting a private conversation.

"Of course you can't," Sebastien laughs cruelly, "Look at me! I'm a monster!"

"You're not a monster," Flynn says quietly.

"What?" Sebastien asks.

"You're not a monster," Flynn says louder, a tear falls from his cheeks and onto the ground. It glows yellow. He glances down at it, wonder on his face. He bends down and picks it up, his eyes find mine. I walk past the beast and take it from Flynn.

"What is that?" Sebastien asks.

"The way I can save you both," I mutter. I hold it out, and it emits a very bright, golden glow. When it darkens, Flynn stands before us, looking as he did. His eyes are wide with fear as he disappears. I turn to Sebastien, hoping the same thing has happened to him, but he's still a beast.

"What the hell just happened?" Sebastien asks me angrily.

My stomach drops, "Why are you still here?"