ᴅᴀɴᴅᴇʟɪᴏɴꜱ ( 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 )

𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

THE FIRE raged, a malevolent beast unleashed upon the world.

It carved a path of destruction, slithering toward the captured villains like a serpent drawn to its prey. The flames danced and twisted in a grotesque ballet, encircling the wretched souls, their desperate cries echoing through the night. The haunting shouts of Dolores, Smeagle, and Fernald pierced the air, a chilling symphony that resonated in the children's ears, filling their hearts with dread and anticipation as the inferno closed in, hungry for chaos and despair.

Ophelia's screams mingled with them. Fear grappled her like never before, clouding her mind and blurring her vision. Katherine and Katerina worked towards trying anything to stop the fire and running like headless chickens. Quigley and Klaus rushed towards somewhere unknown, whereas Violet worked towards carrying Sunny on her hip, hiding her small frame.

Sofia threw a blanket over the growing fire, trying to pat it away. The fire completely devoured the blanket, reducing it into a small pile of ashes. Angelina moved to close the large windows of the ballroom, locking it firmly.

Suddenly, a large box full of baking powder was poured over it, causing it to hiss and almost wither away by Quigley. Klaus followed suit by pouring a large bucket of water over the smaller flames causing it to disappear completely.

Eugene and Silas ran in, throwing buckets of water at the curtains.

A beat passed.

Everyone sighed in relief.

A small flame threatened to spark again but Katherine smashed it against her boot.

Angelina moved to open the windows, as stygian smoke poured outside. 

Ophelia began to cough, rather harshly. Violet moved in to help her, rubbing her back soothingly, and releasing a few coughs of her own.

The blonde moved to rub her eyes and face, forcing herself to relax. For a second, she had been convinced that she along with the rest would have died. She had never been as courageous as the heroines in stories and now she felt shame wash over her.

How was she so possibly useless?

But the sight before she caused her stomach to drop.

Smeagle and Doroles were free of their restraints and now looked at the children akin to a predator looking at a prey.

Smeagle grinned wickedly, revealing his blackened teeth. "Now what will ickle children like yourself do against big bad beasts? Like the one in Beauty and the Beast?" he chuckled to himself.

"You don't want to do this," Katerina told him as if she was bored. Ophelia glanced at her in surprise.

"Oh really? And why is that?" 

"You'll see," Katherine told him with a grin.

Dolores and Smeagle exchanged confused looks.

"Jump out the window. I dare you." 

Smeagle glanced at Katerina, eyes narrowing in suspicion. He glanced at the window with hesitance and chose to remain where he was. Behind him, Fernald was struggling with his restraints that he couldn't undo because of his hook.

"I suggest you don't move, Fernald," Angelina told him.

"What are we going to do with them?" Klaus asked, glancing at the villains. "I mean we surely can't just keep them here."