Once Upon A Time - Ocean Of Darkness

IX

It took her a moment to comprehend the situation. She was advancing down
the hall when suddenly the pieces came together and she froze in her tracks. She visualized it in her mind, the spare key hidden typically under the plant in front of her door. Had she told Gaston about it? She tried to think as to whether she had. But their memories together weren't important to her, so she couldn't get a glimpse of anything. She decided not to overthink it, just because Gaston know where a spare key to her house was didn't mean he broke in last night. The simple knowledge of the key didn't mean he was in leagues with an infamous criminal. After all, Gaston was the kindest man she knew, innocent and sweet, not even capable of devious acts.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as he noticed her pausing.
She swiftly rotated her body,
"No, I just forgot I say it I love you."
"I love you, too." He replied. "See you tonight."
She'd just blasted another lie right into his ears, an illusion that she loved him with all her affection. But even if she gazed her hardest into his sapphire eyes, there was no chemistry, the love was one sided.

She began walking again, not looking back at him, only looking ahead. She prepared herself for the guilt she'd face when she'd tell Ruby that her spending the night in a cell was unnecessary. That her being arrested was nothing but a terrible accusation on Belle's part. Maybe she could make it up to her, invite her out sometime, although it was obviously very unlikely that she would say yes.

She felt guilty. This whole situation after all was her fault. She'd chosen this job, she'd stupidly kept the spare key to her apartment. There wasn't any excuse, she had no alibi. When she showed her face in the police department she would have to explain her colossal mistake, except all consequences.

She soon found herself at the end of the hallway, glancing in the corner of her eye and still seeing Gaston ensuring she could safely enter the elevator. He had to of course, for he wasn't sure he was capable of pressing a couple buttons and stepping into the elevator all on her own. She was thankfully greeted with no one inside the elevator when its doors opened. She needn't talk to anyone, or pretend  that she was off to some art museum or some any other fake place. And so she stepped inside. She was left alone inside of it for the glorious minute or so that it toke to lower down into the building's lobby. She had no eyes viewing her, and no ears hearing her every breath. She'd always liked being alone best, she after all lived with no company, never had a wide group of friends, and contacting her family was basically out of the question.

Before she could carry on with her train of thoughts, the elevator abruptly opened its doors and revealed the ground floor of the building. She prepared herself for the sudden booming sounds of New York City that would enter her ears once she opened the doors. And she was as usual met with just that, not even able to think from the sounds echoing through her head. The police cars racing down the roads, their sirens loudly indicating danger. The loud and uninteresting gossip that was spoken by the casual civilians strolling through the city. And most of all, the cars using their horns at every given point, showing their cowardice by hiding behind their windshields. She stepped off of the sidewalk slightly and signalled for one of the many taxis that awaited for business. One almost immediately shifted into the space where she stood, the door of the car being so close she could almost feel it. The door of the bright yellow taxi creaked as she opened it and say inside, the man at the driver's seat greeting her with a smile.

"Where are you off to today ma'am?" He asked politely. He was obviously hoping for it to be far away, as he charged her for every metre he drove.
"Just to New York Police Department, thank you."
"And what business do you have there?" He asked.
"What business to you have questioning me and violating my privacy?" She replied.

He didn't say a word. Instead he looked towards the traffic, and carefully joined the taxi into the line of cars that stretched through every corner of the city. She supposed her snappy little comment had shut him up, and she could avoid any further conversation. He drove unsteadily, occasionally jolting the car with his driving, making her feel uneasy. But nonetheless she sat back and relaxed in the ripped leather seats of the vehicle, looking out the fogged up windows and viewing the daily lives of citizens enjoying a day of shopping. She watched them exchange smiles with their loved ones, and occasionally saw people softly kiss the lips of their significant others. She tensed up inside, and felt herself looking away from her window. She felt jealous, envious of the people who could enjoy their day with the people they loved. Sometimes she didn't like being alone, she sort of found a liking towards the warm aura that some people had, the way some people could make her feel safe and sound.

The taxi jolted suddenly as it parked crookedly outside the building.
"That's fifteen dollars ma'am." He said, only looking at her through the rear view mirror. She pulled the money from her purse and placed it onto his held out palm.
"Thank you." She smiled as she quickly exited the vehicle, slamming the door behind her. He drove off incredibly quickly, not looking back at her for even a second. She liked to think that he'd drove off in embarrassment.

Approaching the police building professionally, she prepared herself for the worst. With the gentle pull of a glass door and a couple footsteps forward, Belle was faced directly in front of a man dressed smartly in a dapper suit, his face dressed with an emotionless frown. She rummaged through her purse in search of her ID card, which should allow her to enter the station with no problem whatsoever. When she finally founded it and passed it to the man, he generously looked at her face to ensure she hadn't somehow taken it from someone else.

"Miss French?" he asked with a monotonous tone.

"Yes, I'm here to see Ruby Lucas?" she replied nervously as he didn't reply. 

He stepped away from the desk and gestured her to follow as her walked over to a steel door that looked as if it could protect even the hardest of forces. The strong reinforcements contrasted with the petit body of Ruby that was revealed once he opened the door. She was sat down on an uncomfortable looking bench that stretched down the width of the jail cell. Her hair was messily presented in frizzles that sprung off of her head. Her eyes were lifeless and she opened them suddenly, revealing bloodshot scleras, and darkened pupils that looked right through her. The man left the two in privacy, as he stood at the back of the door. I suppose he assumed Ruby was some sort of dangerous implosive, that she needed constant watch. It was all Belle's fault, she knew nothing she would say could stop Ruby's anger.

"Ruby, I'm sorry, I know it wasn't you, I was mistaken. It was someone else, that I know."

Ruby stood up, walking over to Belle and looking her right in the eyes. Her beautiful emerald eyes somehow managed to look malevolent. Belle could feel the tension. And with the quick movement of Ruby's arm, Belle's face was slapped ferociously by the palm of Ruby's hand, the clash sending her to the cold cell floor hastily.