A Collection of Stories

Belle

A story i wrote in primary school. Not my favorite but i like the plot.

For years, they taunted me. Teased, bullied, controlled. Everyone did. Boys, girls, parents, even teachers. Soft, simple, sweet, Belle. Useless, just another prissy little girl they could control. But I had changed. No longer was I the girly, delicate child I once was. For weeks, I had trained every day to become stronger. Faster. Smarter. No one would underestimate me ever again. I am bold. I am brave. I am Belle.

Today was the Choosing, the most important day of the year, where 16 boys between ages 16 and 20, were chosen for the League of Adventures, the most prestigious association in all Romaan. Every boy born in the country was raised for this moment. However, after 1 year, 3 months and 46 days of searching, I had found a loophole. The Rules of Romaan never stated you had to be male to join the League of Adventures, leaving me eligible to join. I joined on the end of the line stretching across the city's square. When I finally reached the start. A tall, hawk-like woman stood there, glasses perched on the rim of her nose. She raised her eyebrows when she saw me.

 "Name?" she said archly. 

"Belladonna Amor," I said. I hated my name. it meant 'beautiful woman.' Just another reason for the people to underestimate me. The woman opened a small door in the wall. It was time.

I was nervous. Terrified. Frightened. Who knew what was to come?  I had always been told i was not good enough. Especially by my parents. Especially by my father.

I knew he had never liked me. From a young age, i knew i was never his favorite child. That honor went to my older brother, Jonnen.

I was shaken out of my memories as i wandered into  a large room, with intricate designs all over the floor, walls and roof. About 200 boys were gathered there. Only boys. As I entered, they all turned.

 "What's a girl doing here?" I heard one whisper.

 A tall, suited man walked to the front of the room. He beckoned us, pointing to large doors on the far side of room. We all followed. Soon, we were in a large amphitheater, about four times the size of the room before. Hundreds of people lined the sides. Our names, all written on tiny slips of paper. Out of 4000 children, only 80 would go into the next round. The tall, suited man read out the first name. 

"Jacques Albenine," he said. A tall, muscular boy walked to the front of the amphitheater, disappearing through yet another door. The man read out the names, again and again, until finally, the last name was read out. 

"Belladonna Amor," it said. I was stunned. Me?

I walked, past the crowds, past the disapproving looks, and the jeers the crowd was giving me. I felt their eyes on my back as I approached the stage. The tall man, said nothing, but only smiled. He shook my hand and gestured for me to move on. i walked past a smaller crowd of people. I saw a hulking, brutish man looking at me. I hurriedly ran the rest of the way, down another corridor, to our next meeting point. Finally, I arrived   in a meadow, like nothing I had ever seen before. The other boys were gathered next to a stream. As I walked towards them, one of them approached me. It was Jacques, the first boy. 

"What are you doing here?" he said roughly, pushing me into a tree. 

I was harshly shoved back into my memories. My father grabbing by the collar of my shirt, pushing me back into the wall. My nursemaid pressing a damp flannel on my black eye, left there by my father.

In the past, I would've screamed, then promptly burst into tears, but not anymore. I shoved him back, and he stumbled. He growled, preparing to strike, but just as he did, the tall man walked back in. Hurriedly, we both sat down.

 "Right," the man said, grinning. "My name is Frederick Aberman, but you can call me Fred." He straightened his tie, then continued. "Alright, some of you are wondering how we choose the final 16," we nodded. "It's simple. We will have 4 different competitions, fencing, archery, wrestling, and jousting." I smiled. I'd always been very good at archery. He continued. "sword fighting, jousting, and wrestling will be one-on-one, while archery will be in groups of 10. Everyone will choose one sport first, and if you survive, you will move onto your second choice. Last 16 will enter the League of Adventures. Any questions?" 

Jacques grinned, and raised his hand. "Are we allowed to seriously injure people?" he asked, looking directly at me.

Fred laughed. "No. I hope that was hypothetical, Jacques, but no, please, no  serious injuries today. Everyone into your chosen groups, please!"

I'd smashed archery, with ten bullseyes, and only 60 people left. Next was wrestling. I wasn't very strong, but my agility always helped me out. I was up against a bulky, beefy boy, whose name was Grunk. How fitting. He ran at me, roaring, but I was too quick. I dived to the left, and he crashed into the ground, groaning. 

"1...2...3!" the referee shouted.

 I was through to the next round! This really was too easy. Far too easy, in fact. Something was definitely wrong, but i continued.

I passed jousting, as my opponent, fell off his horse, and promptly refused to continue. I grew more suspicious as the day continued on, as i won against many more opponents, all forfeiting or losing in a matter of seconds.

 Finally, it was fencing, my weakness. I saw who I was up against, and I groaned. It was Jacques. I walked to the arena, where he was waiting. 

"Ready to be pummeled?" he grinned. He thrust his sword at my arm, but I parried. In return, I feinted to the left, then jabbed at the right. He blocked. This went on for about five minutes, but eventually, I jabbed his right arm with my sword. Too tired, he collapsed. I jumped around gleefully. I was in!

I walked up to the podium, where Fred was waiting to give me my badge. He smiled. "I had a good feeling about you," he said, smiling. Carefully, I pinned the badge to my jacket. It was small, and plain, with League of Adventures engraved on it. I still couldn't believe it. I was in. I had proven everyone wrong. I was the first girl to join the League, and hopefully not the last. What next, only the future could say.

As i walked slowly back to my house, i felt a strong hand grip my arm, pulling me back into a dark alleyway. I turned, panic rising inside of me. An enormous man stood in front of me. I'd seen him before, but i wasn't sure where....

The man pulled me deeper into the alleyway,  not uttering a word. At the very end, he opened a door, and stepped through, dragging me with him. I tried to scream, but he clamped a hand over my eyes and mouth.

Eventually, the man let go. Dazed, i looked around. I was in a plain room, furnished with nothing. At the end of it, was another corridor. Cautiously, i crept through it, into another room, this one pitch black. Getting a bad feeling, i crept back, but the door had closed. Frantically, i turned around, and i spotlight appeared, focusing on a black swivel chair. It slowly turned, revealing a face i was all too familiar with.......

"Hello, Belle," my father said.

Hey guys!!!! Hope you enjoyed this! I would really appreciate if you gave me some feedback in the comments, but you don't have to of course :) Would you like a part 2. of this?

Hope you're having an amazing day!

-Olive out!