Blood and Snow

Chapter Six

Belle was now dressed in one of the outfits that she had found. It had a white shirt with a long, black skirt that stopped past her knees. The only problem she personally had with the outfit was that the snow boots she had on didn't match it, but then again, there were no shoes in the crates and she was wearing the boots when Flynn hit her over the head with a bat, so she's stuck with them. 'Oh well.' She thought, '... Maybe I could work with these?'

As Belle started to think, she turned towards the bed and sat down, her eyes drifting to the journal next to her. She hesitated, then reached for the journal and pen and grabbed them. She sat the journal in her lap, holding the pen, and opened it to the first page. Inside was a note.

'Hello again!' She read, 'This is here simply for me to wish you good dreams, and to remind you that you can write anything (or draw whatever you want) in here! Just be careful, though, as Baron or Flynn (or someone else, for whatever reason) may try to steal your book and read it sometime! Happy writing! :)
-Tyreke'

Belle smiled, then glanced down at the bottom and saw a different handwriting and read it. 'P.S. HI! :D -Happy'

Belle's smile widened, at least she might have made a friend— more of acquaintance, really. It still made her feel better than if she were all alone. She turned the page and began to write down what had happened in her nightmare from last night. When she was done, she looked at the page next to it, on the left side of the book. '... Sure, why not?'

She began to sketch the labyrinth of death and despair, adding lines to the walls to make them look made of stone bricks. She decided not to add in the hanging corpses or Baron. When she was finished, she closed the journal and turned to put it back on the bed when she finally realized that someone was sitting next to her. Belle jumped, nearly falling off of the bed.

It was Him.

He gave her an amused look, "Did I give you a good scare?"

Belle nodded in response, unable to speak to him without sounding afraid. She didn't know why he was any different to speak with, she was able to talk to Baron, and Baron is more terrifying. "What were you writing about?" he asked. Belle looked at her feet, "A bad dream."

"May I see?"

Belle wordlessly handed the journal to him without looking at him. He opened the book to the second page and started reading, pausing every now and then to look at her. Finally, he said, "That sounds frightening." and passed the journal back to her. She closed it and put it beside her. He stood up and walked in front of her, and she was forced to meet his gaze. His eyes were still piercing to her.

"Why won't you talk to me?" He asked in a disapproving tone, then said mockingly, "You're supposed to be my lawyer, aren't you?"

"Well— yes, but I..." Belle hesitated, then looked away from him and took a deep breath, "... I don't know... I just... can't seem to talk to you as easily as I can talk to Tyreke or Happy..." then, in a smaller voice, "... or Baron..."

She didn't look back at him, not wanting to see his face. She heard him huff, then walk away. She heard the door open and close. Then everything was quiet.

She sighed and wrapped her coat around herself like it was armor. 'I wonder what Lillian's doing right now. Maybe she's bothering Richard?' Belle laid back and looked at the ceiling, 'I want to go home...'

}—————{

Hours must have went by as Belle fell asleep again. This time there was no dream, it was more of a shallow sleep. Then she heard yelling. A lot of yelling. It hurt her ears.

She sat up and looked around sleepily, her eyes landing on Tyreke, Flynn, and Baron. Flynn and Baron were facing one another, yelling at each other in furious voices. "If I had killed her, you'd know it was me! She wouldn't even be in one piece!" Baron yelled.

"Then how do ye' explain why the lass ain't movin'!" Flynn yelled back. Tyreke had his back turned to her, shouting at the two to calm down. Belle was confused at first, then said, "... Pardon me, but... why are you arguing?"

Tyreke sighed in relief as Flynn and Baron stopped fighting and looked at Belle with surprised looks.

Baron grunted in annoyance. Flynn took a deep breath, "... Sorry fer' yellin' lass, I thought Baron killed ye'."

Belle tilted her head, "It's alright." Her gaze fell to Baron and her eyes widened a bit at the murderous expression on his face. She looked away and asked shyly, "... Did you need me for something?"

"Oh! Yes, actually. It's time for lunch and Happy requested that you eat with her instead of by yourself, for some reason."

"Oh... That sounds nice." Belle said with a small smile. Tyreke nodded and said, "Yes, Happy is usually more... considerate, if you will, of our guests."

Belle stood up, "Are all of you coming, or...?"

Tyreke shook his head, "Flynn will take you to Happy, but Baron and I have to report back to the boss."

Belle nodded, then turned to follow Flynn as he stepped into the hallway. She heard Baron and Tyreke's voices fade the farther they got. After a while of walking around the different corridors, Flynn turned left and said, "We hath arrived, Happy."

The room was larger that the others Belle had seen so far, with two different long tables and forty chairs on each side. There was a two-flight staircase with a landing in the middle on the right wall that led to the second floor. Happy was sitting in the very center of it all, surrounded by crafts and activities. Beside her sat a smiling Bradley. Happy stood up, hopping up and down in place and hollering across the room, "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in!"

Belle smiled at Happy's endless positive energy, it seemed that the girl almost never stopped smiling. She sat down across from Happy, while Flynn went the long way around and sat next to Bradley. "Hi, Belle!" Happy shouted without meaning to, "Wow! You look so pretty in that outfit!"

Belle smiled shyly, "Thank you, Happy."

"You're welcome!"

Cece walked to them with some plates, "Here you guys go, triple-cheese pizza, just like Happy and Bradley asked."

Cece set the plates down, then stopped and looked at Belle, "... I can't believe I forgot to ask you this until just now, but do you have food allergies?"

"No." Belle said, "And it's alright."

Cece nodded and passed a plate to Belle, receiving a "thank you" before passing the others their plates.

}—————{

"Richie, I'm seriously worried about her!"

"Why, are you certain that something's wrong?"

"I... I don't know, but I haven't seen her or heard from her since almost eleven O' clock two nights ago!"

"Lil, I'm sure that she's—."

"Fine?! How can you tell me that she's fine if no one knows where she is?!"

"Lillian!"

"Are you not worried about her at all?!"

"Lillian!"

"How could-?!"

"LILLIAN!"

"WHAT?"

"If you're legitimately that worried about Belle, then we'll both go to her place tonight and see if she's there."

"Their is a ninety-nine percent chance that her door is locked, how exactly do you propose we get in?"

"You and I both know that you can pick locks."

"...Who the hell told you that?"

"I've known since sixth-grade."

"Fine! Just be there at nine, sharp."

"I'll be there."

"Okay. Bye now."

"Goodbye, Lillian. See you there."