Another Beauty and The Beast Story: Chapter One

My bedroom door opened, letting a stream of the hallway light enter my room. I slowly sat up, blinking at the sudden light, but my dad quickly tried to block it. "I just wanted to say goodnight and let you know that I'll be leaving really early tomorrow."

I sighed, slowly nodding. "Try to come back early", I said. "Just try."

He smiled. "Of course". He walked in to give me a hug and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Stop growing up so fast."

The next morning I noticed the silence in the house, telling me I was alone. It's winter break, so I have no school work to do. So all I can do is either stay home or go to the library. I should've asked my dad to take me with him to Chicago. I wouldn't have mind exploring. He'd give me the same answer he always gave me though, "no". He might not make it for Christmas, and if he doesn't it will be a while before I forgive him. Why did he have to be so good at his job? Not just anybody can be such a good lawyer.

The whole week I decided to only go out twice and I ordered pizza most of the nights. My dad called every day and told me how it was going to snow over there next week. It's a good thing I don't LOVE snow.

It was Saturday night that I was surprised he didn't call me and wouldn't answer my calls. I just guessed he was working, which was pretty normal for him to do at nights. So I called him the next morning, and he still wouldn't answer. I thought maybe he was still sleeping, though he never sleeps in. I called him about twenty times through-out the day, yet he didn't answer or call back. I've left him messages, but nothing comes of it. I knew something was wrong.

Monday morning I packed up my stuff, got some money saved up and headed to the airport. I was relieved to know that there was a plane about to go that way in an hour so I got a ticket and headed to Chicago.

The whole flight I was anxious, not even my favorite book could help me. I'd glance at my watch every two seconds. These were the longest five hours of my life.

When we landed I already had a cab waiting for me. I had called before I had gotten on the plane. I already knew where I was going. My dad always gave me the name of the apartment and the street it was on for emergencies.

When I arrived I gave the first employee I saw my dad's name and after begging her and telling her my dad might be missing she gave in. She checked and shook her head, apologizing. He left Saturday morning but never came back. My heart sunk.

After giving her enough information to prove Mark Walter was my father she walked me to his room and opened the hotel room for me. She gave me an extra key and wished me luck before leaving.

I immediately searched the room for any clues to where my dad might be, and I found one. I opened his laptop and found out he was looking for and address. I wrote it down and quickly headed out.

Should I call the police? What if he just decided to stay with one of his workers? Maybe he's just been too busy? Why would he leave for two days and not take his stuff with him though? I didn't know what to do.

I got out of the cab and watched it drive away. The cab driver said he would send another cab because he had a family emergency. So here I was standing in front of a large mansion with long metal bars surrounding it. The sun was setting and actually made the front of the house look beautiful. I noticed the clouds were coming not far away. It was freezing and I knew the snow would probably be falling tomorrow. The ground was nothing but green healthy grass, with a small round garden of red roses in the middle.

I pushed the gate open, surprise it was open, and walked in. I was hesitant as I walked on the brick sidewalk that guided you right to the front wooden door. I hesitantly rang the doorbell and just waited. I waited and waited before ringing the doorbell again. Nothing. I don't know why but I reached for the door knob, and to my surprise the door was open.

I peeked through the gap to see if anyone was on their way, but I could hardly see anything. It was so dark. I stepped inside, clutching my purse to my side. "Hello", I said a bit shaken up. No answer.

I placed my hands on the wall and searched for a switch light, and it didn't take long for me to find one. A chandelier that hung from the ceiling turned on, brightening up the room. There was a wooden staircase to my left that led upstairs, and a door to my right. I was about to walk up the stairs but then I heard some shuffling right behind the right door, making me gasp in sudden shock.

I shook it off and went over to the door, feeling a stab of guilt for some reason. I opened the door to realize it went downstairs to complete darkness. To my relief there was a switch right next to the door and I switched it on. I heard the shuffling again, making me jump. I sighed and slowly walked down the steps. "Hello?"

Shuffling.

"I'm looking for someone, could you please help me?"

More shuffling, but this time I could have sworn I heard moaning.

When I reached down the staircase I was surprised not to see anybody, but then the shuffling came again from a door at the end of the empty room. Anxious to get this over with, I ran over to the door and was about to open it, but then I realized it was locked, from the outside. Now I was a bit scared. I unlocked the door and it almost immediately opened, crashing into me.

I fell to the ground, not realizing what was going on. My heart was beating so hard that it was the only thing I heard for a moment, but then my dad's voice was heard.

"Anne? Anne!" He hugged me suddenly and it took me a moment to realize what was going on. I hugged him back.

"Dad? What happened? Why were you locked in there?"

He suddenly lifted me to my feet and hastily pulled me toward the stairs. "We have to go. He'll get to you too."

"What do you mean, dad?"

The basement door opened, and my dad quickly pulled me out of sight. "Oh no", he said. He took a quick look around but didn't seem to find what he hoped to find.

Steps were heard starting to walk down the stairs, and for some reason I wasn't scared, but I was mad. "Did this guy lock you up?" I didn't try to whisper, but I didn't yell.

My dad shushed me. "Just get ready to run."

Finally a person was in sight, but his face was hidden under a dark top hat. He was covered almost completely. He wore a long dark coat and dark jeans, like he wanted everyone to know he was dark.

My dad suddenly charged at him, but suddenly two large men ran down the staircase and each grabbed one of my dad's arms. He struggled and struggled, telling me to run, but I didn't.

The man seemed to just look at me, his eyes being the only bright things you could actually see under his hat. "She can leave", he said when one of the men was making their way toward me. "The man is the one that must stay."

I looked at him a bit shocked, my breathing starting to get loud enough for me to hear. "Why? I'm going to get the police and you know that."

He nodded and took steps toward my dad. "Yes but they can't do anything about it. Your dad and I had a deal, and that deal can't be broken until I say so."

"What are you talking about?"

"See, your dad signed a contract saying he belonged to me until I said so, and I haven't said so yet."

"He wouldn't-", I looked over to my dad and he met my gaze, slowly nodding. "But why?"

"We were playing cards and he thought he'd win so we made a bet. It was pretty easy." I heard the man smirk.

"There has to be a way", I said, tears stinging my eyes. "Can you let him see the contract?"

The man met my gaze again and shook his head. "It strictly says in the contract that the one who agrees to all the terms may not see the contract, and your dad did sign it."

"Is there anything against trading?" I choked when I said that, but if I take my dad's place then he'd be able to review the contract and find a way out because he's a lawyer.

"No", my dad protested, and started to struggle again.

The man sighed amusingly, taking steps closer to me. He walked around me, studying me. "What can a girl do for me?"

"I..." I gulped, "I can cook a few things, I can clean, wash clothes, you can even give me some man work. I'll do my best."

"It would give my maids a break. But you do understand that I might not relieve you any time soon."

"I understand."

He met my gaze again, and I could tell he was thinking about it. "Very well", he said. He took a piece of paper and a pen out of his coat pocket and handed it to me. "Sign underneath your father's signature."

I hesitantly walked over to the wall and opened the piece of paper. I placed it over the wall and stared at the empty space under my dad's signature. I slowly lifted my pen and signed my full name, Anne Jane Walter. I folded the paper again and handed it to the man, a tear sliding down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. My dad would figure something out.

I didn't notice that he was protesting the whole time. "Let him go", the man said, and as soon as the big man did, my dad ran over to me.

"No, I want my place back", he said to the man, but the man only looked over to me.

"It's ok dad." I gave him a hug and whispered ", I'm going to get that contract and give it to you ok? We're going to find a way out."

"Get him out of here", the man ordered, and soon my dad was being pulled out of the basement, still begging for his place back.

I was left with the man alone, my tears not holding back. There was silence for a moment. I didn't look at him, but I felt him staring at me.

"Don't act like it's the first time you've ever made a girl cry", I snapped.

He didn't say a word. He walked over to the room my dad was locked in and motioned me to get in. "I don't need you yet", he said. I hesitantly walked into the room, and when I heard that door lock behind me I went into tears.