Audio recommendation - Elastic Heart by Sia
*
Have you ever heard of Beauty and the Beast?
If no sit tight, if yes here are some question
What if the beast never loved Beauty?
What if Beauty never tamed the beast?
What if Beauty came to be the beast because the beast kept haunting her, he hunted her, and taunted her until she snapped?
Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful girl named Belle, known to all as 'La Belle Enfante'. She and her father lived happily until the day he was taken captive by a fearsome Beast. Unable to bear her father's fate, Belle offered herself in his place, becoming the Beast's prisoner. From that moment on, she lived in a gilded cage within the Beast's vast and eerie mansion.
The Beast was cold, menacing, and domineering. He seemed to find pleasure in others' suffering, and he watched Belle every day through the bars of her cage, his eyes gleaming with dark intentions. Fantasies of cruel games danced in his mind, yet each time he would turn away, restraining his impulses and retreating into the shadows of the mansion.
One day, without warning, the Beast left in a hurry, leaving the door to Belle's cage wide open. At first, she remained frozen in place, too shocked and sceptical to act. She feared stepping out of the wrought iron bars that had kept her confined for so long. As the hours passed, confusion gave way to fear. Could it be that the Beast was not coming back? Had she squandered her only chance to escape? By now, she could have been far from this cursed place.
As heavy rain began to pour from the darkened skies, the oppressive gloom pressed in around her, laden with secrets. Reluctantly, her thoughts converged on one unsettling possibility:
The Beast might be dead.
Commandeered by grim bravery, Belle reached for the iron bars of the cage and forced them open. The rusted metal screeched loudly, the sound exaggerated in the silence, making her grit her teeth. She prayed she was truly alone in the mansion. Her heart pounded in rhythm with the rain that drummed against the windows as she slinked out of her confinement, her feet barely touching the cold floor.
Emerging from the cage, she was greeted by the eerie gloom of the mansion. Sparse candles flickered weakly along the stone walls, casting long, twisting shadows. A chill wind whispered through the halls, extinguishing the already fragile flames and plunging the mansion into deeper darkness. Belle shivered, her breath catching. Where was the wind coming from? Should she follow it?
Her heart thudded louder with each step, her tiptoes echoing in the oppressive stillness. She wandered aimlessly, her legs carrying her deeper into the labyrinthine corridors. Each empty room she passed only heightened the unnerving silence. No signs of life, no clattering pots or bustling cooks - it was dinner time, yet the kitchen was as barren as the rest of the mansion. The absence of any servants or activity gnawed at her, a cold dread curling in the pit of her stomach.
Her brow furrowed. Something was very wrong.
A shiver of realization coursed through her. She didn't know the layout of the mansion well enough to find her way to the main entrance. And now, doubt crept in - was the Beast truly gone? Or had he deliberately left her cage open, knowing she couldn't escape?
Belle's thoughts shattered with the sudden crack of thunder outside. The storm clouds had thickened without her noticing, so consumed she had been with her escape. A glimmer of hope flickered - perhaps she still had time to flee. But that hope vanished when she heard the unmistakable sound of a cart's wheels rolling into the courtyard, despite the rain.
The Beast was back.
A bone-deep fear clawed at her insides, threatening to freeze her in place, but survival instinct kicked in. She darted behind a heavy curtain, her breath shallow, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. The grand entrance to the mansion creaked open, and a gust of cold air swept through, bringing the storm's fury with it. She held her breath, praying he wouldn't find her.
The doors slammed shut with a resounding thud.
Footsteps echoed through the halls - calculated, deliberate, each step louder than the last. Her heart raced. Was he coming this way? The curtains fluttered slightly, disturbed by the wind. Realizing it wasn't safe, she edged away from her hiding spot just as the footsteps halted, sending her pulse skyrocketing.
"Belle." The Beast's voice echoed through the vast mansion, gruff and commanding, but there was something unnervingly playful about it. Belle swallowed hard, dread settling in her bones. "Belle?"
His tone, strange and thick with anticipation, sent a shiver down her spine. He knew she wasn't in her cage. Even though they weren't in the same room, Belle instinctively retreated, her breathing shallow and strained.
"La Belle Enfante," he called again, the playful edge in his voice making her skin crawl. "We should talk."
Father, help me! Belle thought as she turned on her heel, tiptoeing away from the source of his voice. She cursed herself for not finding the main door earlier.
"I just want to play, Belle." His voice carried a false innocence, yet the air seemed to hum with malice. "It won't take much of your time."
He had once promised her freedom in exchange for a game.
The game? Hide and seek.
Ordinarily, she might have loved such a challenge. As a child, it had been her favourite - innocent and fun. But this was different. This was the Beast. His menacing presence, the way he growled and glared, his imposing form - it was not the same as the playful games of her past. There was no safety in this game, only danger.
And now, her survival depended on her ability to outsmart the Beast.
Belle was suspicious of the offer, but she missed being Belle - the beautiful, cherished child of her village. She longed to return to that life. Against her better judgment, she agreed, watching him through a small crack in the wall. The smile he wore chilled her to the bone, as cold and unforgiving as the stone floors beneath her feet. Her heart pounded painfully as she blinked rapidly, her pulse quickening.
"Good! Hide and seek? I love it." His voice echoed through the mansion, freezing her where she stood.
The sound of the beast's boots clicked ominously against the floor, reverberating through the silent halls, each step a dark reminder of her peril. Belle swallowed hard, her trembling legs carrying her through the shadowy corridors.
"I'll give you some time to hide," he teased, his voice playful and terrifying at once.
He was lying. She knew it.
Belle froze momentarily, mind spinning. This was a dangerous game, and if she lost, she would never leave this cursed place. Spotting a sliver of light at the end of the hall, she guessed it led outside. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, her footsteps loud in the oppressive silence.
Upon reaching the door, she yanked the handle with all her might, but it refused to budge. Her fingers fumbled with the lock, desperation lending her temporary strength. It was no use. The door held fast.
The beast's chuckle echoed through the mansion, closer this time. "Oh, Belle? this is hide and seek, not run and escape," his voice taunted, dripping with mockery.
She shuddered, sweat trickling down her spine despite the cold. His voice felt too close, yet she couldn't pinpoint his exact location, which only heightened her fear.
"If you keep running, it becomes a game of cat and mouse," he drawled lazily, amusement clear in his tone. "But I think a combination of both is... exciting, don't you?"
Ignoring him, Belle pulled frantically at another door. Locked. Panic gripped her chest tighter with every failed attempt at escape.
His footsteps quickened, echoing louder behind her. "Belle," he called, his voice turning husky, impatient. "I'm getting bored. Don't make me wait."
The sound of her name on his lips made her want to scream. Every time he said it, it dragged her deeper into terror. She hated it.
Play? She didn't want to play.
Instead of replying, Belle veered in the opposite direction, her instincts urging her to flee. This was a nightmare, and she prayed to wake up from it. But the chilling reality was setting in - she was fighting for her life. She grabbed a knife from the dining hall's table, her body trembling as she clutched the cold steel.
Her breath hitched. This was her only chance. If the beast caught her, she would be trapped here forever, and the thought nearly paralyzed her.
Belle kept moving, testing doors as quietly as she could, heart sinking further with every locked latch.
"Are you hiding well, Belle?" His voice teased. "If I find you quickly, we can play forever, and you'll never leave me."
His footsteps were faster now, and so was her heart.
No!
She bolted again, blind panic overtaking her senses. She was running, not thinking. Her breath came in sharp gasps as her footsteps pounded against the cold floors. If he caught her? no, she couldn't think of that. She 'would' fight if it came to that.
Thunder cracked outside the same time he roared with laughter, and Belle let out an involuntary scream. Horror washed over her as her hand flew to cover her mouth.
"Oh, I heard you, Belle," he called mockingly. "I'm coming for you."
Desperate, she ran upstairs, her legs burning with the effort. She needed to hide - anywhere. A window, a balcony, something to help her escape. But as she reached the top of the stairs, she froze.
In the darkness, two glowing golden eyes stared back at her.
A scream ripped through her throat, echoing down the empty hall.
In a frenzy of desperation, Belle found herself ascending the grand staircase, her instinct to flee colliding with the realization that she needed to hide. Anywhere would do. Clinging to the hopeful thought of finding a balcony or window upstairs, she charged ahead. But when she reached the top, the sight that greeted her made her blood freeze.
A pair of glowing gold eyes peered at her from the darkness.
A scream tore through Belle's throat, echoing down the corridor as panic gripped her. She spun on her heels and sprinted in the opposite direction, her heart hammering wildly. She found another staircase leading downward - she was running in circles, but the diversion might buy her enough time to plan her next move. She needed an escape route. Now.
The thought struck her like lightning: the door he had followed her through earlier. It had to still be open. Without hesitation, Belle bolted toward it, her hand clutching the knife like a lifeline. She burst through the chamber doors, the frigid wind howling from the open terrace, signalling she was on the right path. She was so close to freedom.
Belle's pulse raced as the door came into view. A fleeting moment of relief washed over her - until something hard and cold slammed into her side, knocking the wind from her lungs.
A dark chuckle echoed behind her, sending ice through her veins.
Dizzy and nauseous, Belle shook her head, trying to clear the fog clouding her mind. Her ribs ached, and every breath was a struggle, but she nearly rejoiced when she realized the knife was still in her grasp. She yanked at the door, desperately trying to escape, but it was too late. The rapid thud of footsteps behind her told her the beast was already upon her.
An icy grip locked around her wrists, pinning her against the door with his towering body.
"Oh... a knife," he murmured, his breath cold and unsettling against her ear. Goosebumps erupted across her skin as she struggled in his grasp.
"Let me go, you beast!" she demanded, thrashing, but his strength was inhuman. No matter how much she fought, it was useless. His grip tightened, like iron shackles crushing her wrists, and she felt as fragile as glass.
His breath, colder than the wind, brushed her neck. "I caught you, Belle. Now you're mine," he whispered, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction.
Belle's desperation tripled. She fought harder, trying to free her hand to use the knife, but his laughter - deep and cruel - rang in her ears.
"Belle, La Belle Enfante," he cooed, the words sending a shudder down her spine. "Why so frightened? We're just playing a game."
A game? No - this was a nightmare. This would determine how she lived the rest of her life, and she refused to be a prisoner.
In the mirror beside them, Belle caught his reflection. His glowing eyes - sharp and predatory - were locked onto her. His hairy face brushed against her skin, a sickening parody of intimacy.
"You think you can escape me?" he sneered, his voice cold as winter. "This is my mansion. You belong here."
"Why are you doing this?" she stammered, barely able to speak through her terror.
"Doing what? Playing with you?" His eyes never left hers in the reflection. "Because I love you."
The words made Belle freeze. Love? This twisted creature, capable of such cruelty, claimed to love her? The thought revolted her. Love was a dangerous emotion, one she had heard could deceive even the strongest souls. But now, hearing it from *him* - the one rumored to be incapable of such feelings - filled her with disgust.
"I will never stay in this wretched house because you think you love me," she spat.
"Oh, but you will - "
Before he could finish, Belle bit down hard on his hairy wrist. He grunted in surprise, loosening his grip just enough for her to twist free. She swung the knife at him, aiming for his throat, but he dodged at the last second, the blade only grazing his cheek.
"A knife?" he hissed, his eyes widening as blood trickled down his face.
Belle didn't wait. She bolted in the opposite direction, her breath coming in panicked gasps as she heard him pursuing her. Tears blurred her vision, and she reached out blindly, her hand snagging a curtain. She stumbled and fell, her knee slamming into the hard floor. Pain shot up to her neck, and she screamed in agony.
The curtain fell, dragging a candlestick with it, igniting a small fire. Belle barely registered the flames as she scrambled to her feet, grabbing a boot and hurling it at the beast. It hit him squarely, causing him to stumble and slam into the doorway.
The fire grew, the thick smoke stinging Belle's eyes as she coughed and blinked furiously. She could barely see, but she knew the back door was her only chance. The beast was blocking the other exit. Gritting her teeth, she sprinted toward the fire, determined to escape - even if it meant running through the flames.
Pain ripped through her as her bare feet hit the burning floor, the heat searing her skin. She screamed in agony, but she didn't stop. She had to keep going.
Behind her, the beast leaped through the flames, his growl reverberating through the room.
Belle, her body trembling and broken, raised the knife again. This time, when he lunged at her, she aimed true - the blade sank deep into his neck.
The beast choked, a low, furious growl escaping him as he collapsed to his knees. Blood poured from the wound, staining the floor.
"I told you I didn't want to stay," Belle panted, yanking the knife out. The beast flinched but didn't die.
"Let's play one last game," she whispered, her voice cold. "*Stab until you can't growl.*"
She plunged the knife into him again and again, each strike filling her with a dark satisfaction. The beast finally stopped moving, his body still beneath her. Exhausted, Belle wiped the sweat from her brow, her breath coming in heavy gasps.
The door behind her creaked open, and a faint whisper reached her ears.
"Belle?"
She turned slowly, her heart pounding.
"Father!" she cried, rushing into his arms - only to feel her bloodied knife sink deep into his stomach.
"We came to save you," he choked out, his body sagging as blood dripped from his mouth.
Belle glanced past him to see the entire village gathered outside the door - but it was too late. She no longer needed saving. She was bleeding from her forehead, to elbows and knees yet her smile twisted into something sinister, her eyes wild with the frenzy of what she had become.
La Belle Enfante had become La Beast Enfante.