The Story of Belle
Prologue: The Thorne Ledger
(Setting: An ancient, dust-filled library in the Thorne family's ancestral estate. Time: Midnight.)
1652 A.D.]
SCRIBE: The pact is made. For the wealth granted, a blood union is sworn.
VILLAGER ELDER
The Thorne shall have the gold. But the first-born of his line shall be tied to ours when the Crimson Moon rise
THORNE PATRIARCH
Agreed. The promise stands until the moon turns red
THORNE PATRIARCH
SCRIBE: It is sealed. The Thorne Ledger is witness.
[Present Day. Thorne Tower Penthouse]
Alex Thorne (ML)
[Alex Thorne]
Marcus (assistant of ml)
1:17 AM. Email from Chief of Security, Marcus.
Marcus (assistant of ml)
Sir, the satellite imaging confirmed it. Lunar cycle is... irregular. It's the Crimson Moon. Astronomers are calling it a fluke, but the elders are in a panic.
Marcus (assistant of ml)
Sir? You there?
Alex Thorne (ML)
I am. Give me the coordinates of the 'Forgotten Village.' Now.
Marcus (assistant of ml)
Sir, with respect, we're talking about a dusty old myth. The 'Ancient Promise.' You can't be serious.
Alex Thorne (ML)
The Thorne family doesn't deal in myths, Marcus. We deal in Legacies.
Alex Thorne (ML)
My grandfather spent a lifetime fighting off creditors who cited the Ledger. This 'myth' is a seven-figure annual legal expense.
Alex Thorne (ML)
If this woman, this Belle, is the key to finally closing this insane chapter... I'll claim her. Then I'll bury the entire farce forever.
Marcus (assistant of ml)
And if she refuses?
Alex Thorne (ML)
Thorne doesn't ask. Thorne takes.
Alex Thorne (ML)
Prepare the chopper. We leave at dawn.
The Arrival
(Setting: Belle's family cottage. A sunny, late afternoon. Belle is in the garden, texting her friend, LILY.)
Belle vasca (FL)
ugh. Dad just sold the prize-winning goat to Mr. Higgins. I swear he loves that old man more than me. 😩
Lily (fl friend)
Lol. At least he’s not selling YOU off, right?
Belle vasca (FL)
[Thinking... If only you knew, Lily. If only you knew about the ancient promise and the terrifying CEO arriving today.]
Belle vasca (FL)
Right. Just another perfectly normal, boring day. Wish me luck for dinner!
(Suddenly, a loud, deep thudding sound shakes the ground outside.)
Belle vasca (FL)
OMG. What was that?? It sounds like a whale fell out of the sky. 🚁
Lily (fl friend)
A whale? Maybe it’s just Farmer Giles’s tractor backfiring?
(Belle rushes to the window. A sleek, black private helicopter is landing in the small, open field next to the cottage. The rotors slowly stop.)
Belle vasca (FL)
No. It’s... a helicopter. A ridiculously huge, expensive helicopter. And a group of men in suits are pouring out.
Lily (fl friend)
...Is this a movie? Send a pic! 📸
Belle vasca (FL)
[Thinking... That must be him. Alex Thorne. He looks exactly like the magazine cover Dad showed me. Cold. Impeccable. Terrifying.]
(A private chat window pings on Belle's phone. The contact is listed simply as "THORNE.")
Alex Thorne (ML)
📥 I am outside the perimeter of your property. We are wasting daylight.
Belle vasca (FL)
Excuse me? Perimeter?
Alex Thorne (ML)
Belle. This arrangement is purely transactional. My time is quantifiable. I expected you to be waiting.
Belle vasca (FL)
I was. In my own life. Which you just literally landed a military-grade vehicle into. Did you even ask permission?
Alex Thorne (ML)
I don't ask. I inform.
Alex Thorne (ML)
My team has finalized the initial transfer of funds to your family's account. The Ledger is settled.
Alex Thorne (ML)
Now, we execute the second phase: The union. Collect your essential belongings. You have five minutes.
The Arrival pt 2
Belle vasca (FL)
Essential belongings? Five minutes?!
Belle vasca (FL)
You're not ordering a latte, Mr. Thorne. You're demanding a human being move their entire life.
Alex Thorne (ML)
Your life is now defined by the Thorne Legacy. Your previous life is irrelevant.
Alex Thorne (ML)
Do not force me to send my security team in to retrieve you. It will be an unnecessary spectacle.
Belle vasca (FL)
[Thinking... He thinks he can just buy me and boss me around? I am not a business acquisition.]
Belle vasca (FL)
Fine. I'll come out. But don't expect me to be grateful. And you can tell your security team to stay right where they are.
Alex Thorne (ML)
Acknowledged. Do not delay.
Belle vasca (FL)
Lily. Gotta go. Something big just happened. Wish me luck. I think I just met my kidnapper. 😳
Lily (fl friend)
Wait! What?! Belle! Don’t leave me hanging! 😱
Belle vasca (FL)
(Belle silences her phone and stares out the window at the tall, unmoving figure of Alex Thorne, flanked by his men.)
Belle vasca (FL)
[Thinking... Alright, Alex Thorne. You may think you own this marriage, but I am still the only Belle in your Beast's castle. This is my fight now.]
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