Belle watched her mouth widely ajar.
In nothing but utter disbelief.
"You're lying to me," Belle said.
No, they were definitely lying to her.
They only wanted to scare her, nothing more than that.
"It's just a lie," Belle said.
She tried to convince herself it wasn't true, but her heart was beating so fast, and something within her told her that it was, in fact, the truth.
She saw her mother and Aunt Cherry's face and swallowed hard.
"It's not true!" Belle snapped in rage. "Why are you two looking at me like that? Mother, why is grand aunt telling me such absurd lies."
"Belle, it's the truth." Her mother said. "She isn't lying. We wouldn't lie to you about such."
She closed her eyes to ensure it was a simple dream or joke.
"Look at her." Aunt Cherry said.
Belle refused to look down at the castle gate.
"I said look at her Belle." Aunt Cherry repeated with such emphasis.