ISABELLE’S POV “Please open the door! I beg you. I cannot stay here anymore. Please let me out! Help me! There is so much darkness here! Help!”. I shout as I bang on the door with my fist. I use my full force to bang on the door with the hope that someone will hear the sound of my banging and will come to help me. I have been doing it for such a long time that now my hands are hurting. I don’t know how much time has passed. My throat is dry and it hurts because of shouting for help. My hands are red and I feel like I don’t have any energy left inside me anymore. I am hungry and thirsty. My body is tired and aches because of sitting for such a long time. I look around me and don’t see anything. There is darkness all around me. I had found the door with quite a difficulty. I feel like I have become blind. This darkness has started to creep me out. The never-ending silence is making me insane. I want to hear the voice of someone else. I am sick and tired of this loneliness. This loneli

ISABELLE’S POV “Why? Why this cruelty, my king”. I ask the king in a low voice. Fear has gripped my insides so tightly that now even my voice is coming so low. The king does not look at me but continues to look forward at the sand. “This is not cruelty, Isabelle. This is your punishment for trying to escape me and you have chosen this yourself in exchange for the life of those who helped you to escape. I told you numerous times that you should forget about your village and accept this life but you did not listen. No worries, I am sure that after this punishment you will never think of escaping me”. The king tells me in a cold tone. He looks toward me and I see only no mercy or kindness in his eyes. He puts a hand on the side of my face in a compassionate manner. “Now my dear love, walk on this hot and burning sand with the same feet with which you had walked outside the palace and towards the stable”. The king orders me coldly. His eyes are void of any emotion and look like two sou

THE NEXT DAY ISABELLE’S POV Now my life has become more boring. I cannot even walk or go towards the window. I have nothing to do the whole day. I am tired of sitting in bed. Now I need the help of someone to do the simplest of things. The king has appointed a maid to take care of me. Her name is Margaret. She helped me in having a bath this morning and also brought breakfast for me. She left only a few moments ago because she had some work. Yesterday night when the king came, I thought he would want to have sex with me but he surprised me. He joined me in the bed and took me in his arms. He asked me how I was and then we did not talk. As I was tired, I was feeling sleepy. We fell asleep like that. Today morning when I woke up the king was gone. I was shocked to see myself in the mirror. Margaret has brought a small mirror for me at my request. My cheek is swollen and has an ugly purple bruise on it. It hurts whenever I touch it. I have finally reached a decision. I have accepted

ISABELLE’S POV “Now you are looking perfectly beautiful”. Edith said after combing my hair. I smile as I look at myself in the mirror. Today I am wearing a nice sky-blue dress. I don’t wear those revealing weird non-existent dresses anymore. Ivy told Edith to make me the dresses I like. Ivy is now the head of the harem so Edith has to follow her orders. I remember that I had asked the king once about this and I was not expecting the words he said in return. His words were: “Of course, you can wear the dresses you like. It does not matter what type of dress you wear. For me you will always look beautiful”. His words had impressed me that day. I did not think that he would say such words to me. Now I hate Lillian more for making me wear such dresses. I was looking at myself in the mirror when I heard Ivy’s voice. “Edith, leave us alone. I have to talk about something with Belle”. Ivy orders Edith while looking at me. Edith does not say anything but quietly starts packing up her t

ISABELLE’S POV “You don’t need her forgiveness. You have me”. The king says to me with a smile. The king goes forward and pulls the struck flambeau and with a large sound, the walls come back in their place. The walls are looking like normal. No one can tell by seeing them that a maze is hidden behind these strong walls. I leave the king’s hand and move forward towards the wall and touch it. There is no crease or something like that from where the walls had split. The bricks are in place. It looks like a real wall. These walls cannot be opened from the inside. So, it means once you enter you cannot get out. The king’s words were right. It is a path toward death. “I am thinking about something, my king but I fear that you might get angry. Am I allowed to speak what is inside my mind?” Walter asks the king with the utmost respect. I look towards him from where I am standing. “Yes, Walter. You can speak”. The king allows him. His attention is now on Walter. “You knew that she wou