BELLE'S P.O.V
Goodness.
I can feel my body shaking just looking at the monster in front of us.
Shit, I heard Hendrick cast beside me..
“We should look for another direction,” he said to coachman Fernando.
While I was still panicking on my spot, I tightened my grip on the rope.
“Let's go that way!” Hendrick shouted to the coachman.
They change direction to where there are no monsters. But it hasn't been a few minutes when a group of monsters appear in front of us.
What should we do? I can now understand the situation.
We are surrounded by monsters that we couldn't even realize they are here even before Hendrick and Fernando had a decision.
We heard the huge monster roar. I was shocked because it was so loud that it hurt my eardrums.
But what shocked me more is how it ran towards our direction.
“I will deal with this.”
Suddenly, Fernando shouted.
“Are you sure, Hendrick?”
What is he going to do? Is he going to fight those monsters by himself?
“Yes, secure the safety of the lady. I can deal with this. Go ahead.”
Fernando pulled something on his side. It looks like an arrow but it's not.
What is that?
“Take care, let's meet in the north.”
Hendrick started to maneuver the horse to the opposite direction where Fernando was.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“We will try to mislead the monster,” he said and started to go in a different direction again.
He is going in a different direction every time but the monster is still chasing us. Can we even lose that monster?
“Hold on tight.”
I feel like the monster knows where we are going because it keeps on seeing us wherever we go. It's like it knows where we are headed!
I can feel myself trembling but I can't think straight because of nervousness.
Are we going to die here? It's impossible to escape that thing! Are we going to be eaten by that?
I am so scared that I didn't realize that I gripped too tightly on Hendrick’s arms.
He turned one last time until I heard the monster running faster towards our direction. It's getting near, so I shouted because of my fear.
“It’s okay, my lady. Don't look at it, close your eyes,” Hendrick shouted.
But how could I close my eyes when I know that there is a monster chasing us? But despite being nervous, I tried to do what he said.
Yet, a single roar from the monster makes me open my eyes again. We can't escape from that thing.
Tears started to fall down my cheeks.
Why am I facing death again? I am not even done with the matter with the original Belle who's occupying my body, and now this monster is chasing us.
Can't I have a peaceful day? How can I even think straight if these things keep on going?
“My lady.”
Hendrick kept on calling my name, but I couldn't get myself to answer. I am so scared to the point that I couldn't utter a single word.
I don't want to die.
I’ve been saying that for so many times already, but it’s not going my way since last month.
I don't know what to do anymore. I am not that strong to face this thing anymore, but I will do my best to survive.
I calm myself. It took some time, but I finally cleared my mind.
We should find a way to escape from those monsters.
“What can I do to help, Hendrick?” I shouted.
Hendrick seems concerned.
“Just close your eyes, my lady."
“What are you talking about? I can't just close my eyes in this kind of situation! Tell me what I can do to help you.”
Hendrick seems to be against my idea, but later on, he told me what to do.
"Can you hit the monster using these arrows, my lady?”
I looked at the bow and arrow.
“I don't think that can kill the monster.”
“You don't have to kill the monster, my lady. You just have to divert its attention so we can escape from that.”
“But how can I divert its attention?”
Oh I know!
I grabbed the arrow and the bow. Although it’s a little bit shaky because we are running, I tried to focus on the monster.
“You don’t have to do it if you can't, my lady.”
“It’s okay. I just found a way to escape from that monster.”
“You—“
“I should at least try.”
Hendrick nodded his head. I prepared the bow and arrow. This is the only thing that I can help Hendrick with. If I want to survive, I need to do something. I can't just sit and cry in the corner all the time.
Thankfully, this isn't my first time to hold a bow and arrow.
I tried to focus on the target. But because it is dark, I had a hard time finding the right position.
“You can shoot anywhere. For sure it will hit the monster in no time. I have a lot of arrows here. Don't worry about losing some,” Hendrick said.
He really is considerate.
“Thank you, Hendrick."
Although Hendrick said that I can waste some arrows, I couldn't do it. I just tried my best to focus on the target.
When I thought that it was alright, I hit it. I did that a couple of times until I noticed that some of my arrows really hit the monster. It hit him.
I was rejoicing! But then, the monster started to throw things over our direction.
"Watch out!" I shouted as I saw a branch of a tree coming in our direction.
Hendrick made the horse run faster.
"You should stop that now, my lady."
"No, I can't stop this. I need to do this."
This is the only thing that I can help him with.
I didn't care about the things that the monster was throwing.
Even though I wanted to hide under Hendrick's arms, I didn't.
I started to fire an arrow at the monster. And this time, I did it better. While Hendrick is busy escaping from the monster, I am busy heating the arrow to hit the monster.
After a few turns, Hendrick stopped.

"What happened?"
I'm looking in the monster's direction so I don't know what is happening in front of us.
"Hold on tight, my lady."
Hendrick pulled me towards him and made me face the direction in front of us. Why didn't he answer me?
But the moment I focused my eyes in front of us, I realized that it is better to stop what I am doing.
Because we're in front of the cliff where I couldn't see the other side of it.
Wait, don't tell me we are going to jump on the cliff?
"Hendrick!"
I called for him, but he didn't respond. He just tightened his grip on me. Not minding me at all!
No, no! Don't tell me he is going to jump to the cliff?
He must be kidding me.
No matter how much I wished that he wouldn't do it, I'm still wrong. Because as soon as we reached the tip of the cliff, Hendrick started to run towards its direction and jump.
I felt like my soul was leaving my body.
"Ah!"
What did you just do Hendrick!
I can't help but to tighten my grip on his arms.
I closed my eyes because I couldn't take a look at it anymore.
I don't want to see what is waiting for us on the cliff
Just why is he thinking of jumping on this cliff where I can't even see the end?
Is he going to kill us?
It's impossible that he has backup plans because he can't even fly. So how are we going to escape our death?
What is he planning to do?
My mind went blank while we were falling down the cliff. I can feel that I'm near to death.
"Hendrick."
I called for him. But again, he didn't answer.
I couldn't finish what I was about to say because I suddenly felt my body shutting down.
Again…
This body is really weak.
"MONSTERS!"
I gasped.
I couldn't breathe properly. There are monsters chasing us!
"You are finally awake, my lady," Hendrick said.
I turned my face to where the voice came from. It was at the corner of this room; on my right side. I saw Hendrick.
He's grilling something on the fire. What is that? I look around. We are in a dark and quiet place. Where are we?
Last time I checked, we were being chased by a scary monster. And then right before I fell into a cliff, I lost consciousness.
"Where are we?" I asked him.
He gave me the fish that he is grilling. He is not wearing anything other than his shorts. Oh my abs!
No! Focus, Belle!
I noticed that I am not wearing the same clothes that I wore before we fell into the cliff. Why am I wearing this now?
I am now wearing the night dress that May packed for me. But why am I wearing this?
I worriedly looked at Hendrick's direction.
He must notice what's on my mind because he shook his head.
"I didn't do anything my lady, don't worry. It's just that I need to change your clothes because you're bleeding."
As soon as he said that, I felt something on my belly.
I touch it but pain occupies my body.
"Ouch!"
Is this because we fell on the cliff?
It hurts big time!
"I'm sorry for what happened my lady, but that's the only way I see to escape from the monster."
Hendrick looked guilty.
"Don't worry about it. The important part is we're safe."
Although I had an injury…
"Still, I'm disappointed that I couldn't fight the monster-"
"Oh, yeah, now that you mention it, why didn't you fight the monster?"
We just kept on running until we got here.
He sighs.
"That's because that monster will just keep on multiplying if I cut him."
"Why?"
Why would it just keep on multiplying? Is that some kind of magic?
"Those monsters are known as the multiplier. They keep on growing when you cut them. And the only thing that can kill them is by cutting their heart which is located on their heads-"
"Wait, what? Their hearts are located where?"
"On their heads, my lady."
"Wow, that's awesome. Oh I mean, that's hilarious! Why is it located there?
"I also don't know, my lady. But we can just kill that monster if we cut their hearts. Hence, it will take time since it's hard. If I fight with it, you will probably be in danger right now because there are lots of monsters around that place."
Oh… that explains…
But why are there so many monsters? I thought, that forest maintained by the palace?"
I tried to eat the fish but I forgot that it's still hot.
"Ah!"
I'm stupid!
"Here, drink this, my lady!"
He gave me a bag of water.
I drank it until my mouth didn't hurt anymore.
"Thank you…"
He just nodded his head.
"To answer your question, my lady, that place is not really maintained by the palace but by the knights. They were in charge of the order on the border. But currently, they are in the west because our soldiers there we're asking for help."
"Why are they asking for help with the knights? What's happening in the west?'
"There is currently a war going on there."
Oh! I haven't read that in the comic, I didn't hear about it.
"So that is why there are monsters roaming around the forest…"
"Yes, my lady."
Our conversation went for a few hours before we decided to sleep.
"You should sleep first, my lady."
"How about you?"
"I am going to rest after you, my lady."
He must have noticed that I'm going to ask nonstop because he spoke again.
"I need to make sure that you are safe, my lady. I will guard this place while you are sleeping."
Oh, okay…
"Are you ok with that?"
He nodded.
"Alright, I'll just take a nap."
He nodded again.
I lay on the phone that we brought. But before I close my eyes, I stare at his back. He is now facing the outside of the cave.
From here I can see his muscles…
Oh la la…
Hey! What are you thinking about?!
"I should sleep!" I whisper.