11 years back...

She felt as if she was cocooned within the softest cotton. It was so warm and comforting that it was slowly lulling her back into a deep slumber, but something didn't feel right. Something felt off. What was it? Her mom. Wait. Her mom and her brother were in trouble. She had to help them. But she was running. And running and...

Click

Belle quickly rose up from the bed she was on and peered over towards a door, which was slowly creaking open. Her heart began hammering against her ribcage as she finally realized that she didn't know where she was. Her flight sense were heckling her to get up and run, but she was too scared. Her body was paralyzed on the cushion, only allowing her to pull her knees closer to her torso.

The door stopped, wide enough for her to catch a few pairs of eyes bouncing back and forth between the crack, trying to get a peek at her. Then she heard whispered voices coming from the other side.

"Is she woke?"

"How do you know it's a girl?"

"Hush, I can't see."

"What talking gotta do with you seeing?"

"Ya'll are going to get us caught."

"Hey, look. She's awake."

Belle frowned at the voices. They all sounded quite young, but that still caused Belle to cower closer to the wall.

Suddenly, the door flung open and a orange headed toddler fell on his hands and knees into the room. He just lifted himself to his feet like nothing happened and then trotted the rest of the way to the cot Belle was occupying. He clawed at the sheets, trying to climb onto the cot with her.

Belle looked over to the doorway to see four other children just watching her curiously. She looked back down at the babbling toddler and reached down and helped the chunky boy up. The boy bounced around in her lap before he got settled and started playing with her face. He was really adorable and reminded her so much of her own brother.

"Ace, Shar, Champion and K.O. Ya'll better not be up there messing with our guest." A voice echoed from the distance, and Belle saw the instant tense form on the kids shoulders as they froze.

"We're not, mama." The children chorused in the direction that the voice had come from.

Belle heard heels clacking along the floor and she unconsciously squeezed the toddler closer to her.

"What are you doing?" The same voice, now nearer, asked the kids. Then a woman appeared in the doorway.

"I think Rockie has a girlfriend." A blonde boy said to the woman with a giggle.

The other children laughed along.

The woman looked over and smiled softly in Belle's direction, then jumped to action removing all of the kids from the room. She went in and reached down to pick the toddler up, only for Belle to tighten her hold on him.

"He doesn't have to leave," Belle said lowly, then squeezed her eyes shut and started to tremble. She shouldn't have said that. She shouldn't have said anything.

Hearing chuckling caused her to pause and squint her eyes up toward the woman.

"That's really cute honey, but trust me. You can't handle this one yet." The woman said, plucking Rockie from her arms and setting him outside of the door with the others.

"Take him and go play." She heard the woman say to the kids, then the sound of laughter and running feet followed after, leaving the two alone.

Belle's skin instantly bristled when the woman shut the door closed. She truly was trapped now. Completely vulnerable on foreign territory surrounding by strangers. The girl let out a frightened whimper.

That prompted the woman to turn around adorning a soft smile. "I'm so sorry, honey. We didn't mean to scare you. That's the very last thing that we'd want to do. You see my kids, they were the ones who found you outside and they've been begging non-stop to make sure that you were alright. I just want you to be as comfortable as possible."

"Where-"

"Definitely not in Fall border." The woman answered before Belle could finish. She must have read the girl's suspicious face because she continued. "First off, you're covered in too many bruises, and if that wardrobe is a choice, then you passing out in our backyard was the red flag."

Belle began shaking. Did this mean they were going to send her back? Even though she had nothing to live for, she'd rather kill herself than be sent back there.

The woman frowned then took a step towards Belle, but it did nothing for the little girl's nerves as she flinched and resumed back to cowering against the wall.

"Calm down, honey," the woman started, raising her hands placating. "You're safe now. You're safe here and nobody's going to take that away from you."

The woman strutted gracefully to the cot beside Belle's and took a seat. That smile never left the woman's gorgeous face and it had Belle mesmerized. Like her mother's smile.

"My name's Nara by the way." She introduced.

Belle hesitated for a second, before responding with a low, "Belle."

"Belle," Nara repeated, trying the name out. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you," Belle whispered out and her eyes found the blanket surrounding her interesting.

Talking to the woman somehow relaxed Belle as her trembling completely subsided. Though, she was still wary, she could feel that there wasn't any immediate danger here.

"You don't have to share your story with me if you don't want to," Nara calmly stated. "Whenever you want to, I'm here when you're ready. No rush. And you don't have to be scared. Not here. Our home is your home. I know my daughter would be very delighted to have another girl in the house."

"H-how... how long...?" Belle tried to ask.

Nara let out a sigh, then answered her. "You've been out for two days. After we got you patched up, we moved you in here until you woke up. Again, to be comfortable."

Belle looked around the bedroom, observing it before looking to the far wall and noticed a calendar. She let out a gasp once she saw the date.

"My birthday," ghosted pass Belle's lips as she stared on.

Nara's face turned perplexed, then smoothed out and that smile once again graced her face. "Well. Happy birthday, Belle."

27

Happy birthday Belle

Present day...

Belle blinked her eyes open. The sun filtered throughout the room and the tweets were chirping happy melodies from outside. Mother nature surely was happy. And wasn't that something, for the day to be so bright and sunny when her mind was in turmoil. She grudgingly sat upright, letting her blanket pool around her waist.

The room was empty which meant that everyone else were up. It wasn't like her to sleep in, especially with all of the ruckus, but apparently she had. She can definitely blame in on a bad night's rest.

She placed her face into her palms.

Had everything been a big nightmare? They've surely been plaguing her lately, so it could have just all been something her mind made up. She went to move, but her stiff muscles weren't agreeing with motion just yet. So everything wasn't just a dream.

She sighed then willed herself to get up.

After taking care of her hygiene, she made her way down the hallway. Suspiciously, the house was quiet. A little too quiet.

'What's going on?' Belle thought as she slowly stepped down the stairs. When she was in the guild hall, alarm hit her. Where was everyone? What if something bad had happened? What if they...

"SURPRISE!" The shout took the panicking teen off guard and she nearly jumped from her skin as she peered around at her family who now were standing around with huge smiles on their faces.

Then the kitchen door opened and Muffin strutted out carrying a wide platter with a huge cake on it.

"Hap~py hap~py day," the house started singing so spirited and animated.

Belle remained motionless in shock. The doves carried on singing and Nara walked to Belle and pushed the shocked girl toward the cake. The others gathered around her still singing the melody, "Hap~py birth~day Belle." They finished.

Belle stared at the cake. Muffin really had outdid herself. It was beautiful, decorated with various shades of blue and white frosting, decked with 16 bubble shaped candles.

She looked back at her awaiting families smiling faces. All of a sudden, Belle just broke down in tears. Everyone watched as she literally bawled over the cake with their smiles slowly wiping away.

Nara approached Belle and placed her hands on her shoulders.

"Honey, you okay?" She asked.

Belle wiped her face furiously trying to clear the tears and nodded. "Y-yes. I'm good. I'm good. I'm just... happy."

They all were relieved.

Belle blew out the candles and the house cheered.

Nara pulled Belle into a hug, "May your wishes come true."

Belle smiled up at Nara. "They already have."

"Alright," Alce exclaimed, popping the top off a bottle. "Let's party~!"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY," the house whopped and Ricky elbowed the jukebox bringing it to life. Music filled the room and Muffin went about cutting the cake.

The house came alive as everyone ate, danced and showered the birthday girl with gifts.

Beetle was the first to present Belle with his gift as he stood before her totting a small wrapped boxed. "I'm more than elated to be the first to provide you my offering of gratitude on this joyous occasion. May it serve you plentiful in your future endeavors."

Belle lifted a brow and hesitantly grabbed the present from him, "Um, thanks. What is it?" She asked looking at the gift curiously.

Beetle gave a wide smile. "What that? Oh, it's only a fine specimen that I came in to possession. The mother recently went into childbirth, so I thought it nice to spread the love by sharing her babies with you."

Belle unwrapped the box and opened the lid, then looked down inside. Her body seized up when she saw the simmering blue bug with a long antennae.

"They are from the long line breed Coleoptera, which family a variety of different species. They are called Lolo Bangworm, but in short are known as the water beetle."

Belle forced a smile to the boy wearing goggles. "Um,... Thank you, Beetle."

The boy chuckled. "You are so very welcome, Belle. This species of beetles are rumored to eat away unpleasant thoughts and rid the person of negative energy."

"Yeah yeah, move kid." Ace abruptly interrupted, nudging Beetle aside. "And take ya weird hobby witcha." He said, plucking the gift from Belle's hand and tossing it at the boy, then he grinned at her. Sharmaine stood beside him carrying a thick book with a white ribbon tied around it.

"Happy birthday, Belle." Sharmaine said smiling, then stretched the book towards the girl. "I know you've been reading this series, so I went ahead and grabbed the new edition just for you."

Belle grabbed the book and her eyes gleamed when she saw the title. "A magician's kiss: Harmony's awakening. Oh my gosh!" She squealed, then looked up to the older twins. "This edition hasn't even hit the shelves yet. How did you get it?"

"It's a secret." Sharmaine winked.

"Yeah, that took a lot of persuading. And I bought it with my own earnings, so read up kiddo." Ace beamed, thumbing towards himself before groaning when Sharmaine elbowed him.

"Thank you so much." Belle smiled, hugging the book to her chest.

"Us next. Us next," Daisy chimed in as she pulled Lacey to Belle. The youngest twin handed Belle a box with a glittery wrapping. "I hope you like it." She said beaming a bright smile.

Belle tore into the wrapping and opened the box. She then pulled out a glimmering, light blue beret which matched the orange one Daisy wore.

"Do you like it?" Daisy asked with wide eyes.

Belle smiled and nodded. "It's really pretty, Daisy. Thank you."

Daisy giggled. "Oh, and Lacey got you something too."

Belle looked at the other twin who fidgeted anxiously before handing Belle a wide box. "Hope you l-like it."

Belle opened the box and stared at the dark blue scarf. "I love it. Both of them. Thank you."

The twins beamed bright smiles with a blush forming on their cheeks.

From her side, an object hovered beside Belle's head and she turned to see her reflection in a handheld mirror with a navy blue base. Pretty Boy held the mirror with pride.

"Happy birthday, B." Pretty Boy said.

"Um… thanks, PB." Belle mumbled as she grabbed the mirror from the boy unsure of the intention. "Why a mirror?"

"Lady Arithe blessed us with such gorgeous features, why not be able to adore it with every waking moment you have."

Belle lifted an eyebrow, throwing him a pointed look. "Then why is your face stuck on it?" She asked holding the mirror up, and lo and behold, Pretty Boy had stuck a cut out of his face covering the top half of it.

Pretty Boy just gave her cheeky smirk. "Well, who can resist seeing that face on their body. I know I wouldn't and I live with it." He chuckled, now appraising himself in his own handheld mirror.

Belle and the twins just rolled their eyes at the boasting narcissists.

The song that was playing dimmed out before transitioning into another one, more upbeat.

"Oooo, that's my jam." Alce crooned with a snap of his fingers, then grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled her onto the floor to dance.

Some of the other members joined the floor to dance.

"Dance with me," Daisy squealed, grasping Belle's hand and started pulling her up from her seat towards the floor. Belle quickly grabbed Lacey's hand and pulled her along too.

The house was turned up as everyone partied. King and Nara danced together all cuddled up watching the lot with doting eyes. They were going to be alright.

That night...

Belle sat alone at a table with her hands clamped around a mug. A lone lantern hung in a corner, illuminating the room with a soft glow. Belle stared into the white, frothy liquid with a forlorn look before lifting it to her mouth and taking a sip.

She heard shallow footsteps before she looked up and saw Maya entering the room. The other girl paused before she let out a chuckle and strolled towards the kitchen door.

"You couldn't sleep either?" Maya asked as she walked through the kitchen door and came back out with a mug of her own.

Belle shook her head and took another sip. "Nope. Sleep is hard to come by these days."

Maya took a seat in front of Belle and sipped from her own mug. "Yeah, I'm with you on that one."

Maya watched as Belle stared forlornly into her mug, suddenly hit with an overwhelming feeling of guilt.

"Look," the younger sibling started, "I know you hate me right now."

"I don't hate you, Maya." Belle hurriedly said. "It's all in the past now."

"Well, you might be, but I definitely hate myself." Maya scolded as she looked down at the table. "Belle, we almost..." She paused then let out a deep sigh. "I just hate that a place like that exist. I hate that no one tries to help."

She finally looked up and made eye contact with Belle. "I'm sorry."

Belle took a sip then nodded. The two sat in silence for a while, sipping from their mugs with the flame flickering shadows along the wall.

outro: Stone, Alessia Cara ft. Sebastian Kole