A modern day twist on Beauty and The Beast

[Piper]

Arrahbeth looked down at the phone in her hand. She couldn't believe what she had just been told by the American Embassy in Mexico; Her brother was on an archeological dig in Xcaret when his group was attacked and kidnapped. Her first thought was that she had to get him back, her second thought was that she could not let her parents find out. Her mother was a worrier any day of the week and this would drive her mad. Her father, a retired Detroit PD would fly down there and try to run things and with his recent health scares- no, she couldn't let him go.

She had been planning a trip down to see Frank in just a week anyway. She just told her parents that she had to move it up due to work and boarded a plane the next day. She hailed a taxi and arrived at her hotel late. After relieving the mini bar of the one bourbon it held, she fell into bed, exhausted. She hadn't slept much since the call from the Embassy. She was awoken by a heavy form laying atop her back and a filthy hand over her mouth. His Spanish accent was thick in her ear and his breath smelled of tobacco and booze. "Ohhh pretty Arrahbeth..." the R's rolled off his tongue. "You go back to Detroit. Do not try to find Frank. If you try, I have permission to use you as I please before I slit your throat!" He hissed. "Do not call the police, do not keep your appointment at the Embassy. Go home or die!" he threatened and hopped off her. She heard the door slam shut but she lay there for a long time, afraid to move.

Once she moved, it was to leave this hotel and head right to the airport. But once she was there, should could not bring herself to go back home. Her late night visitor had proven this wasn't just a case of kidnapping for ransom, as the Embassy suggested, this was someone who knew her, knew her brother by name...there was no ransom demand. This was personal. ~Frank....what have you gotten into?~ She thought as she fought tears. She and Frank were not your normal brother and sister. They actually liked each other, even when they were children. He was 3 years older than her and when the other high schoolers would ignore their younger siblings, Frank included her and stood up for her when it was needed.

She waited until the flight that she would have been on, took off and then she made her way outside, keeping her fiery red hair under a scarf and slipping into a cab that was already stopped and waiting for another fair to pack their belongings into the trunk. When she shoved $100 American dollars into his hand, his would be protest fell silent and he pulled off, leaving the trunk open and half filled with someone else's bags........