[ WP ] Write a dark , gritty Disney story using any and as many characters as you like .

Rain fell in sheets. It had rained for so many days in a row that even the drains were giving up their rats. Gus stood in the downpour and wondered sometimes if there was enough rain to drive out all the vermin in this miserable town, or maybe just enough in one place to wash away one particular piece of garbage. 
 
 
 He walked to the gate, far more familiar to him now than he had ever wanted. He skipped over the loose cobble that had tripped him the first time she called in a panic. He hated making this trek, not because he hated her calling him, but because he knew one day he would be too late. Maybe this time he could convince her to go, but how many times had he taken this walk thinking just that? 
 
 
'Be our guest,' read the sign under the mailbox. Gus tapped on his phone and saw a light come on in the house. He saw a door open and there she was. 
 
 
 Blurred by the rain and shadows, she could be as he remembered her: slender and beautiful, her hair pulled back into a neat bun. She loved to read and at one point Gus had tried to pretend that he did too. Her books had been her world, and all Gus wanted was to be part of it. She did not carry books around like she used to, she stepped out of her awning and into the street light empty-handed. When he got to her, he remembered his umbrella and opened it. 
 
 
 `` Gus, you ca n't be here,'' she said almost whispering, stealing glances behind her. `` You know he does n't like it when you're around me. He's still mad you had feelings for me.'' 
 
 
 Gus blinked his eyes and shook his head, `` It was a long time ago,'' he said thumbing through his phone as he spoke, `` You married him, god only knows why, and I respected that. He knows that. And you know that. Besides,'' he said swiping water of his screen, `` You called me.'' He turned his call log to her, three phone calls in order, no voice messages, and one frantic text message, `` Help me.'' 
 
 
 `` He was just in one of his moods,'' she said, pulling her sweater tightly together, `` There's a Prince Charming in there. It's just,'' she paused, `` you know how he gets.'' She forced a smile across her lips. One half bulged slightly more than the other. 
 
 
 Gus looked hard at her eyes that stared down and away, `` I do,'' he said, his hands balling into fists. He looked back to the house thinking he would see the brute silhouetted in the doorway, but the door stayed shut. 
 
 
 `` How long are we going to keep doing this? How many times can you let him do this to you?'' Gus asked, trying to take hold of her hands. 
 
 
 `` I'm sorry Gus,'' she said, `` I know, I know. I keep doing this, calling you out here, but he's really a good man, I just need to work harder to bring it out. I just need to stop making him so angry,'' she said scratching at an old palm shaped bruise Gus knew was under her sleeve. 
 
 
 `` What was it this time?'' Gus asked pointedly, `` Did you ask to go to the library again? Go into town and get some things?'' 
 
 
 `` No,'' she said, looking down. `` He does n't like the way the librarian looks me, it's not fair to him.'' 
 
 
 `` Not fair to whom?'' Gus nearly shouted, `` Sweet old Mister Walt who runs the check-out desk or your monster husband?'' 
 
 
 With a crack, Gus felt his face go white hot. Turning back he saw fire in the woman's eyes, `` Do n't you ever say that about him,'' she growled through grit teeth. 
 
 
 He blew it. She would n't come with him. Not this time. 
 
 
 `` Belle?'' a voice boomed like rolling thunder, `` Who're you talking to?'' He darkened almost the entire doorway, it was as though his shadow sucked in the light. 
 
 
 Her eyes went wide, and even in the darkness Gus could see her pupils spread into enormous pools of black. He put a hand on her arm and whispered, `` Come with me.'' She shied away. 
 
 
 `` It's no one, dear,'' she shouted back. `` Just... no one.'' 
 
 
 Gus watched her scamper back into the house and vanish behind his silhouette. Through the rain he thought he could see him grab at her. Then the doors closed. Then the lights went out.
