My Strange Addiction➳ Carlos De Vil

Betrayal

We all swarm around the Fairy Cottage before bursting in.  Nothing, dead silence.  Audrey's long gone.  Jay goes upstairs and returns a moment later, "She's not upstairs."

I sigh, dragging my hand through my hair, "Can't believe we missed her."

Suddenly, someone starts pounding on the closet door.  We all jump and look at each other, waiting to see who'd unlock it.  Ben bravely unlocks and opens the door, revealing Chad on the floor, arms wrapped around his knees.

Ben looks him over, "Chad?"

Chad looks up at him, "I want my mommy."

Ben reaches for him, "What happened--"

Chad flinches when he gets close, but Ben reassures him as he helps him up, "It's okay. What happened, buddy?"

He doesn't answer Ben, but it's pretty clear Audrey got tired of her blind follower and ditched him.  Chad looks hesitantly out the closet at all of us, seeming to relax when he recognizes most of us.  Chad really looks at Ben for the first time and grips his shirt, clinging to him, "Ben. Ben! Oh!  Your face..."

Turning to the rest of us watching him, Chad asks, "She's gone, huh?"

I nod slowly and he looks at the door then at Ben, "The door's open. I'm free."

He lets go of Ben and sprints past us, yelling into the night, "Free! Freedom!"

With that over with, we all leave the cottage.  Uma sighs, "Oof, alright, let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already."

She turns to Mal, "What do you say, girl? Time to wrap things up?"

They fist bump and Ben wraps his arm around Mal, "You know, someday, you're gonna have to tell me how you guys all got teamed up."

I roll my neck around, "Honestly, it feels like a 'world is ending' type of event.  Still can't believe it's happening."

Evie tells Ben, "Actually, Mal promised to let all the kids off the Isle once this is over."

Ben says confused, "Mal?"

Mal holds up her hand, "I have to tell you guys something."

She stops walking and faces us, "Um...I lied to you.  The kids won't be coming off the Isle."

Jay asks, "What do you mean?"

"The program is shut down... and the barrier will be closed for good."

Ben adds, "For Auradon's safety."

I look between them, "Auradon's safety?  The only thing threatening Auradon's safety right now is Audrey, not the kids from the Isle."

Uma walks up to Mal, "Hold up. So, we're saving your precious people- and your behinds- for a lie? I knew it was a mistake to trust you. You're always out for yourself."

Harry turns to Ben, "And you, King Benny. You're probably just gonna throw us all back inside, eh?"

Celia tearfully approaches Mal, "You know what?  I actually thought you were brave, but you're nothing but a chicken.  Too scared to tell me I was never gonna see my dad again."

Mal says, "Celia..."

Celia takes the ember from Mal and tosses it into a cauldron of water.  Mal shrieks, "Celia, Celia! No! Ugh!"

I start after Celia; Evie calls, "Madison!"

I know it's not Evie's fault, but I want to go after Celia.  I jog past Mal, calling, "Celia, wait!"

As I run after her, I hear Mal chanting, "Regain your might and ignite!"

I catch up to Celia a few yards away, "Celia, wait a minute."

I grab her arm and gently turn her around.  Celia wipes her face, sniffling.  I crouch down so we're eye to eye and I brush her curls back from her face, "I know, Celia.  I know it's bad, and I'm sorry.  I swear I didn't know but I'm sorry."

Celia cries, "How could she do that?  How could she lie to us, to you?"

I sigh, shaking my head, "I don't know, Celia."

"Madison, do you realize what this means?  We can't see our dads!  I mean, don't you miss him?"

I can feel myself start to get emotional and I blink away the stinging in my eyes.  I take a deep breath, "Of course, I miss him.  And I'm mad about it too, but we still have to finish this.  Auradon's our home, too."

Celia whispers, "Are we screwed?"

"No, of course not.  We can still-"

A twig snaps behind Celia, and I stand straight up, moving Celia behind me.  She whispers, "What's wrong?"

I look around the woods, "I don't know.  I think someone's here."

We stay quiet, looking around.  Out of nowhere, someone grabs Celia's arm, and she starts screaming.  I whip around and scramble to grab her but Audrey hits me over the head with her scepter and I'm out cold.