Descendants: The rise of red

That the games begin

In the dark and macabre belly of the anglerfish, Morgana and her accomplices were organizing the final details of the plan that was to unfold that evening. The inside of the creature was illuminated by the still-living light emanating from the fish. The stench of decomposition permeated the air, but they didn't care. It was the perfect place to hatch their schemes, far from the prying eyes of the outside world.
Morgana prowled confidently within that fortress of flesh and bone, which she had furnished with chairs as if it were a home. Her eyes glimmered with a wicked spark as she observed Red, still their prisoner. Red was bound with magical chains to the fish's uvula, an invisible bond that kept her completely immobilized.
"Don't hope to escape," Morgana hissed, a cruel smile on her lips. "This place is your personal hell, and we are its wardens."
Red, her red hair disheveled and her eyes full of defiance, didn't respond. She was frightened, but her determination had not diminished—she would never allow that witch to break her.
Beside Morgana, Hook watched the scene with a mix of interest and excitement. His only hand toyed with a short sword. "What's the next step, Morgana? How much longer do we have to wait? I can't wait to have a bit of fun," he asked, pointing his sword at a pulsating wall.
Yzma shot Hook a look of disapproval. "Don't worry, Hook. Morgana knows what she's doing. Her revenge is nearing, and Bridgette will regret... wait, what did she do to us again?" This question altered Morgana's mood. "Have you already forgotten she humiliated me in front of the whole school by turning me into a flamingo?" she said, approaching the girl menacingly.
"Yeah, it's not just about waiting," Hades chimed in, the blue flames rising from his head, further illuminating the surroundings. "We need precision. One wrong move, and everything will go to hell."
Maleficent approached Red, her piercing eyes scrutinizing the girl. "We need the book, Red. And you're going to help us get it, whether you want to or not."
Red gritted her teeth. "I'll never help a bunch of stupid brats playing at being villains under the command of a smelly squid-faced witch."
Morgana chuckled, a sound that echoed disturbingly through the walls of the dead fish. "You don't have to do it willingly. That's where Ella comes in. She's pure of heart, so don't worry, she'll be able to take the book without being destroyed by its protective magic. You just have to stay here—oh, right, you're stuck here," Morgana laughed heartily, her crew joining in with confused expressions.
"Yes, revenge against that stupid pink-singing pastel, always with that stupid smile plastered on her face," Maleficent whispered, shuddering at the thought of Bridgette's cheerful face. She tilted her head with a malicious grin. "Bridgette wronged us, and now she'll pay."
"You'll never convince Ella," Red retorted. "She's not like you. She's not evil."
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong," Yzma said with an ignorant grin. "We've already done it. A lot has happened since you've been away, little dummy. Ella's on our side now."
Morgana began to scream, "YZMA, SHUT UP! SHE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW OUR PLAN. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP YOU AROUND!"
"I won't let you do it," Red said, her voice trembling but determined. "I'd rather die than see you win without doing anything."
Hades laughed softly, the flames on his head intensifying. "Oh, that's exactly what we need, Princess. Your determination is admirable but completely useless. You're ours, and soon Bridgette will be too."
"Get ready," Morgana ordered her companions. "We need to leave this carcass and set the plan in motion. Bridgette's days are numbered, and it'll all be thanks to that foolish, naive Ella." She slipped one of her tentacles into a pocket of her dress. "Yzma, take this," she said, tossing her a shell. "You'll stay here on guard. If you notice anything strange, just speak into it, and I'll hear you."
Yzma examined the magic shell. "Oh, what should I use as a signal? Should I roar like a tiger? Or maybe it's better to meow like a cat to be less conspicuous. I can mimic a lot of animals..." The girl was ignored.
As the young villains prepared for their revenge, Red could only hope that Ella was strong enough to resist the trap they were about to set. The fate of her friend, and perhaps the entire future, depended on that critical moment.