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── .✦ SHORTLY AFTER Ben left, he came back down the stairs, and the four stood up straight, looking over, expecting Mal to be with him but he was alone, reaching the bottom of the steps with a sad expression.
"So?" Evie asked, peeking her head around the railing with a confused look, "Where's Mal?"
"She's not coming back." Ben replied, ducking his head under the closing gate, he glanced over at Freddie, a tear dropping from his eye and the aforementioned prince looked down to his boots, saddened by Mal's decision.
"What?" Evie questioned in disbelief, turning around as Ben walked off, "I'll talk to her."
"Ben." Freddie called out for his best-friend who was walking down the alleyway, and Ben held his hand up to the boy, motioning he wanted to be left alone so Freddie nodded, respecting his wishes as he walked back over to the wall, leaning against it again, watching Evie talk into an old rusty speaker.
"M? Mal, it's Evie. Let me just talk to you for a second. Mal, come on." Evie pleaded before shuffling was heard on the other side.
"Go away!" Mal yelled, and Evie sighed heavily in defeat as Jay pulled her arm back gently.
"Let's give her a couple hours to cool off." Jay suggested, and Evie nodded.
"Guys! Where's Ben?" Carlos called out, catching their attention and Jay and Evie walked over to the white-haired boy as Freddie pushed himself off the wall in worry.
"Ben?" Evie asked through the eery dark, and Freddie moved closer in front of them all, trying to look down the alley for his friend out of concern as they noticed someone who resembled Ben walking towards them, "Ben!"
"Ben, you almost made me shit my pants." Freddie exhaled in relief, placing his hands on his knees.
The person laughed loudly, walking into the light with a smirk, "I never thought a prince could make me laugh, well done." The voice was Scottish, causing Freddie to jump back behind Jay beside Evie, he'd never heard a Scottish accent before, and it was pretty intimidating.
"Harry..." Evie introduced unintentionally, tilting her head out of disbelief and pure hatred towards the dude.
"What did you do with Ben?" Jay threateningly asked, taking a step forward and that was when Freddie realised that he must've taken Ben, causing the prince to move forward in anger.
"Oh, uh, we nicked him. Mmm-hmm." He pointed down the alleyway, and then he looked at Freddie without fear, "Yeah, um, and if you want to see him again have Mal come to the Chip Shoppe tonight. Alone. Uma wants a little visit. Aw, Jay. Seems like you've lost your touch."
