𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄━︎━︎E. Grimhilde ✓︎

❝CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐝 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 Fairy Cottage, softly creeping up to it and hiding behind a tree. Slowly, they grew closer and closer until they made it to the front door and Ben threw the door open. They made it inside, only to find that it was empty. Ilaria ran upstairs with Jay following her, both of them checking it out but coming up empty handed. The duo ran back downstairs. "She's not upstairs," Ilaria said.

     Their heads all snapped when something began banging against the pantry door. Ben quickly walked over, looking through the mirror and removing the lock, pulling it open to reveal Chad cowering on the floor. Ben's eyes were wide. "Chad?"

     "I want my mommy." Chad said, his body shaking.

     Ben reached down to help him up but Chad quickly pulled away, his eyes wide with fear. "It's okay." Ben gently assured, reaching out again and gently pulling him up from the ground. "What happened, buddy?"

     Chad looked around, staring at the group and then the rest of the room before looking at Ben. "Ben. Ben!" He quickly grabbed a fistful of his jacket, pulling him extremely close before taking two fingers and rubbing Ben's new beard. "Your face." He looked at Mal. "She's gone, huh?" He then looked past Mal at the front door they had left wide open. "The door's open. I'm free. Freedom! Oh!" He went sprinting through all of them and ran straight out the door.

     Harry cackled and Ilaria hummed, glancing at Evie. "I almost feel bad for the guy." Evie nodded and grabbed her hand as they all walked out.

     Uma let out a deep breath. "Alright. Let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already." Mal laughed. "What do you say, girl? Time to wrap things up?"

     Ben pointed at her. "You know, someday you'll have to tell me how you guys all got teamed up."

     Evie spoke up. "Actually, Mal promised to let all the kids off the Isle once this is over." Ilaria instantly grew tense.

     Ben furrowed his brows, looking at his girlfriend. "Mal?"

     "I have to tell you guys something." Mal said, coming to a stop and turning to look at the group. Ilaria clenched Evie's hand, her breath hitching in her throat. "Um. . . I lied to you. The kids won't be coming off the Isle."

     Jay frowned. "What do you mean?"

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

     Ben added, "For Auradon's safety."

     Ilaria spared a glance at Evie whose mouth was open in shock. She stared at Mal, hurt and heartbreak in her eyes. Evie turned to look at Ilaria and found nothing but guilt in them. In an instant, she dropped her hand and Ilaria's heart seemed to shatter in her chest. Uma walked towards Mal. "Hold up. So we're saving your precious people and your behinds for a lie." She pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I knew it was a mistake to trust you. You're always out for yourself."