Hook Me Harry!

A Glimmer of Hope

I passed sickeningly well dressed students as I hurried away from the torture room which was Fairy Godmothers office. I don't understand why they dress up so nicely for class. With their made-up faces, the way their heels clicked irritatingly on the floor and those god-forsaken ruffles. The way the ruffles swayed under their dresses as they walked. 

Barging through the door I saw the Isle kids lazing around Mals room."Hi Willow!" Evie says cheerfully, looking up from her sewing machine.Of all of the Isle kids she is the most annoying. How can someone be as cheerful as she was? Constantly sewing and sketching and babbling away on how amazing her next outfit would be. "Hey" I said in her direction as I continued to stride passed her. Thank god Carlos wasn't here. He was the most childish of all of the Isle Kids. I felt bad for Mal having to put up with him all the time.

Jay smirked up at me from the bed. "Oh, hey Willow" he said. "Chad said I'd see you at the game later, if you ask nicely I'll let you wear my spare jersey' his smirk extending into a grin. "It has my lucky number on it." He continued, this time wiggling his eyebrows around.

"Tempting. But unfortunately I'd rather be doing anything else." I said as I rolled my eyes so hard my head started to spin. I never understood the interest he had in me. He could have any of the desperate little school princesses he wanted. The way they threw themselves at his feet made me nearly gag.

Mal was sitting off to the side as usual reading something in her spell book. I walked up to her and let out a sigh. "God this place gets worse every day." I complained. Mal immediately looked up. "I thought I was the only one that thought so!" Mal said in a hushed tone. "I've thought so for ages!" I replied "Everyone here gets more unbearable every day! Sometimes I just wish I could leave and never look back." I added excitedly. "Me too!" Mal gushed. 

Suddenly turning serious Mal looked at me. "How serious about leaving are you?" She asked. "Oh I am dead serious." I said. Her eyes glowed green, hypnotising me. "Sorry about that," Mal said "I had to make sure you were telling the truth. I have a plan."

I widened my eyes in surprise. The Auradon Golden Girl was actually making an escape. I never thought the day would come where I could actually change my life for good. The day I was waiting for had finally arrived.

"Just tell me what to do." I said. "Not here." Mal warns, nervously glancing at the other Isle kids. She turns to Evie who is still engrossed in her latest design and taps her shoulder to get her attention. "Willow and I are heading out for a walk" she says as she practically drags me out the door. We head out past the entrance and the statue of King Beast, make our way around the Tourney field, and disappear into the woods. Mal pulls me behind a tree and looks at me, a glint of desperation in her eye.

"If you're serious, I can get the two of us out of here. Tonight." She says. "Are you sure you're ready to give up everything you've ever known?"

I roll my eyes. "Tonight can't come soon enough, trust me. I've been miserable here for a long time." She nods approvingly. "It's settled then. Pack light, the less you bring to the Isle that links you to your life here, the safer you'll be." She instructs.

"What about the other Isle kids? And Ben?" I enquire, unwilling to believe Mal would leave without her closest friends and her lover by her side.

"Forget Ben!" She snaps. I am taken aback by how little Mal seems to care for him. To an outsider they seemed like the perfect picture of a couple in love. Then again, I know better than anyone that there is always more to a story than meets the eye.

"The Isle is nothing like anything you've experienced before." Mal begins to explain. "Forget everything you think you know. It's up to you whether or not you decide to stick with me. I know the Isle like the back of my hand, but I'm not the most popular person there at the moment." I nod as she continues. "Once we get there, I'm gonna start a new crew. We'll steal whatever we can to sell until we're able to rebuild strength and take back my territories. I'll prove to everyone that I'm still rotten to the core and not some brainless Bore-adon princess." She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out the spellbook, tearing loose a piece of paper. Her eyes glow green as she chants "Piece of paper, quick as a snap. Give my friend an Isle map." 

Suddenly a map of the Isle appears on the page in front of her. "My place is here." She points out with a purple painted fingernail. "We meet up here if we get separated for any reason." She hands me the map and I fold it into a small square before shoving it into my pocket.

"Meet me at the shoreline after dark." Mal instructs as we head back to the dorms. A glimmer of hope grows within me. Everything is about to change.