Descendants: A Twist of Hearts and Shadows

Chapter One: Rotten

Thunder rumbles across the sky as lightning flashes above the Isle of the Lost. Four teens look up in sync and watch the storm brew; Carlos De' Vil from a window, Jay from a roof, Flaria Facilier from an alley where she was spray painting, and Rosette "Quinn" Hearts from her bedroom window. They all smile secretly as they watch the storm and music starts to play.

Flaria finishes her painting, turns around, and jumps off a crate pushing past two random guys, "They say I'm trouble, they say I'm bad, they say I'm evil, and makes me glad..."

Jay clambers down a ladder onto a lower roof, "A dirty no-good, down to the bone, your worst nightmare, can't take me home..."

Quinn sneaks out into her Mother's rose garden, "So I've got some mischief, in my blood. Can you blame me? I never got no love..."

Carlos climbs out of his window and steals an apple from a little girl, "They think I'm callous. A low-life hood. I feel so useless..." He takes a big bite out of the apple and tosses it back to her.

"Misunderstood!" All four shout.

The girls sing in harmony in two different areas of the Isle, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the baddest of them all? Welcome to my wicked world. Wicked world!"

"I'm rotten to the core, core. Rotten to the core! I'm rotten to the Core, core. Who could ask for more? I'm nothing like the kid next, like the kid next door! I'm rotten to the core, core. I'm rotten to the, I'm rotten to the core!" The four teens sing the chorus as Flaria, Carlos, and Jay meet up. The three race down through a tunnel, banging sticks against the piping before coming out into the forbidden rose garden.

"Call me a schemer, call me a freak. How can you say that? I'm just..." Flaria picks up a rose and spray paints it green, "unique." She ticks the flower behind her ear before being shoved by a smirking Jay. "What, me a traitor? Ain't got your back? Are we not friends? What's up with that?"

Jay shoves Carlos towards Quinn as she sings, "So I'm a misfit, so I'm a flirt. I broke your heart? I made ya hurt?" Carlos stalks closely around her, "The past is past. Forgive forget." He leans down and whispers, "The truth is..."

Quinn shoves him a little as they all shout, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" The girls circle each other, singing in harmony, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the baddest of them all? Welcome to my wicked world. Wicked world!"

The four freeze before breaking out into a fully choreographed dance and ending the song with a final chorus, "I'm rotten to the core, core. Rotten to the core! I'm rotten to the Core, core. Who could ask for more? I'm nothing like the kid next, like the kid next door! I'm rotten to the core, core. I'm rotten to the, I'm rotten to the core!" They all stop with the music, huffing to catch their breathes.

"ROSETTE!" Quinn flinches before hissing to her friends, "Scatter!" She calls and runs towards the drab castle, "Yes, Mother!?" "Let's go!" Flaria says as they run back through the tunnel.

Carlos watches Quinn disappear before Jay drags him back through the tunnel as well. The three split at a crossroad outside the tunnel's entrance. Carlos sprints through and alley and slides through a hole in the wall, 'Mom is going to kill me if I'm late!'

Jay runs past a few unsuspecting targets and steals their belongings. He grins as his hand grabs a lamp. He rubs it as he runs but soon deflates as nothing happens.

Quinn
"WHERE ARE YOU, YOU STUPID GIRL!"

"H-here, Mother..." I stutter as I enter my Mother's presence. She stands from her ratty throne, "You blasted nitwit! Where have you been!? We are going to be late for my fashionably late entrance!"

I cower away, "S-sorry, M-mother..." Wouldn't being more late make her more "fashionable", though?

"Well, come on! We don't have all day!" My Mother storms passed, grabbing my arm harshly and dragging me along with her. A few torn card guards follow closely behind us.

I wince as she yanks on me and I try my hardest to keep up with her. I look up and see the front door. Wait... is she taking me... outside? Mother storms us out of the front door and through the gates.

My eyes widen and I ask with a small voice, "M-mother... where a-are we going...?" She snaps at me, eyes a brewing red, "Silence! I will not have you ruin this meeting with your stupid stutter! I have to look good in front of Dr. Facilier."

"Y-" I stop myself and quietly nod instead. Facilier... that means Flar will be there...

Flaria
I'm late! I'm so late and dead! I sprint through back alleys before slowing down next to a purple door hidden within the shadows. Carefully, I open the door and slide in before quietly closing the door behind me. As soon as the door clicks closed, the lights go out and leaves me in the darkness with a growing sense of dread.

"You're late..." My Father's voice echoes of the walls of the pitch black room. I wince and tremble, "Sorry... Father..."

The lean man appears beside me as he turns the lights back on, "You're lucky we're having company, my dear..." He walks to the small table in the middle of the room. I follow him and see his shadow laughing at me.

I hesitantly question, "Company?" "Ah, yes... You will see once they all arrive, and you will be smart and keep your mouth shut, right." He glares at me from under his hat.

I hurriedly nod and step back into the shadows, my own shrinking. A knock sounds from the door and Father slips into the shadows, nodding at me to open the door. I stalk through the shadows to the front door and slowly open it...