Break This Down [D3]

8 - Liar

Bridgette's POV

"Doug, go with Jane and find Fairy Godmother." Ben said, pointing at the two of them.

"They might need some muscle." I suggested, capturing Ben's attention.

"Hey." Doug said, clearly offended.

"Well, I'll go." Gil offered.

"Yeah, actually we would feel better." Ozzy said, smiling softly at Jane.

"Yeah, actually, I'd feel better, too." Evie said.

"Same." Mal nodded.

"Actually, I would, too." Doug sighed.

"Alright, man, let's do it!" Gil said, pulling Doug into a side hug. "Let's go, Jane."

I walked around Ben and stood in front of Gil, smiling at him.

"You stay safe, you hear me?" I asked, fixing his top. "I want you back in one piece so we can try all the fresh fruit in Auradon."

"B!" He said, his eyes glistening. "There's bushes here with berries on them! For free."

"I love you, buddy." I smiled, patting his shoulder.

"Love you too, B." He said, leading Jane and Doug away from Evie's castle. We all headed back into Evie's living room to formulate a plan of attack. We decided we'd wait until it was dark out to find Audrey, figuring that was when she'd be the most vulnerable.

While we waited for night to fall, I walked around the quiet living room with a bored pout on my face.

"Why don't you come sit, love?" Harry asked, gesturing to the open spot beside him. I shook my head and sighed.

"I'm bored." I whined, falling over the couch and into his open arms. My feet landed on Jay's lap and I sent him a smile and a wave.

"Uh, hi?" He asked, waving back reluctantly.

"I like your hair." I said, leaning my head on Harry's shoulder. "How do you keep it so shiny?"

"Mostly I leave it alone." He shrugged.

"Jay, say something you like about her." Evie urged.

"Are we really doing that ice breaker?" Uma asked.

"Yes, I'm bored. Jay, it's your turn." I groaned.

"Uh," Jay muttered, looking away from me. "I like how determined you are?"

"Good enough." I smiled. "Thanks."

"Who's next?" Evie asked. I looked up at Harry and kissed his cheek.

"Harry is." I volunteered. "He never said what he liked about you, Evie."

"I like, uh," Harry stammered, looking down at me. I nodded at him and he cleared his throat. "I like- hmm... You have a decent singing voice."

"I'll take it!" Evie beamed.

--------

We traveled through the forest, trying to be as silent as possible. Once we saw Fairy Cottage, Ben and Mal charged forward. We all crashed into the cottage, scanning the room for Audrey. Jay ran upstairs while we spread out.

"She's not upstairs." Jay reported, coming back down the stairs. My ears twitched at a sound coming from behind a closed door, and I snapped my eyes to it. Suddenly, the person behind the door started knocking frantically. Everyone gathered behind Ben as he unblocked the door and opened it. A blonde kid about our age sat pressed up against the wall, looking terrified.

"Chad?" Ben asked.

"I want my mommy." Chad responded. Ben bent down to help him up, but Chad flinched away from him.

"It's okay." Ben coaxed, pulling the frazzled kid to his feet. "What happened, buddy?"

Instead of answering, he wildly scanned the cottage. His eyes passed over us before landing back on Ben.

"Ben!" He shouted, grabbing the king by the collar of his jacket. "Oh! She's gone, huh? The door's open, I'm free. Freedom!"

Chad sprinted past up, narrowly avoiding me as I stepped out of his way. He ran out into the forest screaming about his freedom while Harry, Uma, and I laughed. I closed the closet door and followed the rest of the group out of the empty cottage.

"Ooh," I sighed, falling into step beside Mal and Ozzy. "Let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already, what do you say girls?"

"Time to wrap things up?" Uma asked from beside me.

"You know," Ben said. "Someday, you're gonna have to tell me how you guys all got teamed up."

"Actually, Mal promised to let all the kids off the Isle once this is over." Evie said, sounding proud.

"Mal?" Ben asked. I felt something in the pit of my stomach, and I grabbed Harry and Uma and pulled them to the side.

"Something's wrong." I told them, watching Mal turn and face us.

"I have to tell you guys something." She stated, making us all stop. "Um... I lied to you. The kids won't be coming off the Isle."

"What do you mean?" Jay asked.

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

Harry grunted from behind me, while I slowly nodded my head.

"For Auradon's safety." Ben added.

"Hold up." Uma said, walking up to Mal. "So, we're saving your precious people, and your behinds, for a lie?"

"I knew it was a mistake to trust you." I stated, my tone cold as ice. I turned my gaze from Mal to Ozzy. "Either of you."

"You're always out for yourself." Uma added.

"Did you know?" Carlos asked, looking at Ozzy. She turned her eyes to the floor, nodding her head. "Wow."

"And you, King Benny." Harry said, pointing at the king while walking toward him. "You're probably just gonna throw us all back inside, eh?"

"You know what?" Celia sounded, walking up to Mal. "I actually thought you were brave, but you're nothing but a chicken. Too scared to tell me I was never gonna see my dad again."

"Celia." Mal tried, but Celia wasn't having any of it. Celia took the ember from Mal's hand and dropped it into a birdbath, disappearing into the woods. Mal grabbed it out of the water and held a hand over it.

"Regain your might and ignite!" Mal tried to cast, but it wasn't working. "No. Regain your might and ignite!"

Mal looked to Uma and I, silently asking for our help. Uma looked at her necklace, showing Mal that it wasn't glowing for her anymore.

"Bummer." I stated. "Let's go find GIl and leave them all here to rot."

"No." Mal whispered as Harry, Uma, and I walked away from her. "Uma! Bridgette!"

I ignored her cries and grabbed Harry's hand. Uma grabbed my other hand and I sighed.

"You're my family." I stated. "We don't need Auradon."

"We'll find another way to get here." Uma nodded, giving my hand a squeeze.

"I love you." Harry muttered, kissing the top of my head.

"I love you, too."