𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

32. 𝘃𝗸 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

𝖂hile the four VKs and Ben reached the Isle, everyone in Auradon watched them on the jumbo screen. The barrier opened briefly, long enough for the limousine to cruise into the island.

"You know, when Ben first told me about his Proclamation, I didn't know what to expect, but it still surprises me how far Ben's program has gone," Rilynn pondered while watching the live video, but none of her friends were in the view anymore. "Who would've thought that we would be inviting more VKs?"

"Especially after what happened with the whole thing with Maleficient," Doug mentioned, earning side expressions from the girls. Doug caught a whiff of the silence and glanced at the two girls. "What? Oh, come on. You know it's true."

Jane brushed it off. "Well, maybe this time will be different."

"I agree. And to be fair, they are the children of the top evilest villains," Rilynn perked at the sight of the limo appearing on the jumbo screen. "Oh! They're coming back!"

"I wonder who they picked," Jane pondered.

Rilynn frowned in memory. "Do you think Ginny is one of the kids chosen?"

Doug thought about it for a second, but then he shrugged. "Chances of Ginny being chosen are slim. Plus, it depends whether she signed up for the program."

Did she sign up? Rilynn couldn't be sure, but she figured Ginny would, right? Ginny deserves to live a life without the manipulation of her mother, Gothel, and Rilynn wants to help her get away from that life. However, Rilynn couldn't help but worry that Ginny wasn't one of the people who had chosen to come to Auradon. She promised to help her leave the Isle, but Rilynn couldn't make the VKs pick Ginny.

But why does Rilynn feel so guilty if Ginny doesn't get picked? Maybe she shouldn't have made a big promise like that, but Rilynn felt obligated to help Ginny. They're family in some twisted way. That has to mean something.

"Wait, do you see that?"

Rilynn expelled the thoughts because she'd drown under the guilt if she kept them to herself.

The princess focused on the screen again but didn't know what Jane was talking about. See what? Rilynn blinked and squinted slightly while scanning the screen, but her eyes widened when she finally saw it.

"Is that . . .?" Rilynn gasped in horror when the man with firey blue hair managed to catch the magical barrier right before it could shut.

All of Auradon released surprised gasps; the silence was sitting heavily in the air as everyone couldn't help but watch anxiously, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Hades, the god of the underworld, stuck his head out through the barrier, blue hair lighting on fire with a blue spark. Everyone was hanging on by a thread, afraid to breathe, as they watched Hades practically hanging out of the barrier with a nasty expression. No one knew what to do at this moment.

"Oh, my gosh," Rilynn felt breathless at the sight. She could faint. "It's Hades."

"You don't think he'd be able to get out, do you?" Jane stood closer to Rilynn. Worry washed over her face.

They couldn't hear anything they were saying; they could only watch worriedly as the VKs, and Ben tried to stop Hades. The guys had rushed forward without hesitation, only thinking they needed to stop Hades from escaping the Isle, but that didn't end well. Hades shot the guys down with something in his hand, but Rilynn couldn't see what it was.

Seconds later, Mal morphed into a dragon and darted high into the sky. For a second, everyone felt slightly at ease while watching Dragon Mal hovering over the bridge. She was staring Hades down with her threatening green eyes, snarling with the low rumble of her growl and the loud hissing. Everyone just stood around, waiting for something to happen.