Meet in The Space Between ✔️

25

Nothing left to hold, locked out in the cold
You painted memories then washed out all the scenes
I'm stuck in between a nightmare and lost dreams
___________________

EVERY CELL in my body froze. I knew that voice since the day she got inside my head.

Maleficent.

I turned around slowly. There she was.

Lamb to the slaughter...

The Mistress of Evil stood at our only escape route with two giant dogs on each side. She looked filthier than six months ago, and thinner, but she was as intimidating as ever.

I cursed our luck. I cursed everything.

"There." Hades said to her, tone flat, "I did what you want. Now leave my side of the lockdown alone."

Maleficent rolled her eyes. "You act like I'm some rodent your two dogs chase around."

"I divorced you for a reason, didn't I?" Hades shot back.

Maleficent's eyes glowed as a warning. Hades simply raised his ember to remind her who was more powerful.

She dropped the act, then said surly "I'm borrowing one of your hounds."

Both dogs growled.

Hades scoffed, then finally answered with a curt "Fine. Whatever."

Mal turned to her dad. "How could you?" Her voice was raw.

Something in Hades' expression softened, but his tone didn't change. "Oh it's actually quite easy-"

"Cut the sarcastic bullcrap!" Mal shouted, "You know what? I was hoping maybe, just maybe, you'd understand your daughter and be on my side. But of course not. All you've ever cared about was yourself and-" Mal's eyes were turning green. "And your stupid underworld. Never family. Never! I was hoping for once you'd do something right!"

Hades' expression had changed completely. He was, for once, silent.

"I hate you!" Mal shouted, eyes turning more green by the second, "And I will hate you for the rest of my-"

"Mal." Evie reached out. "Control your powers!"

Mal inhaled sharply as if she suddenly realized what was happening, then her eyes flickered and turned back to normal. Hades was still in his spot, stunned as he blinked at his daughter's outburst. I wanted to believe the face he made was of guilt.

"Alright. You heard the man." Maleficent shouted, "Chop chop out of his personal space."

"Make us." I heard myself say.

"Yeah, old goon." Uma reeled up on the balls of her feet, "Ya want my sword up your-"

"O lady moon, guide my dreams. Cover me with your sleepy seams." Maleficent twirled her finger in the air, and one by one I heard my friends collapse on the ground.

Then I was swallowed in darkness.

When I came to, I found myself slumped against a cold railing. The ceiling was a cave, the bars were metal. My back was sore. I pushed myself up and looked around.

Mal. Evie. Uma. They were all here. Inside this cell.

"Hey." Evie said gently, touching my arm, "You alright?"

"Yes." I said before groaning, "I can't believe this. We were so close."

"Maleficent knew we were coming." Mal said, angry, "She knew. How did she know?"

Uma frowned at her. "I thought you said we were just stealing the ember. Not picking a fight with... both your parents."

"I didn't expect them to be working with each other!"

"Okay. Let's save that argument for later." Evie said, coming between the two girls, "Our only hope are the boys."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Really?"

Mal nodded grimly. "You were knocked out for quite a while. When you were asleep, Maleficent came and told us she sent Em a message saying she's captured us and she's not letting us go until she gets Fairy Godmother's wand."

I slapped my hand against my forehead. "Always, that, wand!" I complained.

"It's been hours." Evie added, "Emma probably went back to Auradon to get Jay and Carlos. They should be here any minute..."

Well this day just keeps getting better and better.

"Do you think they'll actually bring the wand?" I asked, worried.

"Oh look who's awake!" Maleficent clapped happily as she walked in.

My breath hitched in my throat when I saw the other parents trail behind her.

Mal shot up and grabbed onto the bars. "Let us out!" She shouted at her mom.

Maleficent laughed. "Oh you're so adorable."

Cruella walked up and crouched down in front of me, staring at me eye level.

"Should've killed you off ages ago." She remarked, "Before my son decided to love someone like you." She acted disgusted.

"Them being in love has nothing to do with you." Evie said firmly, "They do love each other. So leave her alone."

I gulped. At least half of that statement wasn't true.

The four parents looked at each other, then bursted into questionable laughter.

"You didn't tell them, did you?" The Evil Queen giggled, looking at me.

"What?" I answered, genuinely confused.

"Oh, how foolish." Jafar smacked his knee as he doubled up in laughter.

Maleficent leaned down and locked her eyes on me, smiling evilly. "Go on, Isle Orphan. Tell 'em why you wanted to leave Auradon so badly."

I stared back at her.

"Brae?" Mal said, turning towards me, "What is she talking about?"

"C'mon." Jafar said suddenly, "You were obviously avoiding someone."

"Puppies?" Cruella joked.

The villains laughed again.

"It looked so real, didn't it, Isle Orphan?" Maleficent smirked down at me, "Thank you. I made it as realistic as I could."

Then it hit me. Hit me hard:

It was an illusion. Carlos kissing Jane was an illusion.

I felt myself rip in half. My chest tightened. I couldn't breathe.

I was holding Maleficent's spell book in my hands when it happened. She spelled me. I fell for it.

"Brae?" Mal said. She grasped my hands.

I was slumped against the wall, face downcast, numb with confusion and heartbreak all over again.

"I'll let you do the explaining." Maleficent chuckled down at me before leading the villains away. I didn't look at her. Their footsteps echoed through the tunnel and into my hollow brain.

My breathing became ragged and tears that I've been holding back brimmed my eyes. But this time I wasn't crying because of his betrayal, I was crying because I accused him of betrayal.

"Brae." Mal said. She was still holding my hands. "What's wrong? What was she talking about? You can tell us."

I didn't say anything. Just sobbed quietly on the spot. I didn't know what to say. Do I tell her I'm the reason we were locked inside a cell right now?

But one thing's for sure: I knew I would never, ever trust my own judgement, ever again.

____________________
Dear everyone who fell for it,
Sike
Yours truly,
Hay