Forgotten

Chapter 20- Not This Time

We followed Ben and Mal as they hid behind trees, stealthily making their way to the front door. Ben opened the door quietly and motioned for everyone to come inside. Jay saw a staircase and climbed it, coming down a few minutes later.

"She's not upstairs," Jay announced.

We suddenly heard tapping coming from a small closet. Ben approached it cautiously and looked through the window, lifting the beam and opening the door. Chad was sitting there on the floor near the door, quavering.

"Chad?" Ben asked incredulously.

"I want my mommy," Chad replied, shuddering violently.

Ben tried to grab Chad's arm, but he scooted away in fear. Ben grabbed his arm and helped him stand up. "Wait... She's gone. That means... Freedom!" he yelled, running out the front door as if he hadn't seen sunlight in days.

Harry and I looked at each other and tried to hold back our laughs.

"She's not here," Mal said, frustrated.

"Obviously," Uma commented.

We walked out of the cottage with Ben's arm over Mal.

"You know, someday you guys will have to tell me how you all teamed up," Ben said.

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

"I have to tell you all something," Mal said, stopping everyone in their tracks. She stood in front of the group, slightly elevated because of the hill. "I lied to you. The kids won't be coming off the Isle."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. Fear filled my mind. We could leave?

"What do you mean?" Jay asked.

"The program's shut down. And the barrier will be closed for good," Mal explained slowly.

I felt Harry grip my hand in anger. I squeezed back, trying not to burst into flames.

"Hold up. So we're saving your people and your precious behinds for a lie?" Uma asked. Mal stayed silent, her lip slightly quivering. Uma looked at the ground. "I knew it was a mistake to trust you."

Celia walked up to Mal with tears in her eyes. "You know what? I actually thought you were brave, but you're nothing but a chicken. When were you going to tell me I was never going to see my dad again?" Celia said, her voice hitching. She took the ember out of Mal's hand and walked away with it, tossing it into the birdbath. Mal screamed, rushing over to the water and picking it up, trying to dry the jewel off.

"Regain your might and ignite!" Mal yelled. The ember was dead. "Regain your might and ignite!" she yelled again out of desperation. She looked towards Uma, hoping for her to help. Uma put the shell between her fingers and held it up. The shell did nothing.

"Bummer," Uma said, walking away from her. "Come on guys, let's go."

"(Y/n)?" Mal questioned.

I walked up to Mal and stared her down. "All four of you promised to get me off of that Isle. Away from Maleficent. First promise broken. You promised it would be in flames, second promise broken. Now you broke a third. I can't keep trusting you, Mal. I try, and I try. I actually thought we were changing." Tears filled my eyes. "You're going to throw me back on that terrible place. You'll never look back, just like last time."

"(Y/n), please-" Mal was in tears.

"No!" My hair finally lit on fire, anger fueling my powers. "Not this time, Mal. Not anymore. I can't keep saving you every time you get in trouble. I protected you through all the abuse from Maleficent, through everything. Not anymore. You need to learn that you can't get everything without consequences."

I stormed off with Uma and Harry, catching up to them a few yards ahead of me.

I finally broke. As soon as we got out of the woods, I sat on the grass and cried. My arms covered my face, my hands protecting the top of my head. Harry sat down next to me and rubbed my back. I felt pathetic and weak. But they didn't treat me like I felt. Uma knelt down in front of me, slowly moving my arms.

I looked up at her, tears running down my cheeks like waterfalls. I was shaking. Uma wiped away with a falling tear with her thumb. "We'll be okay. We can do anything we put our minds to. The three of us will find another way out."

I nodded, calming with Uma's words. Harry got up, holding out his hand. I stood with it.

"Uma!" I heard Mal say. "Uma, stop! Please stop." Mal ran in front of us.

Uma stopped and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I need your help! We have a chance if we do this together!"

"Your friends kick you to the curb?" Uma asked.

Mal stayed silent. "Good," Uma spat.

"Ben saw something in you, and today, I saw it too! You care, Uma, you do care, and Auradon is worth saving! Help us, please," Mal begged.

Harry let go of my hand and walked over to Mal. "You talk pretty, Mal, but you did this to yourself."

"You brought this on yourself. You figure out how to fix it. Let's go," Uma said.

We walked a little further, just about to the edge of the forest. We would be home soon.

"Help me, Mal!"

"Yeah, save your little friend, Mal!"

I looked at the castle in shock. Pink lightning cracked above it. I ran over to Mal and reached my hand out to her. She tossed me the ember. My hair lit up as we both turned into dragons. I looked back and saw Harry with a shocked expression painted on his face.

I turned back to Audrey and shot a beam at her. She laughed wickedly and shot a beam at me, hitting me square in the chest. I felt myself turn back into a dragon, and my eyes closed as I hit the ground. Screams could be heard around me as I lost consciousness.