The moment she broke back into the barrier, a sense of relief washed over her.

She was safe.

Well, except for the fact that everyone on the Isle now hated her for betraying and abandoning them. Probably almost everyone had a death wish for her.

But it didn't matter. The familiarity comforted her. She'd never felt so relaxed since she had left the Isle.

She crept through the streets, her senses on high alert. Searching for any sign of attack.

The dangerous familiarity caused her mouth to twitch upward slightly.

It wasn't safe.

But it was familiar. And that was what she needed.

The hideout was, surprisingly, untouched. As Mal walked through the doorway, the memories came rushing back, as if it had all happened yesterday. Jay's sweat. Evie's perfume. Carlos's blood.

The despair. The complete, utter despair.

The icy hand of hopelessness crept around her, squeezing out the happiness in its cold grip. Leaving her all but breathless.

The insides of her arms itched as she remembered taking out her rage on her own body. Remembering the times she had all but destroyed herself, hoping to save the others. The hatred welled up again at the thought and suddenly she couldn't stand herself. Worthless. That's what she was for not being able to control the rage that filled her. Trembling from the intense hatred, she reached for her knife...

But she wrenched away. Forced herself to take a step further into the room.

Sobs choked in her throat and she pushed them down. We do not cry on the Isle.

The hideout was so deathly silent, being only broken by the shouts and screams outside on the streets.

She couldn't go back to Auradon. That much was clear. She needed to stay away. Distance herself.

Yet staying here meant almost certain death.

But did it matter? Did it honestly matter at all?

Perhaps she had come back for a deeper reason. A reason she hadn't known.

Until now.

There was no point in living. Both of her worlds were broken.

There was one person she knew would kill her without looking back.

Uma.

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Have an awesome day.

-FlatFox