The first step of her descent into darkness began with a little girl, a little girl beloved by Mal and her friends; Dizzy.
Mal was stalking by a large factory structure turned gang territory. A strong group controlled this and the nearby blocks but here she saw the potential of using the building for something better. Jay dropped down beside her from a ledge above, his long hair easily flowing with his motions. Mal stared ahead at the structure he'd returned from, the few buildings between here and there provided a shelter from view of the gangs inside.
"What did you see?" Her voice was strong but low, keeping as much discretion as possible. Emerald hues turning to stare up at the taller figure.
Jay's relaxed attitude showed in a sheepish sigh, shrugging before he carefully adjusted his beanie cap. "The watch is pretty damn solid. They keep a tight patrol and have a lot of weapons. It's too dangerous, Mal- we may need to find another spot."
"There is no other spot. It has to be this one. It has everything we need." Her temper was beginning to show but Jay didn't flinch, he knew well enough that she was defensive over what this meant to them. A safe haven for them all. Mal would round up as many of the kids as possible and provide them all with shelter from the cold and unforgiving streets, the fury of abusive parents and the eyes of predators. She would create a place of safety and shelter for those who needed it. She knows how it feels to live in fear of the one who was supposed to love and care for you. To dread ever coming home to them and to almost equally fear going into the streets or into the dark of night. The kids were vulnerable and exploited for twisted means, she had to do something.
Jay briefly recalled the first time he met Mal, he'd tried pick pocketing her as they passed by only to have his wrist seized into an iron grip. He had apologized, which was strange for an island kid. Mal knew his reasons for those sticky fingers. His father Jafar became a peddler, a pawn shop owner and a broker. Striking deals with the other adults and taking all the valuables he could to satisfy his own greed and give him some means of control over others. It wasn't Jay's fault that he had been forced into the dealings of his business, Mal understood and to his surprise handed him the item he tried to pick from her. Saving Jay from an abuse if he returned empty handed. He returned the next day, bringing foods he'd swiped off carts and stocked from other shady merchants. The food was disgusting but it was all any of them could get. The wastes from the beautiful city across the sea and despite the repulsiveness of it all, she was grateful. Though thank yous were never uttered between them it showed in their actions and remained in how inseparable they became.
"Where are Evie and Carlos?" Mal broke the silence, though she already knew the answer the inflection of her voice uttered an entirely different question underneath.
Jay's eyes fell a little but he quickly straightened it, Mal however caught the little slip and felt a pang in her chest. Her breath hitched because she knew. Dizzy wasn't getting any better. "They're trying to find some water..." She was dehydrated and plagued with a burning fever. Her usually bright and bubbly energy was now dimmed and quickly darkening. The small girl could barely stand, she had begun to turn pale and her lips chapped. Her raspy voice tore Mal's breath from her chest. She tried so hard to deny it but if the patterns of sickness were to tell any truth it was that illness meant death on the Isle. This building was to be her shelter and she was failing, already failing the children she swore to care for. Jay saw her eyes begin to glow that ghoulish green whenever emotions swelled inside her. She kept her face neutral though her nerves fiercely tore around inside her, hammering at her chest and stomach and swearing soon she might vomit out her sheer anxiety.
Without a word Mal brushed past him, Jay quickly followed after her as they weaved through the alleyways. She balled her fists and kept her gaze forward, Jay watching her carefully from behind. She was struggling to keep it together and making her talk might splinter what little control she has left. The structures they briskly moved between felt larger and more foreboding than usual. One might even see them as large grave stones, erected as a marker for all who used to dwell within before the population drastically decreased over two decades. The streets were rotted and worn from the constant murky weather, stains of red tinted the stones, a grim reminder of lives lost to these spots. Mal pushed her way down the crumbling stone paths and up to a barely kept together shack. She stood at the door for a moment, breathing slowly and bracing herself for the sight that'll greet her. Praying the precious girl wasn't already gone. A strong hand on her shoulder gave her the bit of courage she needed to open the door.
The sight of the usually bubbly child laying still on a pile of tattered clothes choked her breath. She listened and heard the sounds of strained breaths. Dizzy was sweating profusely, eyes closed but brows knotted in pain. Mal slowly stepped closer, the brief stride across the room felt like an eternity before kneeling at her side. "H-Hey Diz..." Mal's voice was soft, a weak smile just barely lifted her lips. The small girl opened her eyes slowly, her eyes glossy and dark but the smile that spread across her face was bright enough to break a dragon's heart. Mal almost sobbed but covered it with a laugh, taking her cold sweating hand in her own. "I had a dream about you, Mal." Despite the pain in her voice, her tone was soaked in a sweet sincerity.
"Oh yeah?" Mal gave a smile, wide and inviting as she leaned closer- ready to listen to another of the girl's animated stories.
"You were in armor, fighting monsters and saving us. You slayed a great beast and when the King asked what you wanted as your reward, you said you wanted us. The Isle kids. You wanted us to be free." As Dizzy told her story, Mal's eyes watered and her face fell. The small girl squeezed her hand, moisture lining her own eyes when she continued; "You are not your mom, Mal. You take care of us. You protect us. You're a hero."
Violet locks shook when Mal denied her sweet words, "No, I'm no hero, Diz. I couldn't save you, I failed and I'm so sorry." Mal would have jumped at the touch on her shoulder if she wasn't so focused on the girl laying in front of her. A sweet scent filled her lungs and she knew Evie was there. A small bucket placed beside them with not much water and a torn shirt to serve as a rag laid to the side. Mal dipped the shirt into the water and dabbed the cloth across the girl's forehead. "See, Mal? Not a monster at all." Dizzy spoke again, a faint smile that now began to fade. Mal watched her eyes droop to a steady close and chest rise again, the slow fall of her exhale shuddered at its end. She counted the seconds, waiting for her to inhale.
One...two...three...
"Dizzy...?"
...six...seven...eight...
"D-Diz."
Ten.
"She's not breathing!"
A small gasp came from behind her and suddenly Mal's vision distorted, tears spilled along her cheeks as she nudged the girl. Helplessly aware it would do no good. She wouldn't wake. "Dizzy, get up! Please!" She paid no mind to the hands gently trying to pull her back, Carlos and Evie held onto her as she growled out her cries. "No, no Jay don't! Let her sleep!" Jay's eyes were on the still figure, quiet and with his own glassy gaze he lowered to scoop her small frame into his arms. The way she hung limp in his hold made Mal choke, quickly tearing away from the two holding onto her and darting for the door. They called for her but she was already gone. She didn't look back, she ran and kept going- slamming into random Isle people as she sped past. Her legs hurt and her watery eyes blurred her vision but she knew exactly where she was going. A path memorized several times over. A tall tower that overlooked the monstrous waves of the dark sea all around the Isle had a wall at its peak. Mal climbed the stairs, several stories high and cared nothing for the pain in her lungs. At the top of the tower and obscured by a tarp was a special wall. Mal tried to stifle her sobs as she pulled the material away to reveal scribbles. All along this large surface were names carved by blades or stones. The names of children, friends, family or loved ones. Dozens of names were scraped into this wall and as Mal pulled a knife from her pocket, she took a shaky breath to prepare another.
Each scrape of her pocket knife rattled her nerves and she was deathly quiet. Staring at every line she'd carve again and again, deepening the marks to make the digs stand out among the dark surface. She stabbed and dragged at the surface, watching dust and debris fall from her motions until finally it was done. After what seemed an eternity of silence she stepped back to see the name, somewhat larger than the others. Her knife dropped to the floor in a small clang and she stared at the newest member of her memorial.
Dizzy Tremaine.
She had no idea how much time had passed until Evie found her. The gentle clops of her heels were muted from the focus on her wall. Mal now sat in front of it, legs hugged to her chest and eyes locked on the new name. She recognized the scent always surrounding Evie and didn't flinch when she felt her sit beside her. "Mal...?"
No response.
So Evie didn't speak again, only placing an arm around her and pulling her close. Mal never looked up to see that Evie had tears of her own. Her mascara ran down her cheeks even more once she saw it- that name. They both finally broke, clinging to one another and sobbing over the loss of the little girl who was the brightest part of the Isle. Evie hid her face in Mal's hair and Mal helplessly cried into her blue vest. It would be hours before the two finally moved from their spot. Though they stopped crying, they sat in silence and stared over every name along the wall. Everyone who had any sort of positive impact in their lives. The last one often choked them up into crying all over again.
Mal was different after Dizzy's death. While the ambition to protect and care for the Isle kids still remained, she was now quieter. Distant and reserved, the others understood but also wished Mal would talk to them. Any of them. About anything. Her closed off demeanor scared them until they saw her efficiency in executing plans. She was putting all of her focus into making sure the rest of the villain kids could be saved. Another string of deaths occured shortly after Dizzy and more names were added to the wall, though Mal never reacted to them the same way she usually did. She was quiet and showed almost no response. Her head was held high and at times her eyes glowed, betraying her steely composure. Evie tried to get her to talk but Mal shut her out, shut everyone out. She was growing colder by the day and she feared deeply for her dearest friend. Her face was neutral but Evie knew she was breaking; she never knew how much she'd fallen into that darkness until the night of her assault...
It was weeks after Dizzy's death. Weeks after they buried their sweetest and brightest friend, cherished like a sister. Evie was walking alone after slipping away from her home, ducking her crazed mother and hoping to evade any kind of abuse she can. What she got instead was a guilt she can never get over. If she hadn't been foolishly stuck in her own head then maybe she would have heard him coming. Maybe she could have gotten away on her own.
Mal was only a few blocks away when she heard the screams. Her blood went cold and she instantly reacted. She knew that voice. She ran and tore through anyone in her way, people who were content to ignore the cries and pleas for help. By the time Mal found them, Evie already had torn clothing from a man forcefully stripping her against a wall. She quickly closed the distance and pulled a pipe from the trash pile at her side. A strong swipe cracked at the side of his head, making the foul male scream in pain. Mal paused to glance over Evie, praying she caught them in time. She did. He didn't get to touch her where he tried. Mal's chest tightened at the sight of her curling into herself, fitfully sobbing. Without thinking she stormed over to the male as he stood, ducking swipes of his arms and smashing the pipe into his knee. He dropped but grabbed her waist, forcing her down with him. He tried pinning her down, punching the small girl and busting her lip, cursing at her and throwing an elbow into Evie who tried to pull him off. Mal snapped then, knife pulled from her pocket and jammed into his leg. He roared in pain, now shoved onto his back and stabbed in the shoulder. Mal felt an overwhelming surge of strength, easily deflecting his grab attempts and jamming the blade through his palm and into the concrete. He screamed and Mal stilled, watching his bloodied face while he tried feebly to pull the blade out. Evie was frantic, begging her to stop and just run with her. She tugged at Mal's jacket but she pulled away. Slowly she settled over the man, hands digging into his neck and closed over his throat.
"Mal, stop! Please, let's just go!"
His yells turned to gasps and Mal's eyes turned bright, glowing vividly and staring into his own. He struck at her, punched and slapped but something changed in her. A sudden monstrous strength took her over and wasn't letting go. His strikes grew weaker and her glowing eyes brighter, watching as he struggled to catch any sort of breath. She choked and squeezed, feeling his pulse racing harder and throat convulse in its desperation for air. She could no longer hear Evie's cries, helplessly watching Mal strangle the life from her attacker. Once his hands fell limp and his body still, a tear fell from her eye. Evie had no words. What could she say? What can she do? Mal now stood, her eyes still lit like a green flame but she was silent, eerily so. "M-Mal...?" Evie held herself close and did nothing when Mal walked away, only slumping down against the wall, staring at the body Mal left behind. The man she killed. The man she saved her from at the cost of her humanity. Mal was broken and Evie didn't know how to help. No idea that Mal was now willing to dwell in this darkness if it meant keeping her and all of them safe. From then on, Mal became a monster. Not in the same sense of her mother but in a manner that challenged all who dared target them or any of the kids.
Mal was unforgiving. Mal was cruel and wicked. She stole and destroyed, giving the spoils of her dark wars to the children of the Isle. The factory structure once controlled by a powerful gang was now theirs, Mal had driven them all out with her fearsome strength and ruthless nature. She stole and brought back food for each of them in their new home. Never eating her own share until Evie forced her to. She knew the lies. "I already ate." Mal was starving herself so they could eat. Or maybe she didn't believe she deserved anything? Evie could see the war happening in her eyes sometimes. The conflict of nature versus beliefs and experience. Mal became a monster and made sure none were foolish enough to challenge her on the Isle. The only one to still visibly shake her with fear was Maleficent...Maleficent who pretended to be powerless. Pretended to be without magic. Just like Mal she still had a degree of her abilities. Enough to terrify the strong willed girl. Evie sat up late at nights and prayed, wondering and hoping for a day that they may be saved from the Isle. Maybe someone from Auradon would rescue them. They're heroes right? Then why aren't they here? Would nobody save them? Would no one save her? Save Mal...?