Chapter 3:

Carlos sat down beside Mal and put one of his hands over hers.

"Now you listen to me," he said sternly. "You have get better, you hear me? You have to. Ben needs you, Evie needs you, and… I need you. You've always looked out for me Mal, don't leave now."

"Carlos?" Mal spoke weakly without opening her eyes.

"That's right Mal."

"I don't feel good."

"I know. I know."

Ben woke the next morning in his own room. He couldn't remember how he'd gotten there, but it didn't matter. He had to get back to Mal. He crawled out of bed a put on a fresh pair of clothes before heading down the hall to Mal's room. When he opened the door he found Carlos asleep in the chair. Neither Jay nor Evie were present.

"Carlos," Ben whispered and shook him gently.

"Huh?" Carlos asked with a yawn.

"Where's Jay and Evie?"

"Don't know, they went out last night and I told them I'd watch over Mal. They probably went back to mine and Jay's room."

"Any changes?"

"Not yet."

"Oh," said Ben as he picked up a washcloth and dampened it in the sink. He folded the cloth carefully and placed it on Mal's forehead, smoothing her hair out of the way. "She's so warm."

"I wonder what she keeps dreaming about."

"Me too, I just wish there was something more I could do to help her." Ben sat down on the bed and pulled her into his arms. She groaned and leaned her head into him in response, but didn't do anything more.

"It's like she's aware of her surroundings but is stuck somewhere between awake and asleep," said Carlos.

"I've noticed that too," Ben replied. "I really hate the idea of leaving her."

"We'll keep her save, don't worry."

"I know, but what if she wakes up and I'm not here. What will she think?"

"She'll understand, Ben, she loves you."

"Thanks, Carlos."

"Anytime."

"How is she?" Evie asked as she came into the the room. She'd been worrying all night and had barely enjoyed her time with Doug. She kept thinking something was going to happen while she was gone, but knew Carlos would tell her if anything occurred.

"The same," said Carlos. He was sitting in the chair by her bed, Ben on the bed with her looking defeated. She laid against Ben shivering, her hair a wad of tangles, and her free hand picked at the covers as she mumbled quietly. Ben spoke back to her in a whispering, soothing her with comforting words and rubbing his hand up and down on her arm.

"She's been like this for almost 4 days now. What if…."

"No, no 'what if's," Ben interrupted. "She'll be fine. She has to be."

Carlos and Evie gave each other a sad look. While Evie wasn't going to give up hope, she knew when it was time to consider the facts. If Mal didn't wake up soon, she might never wake up at all, and it hurt.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm afraid it's time for King Ben to depart," said a man's voice from the door. It was the same man that had came and got him last time, only this time he appeared more solemn. "How's Lady Mal?" He asked.

"Mal will be fine," Ben said a bit uncertainly, but firmly at the same time. He gently laid Mal down and got off the bed. "I'll be back soon, I promise," he told her with a kiss. He turned then to Carlos and Evie. "Call me the minute something happens."

"We will," Carlos assured him.

Ben slowly walked out of the room and Evie took his place on Mal's bed. She brushed her hair softly and pulled it into a braid, to keep it from getting tangled again with all her tossing and turning.

Mal jerk suddenly and Evie pulled her hands away. "No, please no," she muttered.

Carlos sat up in the chair and reached for her hand. "Mal, it's ok. We're right here, everything's ok."

"Make it stop," she answered.

"Make what stop?" asked Evie.

"They're trying to hurt me.

"Who?"

"They say I'm a monster."

"Who's saying you're a monster?" Carlos questioned.

"People." With that she was still again, but Carlos kept talking to her.

"Mal, if you can hear me then listen. You are not a monster. Don't listen to what those people are saying just come back to us ok? Please, Mal, come back to us." But Mal had said her piece for the day. The afternoon went by with Evie, Jay and Carlos taking turns watching over her, but there was no improvement.

Mal was surrounded. People shouting at her that she was a monster and should be killed. Her friends tried to reach her, but they just grabbed them and threw them back. "No!" She cried out. "Stop!"

"Leave her alone!" Ben voice cut through the crowd.

"Ben," Mal said relieved. He pushed through the people and wrapped Mal in a hug.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"I am now." They stepped apart from each other for a moment and Mal caught something flying through the air out of the corner of her eye. "Ben, watch out!" She exclaimed a moment too late. The object struck Ben and sent him tumbling across the pavement. "Ben!" Mal screamed, but the crowd closed in on her so she couldn't reach him. "No, please no." She squeezed her eyes shut tight.

"Mal, it's ok. We're right here, everything's ok," she heard Carlos say, but his voice sounded distant.

"Make it stop," she sobbed.

"Make what stop?" Evie.

"They're trying to trying to hurt me."

"Who?"

"They say I'm a monster."

"Who's saying you're a monster."

"People," Mal managed to say before the crowd swallowed her up and everything went dark.

An hour. Ben had been gone an hour and already he was anxious to get back to Mal. I'll be back soon, he had promised her, but what if it wasn't soon enough? If she woke up and he wasn't there, would she think he'd abandoned her? He didn't even know the first place to start looking for Uma, and what was he even supposed to do when he found her? Was he supposed to force her back on The Isle.

No, he wouldn't do it. Uma deserved a chance as much as anyone, and Ben could tell that she wasn't evil. After all, she had left willingly. He'll just get her to sign an agreement saying she'll leave Auradon alone. Surely she'd agree. But as much as he hoped, he knew there was a chance she wouldn't. Then what?

It was then that he started thinking of Mal again. She'd know what to do. She knows Uma. Oh, Mal, I hope you're doing ok.

Jay had been sitting by Mal's bed when she cried out for help. He had jumped from the chair in an instant and sat on the bed, pulling her in a hug. "You're alright, Mal," he soothed, "I'm here." She had shook in his arms and, while she'd quite screaming, she continued mumbling softly.

It had been then that Jay had gotten the washcloth which he was now using to gently rub her face. She had groaned in protest against the cool water, but hadn't moved to stop him. Her face was so pale, almost translucent, so you could the veins that ran beneath her skin. And while her eyes were shut firmly, you could tell they were moving back and forth frantically. Her lips were dry and cracking, and while they'd tried to get her to take some water, she hadn't gotten much.

They really had been doing everything they could, but it didn't help. She'd cried out for Ben several times in the two days he'd been gone, and had kicked and screamed, when they told her he wasn't there, until she no longer had any strength. Even then she continued to whimper, curled up in a little ball, but there was nothing they could do.

"Anything?" Lonnie asked as she came into the room. She walked across the room and sat in the chair, carefully placing her hand over one of Mal's.

"Not yet," Jay sighed.

Lonnie frowned, "I wish there was more we could do."

"We all do."

"Chad and Audrey came back. They're both saying she's going to die."

"Well she's not!" Jay screamed. "She can't." Tears escaped his eyes as he pulled Mal closer. Lonnie got up and put a hand on his back.

"I know, and she won't," she told him. "How long have you been in here?"

"I don't know, a couple hours," said Jay, and rubbed his eyes.

"You should take a break. I'll watch her."

"Thanks but I really…."

"Jay," Lonnie interrupted. Jay looked down at Mal sadly before nodding and getting up.

He made his way down the hall, and kept walking, letting his mind wander. He didn't know how he ended up there, but the next thing he knew he was in the gym. Carlos was in there as well, Dude right by his side.

"You gotta quite worrying so much," Dude was saying.

"I can't help it, there's just so much going on right now."

"Jane enjoyed Cotillion did she not?"

"Yeah, but…"

"So, what's the problem?"

"What's up?" Jay interrupted.

"Carlos is freaking out about going on a date with Jane," Dude told him.

"Dude!" Carlos exclaimed.

"What? I have to tell the truth remember?"

"Why are you freaking out man? Jane's awesome," Jay asked Carlos.

"It's not about Jane. It's just that…I feel guilty going out while Mal's not doing well." Jay sighed and sat down.

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"But do you really think she'll be upset with you for having some fun?" Dude asked. "If she could talk to you right now what do you think she'd say?"

"That she was fine and to go have a good time," Carlos answered.

"Exactly."

"Huh, you're right Dude," Jay said. "You know, you're a pretty smart dog."

"I know," he replied with a smile. "Now come on, let's get Carlos ready."

Mal was back on The Isle. The only other person there was her mother, no longer a lizard, lounging on the sofa.

"What am I doing back here?" Mal asked.

"Don't you remember dear? Your precious king sent you back. Hah!" Maleficent laughed. "I mean, did you really think he would fall for someone like you? You're my daughter after all. You'll always be evil."

"No, I'm not like that."

"Oh, but you are. How do you think you accomplished your little transformation? Because like it or not, darkness runs through your veins."

"Stop saying that!" Mal shouted.

"Mal?" Lonnie?

"Why do I keep hearing my friends voices?" she asked.

"Oh, dear, because you're not really here," her mother replied wickedly.

"Where am I?"

"In Auradon like you have been this entire time."

"So why am I seeing this?"

"You're sick, Dear. You're body is in Auradon, but your minds here."

"No, I don't want to be here. Please, I have to go back."

"Sorry, but you can't."

The room started closing in.

"No!" Mal screamed, but it didn't stop.