I do not go into detail, but I must warn that we are learning a villain's history in this chapter, and due to that we are going to be seeing some things that may be hard to deal with. Again, no detail, I kind of just leave it at a certain point, but I wanted to warn you guys because I know it can be triggering or difficult. Definitely a disturbing chapter though, which is exactly why this is rated T! My mind is poisoned.


Due to having his arm covering his eyes, Carlos hadn't noticed that the bright blue light had since faded from view, not until he heard the cry of a little girl. He looked around the room he was in, it was not the museum, it looked more like a bedroom. The walls were white, the floors were a beautiful mahogany, and there were curtains of a nice grey color. It wasn't but a mere minute until he realized his friends were nowhere in sight, that he was seemingly alone. But suddenly there was a muffled yelling, followed by a not-so muffled whimper and he was reminded of the cry he had heard.

Carlos walked around the room, careful to keep his step light so that he wouldn't alert anyone of his position, and checked various spots that could hold the whimpering child. He checked the small closet, which held nothing but clothing, and he carefully examined the top of the bed to see if there was a body under the covers. Yet again, there was nothing. It took him a moment of wondering where the culprit could possibly be within the room, as there was nowhere left to hide, until he realized he hadn't checked underneath the bed.

To say he was shocked at what he found was an understatement.

Carlos came face-to-face with what looked like a four to five year old Cruella De Vil. He nearly let out a scream; in fact he came so close that he had to slap his hand over his mouth to prevent the loud noise from erupting.

He soon realized the young girl hadn't even acknowledged his face coming so close, she didn't even acknowledge his presence. Surely that would frighten any child of this age? Carlos had been told he resembled a puppy in a way (much to his dislike, up until recently), but he still looked like a villain. Could it be she couldn't see him? Deciding to test his theory, Carlos scooted closer and reached his arm under the bed, waving his hand in front of the girl. But still, there was no reaction and so he decided that it was true, he couldn't be seen.

Carlos thought back to what happened at the museum, there had been a blue light on Maleficents staff, one that drowned each of his friends, before he realized he was here.

But before his mind could continue, someone burst in the door, the yelling growing louder. Young Cruella looked absolutely frightened from her hiding spot underneath the bed. The one to blame for all of the noise was a man, about thirty years in age, with black hair. His features were strange, not ones unlike his or his mothers. Could that be his grandfather? But how could that be?

"Cruella!" The man yelled, getting only a whimper in response from the child underneath the bed.

The man seemed to snarl, and you could briefly see his teeth, which were sharpened into fangs. Had Carlos still been afraid of dogs he would have bolted out of the room, the man acted just the same as what his mother had told him dogs were. The only difference that he could see was that he was a man, furless and clawless.

"Make this easier for yourself, Cruella, come out now!"

The young girl, clearly overwhelmed with fright, decided to leave her safe spot. Well, if she even had a choice. She walked over to the snarling man slowly, and he quickly snatched her up before pulling her out of the room. Carlos could only hear her cries grow louder, not having the heart to walk out and witness what he knew was happening.


The scene in front of Carlos changed; he was now in an office with a slightly older Cruella. She looked to be nearing her teenage years now, and her hair, which had previously been a brown was now as dark as night. There was a woman in the room with her, a woman who was fair in skin and hair. This new addition was sitting behind the desk, it looked to Carlos that she was sketching on a piece of paper while Cruella sat in her chair, staring ahead.

"Make yourself useful darling, grab a sheet and begin your work!" The woman said, in a much too sweet voice to be real. Carlos felt himself getting a cavity.

Cruella, however, didn't move.

"Are you deaf?"

The pre-teen was now focusing her attention on the older figure, "N-no, of course not!"

"Then why is it you ignore me, my young pup?"

Carlos' mother seemed to sigh silently before grabbing a sheet of paper and beginning to sketch designs. It was more than a little strange to see Cruella sane, to see her as a child, and seemingly before any problems really began. But what was also strange was that Cruella had a father (or, he assumed it was her father, judging by the resemblance) with canine teeth, and a mother who called her her "young pup".

The boy shivered.


Once again the scene changed, and again his mother grew in age, seeming to be around fifteen now. Cruella was staring at herself in the mirror, she was easily compared to a stick in thickness, and she was wearing a fur coat. Judging by the texture and color, Carlos assumed it was fox. Definitely different from her collection on the Isle, all black and white, many having spots.

When a man barged in, one that Carlos recognized due to the fang-like canine teeth, Cruella jumped. The man laughed at her uneasiness before pointing to the coat, causing Cruella to look down at what she was wearing once again.

"My, my, your mother would be quite upset if she learned you were wearing that. Are you aware of how much that cost?" He asked in a low voice.

Unable to respond verbally, Cruella just nodded her head and slid the coat off, revealing the dark satin pajamas underneath. Carlos hated seeing his mother like this, wearing a face that he had worn many times himself. More than anything Carlos wanted to intervene on his mothers behalf, to tell the man where to shove the fur, but alas, he could do nothing.

The young Cruella had returned the coat to her fathers hands quickly, hoping that he may leave her alone, when suddenly two dogs entered the room. The fanged man smirked wickedly before muttering something underneath his breath, the dogs seemed to understand what he said as they advanced on Cruella, who backed away in response.

Carlos couldn't believe the size of the dogs, he had never seen one so large, let alone two. But they didn't seem out to hurt his mother, just to scare her into submission, which he didn't understand; she had already given up the coat, and without being asked twice.

Cruella slid into a sitting position on the floor after reaching the end of the room, head between her knees and arms around the back of her head, rocking slightly. Carlos' heart shattered for what seemed like the thousandth time in a matter of mere - wait, how long had he been here? He hadn't even been aware of the time, not from the moment he arrived.

The scene began to change yet again, and Carlos couldn't remove his stare from where his mother had sat, in a position that he could only describe as protective. A protective barrier for herself, using herself. Perhaps even comforting, even if only in the slightest.


Cruella had aged much more this time, seemingly in her late twenties now. Several strands of her dark hair had began to change in color, now turning silver. Carlos had seen something in her eyes from the moment he noticed her, something he had seen many times before as a child, insanity. He sighed. It wasn't as intense as he had always known, but it was most definitely there. He assumed, no, he knew it was from the years of torment she had seen. Carlos had never before wondered what drove his mother to what she was, but now he knew.

At least, he knew part of it. There was still pieces needing to be put together, to fit like a puzzle.

Carlos heard a muffled groan and turned to look at the wall behind him, he found Cruella's mother, tied and gagged. Then he heard the laugh. He knew what his mother was going to do, but he also knew he couldn't stop it. Whether his presence was physical and known or not, Carlos would never be able to stop it. Once Cruella set her mind on something, she did it, and not even Carlos could stop it. No yelling, no distraction, nothing.

"Oh come now, mother" Cruella began, smiling with satisfaction, "don't be so difficult."

Suddenly she began throwing crumpled paper towards the older woman.

"How are my designs now mother? I've really grown to love designing, actually." Cruella grabbed the nearby sketchbook. "I suppose that's what happens when you're exposed to it so often, I used to hate it more than you, or even father, but now? Oh you won't believe what I have in store!"

Carlos stood, not a thought running through his head, only watching absentmindedly. That is, until Cruella quickly walked out of the room, returning not a minute later with a garment on a hanger. Though hidden, Carlos didn't see this ending well and wished he could leave.

"Mother, this is my latest design." She said, a smirk growing.

Cruella opened the protective sleeve and pulled out her creation. Carlos couldn't tell what his mother had used, it seemed to be snake skin, but it still differed slightly. Then he saw the teeth, the teeth he would never forget after this trip.


To be Continued.