Carlos lay on his old mattress thinking, there really wasn't much else that he could do. He lay there the rest of the day, and all night, Jay hadn't yet returned. By the following morning Carlos had an idea but he had to get up to implement it. After eating the second apple that Jay had brought him he steeled himself against the pain he knew would be there and pushed himself up, he almost passed out again. Slowly the boy stood up on shaky legs, he took a cautious step forward. He didn't fall. Then a second step. And a third. Until he got to the window, Carlos looked out the way Jay had climbed in the day before, there was no way he could make that climb yet. After filling his belly with water from the bathroom he opened the door to the hall to go downstairs. It was early still and he hoped his mother would still be asleep and he could slip out.

"Oh Carlos, there you are, be a dear and come down." Cruella called up to him from the large hall below. Carlos cringed she was awake, she wasn't manically screaming, which in itself was worrisome. But this sort of politeness could only mean she was putting on a show for someone.

"Coming." Carlos dutifully called out to her. And slowly climbed down the stairs grimacing at each step.

"He needs to go Cruella." a male voice said. Carlos recognized it as Dr. Faciler the principal at Dragon Hall.

"But I'll miss him so much when he's gone all day." Cruella responded with a sickening sweet voice.

Carlos guessed it had something to do with his not going to school and Dr. Faciler must have found out that Carlos was back on the isle. Although Dr Faciler was a horrible principal and truancy was basically expected, he still insisted on all the isle children attending school, probably had something to do with the fact that he was paid per student, so any kid not registered and going at least some of the time was money not in his pocket.

"Cruella we've been over this." he replied, as Carlos entered the room slowly. Dr. Faciler looked over the boy. Carlos had a black eye, his jaw was a nasty greenish color, his arms and calves had marks from the hanger Cruella had whipped him with as well as fresh cigarette burns and of course a noticeable limp. Dr. Faciler was used to seeing abuse of the isle children, he often helped add to it, but this was severe even for him. The main raised his eyebrow. "Carlos." he nodded in a type of greeting before turning back to Cruella "What did you do to the boy?"

Carlos flinched hoping he wouldn't be hit because of the man's question. Cruella just laughed "My dear, Dr, its called discipline, surely you've heard of it; it's supposed to be good for children. And I can guarantee he won't try it again, will you Carlos?" Cruella patted Carlos's cheek, it wasn't a slap but it was still hard, and clearly a warning.

"No, Momma." Carlos replied keeping his voice meek.

Cruella smiled, which was not something pleasant to see, at Carlos, "Now be a good boy and go to the market and pick up a few things for mommy." The woman handed Carlos a list and, to his surprise, some money. Carlos was in complete shock, his mother had never given him anything before.

"Yes, Momma." He responded and headed out of the house. He couldn't believe his good fortune, if he could find Jay they could easily steal the items on the list and use the money for what he needed to try to get off of this damn isle.

As expected Carlos was able to find Jay in the market, it didn't take long. "Jay!" Carlos hissed getting the older boys attention.

"Carlos!" Jay smiled as he and Carlos hid behind some crates in an ally. "Sorry I couldn't get back last night. Dr. Faciler paid a visit to Dad and he wouldn't let me leave the shop."

Carlos nodded "He's at my house now. Listen I have an idea but I need your help."

/

Ben, Doug, Lonnie, and Jane were meeting with Mal and Evie in their shared hospital room. They were trying to figure out a plan to get back to the isle to rescue the boys.

"It's another two weeks till the next barge." Evie said, her hand was in a full cast after extensive surgery to her hand. She would still need further surgery to fix all the damage and hand a long road ahead to have full use of her hand again but the doctors were confident that she would make a full recovery in time.

"Of course using the bridge will arouse suspicion. I wish there was a way to contact them." Lonnie commented.

Everyone was quiet for a while, each in their own thoughts, Doug finally spoke up "Carlos punched a hole in the barrier right?"

Mal and Evie both nodded. Ben's jaw dropped, he had heard about it but had no idea that Carlos had been involved.

"If he's able to do it from his side maybe we could do it from here, just one small enough to transmit a message." Doug continued.

Evie's eyes lit up "I helped him last time, I don't remember everything but I have the general idea."

Jane looked worried "what good is transmitting a message if he's not expecting one?"

Doug smiled, "I bet they're trying to figure that out right now."

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