Ben and Carlos' date night went perfectly. The two went to Tiana's place for dinner together and shared a meal. While it wasn't the fanciest place, Carlos was content with food options he could actually read the names of without needing Ben to read the French to him in English. For what seemed like the first time in a month the two talked.
"I know that you are super busy, but I need you Ben… With mother here it just makes me need you more. I need my friend and boyfriend. She threatened me, she threatened you and Evie too… I'm honestly scared out of my mind and don't know what to do." Carlos shuddered forcing back the water gather in his eyes. He had cried enough, and he wouldn't give his mother the satisfaction. She may not be able to see it but she would know. She would know she broke him and that would be where the worst would start again.
"I'm here Carlos, I promise after tonight things will be different, especially now that I know your mother is lurking around the school doing lord only knows what." Ben took his hand and squeezed it, bringing it up to his mouth to press kisses to his knuckles. Carlos nodded smiling a little bit at him seeming comforted. When they returned to their dorm that night, Ben pushed Carlos onto the Bed, climbing on top of him. Just as Ben leaned down to start kissing his neck there was a knock at their door. Ben wanted desperately to ignore it but they knocked again so Carlos got up and opened the door.
Samuel stood smiling with a plate of cookies, all of them had names on them. Carlos could see one for himself and Ben.
"Hey I baked cookies for everyone… I just wanted to bring you the ones I made for you both." Samuel smiled warmly and Carlos took the cookies.
"Thanks Sam but me and Ben are kind of busy. Thanks again." He closed the door on Samuel and set the cookies aside. Carlos crawled into Ben's lap. Ben sat looking pretty pouty about the interruption. "Where were we?" he teased starting to unbutton Ben's shirt playfully. Ben grinned and pinned Carlos down to bed assaulting his neck.
The next morning Carlos woke up in Ben's bed completely undressed and covered in love bite marks. He got up, letting Ben sleep in and decided a cookie was a healthy option for breakfast. He scooped up the cookie and took a bite, it made his lips tingle a bit at first. He wolfed the whole thing down, it was a really good cookie. He slipped into the bathroom and started getting ready for the day.
Everything was seemingly fine except by lunch Evie and Ben were both having nasty coughing fits. It was a wicked cough that came with a wheeze as their lungs struggled to work. Ben had been doing just fine until this morning. It seemed to come out of nowhere.
By the time Fashion Program rolled around Evie could barely stop coughing. Carlos handed her his water. It only seemed to help for a little bit as Evie collapsed onto the floor of the fashion program room, sapphire hair strewn around her in a halo. Carlos panicked and knelt down picking her up and rushing her to the nurse. When he got there, Ben was already laying on the bed in the nurse's office looking just as awful. Carlos couldn't believe it. All he could do was sit while the nurse checked Evie over. The nurse ushered him out telling him she would take good care of them. Without much else to do he returned to his fashion program class where Cruella sat triumphantly looking at him as students were working on practice garments.
His heart hit his stomach with realization. His mother's satisfied look told him everything he needed to know. It appeared her threats weren't as idle as he thought. Somehow, she was the reason Ben and Evie were sick. He didn't know how but he knew she did it. By the end of class he got texts from Mal and Audrey confirming that Ben and Evie had been moved to Auradon City Hospital for better treatment, but the doctors apparently seem confused by the illness. Carlos marched up to her after everyone was gone.
"What do you want?" Carlos asked frowning a mix of rage and fear shooting through his veins. It was madness to speak to his mother this way but knowing that she caused this somehow made him stop caring. Carlos would do anything to protect Ben and Evie. Absolutely anything. Cruella smirked wickedly and watched the boy.
"You know what I want… you. Come back to Hell House tonight, drop out of this school and I will give you the antidote to the poison Samuel fed to your friends." She gleamed wickedly. Carlos stared at her pained and regretful. He knew, good things don't last for him. He has rotten luck to the core and even if he got everything he wanted he couldn't risk Ben and Evie's lives. Reluctantly he nodded and held out his hand. Cruella shook her head chuckling.
"Too Easy, you ungrateful little shit. I'll give this to your friends. You come home with me." Her expression was practically venomous. He wasn't sure if he was even going to survive tonight with how completely overcome with evil and joy Cruella was. She openly cackled at him as she dragged him to his dorm to get his things. He leaves a quick note for Ben before being dragged out of Auradon Prep and into his mother's Car. They stop at Auradon City Hospital on the way but Cruella locks Carlos in the car, the locks disappearing into the door to keep him from getting out. She comes back not long after before heading back to isle city with Carlos completely defeated. She drags him inside hell house and throws him into the basement. Cruella circled her son who lay on the floor. She kicked him hard in the ribs and there was a sick crack making him cry out in pain. She kicked him again as slurs and curses drip from her lips. Once bruised and beaten, Carlos is assaulted with a hail of whip cracks to his back. The shirt tears and so does skin. Blood dribbles down Carlos' frame as he holds onto the knowledge that he saved Ben and Evie. Carlos and Cruella do not leave the basement all night.