22. More bad news

Mal's P.O.V.

Ben was talking to the Fairy Godmother. But I didn't notice anything because my thoughts were somewhere else. We had to prepare for his death much faster than we thought. And I knew I couldn't do it. Carlos was too young to die. I didn't know how to deal with all the feelings in me. It was too much. My eyes filled with tears, but I didn't let it happen. I was not weak! I was Mal the daughter of the evil Maleficent! At that moment I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around. Ben stood behind me, looking at me worriedly. My heart beat faster as always when I looked into his eyes.

"Are you all right, Mal? You look pretty finished." I took a deep breath. I couldn't let that show. So I put on a fake smile.

"It's all right." And when I said that, my heart broke. No, everything was wrong! Carlos would die in the near future! And then I couldn't stop the tears. God, how embarrassing was that? Ben looked at me briefly in surprise before he hugged me gently.

"What's happening?" I clung to him. It broke my heart that we would soon lose our little Carlos.

"Carlos," I sobbed. Ben held me tighter. He knew how important Carlos was to me and he also liked Carlos. Very. "He'll die in the near future. The doctor gave him at most a few weeks!" Ben tensed up and I knew the news was a shock to him too.

"What?", he whispered and his voice trembled too. I said nothing more, just clasped the boy in front of me. It hurt so much. And it was one thing above all: damn unfair. "I have more bad news," whispered Ben, and I looked up at him. That sounded serious. And then I saw the fear and worry in his eyes. That was not good. That was not a good thing at all. "The Fairy Godmother can't fix the magic wall yet. And ... your parents are on the way to Auradon with other villains." My heart stopped. What?! Carlos, Jay and Evie's parents were on their way here?! That was damn bad news!

"What?", I asked incredulously. Ben nodded kinked.

"Yes." I detached myself from him and ran back and forth.

"It really can't be true!" If they reached Auradon, we would have no chance! They were totally dangerous! "Ben, what should we do? They are unpredictable!" Ben sighed audibly.

"I'm afraid we can't avoid a fight." Everything in me contracted. We should fight so many villains?! I thought I, Evie, Jay, and Carlos actually knew how to do it, but probably not the others. And Carlos wouldn't be able to fight anymore. My heart contracted again at the thought, but now was not the time for grief and tears. Ben sighed dejectedly. "I'm sorry. But we don't have time anymore. We have to prepare now." I tensed up but nodded. I knew we didn't have a choice unless we just wanted to die. Our parents were probably pretty angry with us and I didn't want to imagine what they would do with us. Ben put a hand on my shoulder. "We make it." I looked at him angrily. He greatly underestimated the situation.

"Do you even know what to expect? You have no idea how to fight these villains! Jay, Evie and I can only do it! Carlos can, but not in his condition!" My heart broke again. It hurt so much. How quickly his condition had deteriorated. Ben looked at me sadly and he felt the same pain.

"I know Carlos probably won't be able to." Then he looked at me with a slight smile. "But the rest of it isn't true. Don't underestimate us."