Prologue
It was a beautifully warm night in Auradon. The moon shone high in the sky and the stars glimmered and gleamed in the heavens. No one could have guessed from this ethereal scene the horrific act which was about to occur under the roof of a majestic castle between a young king named Ben and his fiancé, Mal.
"Ben, let me go!" a bleeding Mal begged, the fear she felt evident in her voice.
He looked down at his pleading fiancé but ignored her cries.
"Ben, please! I am begging, let me go!" Mal screamed as Ben dragged her across the floor.
Ben paused where he stood. "Say it again," he said, a demented smile spreading across his face.
"Please, don't do this," Mal whispered, hoping he would show some sympathy and compassion, but it was no use. No matter how much she begged and pleaded, he continued to drag her until they reached his bedroom, at which point it became incredibly clear to her what he was planning to do. She tried to get away from him and somehow managed to make him release his hold on her, but there was nowhere she could run except into the room near the window.
Ben closed the door behind him and, grabbing a rag and bottle of chloroform out of his closet, slowly inched towards Mal.
"Ben, please don't do this!" Mal screamed as Ben drew closer.
Ben doused the rag with chloroform. "Lights out, Mal."