"Come on, Mal, you've been missing for weeks now. The others are worried, the pirates are taking over parts of our territory, and your mother is going off on anyone that is associated with you." It was Evie's voice that broke through the darkness. "Mal, come on, please." She begged again.
Mal had been missing for over three weeks now and it was the first time anyone had found her. While the Isle wasn't very big, there were many nooks and crannies that provided an escape and cover for anyone that wanted to be alone.
"I'm not leaving until you come out." It was Mal's turn to sigh. She knew how stubborn Evie was when she had her mind on what she wanted. "I brought you some food. No one has seen you, or claims that they've seen you in three weeks. Please just open the door."
"Evie, please," Mal's voice broke. She knew Evie was right about no one claiming they've seen her. She was still the leader of the gang and even though she'd go missing, she still invoked fear into everyone. Enough for them to lie about seeing her scavenge for food. The only thing Evie had been wrong about was the time frame. It had been three weeks, five days, seventeen hours, and twenty-three minutes since she'd seen her friends.
"Mal," Evie felt her heart break at the sound of Mal's voice. "Just let me in." I need to see that you are okay at least. I'll leave after, if that's truly what you want. I need to see for myself that you are okay." Evie didn't care that she was pleading right then. She wanted, no needed, to make sure her best friend was at least in one piece.
Mal knew that there was no use in arguing. She didn't want Evie to expose her hiding place and the only way to be sure of that was to let the girl into the crowded space. "Are you alone?" Mal had to ask. She was about to completely expose herself for the first time since, well since everything changed.
"Yes, it's just me." Evie sighed in relief.
"Come quickly," Mal moved the rotting dresser away from the door and stepped once again back into the shadows of the room. Once Evie stepped into the room, Mal rushed to place the dresser back into place. "I'm fine. See?" Mal made a quick motion to her body before moving back into the shadows.
"Mal, what happened?" Evie had only seen Mal for a second in the small amount of light, but she knew she was recovering from a beating. "Was it your mother?" Evie knew that Maleficent wasn't the best mother around. In fact, she was arguably the worst. Maleficent had left more damage on Mal's body than anyone could count, but even on the worst days, Mal hadn't hidden away.
"No," Mal felt her arms reach around and hug herself. She was shrinking into herself.
"Mal, what happened?" Evie asked once again. She had never seen her friend like this. She could see the outline of the shell of her best friend start to shrink inside of itself.
"You've seen me, I'm in once piece, and I'm fine. Can you please just leave now?" Mal was becoming desperate. She didn't know how much longer she would last before breaking down to Evie. After all, Evie was her best friend.
"No, you aren't." Evie was becoming defensive. She would kill for her friends and she wanted whoever hurt her best friend to pay.
Mal's eyes darted back and forth. Evie could tell she was fighting her brain about something. "I can't right now, please, Evie." Mal begged. She had spent the last days reliving the events; she couldn't say the words aloud. She didn't want to fully admit what happened. Not yet, at least.
"Fine," Evie threw her vibrant blue hair over her shoulder. She was never one to force someone to talk, not right away. "Just come back to the hideout with me." Evie tried. She knew it was a long shot, but things were happening on the Isle that weren't good and they needed their fearless leader.
"I can't, Evie, I just can't." Mal sighed in defeat. She needed to stay where she was, possibly forever. "Tell me something good." Mal closed her eyes. She needed hope. She needed something to get her mind off of everything.
"Oh!" Evie burst out. The sudden loud noise caused Mal to shrink back. "I almost forgot, your mom has been on a rampage. Beating everyone, literally, that has had contact with you." Evie winced as she remembered the punches and kicks she received. Mal frowned at the sight of Evie remembering something. "There is news; four of us have been chosen to go to Auradon Prep as transfer students, to fulfill a decree made by the Prince." Evie smiled. She had always dreamed of going over the ocean to live among princes.
"When would we leave?" Evie's eyes widened at the question. She had fully expected Mal to throw a fit about having to go live among the prissy princes and princesses.
"Tomorrow, 6 am," Evie had spent the last three weeks searching for Mal, but she was more determined after the letter was received. She couldn't, no she wouldn't, leave Mal here to fend for herself.
Mal chewed on her bottom lip. She had two options and she wasn't sure which one was worse. She could stay here, hiding for the foreseeable future, or she could escape her demons on the Isle and move to the mainland. "Okay," She said quietly. "But you have to promise me something."
"Anything," Evie promised.
"You have to promise me, I won't run into anyone on the way out." Mal knew the request was ridiculous. She didn't want to take chances though.
"We have seven hours until we meet the car. Will you please come to the hideout now and then we can figure out a way to make that happen?" Evie knew that the car was meeting them close to the hideout and she knew that the boys would help her smuggle Mal out.
"Okay," Mal kept telling herself that she could do this. It was only seven hours. How much more damage could be done? Mal shuddered at the thought. After all, it took sixteen minutes and thirty four seconds for her life to change. "Before we go, Evie, I need to tell you something."
"Mal, you know you can tell me anything." Evie reassured. She tried to put a hand on Mal's arm but quickly retracted it after seeing her flinch. "What happened?"
"Evie, I think I could be…I think I am...Evie, I might be pregnant." Mal could hear Evie's breathing hitch. Out of everything bad that Evie thought of, this was the one thing that never crossed her mind. "I don't know what to do." Mal finally broke down. She felt the tears flowing out of her eyes. "Evie, I didn't want to. I didn't want to." Mal kept repeating as she fell onto the ground.
"Mal, you don't mean…" Evie trailed off. She didn't want to be right, but it made sense now. She felt the tears leak out of her eyes and trail down her face. "Mal, why didn't you tell me?" Evie couldn't help but feel slightly hurt. She was Mal's confidant.
"Please don't tell anyone." Mal knew what she had to do once she left her safe space. She needed to pretend that nothing happened. She needed to pretend that her life wasn't in shambles. "I'll be okay. I'm strong enough." Evie didn't know who Mal was trying to convince more, herself or Evie, but she knew that Mal would just retreat into herself if she didn't have someone on her side.
"I won't, I promise. We'll get through this." Evie had already made up her mind. She would be there every step of the way. "But, Mal, what are you going to do about going to Auradon?" Evie had momentarily forgotten about that small fact.
"I'll deal with that when it comes to that." Mal nodded to herself. There was no point in trying for the future. She just needed to escape the Isle. "Are you ready to go to the hideout?" Mal had asked suddenly.
"Of course, do you want to go before or after me?" Evie knew to play this however Mal wanted to play this.
"I can't show weakness, can I?" Mal sighed and moved to the dresser. "Ready or not, here I come." Mal whispered. The walk to the hideout didn't take more than seven minutes, but it was seven minutes that Mal was complete exposed. She could hear the words of encouragement from Evie behind her, but she couldn't help the fear spreading in her body.
"Three more hours," Evie whispered to Mal before she threw the rock at the sign. Mal blinked. Three hours? The last she'd known it was seven hours. Had they really been talking for four hours? She shook her head. Time had escaped Mal more times than she could count in the last three weeks.