Chapter 3: The News
Hadley rolled her eyes and pushed past her sister in their small, dingy apartment. Mal returned her with a look of annoyance. Just like Mal to always the last word. Hadley let out an annoyed huff and grabbed her black leather jacket before rushing out of her home. She could barely call it home; she was constantly ignored by her mother and sister she could barely call them family. Uma, Gil and Harry were her real family. Hadley ran the whole way to docks to Uma's boat, running was the only way to clear her mind and let her frustrations out.
"Took you long enough, Hads". "Took the long way". The two best friends eyed each other before laughing and high fiving. The smell of the sea salt from ocean put Hadley at ease as the boat gently rocked with the waves. All Hadley could do was stare off into the distance and dream of adventure away from this island. "One of these days, lass, we will get this boat off this dock. Just you wait" Harry Hook always talked of going such grand adventures far, far away from the Isle that gave Hadley the hope she needed. There was something about Harry that made Hadley feel comfortable and happy. She could easily forget her fights with her mom and sister and just be herself. Harry was always flirty and eccentric to everyone but let out his softer side to Hadley. Hadley pushed the thought of her from her mind, they could never be together they were friends and just friends. How cliché.
"Uhhhh guys we have some company" Gil sang as two large, dirty henchmen stomped up to the ship. Hadley knew right away who they belonged to. "Let me guess my mother needs me". "She has news for you". Leave it Maleficent to order others to do her dirty work. "And if I refuse?" "We'll drag you by your hair". Hadley smirked and gave a cheeky salute to her Captain and followed the grimy henchmen. It was better to comply than endure the wrath of the dragon herself. Little did she know this was the last time she would see her friends in a while.
Hadley rolled her eyes as Mal grabbed a sucker from a baby passing by and thrusted it up in the air to other villain kids. The group laughed and praised Mal before running off hiding and screaming. Mal knew who was responsible for that response: her mother. "Hi mom". "Stealing candy, Mal? I'm so disappointed." "It was from a baby?" Hadley knew that Mal was trying to find any word to try to make her mother somewhat proud of her. Mal's mother might be a crazy lunatic, I mean cursing a whole kingdom because you weren't invited to a party, kind of crazy but that didn't stop Mal from trying to make her mother proud. With a wide smile Maleficent grabbed the sucker out of her daughter's hands "That's my nasty little girl". Hadley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms at the comment. These comments were nothing new in their household. Maleficent proceeded to spit on the sucker and rub it into her armpit before ordering her guards to give it back to baby. "….Mom" "It's the dets Mal that make the difference between mean and truly evil. Why when I was your age, I was cursing entire kingdoms". Hadley and Mal heard this speech once or a thousand times. She nervously twirled her white hair as her eyes shifted toward her twin and her friends. She knew something big was coming.
Maleficent would never leave her lair if that's what you want to call their dingy small apartment to find Mal and her friends and Hadley. Maleficent pulled her purple haired daughter aside and told her how much she is trying to teach her to be like her. Hadley wished she was with her friends giggling at the nonsense that came out of Gil's mouth, throwing anything at Harry when he would get overly cheeky and just annoying the crap out of Gil and Harry. She wanted to be anywhere but here. Eager to please her mom Mal nodded in agreement. Carlos, Jay and Evie all looked towards their purple haired friend in sympathy. As much as they all wanted to be evil and make their parents proud, they knew they could never be like them.
"There's news!" exclaimed Maleficent "You five have been chosen to go to a different school..in Auradon". No no no Hadley thought. There is no way I'm going to Auradon. I'm not about to be villainized by those prissy princes and princesses. My life is here on the isle with my friends, Auradon will change everything. The five VKs tried to escape but were stopped by guards. Hadley could see the gleam in Evie's eyes. Well at least one of us will be happy and it is certainly not me. "I read somewhere that they allow dogs in Auradon" A timid and frightened Carlos shifted his eyes to everyone in the group "mom says that they are rabid pack animals who eat misbehaving boys". Jay quietly and carefully snuck up behind the black- and white-haired boy letting out a loud barking noise made Carlos jump high in the air with fright. "Yeah mom we are not going" whined Mal. "You're thinking small pumpkin, it's all about WORLD DOMINATION!".
We all stood in the dimly lit apartment of Maleficent waiting on instructions. "You will go, you will find the Fairy Godmother and you will bring me back her wand". Maleficent spoke as if it were to be "easy peasy". If it were so easy mom, you could do it. We were all thinking it, what's in it for us. Why risk everything on some wand it doesn't make much sense to me. Hadley watched as Maleficent and Mal stared each other down with bright green eyes, that's something Hadley could never do no matter how hard she tried. Maleficent being stronger won the little battle and Mal decided that we would all follow their mother's plan. So much for be a strong leader, Mal.
Evie was summoned by her mother and she skipped eagerly with a smile as big as the Cheshire cat. She wanted her mother's approval and followed every word and command. All the Evil Queen wanted for her daughter was for her to marry a prince. She never payed interest in her designing just instilled in her how to be a good housewife. Hadley knew she could amount to so much more than what her mother wanted. Hadley felt a pit of loneliness as she watched the blue haired girl interact with her mothers. Hadley craved the attention from her mother.
Carlos was more excited about going to Auradon because he knew that meant leaving his mom who only wanted him as a personal slave. Jafar did not want his son to leave for that meant he would have to go steal items himself for his shop. But revenge was the key word in every villain's head and the only way to achieve it was through their kids. With the Evil Queen's mirror and Maleficent spell book, the VKs were ready to take on Auradon.
The long stretch limo pulled into the isle and was their ticket out of there. Hadley and the rest of the chosen kids piled into the backseat and looked in awe at the number of treats that laid before them. There was colors and flavors that the VKs have never seen before. Hadley locked eyes on the bright blue candy that looked like crystals. It was like nothing she ever tasted before. Jay and Carlos wrestled over the candy as if there wasn't enough. Auradon might be okay afterall. As the car pulled off the island onto the broken bridge the kids looked upon it in fear. "It's a trap exclaimed Carlos!" would they really go through this much trouble to kill 5 villain kids. Like magic a bridge appeared. The VKs were not used to this, magic doesn't work on the isle after all. Hadley felt a pang of sadness and regret as they drove away from the isle. Her friends would never forgive her for abandoning them. As the car rolled to a stop in front of Auradon Prep, none of the VKs knew what to expect.
