He hated this.

Fucking loathed it.

Every time he blinked, all he could see was her face.

Her confusion.

The fright she'd felt.

They'd tried so hard to fight whatever had taken hold of her-

But then she'd thrown him.

It was that moment-

He'd watched the dawning in her eyes.

The understanding.

She was having a harder and harder time, but he refused to let her go.

The fear. The desperation.

The plea in her eyes.

The defeat.

His jaw tenses.

She darted him.

To keep him safe.

To stop herself from hurting him.

And now?

Now they had no idea where the hell she was-

Just that it was Mad Madam Mim that somehow-

His eyes narrow.

-took control of her.

Damn it.

What the fuck was happening to his Treasure? Where was she? Was she okay?

It was like a form of hell.

His own personal hell.

His heart ached, and his stomach couldn't fall any lower.

He closes his eyes as he pushes himself to move faster.

He couldn't lose her.

Couldn't.

He wasn't sure what he'd do if he could never look into her kind, curious, blue eyes again.

He was kicking himself.

Even on Plunge-

It was difficult to keep up with Harry.

Fuck, god help him, when they got back-

When they all got back-

He was going to T for help.

He'd hate it.

Every goddamn minute.

But, he glares at Harry's back, never again.

Never again would he be left eating his family's dust while one of them, especially his Treasure, had been taken.

He shakes his head as he pushes past the ache of his muscles.

Ignores the way his heart was slamming painfully against his chest.

Deez needed them.

His Treasure needed him.

Nothing else mattered.

She blinks when she finds herself again, plunging herself into the ground when she locks her legs.

The song was still there; its cloyingly sweet melody felt like water in her lungs.

Her head-

It was as if the notes of the song—the words themselves even—were trying to weave around her brain.

The song was louder now, vibrating in her bones, but she still couldn't make out the words.

Everything was shaking, her heart pounding.

From fear or exhaustion?

She pushes herself up and looks around before she gasps.

She was at the base of the mountain, halfway across the island from the witch camp.

How long had she lost control this time?

One leg bends against her will, then the other.

Flames fall down her face and drip to the ground beneath her as she's forced to stand.

No!

She takes a step.

No!

Please no!

Her leg swings, forcing her another step towards the mountain.

What was happening to her?

Why?

Why had she attacked Gil?

Flames continue to fall down her face, splashing to the ground with every forced step.

She had no idea where she was being forced to go-

She just knew it was bad.

Magic.

Dark magic.

It felt like the attack against the barrier, and yet, different.

Was it because she was the target?

Why her?

Her heart sinks as fear hits her like electricity.

They never found the witches.

The witches aligned themselves with Shan Yu.

Was she about to face him?

As her foot lifts to take another step, she throws herself back.

No.

No, she wasn't ready for that!

And if they had control of her!

She screams as she rolls down the incline until she slams into a jagged rock.

No!

If she couldn't control herself, how could she fight?

Her eyes widen as she jumps to her feet, pain radiating through her entire body.

As if she were fighting the cuffs around her father's wrists.

The world around her swirls, and not even panic could stop the darkness falling over her vision again.

He couldn't even swallow.

Not D. Not D. Not D.

He wasn't-

Couldn't-

Refused to lose someone else to a witch.

Faster T.

Harder.

I'll never forgive you.

Don't fuck this up.

Don't disappoint them.

Don't let her die.

I can't lose her.

We can't lose her.

We don't know what she's doing.

Those babies-

I fucking know! I fucking know! I fucking know!

He was going to throw up.

SWALLOW IT!

He gulps, grimacing at the sour taste.

His lungs felt like they were on fire.

He'd never pushed himself so hard.

But the thought of Deez's broken, bloody body had him well past pushing his limits.

You're not moving fast enough!

Harder T! I know we can run faster! That you can run faster!

Don't let this happen.

God, don't let them down.

We'll lose all of them.

To grief.

To addictions.

To anything that might numb the pain.

We saw it T!

We saw what happened!

They'll be gone, T.

And we'll be alone all over again.

Please T, please, don't stop!

I can't.

Not again!

He takes another gulp of air. He could see it.

See the stupid fucking mountain.

He was so close.

He was so far.

He couldn't fail. Not again.

Not like this.

They'd never forgive him.

She'd never forgive him.

He'd never forgive himself.

He jumps off the last building, grunting as he rolls to his feet.

He could do this.

He needed to do this.

He wouldn't let Deez end up like those fucking babies.

He couldn't.

His feet hit the dirt as he pushes himself.

Deez.

Her bright eyes.

Her wide smile.

Her beautifully kind nature.

Her devotion.

Her drive.

Deez.

Gil's Treasure.

Harry's Fire Princess

Uma's Baby Girl.

They'd be devastated.

He'd be devastated.

How much shit had she inspired?

How many times had she kept them going?

How often had she sacrificed herself for the benefit of the others?

Her laughter rings in his ears.

Her giggles echo painfully.

He wanted to hear them again.

Wanted to tackle her.

Wanted to jump out as he threw daggers at her in surprise.

No one else ever played with him like she did.

She was a brightness in his life.

In our lives. For years. For over a decade.

We watched her grow up. Watched her develop.

Helped her come into herself. Helped her accept her fire.

She was the isle's hope.

So many relied on her.

So many.

She was the advocate.

The one who spoke up when no one else dared.

The one who'd spent years fighting for everyone else's freedom

The sweet girl who thought she was a monster.

A misfit.

Like him.

Like Faustina.

She was their sister.

The one who understood them.

The one who'd accepted them before they even knew the truth about each other.

God fucking damn it. Please don't let it be too late! Please.

It would be complete bullshit.

To survive, everything he had just to lose the isle's beacon.

The family's compass.

The X that always marked the spot.

He'd failed so much this year. He'd almost gotten himself and his sister killed. Made so many stupid fucking mistakes. Was too slow. Too cocky. Too oblivious.

Too obsessed with getting vengeance. It had been his downfall.

It had made him question everything he was. Question his own abilities. His own worth. His own competence. His own everything.

Harry and Uma had to bring him back from the brink of death.

Would he even have survived that if it weren't for Deez?

Would Harry and Uma have been so determined without her?

Fuck, how much did he owe her.

Their muse. The family's light.

How long had the sea three fought to be the sea four?

How could he let them lose her?

He couldn't.

Not after everything they'd done for him.

Not after all the work, hardship, pain, and tears their family had gone through to get her.

Faster!

We're so close!

You can do this T!

Harder!

We need to do this!

We can't let them down!

Not like this!

He was the middle man in this race.

The one who had to keep his eyes glued to T's back while also leaving signs for Gil to follow.

He'd given up trying to check on the notebook, it was too much.

He couldn't slow down.

Couldn't assure Uma they were running as fast as, if not faster than, they could.

How far had Deez gotten?

Was she fighting it?

Was she slowing herself down?

Did she even know she was being controlled?

Those and a billion other questions race through his mind, dislodging with every leaping step.

For Deez to dart Gil-

She must have been terrified.

He couldn't think of any other reason she'd take his choice away, not when she herself was so against it.

Desperate.

And if she were that desperate-

What the fuck did Mim want with her?

He digs his hand in a mound of rubble as he passes it, disturbing it as another sign.

This way.

This way Gil.

He sweeps the horizon in front of him, the air in his lung burning and his heart pounding as he spots T racing through the jagged rocks at the base.

He had to catch up!

He couldn't lose T and Faustina.

He couldn't lose Deez.

But letting T be the first to reach her?

What could one person do against Mim?

Faster Gil!

They had to go faster.

He spares a glance over his shoulder, surprised and relieved to find Gil not far behind him.

He could only imagine how hard their Sweet Boy was pushing himself.

If he was running for all he was worth and Gil was able to stay this close-

Desperation.

They were all desperate.

He didn't want to think of what they could find if they didn't make it.

Burning lungs and blades in his sides would look like paradise compared to the pain of losing Deez.

He gulps in another breath before he lowers his head and pushes harder.

It was a risk.

He could lose sight of T.

But he still had some ground to cover before reaching the mountain, and if Mimi was right, they had a hell of a climb in store for them.

Hang on Deez.

We'll get ya.

Sea Gods!

Any god!

Please, just let us get to her in time.

She lets out a wail of disbelief.

No.

She was at the entrance to a cave.

No!

She couldn't stop.

Couldn't lock her legs.

Couldn't jump away.

Couldn't fall and roll down the side of the mountain.

A chill runs down her spin as she steps into the cave.

The singing-

She could make out the words now.

"Black sorcery is my dish of tea, oh it comes so easy to me. 'Cause I'm the magnificent, marvelous, mad Madam Mim."

Mim.

Mad Madam Mim.

Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard, echoing around in her mind with no relief in sight. Every new verse explained her magic and the depravity she wrought on the world with her whims.

Each pitch made her teeth ache; made her feel fuzzy.

Her vision blurs. Again.

She wished she could scratch her ear, or her brain.

Anything!

She blinks when she suddenly finds herself in a candlelight filled cave.

The singing echoes around her, but it didn't feel so intense anymore.

"Now, now, Deary, no need to be scared."

Mim's voice was like spiders crawling up her back.

And still, she couldn't move.

"What's wrong, my Dear, cat got your tongue?"

Her eyes narrow as she manages to force her foot back.

Mim laughs as she comes around from behind her, "how cute." The old woman pinches her cheek, "you fought hard my dear. Very hard. You must be so tired."

She was tired. More tired than she'd ever felt before.

Everything hurt.

Her body.

Her mind.

Her heart.

"But the real question is, how? How did someone as young as you fight me." Mim laughs, "and I'm not ashamed to admit, nearly beat. How defiant you are… Or are you?"

She blinks, and suddenly Mim was standing in front of her, shifting the ragged hem of her overly large hoodie.

"Tut tut tut, I see we have some magical enhancements." Mim cackles as she sets back, "not just you after all."

Her breath catches when Mim holds up a small doll.

A pale, blue haired doll.

"I think it's best you remove those trinkets around your neck. What do you say, Deary?"

She wanted to scream. Wanted to tell Mim to fuck off.

But as Mim bent the arm of the doll, she found herself doing the same.

She strains, fighting with everything she has left.

But it was no use. With sweat dripping in her eyes she pulls all the necklaces over her head and holds them out, her fist gripping tight around the strings and chains.

"Much better." Mim squeals as she pats her cheek again, "you are a fighter though, even without your little charms."

Her nose scrunches as her lips fight to move.

"I love it, Deary, I really do." Mim pats her cheek again, "It's always good to see such radiance and energy in one's sacrifice."

Her heart skips a beat.

Sacrifice?

If she'd been able to move, she would have laughed at the irony.

Right when she wanted to live, right when she loved her life, another witch wanted her dead.

"Toss those away now, Deary." Mim nods before she turns, though since her body was already tossing her necklaces, she must have also manipulated the doll, "we have work to do."

She takes a step forward, towards a large slab of stone, flames running down her cheeks again.

She couldn't stop.

Couldn't even twitch a muscle.

All she could do was watch in horror as her body continued to betray her.

"It won't hurt too much if that's what you're worried about my Dear." Mim grins, "dry your eyes, Deary. If you just do what I say, you might even survive."

Oddly shaped candles covered every surface except for a small space on the table-

Altar. It was an altar.

The effect was macabre as it threw strange shadows into seemingly random places while highlighting others.

There were bowls of strange-looking leaves that were burning, sending heavy blueish smoke around the room that was further clouding her vision.

The whole thing seemed like a strange dream.

Or a familiar nightmare.

Nightmares.

Memories.

The combination of burning, herbs, and something sickeningly sweet nearly overwhelms her as she takes another step towards the altar.

It floods her senses, making it difficult to tell the difference between the memories that weren't her's, and now.

Rotten.

That's what that other smell was.

That's what the herbs were for, to cover the putrid smell.

It smelled like the bloated rat she'd found on the beach, or like the fish traps when they caught dead fish.

Fetid.

Noxious.

Death?

Her eyes close as she walks closer to the altar, the dark stone strange in the middle of the lighter gray tones of the rock surrounding them.

Her heart freezes.

The way the candle light flickered off it-

The smell-

Her heart drops when she realizes what it is she's seeing spilling out from under the altar.

Gray film covered eyes, black lips, sunken faces.

No-

"I mean, if anyone could survive this, it would be you," Mim adds with a wide grin, "you are a demi-goddess, after all."

MOVE!

She had to get out of here. Had to get away.

She didn't want to die.

She didn't want to maybe survive.

Please! Move! Run!

Please!

"Let's get you ready for the ritual, what do you say my Dear."

NO!

Her heart leaps when her foot moves, when she takes a step back.

Yes!

Again!

She freezes mid second step.

"Save your strength, Deary." Mim chuckles as she busies herself with a large book, one crooked finger running over the handwritten lines, "though once again, I commend you on your strength. But get on the altar, it's nearly time now."

She stares at the table as her hands raise.

No.

Her stomach rolls.

No!

Ember tears fall from her eyes in earnest.

She couldn't.

She couldn't.

Mere inches away from the gristle surface, she manages to stop.

Manages to freeze somewhere between doing as the spell commanded and her desperation to run.

Please-

Just-

Break-

Sour floods her mouth when her hands slap the surface and sink in.

No-

She screams as she pulls herself onto the surface of the altar.

Fear.

Rage.

Disgust.

Frustration.

Defeat.

Tears fall onto the blood and gore stained altar as she lies down and finds herself staring up at the covered moon.

It was strange to see it so clearly.

A perfectly round patch of darkness against the barrier's orange glow.

Please!

Someone-

She slams her eyes shut.

Anyone-

Help!

Please!

She didn't want this.

She didn't want to die.

Didn't want to be used to destroy the barrier.

She wanted Uma.

Her Night.

The last thing she'd done to Gil-

Please, she prays to any god that might be listening, don't let that be the last time I see him.

She fights against the spell, crying out in frustration and desperation.

It was hard to be sure which was worse.

Mim's sadistic cackle or her condescending cooing.

Be a dream.

Be a nightmare.

A day terror.

Anything but real.

Anything that would let her see her family again.

Holy shit!

Did anyone else's stomach just turn?

That altar was disturbing on every level.

And D, poor lil' D, had to lie in it-

Don't get me wrong-

Hoping that isn't your only take away here-

Cause like, ew.

But seriously-

Is D going to be okay?

Are the boys going to make it in time?

And, more importantly, what the fuck are they gonna do when they get there?

Mim is the biggest of the biggest bads, with enough power to eclipse an entire Isle, TWICE. She isn't one to trifle with-

I'm worried.

Are you?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted