After another hour, it was time for the family to go, so Melanie and her teachers went to the airplane runway to see them off.
Senor Santa Muerte and Faucheuse held their daughter close in a bear hug.
"We'll try to visit you as soon as we can, sweetheart," Melanie's mother said. "Please behave. We love you and want you to come home."
"We had Senor Ochocinco bring more of your belongings into your room while we were visiting and we'll try to bring more next weekend to make your room feel more like home," Melanie's father said. "Let us know how you're doing. No matter what, please remember this is for your own good, Mija."
"Okay," Melanie said unconvincingly trying to hide her tears.
Her parents released her from their hug and Melanie began saying her goodbyes to her sisters while Black Hat and Flug were talking from a distance away.
"So, she tried to help 505 with the dishes?" Black Hat asked quietly.
"Yes, sir," Flug replied. "Dementia caught her in the act."
"The girl is flagrantly rebellious," Black Hat said. "You will need to be stricter with her than with the brats at the camp. We will have to crack down on every good impulse and monitor all her behavior."
"Yes, sir," Flug replied.
Black Hat smiled wickedly and said, "I don't need to stress how important this mission is, doctor. Once we break her, we'll have finally put a dent in the Nun-ja organization's impenetrable defenses and be that much closer to destroying those infernal heroes for good. She's connected to highly important clients so we can't harm her, but those are your only boundaries. Do what you need to, doctor."
"I understand, sir," Flug replied. "You can't count on me. What do you want me to do with Melanie once her family leaves? Shall I send her to bed?"
"What time is it?" Black Hat asked.
Flug looked at his watch and said, "It's about 7:30, sir."
"As long as she's in her room and has enough time to sleep off her medication, it doesn't matter to me," Black Hat said as he leered at Senor Santa Muerte and Faucheuse taking their sweet time saying goodbye to their daughter. "If this family keeps taking their sweet time, we might have to skip medicine altogether…"
Meanwhile, Iliana was giving Melanie some unsolicited "advice."
"And remember, Melanie," Iliana said much to Melanie's chagrin. "Behave yourself or your punishments will only get worse."
"Iliana…" Lunet said disapprovingly.
"What?" Iliana protested. "She deserves it."
"Stop it," Lunet retorted. "That's enough. Isn't Melanie being punished enough already?"
"Well, if you ask me…" Iliana began before her mother finally cut her off.
"Iliana Addolorata de la Muerte, that's enough!" Faucheuse finally snapped. "Melanie has been reprimanded enough for one day. Now, either leave Melanie with something encouraging or go to the limo!"
Iliana then walked away to the car in a huff while Dita snickered at the reprimand before remembering something and following behind her.
As soon as Iliana was out of earshot, Lunet gave Melanie a hug and whispered, "I'll try to pass your messages along, but remember. Whatever you have to do is an act. Just pretend until you're free to be who you really are."
"Pray for me, Lunet," Melanie said finally revealing the fear in her voice. "I'm so scared..."
Lunet held Melanie in a tighter hug and said, "Don't worry, sis. I will. God will get you through this. Just stay strong. Okay?"
"Okay," Melanie replied. "But think about what I said, too. Alright?"
After a moment of silence, Lunet said, "Okay. I will…"
"Got something for ya!" Dita exclaimed excitedly pushing herself between Melanie and Lunet to present a plain, brown paper gift bag.
Melanie took the bag and looked inside it to find her handheld gaming console along with all her favorite games.
Melanie looked at her younger sister and smiled feeling genuinely touched as she wrapped her arms around Dita and gave her a hug of her own. The 8-year-old tensed up for a moment before she reluctantly accepted the hug and even hugged her older sister back.
"Thanks, squirt," Melanie said warmly. "I really appreciate it."
"Yeah, yeah, no problem," Dita replied pulling away signaling Melanie to let her go. "Finish your homework early so we can play with each other online. Iliana doesn't like gaming and Lunet's not very good. I'm going to have no one to play with. I'm gonna be so bored without you."
Melanie chuckled a little bit, gave Dita another hug, and replied, "Thanks, Dita. I love you."
"Yeah, I love you, too," Dita replied slipping out of Melanie's arms. "Now, will ya stop hugging me? You're embarrassing me in front of Dementia…Hey!"
Out of nowhere, Dementia sprung up from behind and swung Dita in the air. Melanie smiled sadly and reluctantly began walking her family to the limo.
"I had so much fun with you today!" Dementia squealed happily.
"Me, too! I can't wait until we visit next weekend," Dita replied before visibly hesitating.
"What's the matter?" Dementia asked.
"Uh…can I ask you something?" Dita asked a little bit nervously.
"Go ahead," Dementia said happily. "I'm always happy to listen to you and Senor Black Hat."
"Alright," Melanie said with a sigh. "I know Melanie's in a lot of trouble and she's a bit messed up in the head, but could you try not to be too mean to her?"
Dementia stood there with a blank expression not knowing what to say. Fortunately, she didn't have to...
"Dita, come on!" Faucheuse yelled from the car. "We've gotta go!"
"Coming!" Dita yelled back before turning back to Dementia and saying, "See ya later, Dementia! Remember what I said!"
Dita ran into the car with her family right as Melanie was shutting the door.
Dementia's eye twitched angrily. Be nice to Melanie? But she was a traitor! And a goody-two-shoes, like 505!
Back at the limo, Ochocinco was giving Melanie a final hug when she heard something drop into her paper bag.
"Don't look into your bag until you get back to your room," Ochocinco whispered into Melanie's room. "It was my grandmother's. Take good care of it and yourself. Stay strong, okay? I'll be praying for you."
"Merci, Senor Ochocinco," Melanie whispered back giving him one more squeeze before they both let go.
With one final wave, Melanie turned around and reluctantly walked back to her captors. She stood back and waved back as her family waved to her and took off in their limo. It was all Melanie could do to not give into tears.
Once the car had flown away, 505 walked up to Melanie and placed a paw on her shoulder. Melanie turned around and let 505 give her a big hug. They stood like that until Flug called for them.
"Melanie, it's time to go back and start getting settled in for bed," Flug said.
Melanie nodded sadly as 505 held her hand and began leading her back to the group.
Meanwhile, Dementia was still standing at a distance trying to comprehend what Dita wanted her to do.
"Dementia!" Flug called out. "Stop spacing out and come on! We don't have all day!"
"Shut up, nerd!" Dementia retorted. "You can't tell me what to do!"
"Enough with the pointless bickering!" Black Hat yelled. "Let's go, Dementia!"
Dementia's entire demeanor changed from annoyed to enamored.
She skipped over merrily and yelled back, "Ya Viene, mi amor! (I'm coming, my love!)"
Melanie sighed as she and 505 followed the group back to the manor.
Melanie stared through the backs of her captors praying over her upcoming re-education, over what she feared was coming as they walked the few miles back to the house. She was so scared that she was unaware of how tightly she was gripping 505's paw and didn't even hear Flug talk to her.
"Now, Melanie, do you have any questions?" Flug asked falling behind on purpose to talk to his pupil.
"Huh?" Melanie asked finally breaking out of her own anxious thoughts.
"Do you have any questions?" Flug asked.
"About what?" Melanie asked.
"You weren't listening. Were you?" Flug said with a sigh.
Melanie fell awkwardly silent while searching for a response.
Fortunately, Dementia interrupted the awkward moment with her deriding laughter.
"Haha, loser!" Dementia teased. "Maybe this girl isn't so good after all. I hate listening to nerds, too!"
"Dementia!" Flug protested. "Don't undermine my authority in front of Melanie! We have to put up a united front for our new student!"
"Whatever," Dementia replied with an eye roll. "It's not my fault you're boring!"
"Enough!" Black Hat finally interrupted. "Since Melanie didn't listen the first time, Doctor, you'll simply have to repeat your instructions."
"Sorry…" Melanie said quietly.
"NO APOLOGIZING!" Black Hat snapped turning around to look the teenage girl in the eyes. "As a villain, you never apologize for anything you do. That is your first lesson."
"But…" Melanie protested meekly.
"Yeah," Dementia agreed. "I never apologize for anything."
"Even when she destroys my lab," Flug added resentfully.
"I'm definitely not sorry for that, nerd!" Dementia said laughing out loud and launching another argument between herself and Flug while Black Hat simply rolled his eye and kept walking.
Melanie was trembling like a leaf. 505 gave Melanie a side hug to calm her down as the three adults present continued walking towards the mansion that was now within sight.
Melanie was going to swallow her tongue and keep walking, but then she felt the Holy Presence inside her remind her that no matter what happened she wasn't alone. That reminder gave her the strength she needed to speak up.
"But Flug apologizes to Black Hat all the time!" Melanie protested more loudly and confidently than before. "You guys are hypocrites!"
Black Hat stopped in his tracks and turned around with an unsearchable expression. The two other adults turned around as well, but Melanie didn't back down.
Dementia blushed growing hearts in her eyes as she slinked next to Black Hat and said, "That's because Black Hat is the best and deserves perfect obedience."
Flug rolled his eyes and said, "As my associate Dementia is trying to explain, apologizing is not considered typical villain behavior, so we must ask that you do not apologize to anyone unless the person you offend is Black Hat."
Melanie rolled her eyes, then summoned her scythe, caused it to hover, sat down sideways, turned to 505 and asked, "Hey, 505! Wanna ride back on my scythe with me? Don't worry. It won't break. It can support anyone's weight. I just need a break from these guys."
505 looked at the scythe and then back to Flug.
Flug looked at Black Hat who gave an affirming nod before he turned back to 505 with a sigh and said, "Bedtime's at 10, 505. Make sure she sticks to that."
505 nodded enthusiastically as he sat down on the scythe and wrapped his arms around Melanie.
"See you guys later!" Melanie called out as she took off on her scythe and rode it back towards the house.
"You were right, doctor," Black Hat remarked. "The walk has worn out her excessive energy."
"Does that mean we can take the car now?" Dementia complained.
"Yes," Flug said punching some buttons into his watch annoyedly. "At least, we've found an effective way to keep one of our residents under control."
"I wouldn't hold my breath," Black Hat retorted. "I can already tell. That girl is going to be a challenge, just like her sensei."