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“What are we going to do with her?” Maleficent asks, looking at the Evil Queen.
Evie is on her knees between all the parents. Her face is covered in bruises, and her arms covered in scratches. Evie’s body is trembling.
The Evil Queen looks down at Evie. “She’s worthless. It was the second she was born. Can’t even do anything right.”
“Maybe the girl needs some time in my closet,” Cruella suggests, a grin on her face.
“I have some lamps that need cleaning. And you know what the bleach does to my hands,” Jafar adds.
“We don’t want to damage her too much. The other children care for her. They need to get the wand.”
Evie looks up at Maleficent, her eyes wide.
“Or maybe they won’t come back. Maybe they will find happiness in Auradon. Why would they return for a nobody?”
Evie flinches. She looks down. The Evil Queen crackles. She grabs Evie by the hair and pulls her up. Evie cries out as she stands up. “You have work to do. Make yourself useful for once.”
Evie sits on the hospital bed. Her eyes on her folded hands on her lap. Her back is straight as a ruler. There is a small tremble.
It’s quiet. Too quiet. The quiet meant planning. Planning means pain. Evie doesn’t want to hurt. Her whole body already hurts.
Carlos and Jay are standing at the doorway. They are quiet. Carlos is watching Evie, a frown on his face. Jay stares at the ground. His teeth are clenched. His arms are crossed over his chest. He’s not going to let anyone enter.
Mal is standing behind Evie. She reaches over and lets her arm hover over Evie’s shoulder. The taller girl’s breathing gets heavier. Evie closes her eyes, trying to control her breathing. Her hands grip the blanket.
“Hey,” Mal whispers, moving to stand in front of Evie. “You’re safe. You’re in Auradon, away from them.”
Evie shakes her head. She scrunches her eyes up. “They are coming. She’ll find me again.”
Mal feels herself get angry. “They aren’t going to find you Evs. You’re never going back to them.” She places her hand on Evie’s leg.
The other girl physically flinches. She whimpers at the sudden movement.
Mal moves her hand away. She sits down next to Evie, offering the other girl her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Mal whispers. “I just, I don’t want to see you hurting.”
Evie’s eyes dim. She stares at a spot in the ground. “I tried to be good for them,” Evie says in a small voice. “I, I did everything they wanted. But it wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough. Not to go to Auradon. Not to be their servants. Not to exist.”
“Evie.” Mal places her hand on Evie’s. The other girl doesn't flinch. “You are enough. They should have never hurt you. You didn’t deserve any of that.”
“Maleficent said I was weak. Mother said I was disgusting. She said no one would want me. That I was nothing, worth nothing. That being left behind was enough to prove the lack of worth.”
“She’s wrong, Evie. You are worth so much. Evie, you are my best friend,” Mal tells her, placing her hand on Evie’s chin. She turns her head, looking into the other girl’s brown eyes.
Tears slip down Evie’s cheek. Mal uses her thumb to wipe it. Evie turns her head. “I thought you weren’t coming,” Evie whispers, her voice cracking. “I wouldn’t have hated you if you didn’t. I was okay staying back if it meant you guys got to be happy.”
Mal closes her eyes. She pulls Evie into her arms. The blue haired girl tenses up, before falling apart. She cries into Mal’s shoulder. Mal holds her tightly, her hand running though Evie’s hair.
“I will always come for you. My life is never complete without you Evie,” she whispers, stroking the other girl’s hair. She pulls away and grabs Evie’s hand. “I know your head is scary. That what they did wasn’t just physical. But I want you to do something for me. When your head gets scary, I want you to hold my hand. I want you to just squeeze it.”
Evie looks at their jointed hands. She nods slowly. She gives it a small squeeze.
Mal helps Evie lay back on the bed and sits against the wall, letting the girl use her as a pillow, never once letting go. The girls lay there, silently.
Jay and Carlos step out, giving the girls peace.
Mal hums softly, her eyes watching as Evie’s eyes flutter, finally resting.
Evie doesn’t remember falling asleep. She remembers holding Mal’s hand, and the other girl humming. The lights are bright, and it shines through her eyelids. She slowly opens her eyes.
She blinks, looking at her hand. Mal’s hand is still linked with hers. She turns, finding Mal slumped against the wall. She does not look comfortable.
Evie feels guilt. Mal’s neck must hurt. Evie sits up, her body begging her to stay down.
“Mal?” Evie whispers, her voice dry.
Mal groans. She opens her eyes. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
Evie frowns. She thinks about it. She doesn’t feel okay. She doesn’t feel right. “I, I don’t know,” she responds, afraid that that’s the wrong answer.
Mal gives Evie’s hand a small squeeze. “That’s okay. You don't have to know. And if you do, it doesn't have to be positive.”
Evie looks at the bruises that cover her arms. “Do, do you think I’ll ever forget this?”
Mal looks at her with sympathy. She knows how it feels, her mother having tormented her whole life. She knows how her mother’s words cut. But she never had to deal with her mother’s words, the Evil Queen's expectations, Cruella di Vil’s crazy and Jafar’s demands at the same time.
Mal shakes her head. “I don’t think so. But I think it can be something that doesn't bring you so much pain.”
“I don’t think I will. Everything hurt so much Mal. I’m so scared.”
Mal gives Evie’s hand a squeeze. “I’m here Evie. I’ll always be here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Evie looks at their hands.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Mal worries. When Evie’s depression hits. Mal worries that Evie may do something. But she doesn’t stop offering her hand. To show the other girl that she’s not going anywhere. Mal is going to do everything she can to help Evie through this.
She has to.