The gilded halls of Auradon Prep felt stifling, like a golden cage meant to snuff out everything that made her a Villain Kid. Mal’s boots clicked against the polished floors as she followed Fairy Godmother, who prattled on about rules, curfews, and how lucky they were to be here. Lucky. Mal suppressed a snort. Lucky was not how she’d describe this arrangement.

Behind her, Evie flounced with that effortless grace she always carried, even in this pastel wonderland. Jay sauntered with his usual swagger, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, while Carlos trailed behind, murmuring quietly to Dude, the little mutt he refused to leave behind. And then there was Ana, walking silently beside Evie, her eyes darting around like she didn’t know what to make of any of this.

Mal couldn’t blame her. Auradon Prep was an assault on the senses—bright, shiny, and fake. It made her skin crawl.

“Here we are!” Fairy Godmother chimed, stopping in front of a pair of ornate double doors. She clapped her hands, and the doors swung open to reveal what Mal assumed was their dormitory.

The room was split into sections, each one tailored with an absurd amount of detail. On one side, a canopy bed with frilly pink curtains stood against a wall painted with delicate flowers. The other side had a sleeker design, with deep purples and blacks that clashed horribly with the overall decor.

“You’ll be sharing rooms, of course,” Fairy Godmother continued, gesturing toward the open space. “Mal and Evie, you’ll have this room. Jay and Carlos, your room is down the hall. And Ana, we’ve set up accommodations for you just across the corridor.”

Ana glanced toward the doorway Fairy Godmother indicated, her expression unreadable. Mal felt a flicker of curiosity. Ana was a mystery, dropped into their midst without much of an explanation. She wasn’t a VK, that much was clear, but she wasn’t some prissy royal either.

“Great,” Mal said dryly, brushing past Fairy Godmother to claim the darker half of the room.

Evie followed, setting her trunk down on the pink side with a cheerful smile. “Oh, this is perfect! I’ve been dying to redecorate.”

Mal rolled her eyes. “It’s not even our room yet, Evie. Don’t get too comfortable.”

Evie ignored her, already pulling out fabric swatches and makeup palettes as if this were some kind of fashion challenge. Across the hall, Ana hesitated in her doorway before stepping inside her room, her shoulders stiff.

Once Fairy Godmother had bustled off, leaving them to settle in, Mal flopped onto her bed with a sigh. Evie perched delicately on the edge of her own bed, watching Mal with a knowing smile.

“What?” Mal asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Nothing.” Evie tilted her head, her blue hair cascading over her shoulder. “Just… she’s interesting.”

“Who?”

“Ana,” Evie said, as if it were obvious.

Mal shrugged. “She’s weird.”

Evie raised an eyebrow. “She’s different. And if anyone should appreciate that, it’s you.”

“I don’t trust her,” Mal muttered, staring at the ceiling. “She’s not like us, and she’s not like them either. So what is she?”

Evie didn’t answer right away, and Mal glanced over to find her friend studying her reflection in a hand mirror. “Maybe we should give her a chance,” Evie said finally. “You know, like we wanted them to give us.”

Mal didn’t respond, but she couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at her. Something about Ana didn’t sit right with her, and she didn’t like mysteries she couldn’t solve.

---

Later that night, after the campus had quieted and the halls were cloaked in shadow, Mal slipped out of her room. Evie was waiting for her in the corridor, her heels clicking softly against the floor as she approached.

“Ready?” Evie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Let’s go,” Mal replied.

They crept down the hall to Jay and Carlos’s room, their movements silent and practiced. Mal had spent her whole life sneaking around; Auradon’s spotless halls were no challenge.

Jay opened the door before they could knock, his smirk visible even in the dim light. “Took you long enough.”

“Keep your voice down,” Mal hissed as she and Evie slipped inside.

Carlos was sitting cross-legged on the floor, Dude sprawled beside him. He looked up as they entered, his face lit with anticipation.

“Alright,” Mal said, crossing her arms. “We need a plan.”

“For what?” Carlos asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

“The wand,” Mal replied, her eyes gleaming. “The whole reason we’re here.”

Evie perched on the edge of the bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. “We need to find out where it’s kept. If we can get close enough…”

Jay leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “It’s gotta be in the museum or something. Somewhere they think it’s safe.”

Mal nodded. “Makes sense. But we’ll need to figure out how to get in without setting off alarms. And we’ll need someone to keep watch.”

“I can do that,” Carlos offered.

“Good.” Mal turned her gaze to Evie. “And you’re on charm duty. We’ll need a distraction if we’re going to pull this off.”

Evie smiled sweetly. “Distractions are my specialty.”

“What about Ana?” Carlos asked suddenly.

The room fell silent. Mal’s jaw tightened.

“What about her?” she asked.

“She’s… different,” Carlos said hesitantly. “If she’s here, maybe she can help.”

“No,” Mal said firmly. “We don’t know her, and we can’t trust her. This is our mission.”

Jay shrugged. “She doesn’t seem like the Auradon type. She might surprise you.”

Mal didn’t respond. She didn’t like the idea of involving Ana, not when so much was at stake. But a part of her wondered if they’d underestimated the quiet girl from Beacon Hills.

“We stick to the plan,” Mal said finally. “No outsiders. No mistakes.”

The others nodded, and Mal felt a flicker of determination. This was their chance to prove themselves, to show Auradon that they were more than just villains.

As they finalized their plans, Mal couldn’t shake the feeling that their mission was just the beginning—and that Ana’s presence might complicate everything.