The stillness of the night in Auradon Prep was unnerving. Ana sat on her bed, staring out the window at the pristine campus bathed in moonlight. Her new room, while luxurious, felt sterile, like everything else in this place. She tried to adjust, but the chirping crickets and faint rustling of leaves outside reminded her too much of home—except nothing here felt like home.

Her ears pricked up as she heard faint whispers beyond her door. Quiet as a shadow, Ana slipped off her bed, padding across the room in her socked feet. She cracked the door open just enough to catch a glimpse of Mal and Evie sneaking down the hall. Her brow furrowed. Where were they going this late at night?

Curiosity flared. Whatever it was, it wasn’t approved by Fairy Godmother, and Ana had a feeling it wouldn’t be written into the handbook either. Intrigued, she slipped out into the hallway, keeping a healthy distance behind the group.

From the shadows, Ana watched as Mal and Evie joined Jay and Carlos outside their dorm. Their hushed voices carried faintly down the hallway.

“Ready?” Mal asked, her voice low but commanding.

“Let’s get this over with,” Jay replied, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

“We’ll be in and out,” Evie added.

Ana followed them as they crept down the hall, her senses on high alert. She was careful to stay just out of sight, her footsteps light as she trailed them through the winding corridors of Auradon Prep. The group moved with practiced ease, their familiarity with sneaking around evident.

She kept her breathing steady as they exited the main building and made their way toward a grand structure Ana had noticed earlier during the day—the museum. Its towering spires gleamed in the moonlight, and the massive doors loomed like a silent sentinel.

Ana ducked behind a nearby hedge, her heart racing as she watched the group approach the entrance. Mal reached into her jacket and pulled out a thin tool, fiddling with the lock on the doors.

“Keep watch,” Mal ordered Jay without looking up.

Jay rolled his eyes but turned to scan the area, his sharp gaze sweeping over the shadows. Ana pressed herself tighter against the hedge, holding her breath.

“Got it,” Mal whispered triumphantly as the lock clicked.

The group slipped inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. Ana hesitated. She knew she shouldn’t follow—she had no stake in whatever they were doing—but her instincts urged her forward.

Slipping through the door, she stayed in the shadows, her sharp eyes taking in the dimly lit interior. The museum was grand, filled with glittering artifacts and treasures from every kingdom. The VKs moved quickly, their footsteps soft against the marble floor.

Ana hung back, her eyes darting around the room. A soft rustling to her left caught her attention—a guard, his silhouette visible as he rounded a corner.

Ana’s breath caught. If the VKs were caught now, they’d be dragged back to the Isle—or worse. Without thinking, Ana took a deep breath, focusing on the guttural power that surged within her.

A low, mournful howl echoed through the museum, bouncing off the high ceilings and filling the space with an eerie resonance. The guard froze, his eyes wide with fear.

“What was that?” he muttered, backing away toward the exit.

As soon as he disappeared, Ana exhaled shakily, her heart pounding. She didn’t know why she’d helped them, but the thrill of it made her blood sing.

She moved back to the shadows, crouching low as she watched the VKs search for their target. They moved with purpose, rifling through displays and peering into glass cases.

“It’s gotta be here somewhere,” Carlos murmured, his voice barely audible.

“Keep looking,” Mal snapped, her frustration evident.

Ana’s sharp eyes followed their every move, her muscles tense as she waited. Suddenly, a faint red light began blinking in the corner of the room. Ana’s stomach dropped as the shrill wail of an alarm shattered the silence.

“Run!” Mal shouted.

The VKs bolted toward the exit, their faces pale as the piercing alarm echoed through the museum. Ana pressed herself deeper into the shadows, holding her breath as the group sprinted past her.

“Jay, you idiot!” Mal yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t touch anything!” Jay shot back, his tone defensive.

“Clearly, you did something!”

“Guys, not now!” Evie hissed as they burst through the museum doors and out into the night.

Ana remained hidden, her back pressed against the cool marble of a display case. She waited until the sound of their retreating footsteps faded before slipping out of her hiding spot.

She lingered by the door, her sharp eyes scanning the darkened campus. The VKs were long gone, their argument still ringing faintly in her ears.

Ana crouched by the hedge, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. She hadn’t expected this night to take such a turn, but a strange satisfaction settled in her chest.

The VKs had no idea she’d been there, no clue she’d helped them avoid capture. As far as they were concerned, they’d gotten lucky.

Ana’s lips twitched into a faint smile as she made her way back to her dorm, the thrill of the night still coursing through her veins. For the first time since arriving at Auradon Prep, she felt like she’d found a piece of herself—a reminder that even in this polished, perfect world, she could still be wild.

And as she lay in bed that night, listening to the distant sound of the alarm fading into the night, Ana couldn’t help but wonder what other secrets the VKs were hiding—and how long she could keep her own.