Reina’s POV

The Isle was buzzing with its usual chaos—the distant screech of seagulls, the chatter of thieves and pickpockets, the ever-present scent of decay and desperation. But there was something different in the air today, a tension that I couldn’t quite place. As I stood on the edge of the docks, the salty breeze whipping through my dark hair, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Something was coming. Or rather, someone.

“Oi, Reina!” Harry’s voice cut through the din, his boots thudding against the worn wooden planks as he approached. His usual swagger was more pronounced today, a sly grin stretching across his face.

“What is it, Harry?” I asked, not bothering to mask the irritation in my voice. Today I wasn't in a good mood

“You’ll never guess who I just ran into,” he said, his grin widening as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. “Mal.”

My blood ran cold. Mal? Back on the Isle? After everything that had happened—after she’d abandoned me, after she failed to steal the wand like she was supposed to—I thought I’d never see her again. A storm of emotions swirled inside me: anger and betrayal.

“She’s back?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.

“Aye,” Harry confirmed, stepping back to gauge my reaction. “She’s at the Curl Up & Dye right now, lookin’ all high and mighty. Didn’t even recognize her at first, what with that shiny Auradon polish she’s got on.”

I clenched my fists, the sharp bite of my nails against my palms grounding me. Mal had the audacity to come back here, to the very place she’d turned her back on? And she thought she could just waltz in like nothing had happened? Like she hadn’t left me and the children of the isle all to rot?

“Where is she now?” I demanded, my voice ice cold.

Harry smirked, clearly enjoying the fire he’d stoked. “Headed to the old hideout, I reckon. Didn’t look like she was plannin’ on stayin’ long, though. Might wanna hurry if you wanna give her a proper welcome back.”

I didn’t need any more encouragement. Without another word, I spun on my heel and stormed off, my heart pounding with fury. How dare she? After everything we’d been through, after everything she’d promised, she just up and left, abandoning me—abandoning all of us—for a cushy life in Auradon. And now she thought she could just come back like nothing had changed? There was hell to pay, and I was going to make damn sure she paid it.

The old hideout came into view, a crumbling building tucked away in the shadows of the Isle. Memories flooded back, memories of nights spent plotting, of dreams that had seemed so close yet were always out of reach. And at the center of it all was Mal. But that was the past, and I wasn’t that naïve girl anymore.

I burst through the door, the hinges creaking in protest. There she was, standing in the middle of the room, her back to me as she rummaged through a pile of old maps and trinkets. The sight of her—her once washed-out blonde hair with the hint of purple was now all purple and she even had bang. Just the sight of her sent a surge of anger through me.

“Mal.”

She froze, her hands stilling over the maps. Slowly, she turned to face me, her green eyes widening in surprise. “Reina?”

“Surprised to see me?” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. “I thought you’d forgotten all about us. About the Isle.”

Mal flinched, but quickly recovered, her expression hardening. “I haven’t forgotten. I just—”

“Just what?” I cut her off, my voice rising. “Just decided that you were too good for this place? That you could run off to Auradon, play princess, and leave the rest of us to fend for ourselves?”

“It wasn’t like that!” Mal protested, but I wasn’t having it. I stepped closer, my eyes narrowing.

“Then what was it like, Mal? Enlighten me. Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like you abandoned us. You were supposed to steal the wand, remember? You promised!”

“I tried, Reina. But things changed. I changed.”

“Yeah, you did. You changed so much you forgot about everyone here just like my half sister Evie

Mal’s eyes flickered at the mention of Evie, and I seized the moment. “That’s right. Your little bestie, the one who was supposed to have your back? She didn’t even bother to check in on you, did she? Too busy playing dress-up in Auradon, too busy living her perfect life to remember where she came from.”

“Reina, that’s not fair—” Mal started, but I cut her off again.

“Fair? You want to talk about fair? What’s fair about Evie leaving me behind, leaving me to suffer while all of you get to live it up in a palace? What’s fair about forgetting the people who cared about you?”

“I didn’t forget,” Mal whispered, her voice trembling. “Evie just… she moved on, okay? She’s happy in Auradon.”

I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. “Moved on? You mean she forgot about the isle. Forgot about me.”

Mal looked away, unable to meet my gaze. That was all the confirmation I needed. The fury inside me boiled over, and I felt something snap.

“She put me in the back of her mind, mal,” I hissed. “Put me in the back of her mind. Like I  didn’t matter. Like the rest of the kids that are still stuck her didn't matter.”

“Reina, I’m sorry—” Mal began, but I wasn’t interested in her apologies.

“You’re sorry?” I spat, my voice shaking with anger. “You think a sorry is going to fix this? You think you can just waltz back in here and everything will be okay? Newsflash, Mal: it’s not. And there’s going to be hell to pay. You and Evie, you think you’re so much better than the rest of us. But you’ll see. You’ll see just how wrong you are.”

I turned on my heel, not giving her a chance to respond. The door slammed behind me as I stormed out, my heart pounding with rage.

Mal had lied. Mal forgot about me and the isle. The only reason she remembers now is because shit apparently didn't work out for her in auradon and as for Evie, well Evie always thought she was better than me whether she said or not so her forgetting didn't surprise me but it still hurt

As I made my way to the chip shop to inform her that Mal was back on the isle I had mad up my mind that they would pay for abandoning me