My old hideout definitely ain’t what it used to be.

Nothing a li’l spray paint can’t fix, though.

Inside a shoddy tower, Ben climbed the steps toward the sound of hissing spray paint.

He stopped on a platform, noticing the grimy, dank vibe, and then followed the noise down a flight of steps into Mal’s hideout. Eyes wide, he took in the graffitied walls and continued to make his way farther into the room.

He stopped short. There was Mal. She stood on an old trunk facing the wall and worked furiously on a self-portrait of a wild purple-haired Isle version of her tearing her way out of the ice-blond Auradon princess version of her.

Talk about making a statement.

Ben quietly approached Mal. “At least I don’t see a picture of me with horns and a pitchfork,” he said jokingly.

Mal whipped around. “Ben,” she said, surprised.

He took another step toward her.

She held out her hand, motioning for him to stop.

Ben froze. “Mal, I’m so sorry about our fight. It was all my fault.” He held out his beast-head ring. “Please come home.”

Mal stepped down off the trunk, hanging her head, and tossed the spray paint can into a rusty shopping cart with a clatter. “Ben, this is my home,” said Mal softly. She stopped in front of Ben, leaving some space between them.

Ben smiled warmly at her. “I brought the limo. It’s a sweet ride.”

Mal looked at his beast-head ring for a moment, then folded her arms. “I don’t fit in. I really tried, Ben. I really gave it a shot. And if you think I can change, I think you’re wrong.”

Ben opened his arms. “Then I’ll change. I’ll skip school, I’ll blow off some of my responsibilities—”

“No! No!” Mal shook her head. “See? I am such a terrible influence! I mean, it’s only a matter of time before I do something so messed up that the people turn on not only me, but they turn on you!”

Ben took Mal’s hand. “Don’t quit us, Mal. The people love you. I love you.” He handed her the ring.

Mal stared at Ben in silence. She wasn’t quite sure what to say.

“Don’t you love me?” Ben asked quietly.

Mal took his beast-head ring, put it in his hand, and closed it. “I have to take myself out of the picture, because it’s what’s best for you and it’s what’s best for Auradon.”

Ben took a step toward her. “Mal, please.”

Mal put her hand on his chest to stop him. “I can’t do this.” She turned and walked back to the shopping cart, where she picked up the spray paint can. “You have to go,” she said. She stepped up on the trunk and faced the wall. Then she turned and saw that Ben was still standing there. “Ben, please go. Please leave.”

Ben hung his head and slowly backed out of the room until he was out of sight.

Suddenly, Mal felt as shaken as her spray paint can.

She tried her hardest not to cry.

Outside, Carlos, Jay, and Evie stirred as they heard Ben heading down the stairs.

The gate slid up, Ben walked out, and then the gate started closing behind him. “She’s not coming back,” he said, walking past them and down the abandoned alley.

Evie’s mouth was agape. “What?” she exclaimed.

Carlos and Jay exchanged alarmed looks.

Evie walked to the gate, but it slammed shut. She was too late. She walked to the call horn and spoke into it. “M? Mal? Just let us up. We just want to talk.”

Inside the hideout, Mal had pulled a giant lever to lock the gate. Her voice sounded through the horn. “Go away!”

Evie, Jay, and Carlos looked at each other, at a loss.

Jay rested a hand on Evie’s shoulder. “Let’s just give her a couple of hours to cool off, all right?”

Carlos looked down the alley, which fluttered with rags. “Guys…” he said.

Jay and Evie gathered beside him, and Evie said, “What?”

“Where’s Ben?” asked Carlos.

Evie peered down the dim alley. “Ben?” she called out.

A dark silhouette walked toward them.

“Ben?” Evie sighed, relieved. “Ben! Don’t scare us like that.”

The figure stepped closer. But it wasn’t Ben.

“Don’t scare you?” Harry repeated sweetly. “You see, but that’s my specialty.”

“Harry,” gasped Evie.

Jay took a step toward him. “What did you do with Ben?” he demanded.

“Hmmm? Oh! We nicked him. Yeah, and if you ever want to see him again, have Mal come to the chip shop tonight. Alone. Uma wants a little visit.” Harry smiled and looked at them, landing his sights on Jay. “Aww. Seems you’ve lost your edge, Jay.”

Jay lunged at him, but Carlos held Jay back.

Harry giggled, then began to whistle as he strolled off down the alley.

Evie, Jay, and Carlos looked on, horrified.

Inside the hideout, Mal confronted Evie, Jay, and Carlos. “If you guys never would have brought him here, this never would have happened! What were you thinking?” Mal yelled.

“M, he was going to come with or without us. We wanted to protect him,” said Evie.

“Yeah, which we blew,” added Carlos, throwing his arms up.

“Okay, okay. So what are we gonna do?” asked Jay.

“We are not doing anything,” Mal insisted, stopping in front of her friends. “This is between Uma and me. She’s a punk, and now I need to go get him.” She picked up her leather-studded backpack from the dusty old couch.

She could feel the weight of her spell book inside it. Wish I could use it here to get us out of this, she thought. Dumb Auradon rules strike again.

“Whoaaa, Mal. You’re gonna have to go through Harry Hook and his wharf rats, and Gil…” said Carlos.

“Exactly. You need us,” said Jay.

Mal shook her head. “Uma said to come alone.”

Evie put her hands on her hips. “Mal, come on.”

Carlos shrugged and looked at Evie and Jay. “She doesn’t have a choice.”

Evie sighed, knowing he was right.

“I know one thing,” said Carlos. “I’m not going anywhere.” He sat on the couch.

Jay nodded. “We’ll be here when you get back.”