Rising Tensions

***"How is everything I've heard... real?"***
This piece of *Evie and Mya* literature is outdated and is scheduled to be rewritten or tweaked in the future. Please note that some events currently depicted will be heavily altered or removed when said content is updated. Read at your own risk of discombobulating the series canon in your head!
And spare yourself from Av's old writing, please.
"I'm not there yet!"
 This page contains ***major spoilers*** for the series. If you're not caught up, stay back! Av's not gonna be too thrilled if you react to spoilers prematurely...

## Rising Tensions

### Director

Potato Flakin

***Rising Tensions*** is the third episode of *The Adventures of Evie and Mya* in Season 3, and the twenty-third overall.

## Synopsis

When Mya learns that Evie despises her grandparents, tensions flare up between the two. While Harlow and Ivanna don't think much of it, Evie, Winter, Amira, and Daniela know something more is looming on the horizon.

## Content Warning

*This episode contains some mature language, blood, violence, and scenes which some could find unsettling. Viewer discretion is advised.*

## Transcript

*It is a very overcast day in Pineshadow, Washington; the sky is covered by puffy, gray clouds, bringing the promise of rain. On the sidewalk of her neighborhood, Evie walks with her girlfriend, Mya.*

Evie grasped Mya's warm hand, apprehension digging into her belly. Her skin was itching, and she hid the fear that had been building inside of her for the past few minutes.

She had met up with Mya at the park, and they were walking back to her place. Evie had told Mya that she had something to admit to her - that she didn't like Harlow and Ivanna.

Evie didn't like keeping this from her. She was honest - perhaps *too* honest. If there was one thing she despised, it was lying.

*I can't even tell a white lie without regretting it later. I have to tell her, blood and fire. Just have me survive, lord...*

Harlow and Ivanna's behavior was *beyond* irking her at this point. Mya deserved to know how she truly felt.

Seeing her doorstep, Evie dragged her to the porch, and they sat down at the very edge. The wind picked up Mya's hair, drifting it to the left, and Evie admired her for a brief second. *She's always beautiful.*

Remembering her task at hand, she dug her nails into the concrete, and sighed.

Mya leaned up against her, taking in her warmth and stress. She didn't seem to feel well.

"It's okay, Ev," she whispered, kissing her chin and then her neck. Evie didn't get the euphoria from Mya's lips on her skin - it was gone today - likely because of her anxiety.

Sighing again, Evie swallowed down her fears. This could be a mess for all she knew. Revealing that she had reservations against Harlow and Ivanna could impact their relationship, and it definitely would.

But she didn't know how deeply.

More storm clouds began to build in the distance as Evie finally brought herself to speak.

"Mya, I have something to tell you, and it's been something that's building up inside of me for a little while now. And... You might not like what I have to say."

Mya rolled her eyes. "Don't say that!" She said, humor in her voice. "I told you before that I could never bring myself to be mad at you. Anything you tell me will be something that I'd accept. I promise."

Her leaf-green gaze bore into Evie's soul, and in a way, it brought her minimal solace, like an LED light. It carried the words she had been waiting to say right to her tongue.

Mya needed to know how she truly felt.

Evie locked stares with her girlfriend. *Keep your eyes open. You've made up your mind. Just stay calm.*

"I don't like Harlow and Ivanna."

Mya snorted. "Pfft! That's what you wanted to tell me? C'mon, you know I don't fall for jokes like that-"

"**I hate your grandparents, okay**?"

Without warning, Mya jumped backwards, frozen in disbelief, struggling to process what she had just heard. Her eyes were wide open in shock, and dismay filled her body.

*How... How could she? I thought... I thought she liked them...*

As the words failed to form in her mind, thunder rumbled in the distance, and the skies grew darker in anticipation for the coming storm.

**SEASON 3, EPISODE 3 - RISING TENSIONS**

Evie cringed. She had a feeling deep down Mya would react like that, as she was very sensitive.

"I'm-I'm sorry," she apologized. "Your grandparents just rub me the wrong way, and I just can't bring myself to like them."

She placed her hand on Mya's shoulder, attempting to rub her cheek, but Mya swatted it away. Her leaf-green eyes reflected emptiness, pain, and... Anger? Evie's anxiety began to spike.

"Ev... *Why*? *Why* do you hate Harlow and Ivanna when they've literally shown that they're great people?"

Her voice was shaky. Regret pierced Evie's heart, and it hurt her. But she had to continue on.

"Harlow and Ivanna have displayed things I've seen that you haven't seen. Harlow smirked when he talked about seeing your parents again, and it was very off-putting. Then, he and Ivanna ignored me *on purpose* while in the manor, and it's all because they care about you more! To them, I'm *irrelevant*!"

Rage welled inside of Mya. How could Evie be this foolish? She was Harlow and Ivanna's *granddaughter*, which they hadn't seen since she was three. Of course they were bound to pay attention to her more. And what was she trying to prove mentioning Harlow smirking?

*People smirk all the time. Like Winter and Daniela. She's being a stuck-up hairball!*

"Evie! Do you think a *natural human reaction* automatically spells trouble? It *doesn't*! Harlow is innocent, and so is Ivanna. Also, I am their *granddaughter* and they haven't seen me since I was a baby. You can't *blame* them for something like that!"

"You don't even act like yourself when you're around them! Winter told me what happened at Hollowleaf, My. You were acting like they *brainwashed* you!"

Mya felt her ears and heart *burning*. Why was Evie complaining like *this*? It wasn't like her, to say the least.

Harlow and Ivanna had done nothing wrong, and Evie was treating them like they were villains.

"Excuse *me*, but I am very much *myself* when around *family*!" She huffed. She got up, and a soft rain began to fall, dotting the grass in dewdrops.

Evie felt embarrassment scorch her like the embers of a wildfire. Mya was straight-up denying the effect her grandparents were having on her.

*Just like me when my mother tiger parented me. I couldn't believe she was abusive - not until she taught me that.*

*Yet if she showed me my mother's true colors, why can't I show her the red flags draped all over the Parkers?*

Evie had regrets in her now, but it wouldn't stop her from trying to reason. Her leadership abilities and strong will were kicking in. She let those feelings take control.

"Mya, I know what I saw, and I can't *deny it*!" She spat. "Harlow and Ivanna aren't being a good influence on you. You act plain and indifferent and are failing to see they're *trouble*. Your obsession is a powerful one - and one that could put a rift between you and us! You can't let that happen! I was ignored, and how do you think you'll feel if they start ignoring Winter as well?"

Mya clenched two anger-ridden fists, her face teeming with rage and her eyes raking Evie with a cold glare. She wasn't just upset at her anymore. Or mad.

She was beyond *livid*.

"What, you brought *that* up again because **YOU'RE JEALOUS**?" She screamed at Evie, pointing a finger at her accusingly. Evie jumped back, stunned. She'd never seen Mya take out her fury on *her* in a long time.

And definitely not like this.

"You're just freaking jealous! I can't *believe* you. I thought you were better than that, Evie... But I guess you're no better than an ungrateful fool." Her gaze was unapologetic.

Then, she turned, and dashed out into the rain.

Her words stung harder than a bee to Evie. Pain wracked her insides, shook the roots of her heart, and pounded her head.

*Mya abandoned me.*

That realization hit her harder, and she sniffed, her eyes welling with tears. Evie buried her face in her knees.

The door to her house opened, and out came her mother, Opal. "Evie?" She paused upon seeing her saddened. "Oh, honey... I saw what happened. I'm so sorry," she whispered.

She draped a blanket over Evie, and hugged her, rocking her back and forth gently as the rain continued to pour.

"I can't believe her! Why would she be so *stupid*? Can't she *see* they're good people?"

Those words lingered in Mya's mind as she paced her bedroom, scraping the heels of her boots on the wooden floor. Frustration seared her lungs.

*Ev is just jealous! Jealous that she gets little attention when my grandparents haven't seen me in years. How blatantly disrespectful does she have to be?*

Thinking about it only made her more enraged.

"If only she would just **DISAPPEAR**!" She screamed, stamping the heel of her boot in the ground.

The door opened, revealing Ivanna, who had a worried expression on her face. "Mya, sweetness." She hurried up to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Calm down. You're filling the manor with your ranting."

She guided her to her bed, sitting down next to her, sharing a blue gaze that radiated sympathy and affection. Mya settled in Ivanna's presence, feeling less rocky and foul-tempered.

"There we go," Ivanna murmured. "Now, tell me what happened."

"Evie *hates* you and Harlow," Mya snarled, her face forming an uncharacteristic scowl. "Deeply. She thinks you're "brainwashing" me and that you're a "bad influence," yada yada. Well, it's just *incredulous*!"

Ivanna raised an eyebrow. She snuck her hand up to Mya's shoulder. "It seems like she has issues of her own. Has she always been wary of strangers?"

Mya nodded.

"That explains it. Just give her time, darling, and Evie will come around."

"She *better*," Mya muttered. "She's even *jealous* of our relationship! *Jealous*! Ev's never jealous, and to her, this is all wrong. God, I just want to-" She cut herself off abruptly.

"Want to what?" Ivanna queried.

"Forget it," Mya replied. "I just want to be alone for a bit so I can vent to myself, if that's okay..."

"Of course."

Ivanna got up, and walked out the room, shutting the door. As she entered the hall on the second floor, she heard Mya start her rants again.

"She's goddamn crazy for thinking Harlow and Ivanna are terrible. Bad influence? Ugh."

Her voice became louder, and louder, and louder as she continued to aggressively vent. Ivanna sighed.

She headed into the kitchen, meeting up with Harlow.

"Well?" He asked. "What's wrong with her?"

"Upset with her girlfriend. She isn't going to stop complaining until the sun sets."

"In that case," Harlow said, "a small measure must be taken."

He grabbed a glass from the cabinet, pressing it against the latch on the fridge, filling it up with cold water. He then went into a small drawer and pulled out a package of sugar cubes. He poured them into the glass, then stirred it into the water, watching as it formed small, snowy-ish particles in the glass.

"Take this to Mya. Some sugar water will do her more than *good*."

Ivanna nodded, heading back upstairs and creaking open her door. Mya sat on her bed, her hair ruffled. She didn't give one shred of attention to her grandmother.

Ivanna snapped her fingers, making her perk up. "Huh...?"

"Drink this, Mya. It'll help you relax."

Mya held the glass of water in her hands, then took a sip. The water was sugary-sweet, and her stomach ached. She wanted *more*.

At once, she drank the rest of the glass and swallowed. The taste of sugar covered her tongue, and it made her tingle inside.

Her surroundings began to blur around her, and her limbs grew still, as if rooted to the ground. "Why is... Everything... Blurring?"

Mya felt her eyes become heavy, and she fell back onto her pillow. In less than two minutes, she was asleep peacefully, twitching in her sleep.

*Settle now, Mya. You have more important things to come later,* Ivanna thought as she tucked her in, brushing a strand of hair aside and briefly rubbing the corner of her lip. She exited her bedroom and shut the door, where Harlow greeted her.

"Is she asleep, dear?" He asked.

"Out like a light. Just the way *we* want it," Ivanna responded.

"Exactly. With her out, I suppose I should mention. We should start considering those plans soon - aren't we craving some sweet, sweet *retribution*?"

"Indeed. And to deal with Nita and Patrick... We must fulfill our promise to them from years back."

Harlow grinned wickedly. "There'll be nothing left for my son and his wife once we've made Mya ours."

"Okay, but before that... Have some *fun* with *me*." Ivanna yanked Harlow up to her face and kissed him passionately on his lips. Harlow kissed back, and they made out for a few seconds.

The two, still kissing, went to their bedroom and shut the door.

Mya hadn't heard a thing.

Hours later, Winter sat nervously on her sofa. Her parents were out shopping at the mall, and Mya was supposed to be home now. But she wasn't, and her absence was concerning.

It was 5:30. Surely she had spent enough time with Harlow and Ivanna?

*Tell me she's alright. Tell me she's okay.*

Winter could feel herself sweating. It had already been concerning enough when Mya kept disappearing repetitively. It was scary enough for her family when Mya was almost killed by a strange man.

*I'm just afraid to leave her on her own with Harlow and Ivanna... The last time I left somebody I loved alone, she got bullied at the park. And tormented violently.*

Winter remembered that day, and it wasn't pretty. However, now was not the time to dwell on that memory.

She picked up her phone, going into her contacts and finding Amira. She needed to chat with her girlfriend right now; her nerves were spiked.

*Hey, Ira... I'm not doing great right now. Mya's been gone for hours-*

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Winter deleted the text. She ran up the door and opened it, finding Mya, who seemed wobbly on her legs. Her eyelids had a dark purple line under them, and from the looks of it, she was exhausted.

"*Mya*!" She exclaimed. "*What happened* to you? I've been *worried sick* all day!"

"Sorry, I'm tired... Long day with Harlow and Ivanna..." She snorted, rubbing her left eye.

"Oh hell no," Winter said, shaking her head. "Mya, don't you try covering this up from me. Something *else* is going on. Why are you tired, and what's gotten you like this?"

Mya stood straighter, sensing her sister's growing tension and concern. Light returned to her eyes. "Okay, my day hasn't been great. Evie hates Harlow and Ivanna and she's jealous of them! How else do you think I'd feel?"

Winter raised an eyebrow. "Uh, no. She doesn't like our grandparents, but she is *not jealous*. She just doesn't feel the same way."

"She said they're a ***BAD INFLUENCE***!" Mya snapped, and Winter jumped backwards, stunned, as her sister went on.

"She thinks Harlow and Ivanna are brainwashing me! Well, she's *dead wrong*! They're being so loving and kind, and yet she has to be obnoxious and jealous and claims I'm *obsessed*! It's ridiculous that she fears for me when I'm perfectly *fine*!" She clenched her fists together, pressing them against her hips.

Winter sighed. She'd wanted to tell Mya that she didn't like Harlow and Ivanna either, but clearly, that was *not* an idea worth fancying anymore. Mya was acting uncharacteristically short-tempered, moreover like a kid instead of a teenager.

Learning her own sister didn't like her own grandparents would drive her over the edge.

"How do you think I feel? Do I remotely look happy right-"

"Mya," Winter eased, rubbing her cheek and making her blush. "You're home with me now. Come into me. There's nothing keeping you away from me."

Mya ran into her, burying her face into her chest and weaving her arms around her back. Winter rubbed her cheek again, feeling how soft she was. Mya's breathing slowed, and she became less and less angry. There wasn't any reason to be mad around Winter, and all she wanted to do was drown in her sisterly affection.

"Okay. Let's go into our bedroom." Winter took her hand, interlocking her fingers with her sister, and they headed inside their room. Winter shut the door, and she laid back on her bed with Mya.

"Can you tell me why you're tired?" She asked again.

"I took a glass of water from Ivanna."

Winter frowned. That made no sense, and it was baffling - water alone didn't knock a person out.

"Water doesn't make a person that tired. Was there anything in the water?"

"White particles. I thought it was sugar." Winter cocked her head to the side.

*Sugar doesn't knock someone out like that either... Oh no.*

She gasped in horror, and her fingers trembled.

*No.*

*It can't be!*

A terrifying thought crossed Winter's mind, and she dug her fingernails into her bedsheets. Her muscles cramped, and her body filled up with stress. A thought had crossed her mind, and she felt like someone had just cut her tongue.

*Mya didn't drink sugar water. She drank water laced with sleeping medication.*

The person that gave her the water was Ivanna. Ivanna Parker.

Or Harlow made the glass.

But whoever put the sleeping medication in the water didn't matter to Winter. She only knew one thing now.

*Mya was drugged on purpose!*

"Mya! That wasn't sugar water you were drinking! One of your grandparents *drugged you*!"

Mya shot upward, glancing at her in disbelief. Her heart went numb. "**DRUGGED ME**? That's *silly*! Harlow and Ivanna would never dare do something as *cruel* as *that*. Besides, why would you even think they'd take advantage of me like that? It's *water*. I just fell asleep afterward."

"No, you were *drugged*! That wasn't sugar, that was sleeping medicine. Sleeping medicine can knock a person cold in five minutes or less. Sugar will never cause a person to fall asleep that fast, it only makes your blood levels spike. And one of your grandparents *deliberately* wanted you asleep!"

"I'm **FINE**!" Mya spat. "What is your issue, Win? I. Was. Not. Drugged! Great, now my day gets worse. First, Evie says she hates my grandparents. Now, you're blowing some sort of ill bubblegum for thinking-"

Suddenly, Winter leapt forward, pulling Mya into her body. Startled, Mya's face turned red, but she gradually relaxed, her heart rate slowing, her aggression fading. Then, she laid calmly in Winter's lap, and guilt appeared in her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have snapped at you like that... I'm just really tired."

"Just relax, Mya," Winter whispered. "You need to sleep off whatever is in your system." She laid Mya down, pulling her bedsheets over her. "Chill out for a bit."

In less than five minutes, Mya was peacefully asleep. Winter grabbed a plush horse and tucked it into her sister's arms, and she smiled in her sleep.

Winter dashed up the door, and turned back, making sure Mya was still asleep. Upon seeing her with her eyes closed, she closed the door and ran to the living room, grabbing her phone.

What she had just realized was disturbing, and the others, especially Evie, needed to know about it.

She went back into her contacts page, and instead of texting Amira, went straight to Evie.

*Evie. Get Amira, and meet at Pinelake. I'll get Daniela.*

Evie texted back. *What? Why?*

*Something alarming I discovered that I need to share with you and the other girls.*

*What's it about?*

*Mya.*

*Fudge! I'll get Ira right away. See you there.*

Hiding her phone in her pocket, Winter ran out the front door as fast as she could.

It was a short run to Daniela's place. Despite not visiting her for over a year and a half, Winter still knew the way there, and she made her way forward, confidence blazing inside of her. Her boots hammered the ground, and she passed knotted red alder trees and old ponderosa pines.

A pair of American goldfinches flew over her head, flying over a two-story house and landing on its chimney.

Finally, Winter reached her destination. A red-bricked house lay in front of her, and it was large. Dark green hedges made up the front, and the door was dark brown, with a wreath made of fir leaves hanging on it. She peered through one of the side windows, finding no one in the living room.

Winter began to worry. Was Dani home? Or even her mother, Rex?

*No. Don't think about that. Just ring the doorbell.*

She rung the doorbell, and heard three *dings* ring through the Burton Vunquists' household.

Nothing. Winter dragged her left foot on the floor mat in impatience.

*Please! I don't have time to wait!*

More silence.

Winter sighed. *I guess no one's home.*

Without warning, the door opened, and startled, Winter turned around. Rex, wearing a lavender-blue blouse and a long dark red skirt, was in the doorway.

"Winter!" She greeted, walking up and patting her on her head. "It's so nice to see you, dear. What's brought you here today?"

"I need to speak with Dani right away. Urgent stuff."

Rex nodded, walking back inside. "Daniela! Winter's here, and she needs you!"

It only took a few seconds for Daniela to speed to the side of her mother, the two strands of her buntail swaying with her movement. "Winter?" She asked curiously, making her way to her side. "What's going on?"

"You need to come with me to Pinelake Park! We're meeting Evie and Ira there - I have... News to share." She glanced at Rex, who seemed baffled.

"News on what?" Daniela then questioned.

"Harlow and Ivanna! Something isn't right with them or Mya."

Rex looked even more confused. "What in the name of god's green earth??? Dani, do you know who they are?"

"Barely, but I'll explain later, mom." She hugged her. "I won't be gone long, I promise." Rex nodded, and shut the door.

"Okay," Daniela started. "What's going on with those two mysterious old hags?"

Winter almost wanted to laugh at Daniela's insults - she had always been creative coming up with them - but she stifled any giggle she wanted to let out.

"Dani, this is going to sound insane... But Harlow and Ivanna drugged Mya. And she partially admitted it to me."

"**WHAT**?" Daniela screeched. "They *drugged* her?"

"I know. We need to get to Pinelake so we can tell Ev and Ira. C'mon!" Winter grabbed Daniela's hand, and together, they ran to Pinelake Park at the speed of light.

Seven minutes later, the two made it to Pinelake Park, meeting Evie and Amira under the great oak tree near the playground.

"Good, you two are here," Evie commented as Winter and Daniela sat down. "Now, what's going on with Mya?"

Winter swallowed a lump in her throat, fearing her friend wouldn't believe her for what she was about to reveal. And yet, she had to go on. Her sister was crawling into trouble.

"One of the Parkers drugged Mya."

Amira gasped, and so did Evie, who's dark green eyes flared up with shock and horror. "**THEY DID WHAT**?" She demanded, her voice echoing around the park.

Winter's anxiety built up, and she pressed against Daniela for comfort. "They drug-drugged her. Someone g-gave her a g-glass of w-ater, and it was la-laced with sleeping me-meds! She thought it was sugar!"

Evie moved right up against her face, yanking her closer by her shoulders. "Is Mya even *okay*? How is she doing?" Her face was ghostly pale.

"She's asleep in her bedroom, last I checked... But... We have a *major* issue. Mya doesn't *think* one of her grandparents drugged her, and she refuses to listen to me! She said I was making things up and thought I was crazy. She's in denial - like she was before - and I think this has something to do with Harlow and Ivanna's effect on her."

Daniela nodded in agreement, her amber eyes serious. "One of a villain's common moves is to make sure their prey is out cold before torturing them however they want." She elbowed Winter, who winked at her, knowing what she meant. "I don't care if it was Harlow or if it was Ivanna who did the drugging, but *one* of them wanted Mya out on purpose - which is what we don't know, and that's scary."

"We have to do something!" Amira pleaded. "If we don't get Mya away from Harlow and Ivanna, terrible things are going to happen. I can see it in my head upon hearing this... Mya's already enamored by them. She'll willingly follow her grandparents anywhere. She'd follow them off a cliff. She's going to question her own sanity, and they're going to take advantage of it and manipulate her..."

"Manipulate her?" Evie asked, her hands shaking.

"I know the pattern. I know the signs. It's something I've seen all too well..."

**A FEW MONTHS AGO**

*Amira sat in her bedroom, tucked in her favorite purple blanket and reading Coraline yet again. She was snug and cozy, which was bizarre, given the warzone environment she lived in.*

*The book, which had a stunning black cover, took her mind to places she could only dream herself into. It seemed like a wonderful world, and yet it was so far away, in the depths of her imagination.*

*Her brown eyes steadily read the captivating words written on the pages of her book.*

*"The other mother sat on the sofa. Her mouth was set in a line, her lips were pursed. She popped another blackbeetle into her mouth and then another, like someone with a bag of chocolate-covered raisins. Her big black button eyes stared into Coraline's hazel eyes. Her shiny black hair twined and twisted around her neck and shoulders, as if it were blowing in some wind that Coraline could not touch or feel."*

*"They stared at each other for over a minute. Then the other mother said, "Manners!" She folded the white paper bug carefully so no blackbeetles could escape, and she placed it back in the shopping bag. Then she stood up, and up, and up; she seemed taller than Coraline remembered. She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out, first the black door key, which she frowned at and tossed into the shopping bag, then a tiny silver-colored key. She held it up triumphantly. "There we are," she said. "This is for you, Coraline. For your own good. Because I love you. To teach you manners. Manners makyth man, after all." She pulled Coraline back into the hallway and advanced upon the mirror at the end of the hall. Then she pushed the tiny key into the fabric of the mirror, and she twisted it. It opened like a door, revealing a dark space behind it. "You may come out-"*

*Suddenly, the door to her room slammed open. Amira lurched, swiftly hiding her book under the pillow and gazing at the entrance of her doorway in fear.*

*There stood her aunt, Shetani, who was wearing her weekend attire. She wore a white crop top with gray fringes around the edges, and a long black skirt, which hid the top of her neatly-polished black boots. She stared at Amira with a loveless, burning, almost black, blue gaze.*

*"**SLAVE**!" She belted. Amira jumped upward, walking up to her and hiding the fear building inside of her. "Yes, master?"*

*"Cut me a mango in that kitchen. Perfect squares, no skin, neatly cut." She placed her fingers on Amira's chest, slithering them up under her brown collar and yanking her up in the air. "And don't even give **one single thought** about disobeying me like you have recently, because otherwise, I'll lock you in that **dungeon** and make sure you're* miserable*. Are we* clear*?*

*"Yes, master! I promise!" Amira squeaked.*

*"Very good... You appear to have upheld your promise to me. Now get* going*!" She slapped Amira on her back, forcing her out into the hallway.*

*Gulping, Amira walked into her kitchen, goosebumps forming on her arms. She felt really, really cold, even though the house was warm and fuzzy. She glanced around nervously, fearing Shetani was watching her every move. She could leap onto her, beat her up,* mutiliate *her if she was caught dawdling.*

*But her aunt wasn't in sight, which only relieved her a small bit. Her skin was crawling, and she felt the shadow of Shetani always around her. It wouldn't leave. It would always be there to remind her of the promise she made to* her *devil, remind her that her only purpose was to be a slave, just like her ancestors.*

*And there was no escape from it, despite Shetani's promises. Yet... She had to be right. Working this way, through brutality, was the way.*

*Amira grabbed a cutting board, placed it on the kitchen counter, and went to the fruit bowl near the fridge, grabbing a pinkish-orange mango. She placed it on the board, went into the drawer, and grabbed a razor-sharp knife. It was neatly polished, just like Shetani's boots. She must have been making sure their - no,* her *things - were so clean she could see her face in them.*

*Using the knife, she cut lightly into the mango, removing a strip of skin. She then peeled the rest of the skin off so the inside of the mango, a bright orange, appeared in front of her. She then steadied the mango with her right hand, and using her left hand, began cutting into it with the knife.*

*She diced up one cube, then another, and then another. Anxiety swirled around in her stomach. She* couldn't *mess this up. Failure wasn't an option. If these mango cubes weren't perfect, Shetani would throw her into the dungeon and whip her sore. She'd want her to suffer, give her the pain to quench her undying thirsts for sadism.*

*Amira shuddered, imagining the feel of Shetani's whip on her skin. She could* feel *the pain from it that made her turn inside out. It made her itch and it made her sick. There wasn't an escape from it.*

*What if she ties that rope to my collar and hangs me in the basement? Alone? I... I hate being alone! Where is somebody...*

*Without warning, her hand moved right in the path of her knife, and it came down on her finger. By then, it was too late to stop herself, and the blade cut into her skin. Amira yelped in pain, then bit her lip hard.*

*She looked at her finger, and it was beginning to ooze dark red blood. Amira cringed.*

*Then she remembered her yelp, which was loud. Horror began to fill her body. Shetani had* definitely *heard her.*

*Heels clacked on the wooden floor, and they sounded angry. Very angry. Shetani appeared at the entrance to the kitchen, clutching her signature whip in her hands, and she dangled it in her fingers, as if to show Amira what was waiting for her.*

*"*YOU DISGUSTING BRAT*!" She roared, making Amira pin herself against the counters. Shetani stepped closer to her, and her heart pounded; she thought it would leap out of her chest. Tears welled in her eyes, and Amira knew Shetani was not only disappointed, but about to kill her for her slip-up.*

*I should've known better! Simple mistakes are costly and mistakes that drag me down. At least, that's what she tells me...*

*Shetani grabbed her dog collar, pulling her right up against her body. "If you can't do your damn job, so help me! You're freaking useless! Pathetic! And it's time you faced another whipping for-"*

*Shetani then abruptly trailed off, her blue eyes becoming deadlocked on something else, and she let go of the collar. Amira still had trepidation lingering inside of her, and her heart ached from beating so hard. Her legs were wobbly.*

*She followed her aunt's gaze, and found that she was looking at her finger. It was soaked in blood, and Shetani's lip was quivering.*

*This was a side to her Amira hadn't seen before. She was almost always cruel, manipulative, furious, and cocky. But Shetani looked... Uncomfortable.*

*"I'm sorry, Master. It was an accident. Punish me to your discretion," Amira said, lowering her head and giving herself up to her aunt.*

*"It's your lucky day," Shetani muttered. She trudged to another cabinet and pulled out a small band-aid. She kneeled down, taking Amira's finger in her coarse, pale hand. She grabbed a rag near the sink and cleaned her finger until it was purely light brown again. Then she applied the band-aid around Amira's finger, wrapping it tightly and even kissing it, which gave Amira some hope. Maybe she would redeem herself!*

*Those hopes died as soon as they formed.*

*Shetani slapped her on the cheek, not hard enough to cause pain, but enough to startle Amira. "Don't make a dumb mistake like that again and waste my time, slave. Now go finish that mango!" She clapped at her face and went into the living room, likely to watch yet another crime show.*

*Amira turned back to the cutting board, a tear falling from her eye. She thought she was about to experience more kindness. But clearly, any promise Shetani gave of that was a bitter lie.*

Amira snapped out of the memory, and found that Winter had moved up right against her, placing her lips against her neck in a soft kiss.

"Are you okay?" She whispered. "You just spaced out from the rest of us, and your face was twisted."

"Bad memory," she murmured. "Thinking about what was going on with Mya and it reminded me of an incident with my aunt."

Evie nodded. "I get what you mean, Ira. We absolutely *must* take action! To do that, we all confront her as one group. Everyone in?"

"Hell yeah!" Winter exclaimed.

"You can count on me," Amira chimed in.

"I will do anything in my power to protect her," Daniela stated.

"Alright, it's a deal. But first, we need to warn her parents..."

"**WHAT**???!!!" Nita and Patrick screamed in horror, their noise filling the entire Heartley household.

Much to the two's horror, they had just learned from Evie and Winter that Mya had been drugged by Harlow and Ivanna. Patrick dug his nails into the sofa cushions, trying not to show that he was severely worried.

Once, long ago, Harlow and Ivanna had threatened to come back and make Mya theirs. It had been something he and Nita had kept from Mya for eleven years, and now, their worst nightmare was on the way to becoming true.

"We have to do something, mom!" Winter pleaded with her mother, who had her head buried in her knees. "Mya could be in danger if this keeps going on. You have to do something!"

"She's... Mya, no... We can't..." She shook.

"You can't what?" Evie asked, looking very concerned.

"Pat, it's been eleven years since the... The day, and now it's happening... What if she-"

"*Marigold*! Don't tell them that! You're going to scare them even more," Patrick said sternly. Evie and Winter grasped each other's hands.

"I'm sorry, that's private business. And Winter, we've already tried confining Mya here. But she won't listen to us, and will always go out to see Harlow and Ivanna every day. Trying to tie Mya to the ground is like capturing a free bird, and you know it."

"I know," Winter sighed. Mya had such a carefree spirit, and she'd always let her heart take here to where she wanted. She treated everything with positivity, and always had the heart to make a bad situation good.

Evie stepped forward, tapping Nita on her shoulder and getting her attention. "Okay. I have an idea. Where does Mya go to be picked up by H and I?"

"Pinelake Park," Nita said blankly. "One hour past noon."

"You need to let her go freely. Act like you have a strong relationship with Harlow and Ivanna. It only takes one small white lie to create a spark."

"Then what are you going to do?" Patrick inquired.

"Me, Winter, Amira, and Dani ambush her at the park and confront her with our opinions at the same time. That way, Mya will see that we're all concerned, and maybe finally realize her grandparents are no good."

"And then she'll sever ties with them!" Winter exclaimed. "Well thought, Ev. Are you in?" She turned to her parents.

Nita nodded nervously, gulping. "Sure..." She glanced down at her wrists.

"Of course, darling," Patrick whispered to Winter. "We're ready."

"Let's do this," Evie declared. Strength coursed through her veins, and she was more determined to get the Mya she loved back.

*Sorry, Harlow and Ivanna. I'm afraid the party is going to have to shut down.*

*Beep! Beep! Beep!*

Mya slammed her hand down on her alarm clock, shutting it down. She was fully-dressed, and ready to spend yet another day with Harlow and Ivanna.

*They promised to tell me more about my maternal grandparents. I can't wait! I wonder what Elloise and Luca were like...*

She brushed out her hair, placing another one of her many hairclips in it, and dashed to the living room. Her parents smiled at her, affection radiating off them like the rays of the sun.

"Going to see your grandparents, honey?" Nita questioned.

"Heck yeah I am!"

"Okay, stay safe!" Patrick added. "Love you." He ran up to her and pulled her in a hug.

Mya chuckled, then in a flash, was out the door. Patrick winked at Nita, who had her phone out.

"This plan is *cooking*."

Meanwhile, at Pinelake Park, Evie, Winter, Amira, and Daniela were hidden under the shadow of the playground slide.

Winter's phone buzzed. That must be her parents!

"Mya's on her way now!" She whispered.

"Mkay, girls. Get ready. *Don't* move until I tell you to do so," Evie called, and they nodded. Evie glanced out to her left, looking at the clump of trees on the sidewalk.

It was only a matter of time before Mya would appear, and they would all single-handedly confront her. Anxiety began to churn in her. They *had* to get Mya away from Harlow and Ivanna, and now was their chance.

Five minutes passed by, and storm clouds began to appear in the sky, bringing the promise of another rainy day. Daniela shuddered.

"She's coming!" Amira suddenly whispered. "She's about to the turn the corner. Seems rather peppy today."

Mya rounded the corner, taking ten more steps before stopping, looking around for something. She had to be waiting for Harlow and Ivanna at this point.

The wind picked up, and even with the overcast sky, Evie couldn't help but become daydreamy. Her girlfriend was so pretty, so mesmerizing, so-

Wait. She was getting off-topic here. Now was not the time for mooning over Mya.

Now was the time for *confrontation*.

In a flash, she had swiftly dashed up to her. "Mya!" She called, burying her hands in her jean pockets. Mya jumped, and turned, blushing.

"*Evie*? What in the name of Lighttribe's green plains are you doing here?"

"Beats me. I was chilling here by myself. You?"

Mya smiled, and her eyes became partially clouded over. "I'm just waiting for Harlow and Ivanna to pick me up. Today's going to be really *exciting*!" She squealed in glee. To Evie, Mya was the bubble.

And she was the needle.

She took a step closer to Mya, locking her gaze with hers, one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, the grandparents who *drugged you* and *brainwash you* with stories?"

Mya gasped, not having expected *that* kind of a response from Evie. What was worse was that her voice was *certain*. She *knew* what she was saying. *Did she... Did she plan on jumping me at Pinelake just to say THAT?*

She wasn't *drugged*! That claim was *outrageous* - how on earth did that spread from Winter to Evie? There was no way her sister would have leaked that.

Even remotely thinking about it filled her up with rage, and it burned inside of her.

"**WHAT DID YOU SAY**?" She demanded fiercely, moving to meet Evie's bold dark green eyes. Evie didn't flinch in the path of her girlfriend - she didn't even move a *centimeter*. Mya could only see defiance and desire in her, not anything indicating an apology.

"You heard me, Mya. Harlow and Ivanna drugged you, and I don't know what they're planning, but *we* know for a *fact* that they deliberately wanted you out. And those stories you yap about to your parents seem very much like tall tales, don't you think?"

"*We*? There is no *we*!" Mya snapped. "This business is between *you* and *me*. Harlow and Ivanna aren't *villains*! Do you really want to be that shallow with me? *That* inconsiderate?"

"How is she being shallow when she's only speaking the truth?"

Mya whirled around, the hurricane beginning to pick up its pace around her. *Amira* was right behind her, and she seemed rather smug, her light brown eyes confident and clear as a meadow.

"Ami? What do you even know about this?"

"Everything I need to know," Amira calmly replied. "I trust Evie with my entire life. And I hate to admit it to you, My, but you were drugged. Let's be real, do you really *believe* sugar can just make you pass out in the span of a few minutes? No." She inched closer to her, the breeze taking her short, fluffy dark brown hair up into the wind. "Technically, you confessed to it yourself. You said there were white particles floating in the water. If you got knocked out in five minutes from drinking that glass, then it wasn't sugar. Those were ground up *sleeping pills*!"

"**HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT**?" Mya screamed directly into her face, baring her teeth in a snarl. Saliva dripped off her lip. Amira could tell Mya was becoming more rabid the more this went on, but this was the *only* way they could get her away from Harlow and Ivanna.

"You don't think I learned anything from Shetani? I can *tell* when people are abusive," she retorted, not admitting that Winter had told her everything. "Shetani always promised me great things if I continued serving her as her slave. But they were all lies! What Harlow and Ivanna are telling you is likely all a lie too. They're going to manipulate you, and soon, you're going to find yourself being the target of *gaslighting*."

"Gaslighting? *Manipulation*? You're freaking *insane*!" Mya spat at Amira, who raised her arms defensively, as it appeared Mya looked like she wanted to *jump* her. "First, their stories are all true, and second, do you really think a glass of water knocked me out cold?"

"There's a difference between sleeping medication and sugar."

Mya groaned in annoyance and frustration, and her skin was seared with the heat of tension. Great, her girlfriend had just ruined her day, and now one of her friends had as well. Could it get any worse?

"Fudge being here," she muttered under her breath. "You're just wasting my time. See you later." She attempted to walk forward, but slammed into something squishy and warm. Stepping back, she blinked, and found herself looking into a striking orange-amber glare so compelling she froze, going numb for a second.

"D-Daniela?" She questioned. "You're here too?"

"Of course I am," she said, a prickly edge to her voice. "So we can get you away from those two *air-brained freaks* that are your *grandparents*."

Anger filled up Mya once again. But why was she shocked? This was Daniela she was speaking to, after all, and Daniela had a notoriously messy history.

"I don't care what you have to say. Harlow and Ivanna are wonderful people. Just leave," she growled, baring a leaf-green stare at Daniela that only contained animosity. But Daniela, refusing to be fazed, blocked her path.

"I said *move*! What kind of *disgusting prank* are you and the other girls pulling on *me*?" She tried to back up, her mind so overwhelmed from all the negativity just thrown on her. Yet Daniela yanked her back by the cyan shirt collar, a serious look on her face. Mya momentarily feared that she had malicious intent in her, but no, that was silly. Daniela was redeeming herself. She wouldn't show that now.

"This isn't a prank! This is you being *naive* as *hell*!" She cursed, not holding back anything. "Mya, I have never seen you be *this dumb* in my lifetime. Your grandparents have so many red flags duct taped all over them, and it's quite frankly *alarming* to see you miss every single one! You're letting Harlow and Ivanna's influence control your actions - because of them, you don't believe you were drugged. You believe you're living in a safe environment. You're believe it's all fine and dandy."

"You're lying-"

Daniela continued, ignoring her try at an interjection. "You're letting something *dark* control your actions. Once you become comfortable with that darkness, it'll *consume* you. I let that mistake happen to me... And then it turned me into a person. A *dangerous* person. You're going to do what I did, and you'll fall, Mya. You'll fall down a *very* dark path."

The tips of Mya's ears turned dark red, and so did her cheeks. Like the slash of a blade, Daniela's relentless bullying of her came back into her head, the taunting, the clowning, the slamming, and physical violence inflicted onto her. It tore her skin and ripped at the pride of her family name. Throughout the school, Mya became known as the kid who was Daniela's personal doormat.

Then, she was a coward. Then, she was a clown.

She was a fool.

And now, Daniela had seemingly made her *look* like a fool. This wasn't redemption, this was Daniela being cruel to her yet again. *I don't want to freaking forgive you! You're suggesting I'll become evil! What kind of cruel freak says that?*

"***I WILL NEVER BE LIKE YOU***!"

Shocked, Daniela let go of Mya's collar and stepped back, her ears ringing from Mya's roar. She breathed in and out, calming herself down, and Evie and Amira stood beside her. Slowly, she relaxed, and her gaze returned to being serious as Mya spoke again.

"I'll *never* be in your shadow, Daniela. Haven't you learned *anything* since you came out of prison? You're bat-schizz crazy for thinking I would be some sort of *bad guy*! Do you think I would turn to *darkess* to comfort?" Daniela noticed that Mya's green eyes lacked any sort of kind feelings. They were a cold green, one that hurt her soul to look at.

*None* of the girls had ever seen Mya act like this before. It was terribly uncharacteristic of her.

"You three are so *incredulous* for this *horseplay*," she growled. "At least Winter will side with me! She trusts me more than you ever will." She shot a dagger-sharp glance at Evie, who's face transitioned from serious to partially pensive, and Daniela pressed her shoulder blade up against hers.

She whirled away from them in a huff, and stopped to find Winter, who looked at her with both arms crossed. "Winter!" Her ice-blue eyes didn't betray anything. She hugged her sister, failing to see that she didn't hug her back.

"Please prove to them that I'm right! Harlow and Ivanna are passionate, amazing grandparents, aren't they?"

She didn't respond, and Mya smiled. She *knew* she would be right.

"Why do you think my *girlfriend* and *best friends* are liars?"

Mya's heart dropped faster than an anvil, and her blood went cold. "W-What?"

"You're *god damn crazy*! You don't even trust ***your own girlfriend***! Why do you think I would freaking side with you?"

"But, Winter, you're-"

"I hate Harlow and Ivanna just as much as Evie does. Sorry not sorry."

The hurricane whirled around Mya much faster now, wrapping her around and around and around in a swirling sea of grays and whites. Her head was spinning, hurting, from everything that had just happened. She could only see dull colors that spilled around her, drenched her, soaked her until she could only see herself alone.

In pitch black darkess.

With no one.

But this *wasn't* reality, and she shook her head, looking at Winter with dismay and pain in her gaze.

"Winter! Why aren't you with me...?"

"I was at first. I liked Harlow and Ivanna, and I was happy to have adopted grandparents. But then, Evie told me what she saw the day she visited Hollowleaf Mansion. Then you started ghosting me and your parents and made us sick with worry. And *then*, you didn't act like yourself when I visited you. It's clear Harlow and Ivanna are making you act like a person we don't *know*... And if you only realized how much pain you're putting us all through right now... I wish you did."

Mya stared at Evie, Amira, and Daniela, then back at Winter. No one was giving her sympathy or affection. *Nobody* agreed with her.

And it was all because of the false narrative that Harlow and Ivanna were bad guys.

Then, Mya realized something. These rumors spread all because of one person. One person who couldn't hold her tongue, and the person who *hated* her grandparents so much. She was jealous.

So jealous she fed her best friends the lie as well, and went behind the back of her girlfriend.

"***YOU***!" Mya snarled at Evie, pointing a finger at her face. "**You're** the one who told them all this nonsense! How could you do this to me??? I thought you cared..."

Evie remained serious, but it was clear from her facial expression that her heart was beginning to tear. Amira, worried, went to her side and rubbed her cheek against hers. She grasped her hand, and Evie was thankful for her. She really meant a lot to her, especially in this moment.

Then Mya leapt up to Winter, inching dangerously close to her face. "And you told them that I got drugged! What the hell is wrong with *you*? Why did you betray my privacy... Why did you tell them such an *absurd* lie?"

Winter remained silent, her hand buried in her right pocket, and she too was trying to hide the hurt and pressure inside of her.

"All of you are ***DELUSIONAL***!" Mya yelled, not bothering to look at the girls this time. "Spreading lies about innocent people. Saying dumb things about me. Thinking I'm *insane*! You all are just going out of your way to **ruin** me!"

"We *didn't* intend to do that at all, Mya!" Evie spat in desperation. "We're concerned for you because of the *signs* we've been seeing. I said you were being brainwashed because I already know what it's like to be brainwashed! Don't you... Don't you remember my mother tiger parenting me?" She winced, recalling the years of pressure her mother had put on her through her tiger parenting. It left Evie broken at times and questioning if she was meant to be "Little Miss Perfect" or a normal girl. Mya should have *known* the signs.

She stared at her blankly, coldly, uneasing her by the bit.

"She made me act like a person I wasn't supposed to be..."

"Opal isn't the same as Harlow and Ivanna!" Mya finally retorted. "They aren't even close to a tiger parent, so *shut your damn mouth*."

Evie felt a scar form on the top of her chest from her words, and she stepped back, still trying to fight back tears. Amira pulled her protectively into a hug, whispering "You're okay, stay strong" into her ear.

Amira slowly pulled away from her best friend, and faced Mya, squaring her shoulders, baring her teeth.

"H and I are going to pressure you into doing things you shouldn't do," she said. "You'll regret every last thing. They'll take advantage of your kindness and play you for a fool. I was manipulated and gaslit by an abusive she-devil... An abusive person would always show you compassion, then backstab you like it's *nothing*."

Winter stepped forward, joining her girlfriend. "And when you've kept making the same ol' mistakes, you won't stop before it's too late. You'll run away and appear as a coward to Pineshadow. You'll run away from the mess you made. I did that once, and the past bit me back." She leaned up against Amira, who leaned back.

All the girls had spoken now, sans Daniela, who hung back. She was thinking about what to say to Mya, who had two fists ready for swinging. She was pissed everyone had gone against her like this and were believing what she thought were lies. She couldn't understand them at all, and it was all thanks to Harlow and Ivanna's hold on her. It *sickened* Daniela, and she had to make a stand.

Finally, she walked forward, shoving her anxieties down her throat. It felt like rocks to swallow all that pressure, but it was now or never.

She locked Mya in a strong, unwavering amber gaze, and she looked back - a leaf-green look that only indicated bloody murder and knife throwing. One wrong move, and Mya could be out for *blood*.

Daniela took a breath, cracking her knuckles and making her position clear on the rocky ground both stood on.

"You have a *sick obsession*, Mya. And this sick obsession is going to *kill* you. I see my old self in you, the way you act. You live in the sky, believing everything you hear when it's all a *lie*. I know this all too well - this happened to me. You're going to do exactly what I did, and you'll be *alone* - as a heartless villain-"

Suddenly, Mya let out a *roar* so loud Daniela's ears popped. She sprung at her, slamming her into the concrete, and she groaned in pain. The world spun around her like a carousel, and she struggled to regain her bearings.

"Mya!" Winter snapped. "Get *off* of Dani!"

"Why should I?" She growled. "She just *said* I would turn evil-"

"*What on earth is going on here*?" A female voice demanded in surprise.

Mya gasped, bouncing off of Daniela, and she staggered to her feet. Shaking her head and blushing with embarrassment, she noticed that two shapes were watching her, baffled and worried, their car parked just a few feet away on the nearby road.

*Harlow and Ivanna.*

"Harlow! Ivanna!" She called out, and they hugged her tightly, embracing her in a seemingly loving hug.

*Please, that's just a facade,* Evie thought. *We know what you're planning.*

"Oh, Mya, honey!" Harlow greeted. "What happened here? Are you alright?" He stroked the back of her head gently, removing dust that was there.

Ivanna turned to Amira and Daniela. "Who are they?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow. Nervous, Daniela shook the dust off of her, and she intertwined her fingers, trying to pretend she was nonexistent.

Mya remained silent, trying to figure out what to say. *How* could she explain that the other four girls hated her grandparents?"

"Mya," Harlow whispered. "I can tell something happened that caused you to pin that nervous wreck over there. Can you tell us what's going on?"

In his presence, Mya felt relieved, clearer, and much more free. She became stronger, new energy filling her veins and body. Determination came quick, and so did the desire to right the *wrongs* those around her had just committed.

A smug look appeared on her face, and before she could notice, Winter drew her knife and hid it behind her back. Mya's look grew more smug... Almost *ambitious*.

"You *won't* believe it!" She exclaimed, whirling to face those she had just got into a heated fight against. "These *fools* think you're a bad influence on me. They *hate you*! And I was going to prove them *wrong*."

Harlow put a hand on his mouth, and Ivanna gasped, her blue eyes flickering with hardness. "Well, I *never*," she muttered irritably.

The other four girls crowded, forming a single line. "We know what you did," Amira challenged. "Stop hiding your true colors from us."

Harlow frowned, rubbing his chin with his finger. "True colors? Why, these are true colors we're *exhibiting right now*," he said, rather calmly, which made Evie's anxiety spike. "You don't need to worry about us."

"Don't get your tongues tied, young ladies," Ivanna lightly scolded. "Never judge a book by their cover. I promise, once you get to know us, you won't *regret it*!" She was jovial and cheerful, but Winter knew she was hiding something.

Still hiding her knife, she took a step toward them. "*Confess* that you *drugged* Mya!"

"Excuse me?" Ivanna replied.

Evie joined her friend. "Oh, quit lying, Ivanna. You *handed* Mya a glass of water laced with sleeping meds. She even *admitted it herself*! You could have done something sinister while she was asleep, you *heathen*!"

Harlow stepped toward them, his polished brown shoes making an effortless *tap* on the ground. He smiled warmly, giving a nod to Evie. "It seems there has been a misunderstanding," he murmured. "But I promise you, there's nothing to be worried about. I should say, I like humor. Isn't your girlfriend *humorous*?"

"Uh... Yes?" Evie responded awkwardly, baffled.

"I see she gets that from me. She tells the sweetest jokes and seems to laugh at anything. Be so lucky you love her."

"I already am," she said, her voice sharp as a blade.

Harlow nodded, laying his hazel eyes onto Daniela. Her skin itched, and she blushed as he moved up against her.

"Why, who is this beautiful, promising young woman?" He asked. A *huge* grin was on his face, and Daniela turned even more red.

"That's Dani..." Mya muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I see," Harlow observed, his fingers sliding down the side of his hips. "You seemed to be in quite a conundrum when we got here. What happened that made Mya pounce on you, might I ask?"

"Uh... Well... We were... Uh..."

Daniela felt so hot she thought she could dig a hole in the ground and disappear. This was so embarrassing, and she was a mess. *I just want to go home! Someone help me!*

She tried moving her lips, but no sound came out, and she wanted to cry. She begged for Mya to pull Harlow away; adult men staring at her made her uncomfortable and itchy and sweaty. But Mya did nothing, and only eyed her with apathy. Was she *wanting* her to be humiliated like this?

"Little darling, there's no need to hide from me," Harlow whispered, almost touching his face to Daniela's. Alarmed, she tried to back up, and yet she couldn't. She was glued to the spot.

"Get away from her!" Amira spat. Her cry fell on deaf ears.

Daniela shook, sweating, and she glanced at Evie, Winter, and Mya. They looked on, concerned, and Winter briefly flashed her knife, as if she was about ready to cut Harlow wide open.

"Dani," Harlow called to her. "Just relax. There's no need to have fear around me... I'm not a *stranger*. Consider me... A *special* friend." Without warning, he moved one of his fingers under Daniela's chin, rubbing it, and she gasped, beginning to go numb. Her heart raced, pounded hard, and her ears were roaring from the spike in her blood pressure.

Harlow continued to caress her chin; then, he moved up to the corner of her mouth, attempting to anchor one of his fingers on one of her dimples.

In a flash, Daniela swatted his hand away hard, growling at him with sheer menace. "Back *off*," she warned. "You don't have my consent to touch me. Keep your hands *off*, and respect my *boundaries*."

Despite her threat, Daniela's eyes welled with tears. Winter immediately ran up to her and hugged her, while Amira laid against her right shoulder. Evie protectively stood to the side of Winter, cracking her knuckles.

Harlow backed away, and stood next to Ivanna, sighing. "I apologize for any harm it seems that me and Iv had caused. But don't spread lies about us behind our backs, girls. A lie can turn into a great big thing, and that great thing can become something more, something *dark* and *putrid*. Tell lies like these, and you'll *regret it*."

His voice was chilled to the bone, and the other four girls were left to stare, stunned and frozen.

"Don't try meddling in Mya's personal relationships," Ivanna added. "Let a young one live her life. Anyways, we must get going to the mansion now. This isn't the last you'll see of us... Bye!"

Mya hugged her grandparents, then turned back to the others, shooting them such an icy glare that Winter felt cold inside.

In the blink of an eye, she had jumped into Harlow and Ivanna's car, and they had driven off into the Pineshadow neighborhood.

Storm clouds built in the gray skies above, becoming a darker gray, almost purple in color. Rain was coming, once again.

Evie glanced up at the sky, shaking with worry, trepidation, and anguish. "Our plan failed... Mya doesn't believe us, and Harlow and Ivanna weren't foiled... This *backfired*... What are we going to do?" She paused, breathing heavily, her heart rate picking up in pace. "How do we get the real Mya back...?"

"I don't know, Ev," Winter admitted, her face grim. "There has to be a way..."

"If we don't find a way, something terrible is going to happen. We can't let it."

"It isn't just something terrible, Evie," Daniela said. "If Mya is lost to Harlow and Ivanna, it's going to be *war* - a war we can't go back from." She too looked up at the sky, and thunder rumbled in the distance, signaling that her words had a chance of being correct.

## Cast

* **Dakota Fanning** as Mya
* **Peyton Elizabeth Lee** as Evie
* **Lauren Tom** as Opal
* **Pam Ferris** as Ivanna
* **Udo Kier** as Harlow
* **Mae Whitman** as Winter
* **Nora Dunn** as Rex
* **Eden Riegel** as Daniela
* **Zoe Saldaña** as Amira
* **Grey DeLisle** as Shetani
* **Wendie Malick** as Nita
* **Trent Garrett** as Patrick

## Songs

* Desmeon (feat. ElDiablo, Flint & Zadik) - *On That Day* (snippets)

## Trivia

* This episode is inspired by the Feint song *Words*. It is also inspired by the MitiS song *Rust*, *Vagrant*, a Liquicity track by Feint which features Veela, and *Breathe*, a song by Laura Brehm.
* It is revealed that:
	+ Evie hates telling lies, and prefers being honest above all else, which was previously implied in *Little Miss Perfect*.
	+ Mya is beginning to take a rapid shift in personality due to Harlow and Ivanna's influence on her.
	+ In order to keep her quiet and to discuss personal plans, Harlow instructed Ivanna to drug Mya with sleeping medicine.
	+ Rex doesn't know who Harlow and Ivanna are.
	+ Shetani is squeamish at the sight of blood.
	+ As evidenced by his interaction with Daniela, Harlow may be predatory.
* At the beginning and end of the episode, storm clouds are notably present. Each time they appear, the opening and ending thunderstorm audio to the 2014 Desmeon song *On That Day* is heard. According to Av, the beginning was meant to foreshadow the tensions between the girls, while the ending was to foreshadow something far more sinister in the season.
* Mya bringing Evie a brief sense of peace and her comparing it to an LED light is a reference to the Feint and Laura Brehm collab *Solace*.
* Evie and Mya locking stares is another reference to the Laura Brehm song *Breathe*.
* During Evie's first argument with Mya, she lets her leadership abilities "take control." This is a reference to the Matthew Blake song *Upside Down*.
* Winter's worries about Mya being on her own is an allusion to *Without Me* by Halsey.
* Winter and Mya's conversation in the doorway references *Umbrella* by Rihanna.
* Winter comparing the troubling thought to a cut tongue is a reference to the 2014 DM Galaxy song *Paralyzed*.
* When Daniela talks about villains knocking out their prey, she alludes to the time she knocked Winter out herself and dragged her to her hideout in *She's Plotting Something*.
* The excerpt Amira reads from her copy of *Coraline* in the flashback is an actual scene, quoted verbatim, from the book itself.
* Mya saying there is no we is a reference to a meme from *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* in which Uncle Phil questions "We?" and then laughs.
* For the second time in the series, the 2012 Maduk song *Ghost Assassin* is referenced when Daniela warns Mya that she's letting something dark control her actions. She also references the Rihanna song *Disturbia* by saying that darkness will consume her.
* Winter telling Mya she'll keep making the same mistakes is a nod to the Rihanna song *Same Ol' Mistakes*.