“You guys really think it’s them?” asked Carlos quietly. He had gone a bit pale again, thinking of having to face his mother. He wouldn’t be able to hide behind a computer or an invention this time, and he truly wasn’t looking forward to going back to being her much-maligned personal servant. He was just starting to enjoy a life that didn’t revolve around fluffing furs and fixing wigs.

“Yeah, they must have sent those messages to tell us to go back to the island so they can humiliate us at this Anti-Heroes thing, don’t you think?” said Evie.

“I love how they’re using our ‘bad example’ to recruit members while also telling us to go back and join them,” said Mal.

“That sounds exactly like something they would do,” said Carlos. “They probably have something awful planned for our homecoming.” He shivered at the thought.

“Plus, who else would be planning a meeting in Evil Queen’s castle?” said Mal. “It has to be them.”

“True. And Evil Queen probably took Maleficent’s spot the second she swooped off the Isle,” said Carlos thoughtfully. “You know they fought over who would get to lead the Isle of the Lost when they were first banished there.”

“They sure did,” said Evie. “And that’s why we were exiled to the Castle Across the Way!”

“Actually, you didn’t invite me to your birthday party, and that’s why you guys had to move,” reminded Mal. “I was only six years old.”

“That wasn’t my fault,” Evie protested. “And you almost let me fall asleep for a thousand years!”

“What’s past is past, let bygones be bygones,” said Jay, entering the room. “What else did I miss?”

Mal nodded. “Jay’s right; sorry, Evie.”

“I’m sorry too,” said Evie. She stared at the screen again, at the giant red Xs written across their faces. Ugh, red did not look good on her complexion.

Carlos brought Jay up to speed on what they’d discovered so far about the Anti-Heroes group on the Dark Net. They looked at the picture again.

“We need to be at that meeting so we can find out what they’re planning, and that way we can stop it like we did last time,” Mal said, a serious look on her face.

“Fine, let’s go, I’ll start packing,” said Carlos, who was dreading it but wanted to get it over as quickly as possible. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. It would be easier to confront his mother sooner rather than later, before he had a change of heart.

“Hold on,” said Jay. “Not so fast. Let’s think it through. You know what Fairy Godmother always says.”

“Don’t run in glass slippers?” joked Evie.

“Look before you leap, the slow turtle always wins the race,” said Jay. “Oh, and it’s always best to be home before midnight.”

Jay smiled at his friends and rubbed his palms. He loved when a plan started to come together. It reminded him of his life back on the Isle, when he would figure out the best way to nab the least rotten banana from the fruit stands. “We can’t leave just yet,” he repeated.

“Why not?” Carlos wanted to know, even though he looked relieved to hear they didn’t have to sneak out of town right then.

“For one, you and I have a tourney game on Saturday, and we can’t let the team down,” he said. “If Ben doesn’t make it back from wherever he is, and we leave, they’re down three starters; there’s no way they have a chance against the Lost Boys. They need us.” He looked meaningfully at Carlos. “I know you weren’t at practice today, but we’re counting on you to be ready by game time.”

Carlos sighed. “Right.”

Jay turned to Mal and Evie, who both looked skeptical. “You guys understand, we’re part of something bigger here than just us. We’re part of Auradon now,” he told them. “You know we are.”

“Yes, but—” Mal tried to argue.

“Besides,” he interrupted with an apologetic smile. “We don’t want this Anti-Heroes group to think we’re onto them. What do you think will happen if news gets out that the four of us are suddenly missing from school? We need to go back, but on our own terms. We can’t let them know we know.”

Mal considered it for a moment, thinking. Finally she nodded. “Okay. Jay’s right. We need to lie low,” she said. “We’ll leave Saturday after the game since everyone gets off-campus privileges on the weekend. Come back Sunday night like everyone else, be back here in time for class on Monday.”

“Now you’re talking.” Jay smiled.

“Wait, hold on,” said Evie. “If Jay and Carlos get to play tourney, what about the dance? I’m part of the royal committee, and I have to make sure everything’s set up correctly. Otherwise, what if it looks like Wonderland threw up on everything? Plus, it’s right after the game, and people will notice if we’re not there, especially you, Mal. Even if Ben’s not there, people will be expecting you.”

“So we go to the dance too,” agreed Jay. “Why not?”

Carlos made a few calculations in his head. “The game ends by five, and the dance starts at six, we stay for an hour, maybe, to make sure everyone notices that we were there. That doesn’t leave us a whole lot of time to get out of here and to the Isle by midnight, but it’s doable.”

“And this way you guys won’t let down your team,” said Evie.

“And Evie gets to set up with her committee,” added Jay.

“And Mal gets to…dance?” said Carlos.

“We all get to dance,” said Evie, whose eyes were sparkling now.

Mal threw up her hands. “Okay,” she said. “We won’t leave till after the game and the dance so we don’t arouse suspicion, and I guess it’s good to live up to our responsibilities.”

They discussed the logistics of their plan for sneaking out of Auradon: Evie would come up with disguises while Jay would figure out transportation.

“Did we miss anything?” Mal asked.

“Yes, I think so,” said Carlos after a moment. “So far the plan can get us out of here, but wouldn’t people notice that we’re gone on Sunday? That would raise some alarms, don’t you think? Even though we’re allowed to be off campus for the weekend, people might think it’s strange since we never go anywhere.”