20 YEARS LATER

CRUELLA

**HUMAN WORLD**

“And that’s all for today,” Miss Cushion announced. Chairs scraped the floor as everyone rushed out of the lab.

Just as I stood up, she called, “Cruella, a word please.”

Of course. I already knew why she wanted to talk to me, but I stayed behind like the obedient student I always tried to be. If I wanted to survive in the human world, I had to adapt—and honestly, I’d been doing a decent job.

“I noticed your grades are slacking off this semester,” she said gently. “Should I be worried?”

I forced a small smile.

“It’s nothing to worry about, Miss Cush. I’m just… a little distracted.”

Miss Cush wasn’t just a teacher—she was a mother figure to me here. Aside from Swayer and Ethan, she was the only human who treated me kindly.

“Alright then. Let me know if you need anything,” she said with a warm smile.

I nodded and walked out, spotting Swayer leaning on the doorframe with her arms crossed.

“Let me guess—your grades?” she asked.

I nodded again.

“I told you to stop worrying about Maeve and focus on your studies. If you fail this last semester, you can forget graduation,” she scolded.

She had no idea that Maeve was the least of my problems. Every morning I woke up hoping something—anything—would change. That my powers would finally awaken so I could return to Greenville. But every day was the same disappointment.

“I’m sorry. I’ll study more,” I muttered.

Swayer grinned and grabbed my hand.

“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! What are you doing? We could go shopping. Oh! There’s a frat party at Jada’s!”

“I don’t like parties,” I said quietly. The last one didn’t end well. Maeve had embarrassed me in front of everyone, reminding me how useless I was—even in the human world.

Sometimes I wished I was never born. On my eighteenth birthday, when my wolf side was supposed to emerge, nothing happened. Days passed. Then months. Two whole years later—still nothing.

I tried witch school. Failed every spell.

I wasn’t an Elite vampire either.

With no powers at all, they assumed I was human—and to “protect Greenville,” they banished me to the human world. My powerlessness meant I couldn’t find my way back.

“Ella! Are you even listening?!” Swayer shouted.

I snapped back to reality.

“Sorry—what were you saying?”

She sighed dramatically. “What is going on with you? We’ve been friends for three years, and I still feel like you’re hiding something. You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know,” I whispered. “I just… some things are better kept in the dark.”

She didn’t push further. Instead, we walked to the cafeteria.

As soon as we entered, Maeve spotted us. She got up with a can of orange juice in her hand and strutted toward us.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said with a smirk.

“What is it now, Maeve?” Swayer snapped.

“I was going to bother loser Ella, but hey—two for one.”

I felt something inside me snap. I was tired—tired of being treated like trash, tired of being powerless. Today, I wasn’t letting her walk all over me.

“Don’t you ever get tired?” I asked calmly. “Is your life so miserable that you have to share it with others?”

Maeve’s eyes widened. Swayer’s jaw practically hit the floor. I had never talked back before.

“What did you just say to me?” Maeve hissed. She immediately spilled her orange juice all over my shirt.

“Maeve! Are you crazy?!” Swayer yelled.

But I didn’t move. Something strange and hot was stirring inside me, building like pressure. A burning sensation crawled through my veins.

Before I understood what I was doing, my hand flew up and slapped her.

A simple slap.

But she crashed to the floor.

Gasps echoed through the cafeteria. Even I froze, shocked.

Maeve jumped up, furious and embarrassed. She lunged at me, but Ethan grabbed her from behind.

“That’s enough. You started it,” he said.

“I’ll kill your useless girlfriend! Let go!” she screamed, struggling wildly.

Swayer grabbed my hand and dragged me outside.

“We’ll just eat out. We have an hour before our next class.”

I barely heard her. I stared at my hands, breathless, a smile creeping across my face.

“Is this it? Did I finally get powers?” I whispered.

“Powers? What are you talking about?” Swayer laughed. “I’m just shocked you slapped Maeve. That was epic!”

“It just… happened. I don’t know how.”

“Well, you need to avoid Maeve now. She’ll definitely come for revenge,” she warned.

But my mind was far away. If this was the beginning of my powers… I could finally go home. I could finally belong. I could finally stop being the weak, powerless girl everyone mocked.

But what about Swayer? What about Ethan? Leaving the human world meant leaving them forever.

“Swayer,” I said softly, “don’t take this seriously, but… what if there was another world? One is different from this one. A place with people who had special abilities. Would you want to go there?”

“You mean like witches and vampires?” she asked.

“Yes. And werewolves,” I said, unable to hide my excitement.

She laughed. “Ella, those things only exist in fantasy books.”

“But what if they were real? Just hidden from humans?”

“I think we should go eat instead of talking about fairytales,” she said, pulling me along.

I swallowed my frustration. She wouldn’t believe me—not until I had proof. Real proof. Powers, a shift, anything.

I never even knew my real parents. My adoptive mother reminded me constantly that I wasn’t her blood. I didn’t know if I came from werewolves, witches, or vampires.

“Just a little longer,” I whispered to myself. “And you’ll believe me.”

TRIGGER WARNING: CHAPTER MAY CONTAIN SEXUAL ASSAULT AND NON-CONSENSUAL ACTS. READERS DISCRETION ADVISED!

CRUELLA

I pressed my palms against my ears, trying to muffle the thunderous bass vibrating through the frat house walls. I should never have come here. But Swayer had begged, Ethan had convinced me, and—like always—I caved.

Swayer disappeared the moment we arrived, swept away into the crowd by the music while I awkwardly stood alone. I spotted Ethan in a corner with his friends, laughing and drinking like he had no worries in the world.

“Babe, come over here!” Ethan called out, gesturing with a lazy wave.

I walked toward him slowly. His friends drifted away, giving us space. He offered me a drink, but I shook my head. I don’t drink. I wanted to say it, but I didn’t want to seem boring.

“Come on, it’s Valentine’s Day,” he said with that smile that always melted me. “Have fun… be free. Let tomorrow take care of itself.”

So I accepted the drink.

The moment I took a sip, he leaned closer. “Should we go upstairs?”

My brows are knitted. “Upstairs? Why…?”

He smirked. “Come on, don’t tell me you don’t know why. It’s Valentine’s night.”

My heart dropped. “A-are we doing it now?”

He stood immediately, setting down his cup. When he offered me his hand, I hesitated—but only for a second. I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t love him.

So I took it.

He led me to a room on the first floor, closed the door, and his lips crashed against mine—hungry, aggressive, impatient. His mouth was everywhere, his hands were everywhere, and I couldn’t get a proper breath in. He tasted like alcohol, and his touch felt… wrong. Too rushed. Too forceful.

When he finally broke the kiss, I gasped for air as he stripped off his shirt. I glanced around nervously at the unfamiliar room.

“What if the owner walks in?” I whispered. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”

“Are you just making excuses?” he snapped. “If you want to stop, say it.”

His expression told me exactly what would happen if I said no.

So I swallowed down my fear. “…I want to do it. Just… It's my first time. Please be gentle.”

His smile softened—as if he truly cared—but the way he touched me said otherwise. His hands roamed, hurried and rough. When his fingers brushed my most sensitive place, I gasped and instinctively pulled away. He didn’t stop. He lifted me, carried me to the bed, and laid me down.

My heart was hammered painfully.

Is this right? Am I ready?

But I’d already agreed.

He undressed me piece by piece. My hands trembled. My body shook. He didn’t soothe me or slow down. I wasn’t even wet—my body wasn’t ready—but he didn’t care.

He took off his pants, climbed over me, and positioned himself.

“E-Ethan—” I began.

The sharp, tearing pain cut my words off.

“Ouch!” I gasped.

He didn’t pause. Didn’t ask if I was okay. He just kept thrusting, faster, harder, ignoring my pleas.

“Wait—wait, please—Ethan, stop—” Tears blurred my vision. “I don’t want to anymore.”

Finally, he stopped. Looked down at me with a fake worried expression. “Sorry. I must’ve lost control.”

“I don’t want to continue,” I whispered through tears.

He sighed, forcing a gentle tone. “Just give me a little more time… I’ll finish soon.”

His mouth kissed me softly, deceptively tender, while his hips continued moving.

I shut my eyes and endured the pain.

When he came, his warm release spilling into me, I exhaled shakily. It was over. But the ache between my thighs lingered, throbbing with every breath.

He pulled out, dressed without a second glance, and tossed my clothes toward me.

“You should get dressed before the owner comes,” he said dryly.

And then he just… left.

I dressed alone, feeling empty and numb.

Did I do the right thing?

No—

He loves me, I reminded myself.

Stop thinking negatively, Cruella.

I forced myself downstairs.

Swayer spotted me instantly. Her face twisted in worry as she hurried over.

“Ella, where have you been?! I’ve been worried sick.”

I scoffed. “Really? You looked like you were having fun without me.”

She blinked, confused, eyes scanning my body. “Are you okay? You look… shaken.”

“I’m fine. Let’s go.”

“What about Ethan? Did you see—”

I walked away before she finished.

THE NEXT DAY

The moment Swayer and I entered the lecture hall, whispers erupted around us.

“She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“I thought she was decent.”

“Such a shameless slut.”

I frowned. Who are they talking about?

Then I noticed the stares—sharp, judgmental, glued to me.

“Why is everyone looking at me?” I muttered.

Swayer was scrolling her phone, but suddenly she gasped, covering her mouth.

“What?” I asked.

She turned her screen toward me.

My world stopped.

It was a video.

My video.

Last night.

Ethan. Me. The bed. All of it.

And the views were skyrocketing—over a million already.

“No… no, no—how…?” Tears spilled down my cheeks. I felt my chest tighten. My stomach dropped. “How did this even happen…?”

Swayer looked at me with broken hope. “Cruella… tell me this isn’t you. Tell me it’s fake.”

I bolted out of the hall, sobbing, barely seeing where I was going. I crashed into someone in the doorway and staggered back.

Ethan.

His face was cold, empty—like I was a stranger.

My voice shook. “Was that you? Did you record and post that video?”

Please say no. Please love me. Please—

“Yes, I did,” he said flatly. “So what?”

My heart shattered.

CRUELLA

My heart shattered—no, it exploded—into a million jagged pieces the moment Ethan pushed me aside and strolled into the lecture hall with his friends. They were laughing. Laughing. As if everything that happened between us had been nothing more than a stupid joke.

That was when it hit me.

It was all planned.

How could I have been so blinded by what I thought was love? How could I let him close enough to loosen my guard? He never loved me. Not from the beginning. He only wanted what was between my legs, and now that he’d gotten it, he could finally show me who he truly was.

“Cruella! Cruella, are you okay?” Swayer’s voice cut through the ringing in my ears, but I couldn’t look at her. I couldn’t look at anyone. At that moment, I didn’t even know if I could trust her. Ethan had pretended to care. What if she had too?

“Cruella, come on—we can skip morning lectures until you feel better. First we need to take down that video.” Swayer reached for my hand, but I yanked it away, my chest constricting painfully.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped. “You’re all the same! You humans are so cruel! How could I have been so blind?! How could I think my life would change for the better here?!”

The pain burst out of me in hot waves, like thousands of needles stabbing into my heart. I held my chest, trying to breathe, trying to hold myself together.

Swayer’s face softened with confusion and worry, but she stayed. Of course she stayed. She always stayed.

“Ella,” she whispered, “I know you’re hurting. And I’m sorry—I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. If I had known what Ethan had planned, I would never have suggested going to that party.”

Her words cracked something inside me, and suddenly the tears came harder. I wanted Greenville back—the bullying, the isolation, the cold stares. Anything was better than this humiliation. Back home, they called me useless. Here, they called me useless and a slut.

“What have I ever done to the moon goddess?!” I screamed, my voice raw. “Why didn’t you make me like one of them? Why give me such a cruel fate? Why didn’t you just kill me at birth?!”

Swayer didn’t let go even when I struggled. She wrapped her arms around me and held me tight, crying with me.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you, Cruella. I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered. She always treated me like a little sister, even though I was older. She didn’t understand what I meant about the moon goddess—but that didn’t matter.

“Don’t let them win,” she murmured as she rubbed my back. “Don’t show weakness. They want to see you defeated, but we won’t let them. I have a friend who can hack the original account and delete the video. Every repost will vanish too. We’ll skip lectures today, and tomorrow you’ll walk in there with your head high.”

Her words soothed me—just enough—and I finally raised my head. My face felt swollen, my eyes burning.

“Are you going to betray me too?” I whispered. The terror in my voice surprised even me. She was all I had left. If she turned on me too…I didn’t know what I would become.

“Of course not,” she said firmly. “You’re like my sister. And I hate that bastard for making you cry. Come on. Let’s go.”

We walked back to our room in silence. Yes—our room. We were roommates too.

“We have a test tomorrow,” I muttered as we stepped inside. “Are we really skipping classes?”

“We’ll study on our own tonight in the lab,” she said with an encouraging smile before pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. “Now rest. I’ll call my friend right away.”

When she left, the room felt too quiet, too heavy.

“What’s the point… everyone has already seen it,” I whispered to myself.

Still, I pulled out my phone. The site loaded instantly—and there it was. The first video on the playlist. My stomach twisted as I tapped it.

My face. My voice. My body.

My humiliation.

I remembered begging him to stop because it hurt too much. But now I understood why he hadn’t—because the camera needed its footage.

A notification popped up, dragging me out of my spiraling thoughts. A message. From Ethan.

“Hey babe, no hard feelings. I really enjoyed our night, can we meet up again tonight?”

My blood ran cold.

Was this the devil I’d been dating for two years? How had I not seen it? Of course I didn’t—he was sweet right up until I opened my legs.

“Fuck you.”

I sent it and blocked him instantly.

The door opened. Swayer walked in, smiling softly.

“My friend is already on it. The video will be down in thirty minutes,” she said.

I nodded weakly.

“Hey, cheer up. Sex isn’t something to be ashamed of. I’m just sorry it had to be with that asshole.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered. “You’re still a virgin.”

She gasped dramatically. “Ouch! I’m trying to help you, don’t bite me!”

Then she smiled again—sweet, soft, patient.

“I know what will make you feel better… chocolate cake!”

I didn’t respond. I just laid down and closed my eyes.

“Fine, or you can just sleep,” she sighed, crawling into bed next to me.

Her arm wrapped around me, warm and protective.

“Everything will be alright,” she whispered.

And for the first time since the nightmare began, I let myself believe her—just a little.