Episode 6: Descent Into Darkness-Bad Girl Gone Worse

CHAPTER 1: THE WAITING GAME

At the Serpent Sisters hideout, Lucy and the Serpents were planning to vandalize Rattler's reform school. This was part of Lucy's initiation into the gang. But they were waiting until the heat from them egging and toilet papering houses died down first. Until then they were planning out what they would be doing. Cobra, for her part, kept a pulse on what was happening everywhere.

Lucy said to them, "So when will this happen?"

"In a few nights," said Cobra. "After you and Python get out of school we will meet up here and wait until it gets dark. Rattler was able to get a copy of the master key to get in. Don't ask how she did it; even I'm trying to figure that one out. What we will do is spray paint the walls and lockers. We will not break any windows or desks. But we will trash the place. The janitor leaves around 8:30, so we will strike long after he's gone."

"I've been waiting to give it to that school for a long time!" Rattler said with devilish glee. "That Mr. Gordon had it coming for making me stay after school just because I punched that kid for smudging my shoes!"

"And I thought I was crabby," said Lucy.

"Anyway we will wait until the hype surrounding our egging and papering houses has died down," Cobra finished. "Then we will strike Rattler's school." The girls then heard a knock at the door. It was a pizza delivery guy bringing pizza that they ordered. Python answered and paid the guy and the girls sat down to eat.

Back at the Van Pelt household, Linus and Rerun were watching TV. Linus was sucking his thumb and holding his blanket as he always did, and Rerun was sitting next to him.

"Linus," Rerun began, "have you noticed that Lucy isn't around like she usually is?"

"I've noticed that, too," said Linus. "Ever since she made those new friends she's told me about, she hasn't been home as much."

"What new friends?"

"I haven't met them yet. But she told me she was with them on Halloween. That's probably why she didn't take you trick-or-treating this year."

"Do you think she's okay?"

"I think so. Aside from the Homecoming fallout, everything's been pretty normal for the most part. She's even left me alone about my blanket, lately. So I'm not complaining for now." Rerun looked at his older brother. He wanted him to be right. He and Lucy has always been close and to him she's been acting very different. As if she had a double life. So for now he agreed with Linus and put it at the back of his head.

On the other side of town, Peppermint Patty and Franco were walking. She was looking sad and melancholy. Franco took notice.

"Everything okay, fraulein?" he asked.

"Not really," said Patty. "I know what Chuck said about moving on and ignoring Lucille, but I just can't seem to get past this. Although it's been a month since the Homecoming Dance, I can't seem to get over this anger I have towards her. Even though Chuck was on the receiving end of her scheme, it seems like I'm more upset than he is."

"Is it because you blamed Charles for messing up when it wasn't his fault?"

"Well, yeah. But it's not just that. I would've let it slide if it was just an impulse that she had because she pulled it away from him so many times before. But what really upsets me more than the action itself was that she planned this, and she didn't give a hoot about winning the game as much as humiliating Chuck. And I was so mean to him that night afterwards, it wasn't even like me at all. I can't forgive Lucille for what she did. But even worse, I don't know if I can forgive myself for how I treated Chuck." Peppermint Patty started tearing up. Franco comforted her.

"If Charles was upset with you, Patricia," Franco said, "do you think he still would hang out with you. He still considers you good friend. Alles ist in Ordnung zwischen euch beiden*."

"I guess you're right, Franco," she said, wiping away her tears. "Thank you for being a wonderful boyfriend. I love you." She kissed Franco on the cheek.

"Ich liebe dich auch**," he replied. They walked back towards Peppermint Patty's house holding hands.

NEXT CHAPTER: DOUBLE DATE DISASTER BEGINS

*"Everything is okay between you two."

**"I love you, too."