Sorry, I had problems adding the 3rd chapter, but I think its ok now!
"What do you mean she's gone?" Matt demanded.
"I yelled at her this afternoon and she left." Lucy admitted quietly.
"Well where did she go?" Simon asked.
"I don't know." Lucy tried not to cry. "I feel so guilty! She could be lost or hurt or hungry."
"It's ok Luce." Matt assured her, putting his arm around her. "Mary's an adult. She can take care of herself. And it isn't your fault. We were all getting frustrated with her."
"Mom and dad weren't worried about her when they thought she was gone, so you shouldn't be either." Simon added.
"Thanks guys" Lucy sniffled. "But I'm still worried. She doesn't have a job, money, or food. How is she going to survive?"
"You know she'll find a way. If she gets desperate, she'll come ask us for help." Matt said, standing up. "I have to go to work now. Trust me, everything will be all right."
A week later Lucy was awakened by the phone ringing next to her ear. She squinted at her clock and saw that it was 3 in the morning. It's probably just a prank she thought, laying back down. Suddenly, she sat up again. Or it's Mary.
"Hello?" She asked anxiously, holding the phone to her ear.
"Lucy?" Mary's tearful voice asked softly.
"Yes, Mary what's wrong?"
"I need help. I was sleeping on the street and some guys got into a fight and they have guns! I called 911 but the lady said they were really busy and she doesn't know how soon she can get the police here. I'm afraid to come out of the corner I'm in because if they see me they might shoot me. I need help, please" Mary sobbed.
"Ok, I'm on my way. Where are you?"
"Los Angeles. On corner of Park St."
"How are you calling me?"
"I'm on my cell phone. Please hurry!"
"Ok, I'll be there as soon as I can" Lucy hung up quickly and jumped out of bed. She quietly grabbed a jacket from her closet and headed out the door, but before she closed it she heard a voice.
"I'm coming too" Ruthie announced.
"No, stay here." Lucy told her impatiently. "This is important."
"I know, that's why I want to go. Just say yes, it will be quicker than arguing with me"
"fine, hurry up."
On her way downstairs, Lucy met up with Matt and Simon in the hallway.
"Was that Mary?" Matt whispered.
"Yeah she needs help. I'll explain on the way."
"I'm coming too" Simon told her.
"No, you stay here" Matt said.
"He can come. I already told Ruthie she could." Lucy said quickly, hoping to avoid an argument.
"Hey, do you think the phone woke mom and dad up?" Simon asked, looking toward their parent's room.
"No, mom said she was really tired so they turned the ringer off their phone" Lucy reminded him.
Ruthie came down the steps then, so they all headed toward the car.
15 minutes later, Lucy had told them the whole story.
"Can't someone else help her? It's not like she's alone." Ruthie asked from the backseat where she and Simon sat.
"They could" Lucy answered, concentrating on the road, "But she'll feel better to have people she knows with her. And maybe we can get her to come back."
"What time is it?" Simon asked.
"3:30" Matt replied, checking his watch.
"And how much farther?"
"About an hour."
"Then we better hope we find her right away, because mom gets up at 6:00. what will she think if she wakes up and we're gone?"
"We'll find her, she told me where she was." Lucy answered, even though she wasn't sure.
"Did anyone stop to think that this could be dangerous for us if there are bullets flying everywhere?" Ruthie asked.
"Well Mary called at 3:00, maybe by the time we get there they will have stopped fighting, or the cops would have taken care of it." Lucy suggested.
"Then why are we going?"
"I told you." Lucy said, annoyed. "She needs our support. She sounded really scared."
"I hope she appreciates us this time"
"Lucy, I think this is the turn" Matt pointed toward a sign an hour later.
"Oh right." Lucy replied, turning the wheel. "I hope everything's ok."
"Me too."
"Ok this is where she said she'd be. Should we get out and look around?"
"I guess so." Matt replied doubtfully. He turned around in his seat to shake Simon and Ruthie, who had fallen asleep. "Hey! We're here!"
"What?" Ruthie mumbled sleepily.
"Maybe she should stay in the car." Lucy suggested nervously.
"No, I'm coming." Ruthie said, stretching.
"Ok then, let's go."
They all climbed out of the car and looked around. There were several bars and clubs around with loud music coming from inside of them. The street was full of drunk people screaming and laughing. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea" Lucy muttered to herself. Suddenly, they all heard the faint sound of a gun shot.
"Come on!" Matt cried and they all hurried after him in the direction of the shot.
Finally, they rounded a corner and came to a street different from all the others. It was completely dark except for a flickering streetlight and it was almost empty. Lucy spotted two men at the end of the street, yelling and cussing. One of them held a gun. "Get back!" Lucy hissed to her siblings. She spotted Mary, huddled in a corner a few yards away from the men. Apparently they hadn't seen her yet. Lucy quietly snuck over to her and touched her shoulder.
"Lucy!" Mary cried lifting her head. Her face was pale and tear streaked, her hair wet and dirty. Her clothes were ripped and covered in mud.
"Shhh, come on!"
Suddenly, the sound of sirens came from a few streets away. As it got closer, the men realized it was coming for them. They looked around frantically, and one of them noticed Mary and Lucy.
"You call the police?" He demanded, gripping his gun.
"N-no" Mary stuttered, terrified.
""I think you did. And now you gotta pay" In one quick motion, he aimed the gun at Mary and fired.
I hope you liked this chapter! Please, please review! IT gives me ideas for things to try in the next chapter. Thanks!