Hey! I don't know who to thank for reviews, because I update like five minutes ago. I gotta work fast, so this intro is pretty short. Oh, also, I'm putting Setha and Marissa back in because I realized (oops!) I forgot to keep up with them! I was so obsessed with Kirsten and Ryan that I completely forgot! Sorry!

Disclaimer: nothing.

"Seth, we've called every hospital!"

"I know that, I've been doing all the calling. At least we know Ryan isn't hurt. Do you want to try and call my mom?"

"Do you think she'd talk to us? When Sandy called, he said she sounded insane."

"It's worth a try."

Seth dialed his mother's number and put his ear to the cellphone. A man answered.

"Hello?"

"Uh, where's my mom? Did you steal this from her? Is she okay?"

"Woah, slow down. Your mom's right here, kid-"

"Oh, my gosh, is she a hostage?" Marissa sent Seth some looks and mouthed, "what's up", but Seth was not paying attention to her.

"No, she just fainted. Or passed out. Something. But she's fine. She hit her head on the sidewalk, so she'll be out for a while, but I'm taking care of her."

"You better not hurt her you sick freak."

"I won't lay a hand on her. Just a bag of ice on her forehead. I promise."

"Where's Ryan?"

"Can't tell you."

"Is he okay?"

"He won't be after tonight."

"What?" Seth dropped the phone, having lost the ability to use his muscles properly, but he regained his bearings. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Me? Why do you keep blaming me? I'm trying to help him. Look, he might live. Maybe. And I'm only saying that to give you hope. Now will you please come and pick up your mother? I have stuff to do."

"Yeah, I'm already in Chino. Where do you live?"

Seth appeared in a matter of minutes. "Mom!" he yelled, rushing over to her. She did not stir.

"What's wrong with her? Shouldn't she wake up?"

"I told you, she hit her head when she fell."

"Oh yeah? Prove it. I bet you hit her."

"Put your hand on the back of her head. She was bleeding. There's some blood on the sidewalk, too. Not very much, her vital signs are normal. But when you hit something, you're bound to bleed."

"How do you even know her vital signs are normal?"

"I study medical books. I may be in my twenties and living in Chino, but I got dreams. Now take her and go home."

Marissa stepped forward. "No way. Not until you tell me where Ryan is."

"You must be his girlfriend. Look, honey, I can't give you that kind of information even if I did know the exact address. Just get back to New Port where you belong."

"No." Marissa crossed her arms over her chest. "You take me to Ryan, or...or I'll..."

"Save it. There's nothing you can do to me. I have to get going. My girl will show you out." Art put his jacket on and walked out the door. Marissa eagerly followed him and threw herself against his car, forbidding him to get in.

"Get out of my way."

"No."

"You're only hurting Ryan by doing this. I'm one of the guys who'll be protecting him tonight. If I'm not there, his chances of getting killed are only higher." Marissa thought about this a moment and slowly stepped away. Art stepped into the car and sped away.

Marissa wiped a tear from her cheek and walked back inside the house. Seth was trying to resuscitate Kirsten, and she had begun to come around.

"Seth, I couldn't stop him. What should we do?"

"Mom's almost awake, so I guess we just ask her what she knows. Mom, Mom." Seth shook her gently. Kirsten's eyes opened. "Seth," she grumbled. Marissa went behind Kirsten and helped the woman sit up. "Ryan, Ryan, no, Art," she said. Seth and Marissa exchanged looks. "Kirsten, it's us. Marissa and Seth. Art isn't here anymore. You fainted."

"What? I-" her eyes widened as she became fully awake. "Ryan's dead!"

"What?" Marissa and Seth screamed in unison.

"No, he's not dead yet. But he will be. We have to save him. I have to get the money." Kirsten stood, but nearly fell back down as dizziness overwhelmed her.

"Money? What kind of trouble is Ryan in?"

"Drugs! Trey stole drugs! He-he got beat up. Ryan needs help."

"How can we help him if we don't even know where he is?"

"We can find him!" Marissa replied.

"Art said he was staying with a friend, but that was all he would say. Wait, I have the addresses of some of his friends! I got them from the group home Ryan used to live at!"

"How'd you manage that?"

"Oh, well this guy named Paul had come in a couple days before me and gotten a bunch of addresses, so I said I was involved with Paul, and I ended up blackmailing the lady into giving them to me!"

"Paul? Maybe that's who Ryan's with!"

"Well, that's no good for us! I didn't get Paul's address because I just asked for what Paul got, and why would he need his own address? Shit!"

Okay, the next chapter will be the fight scene, I just needed to clear some stuff up in these past two. I will definitely update again today, but I'm not sure what time. Maybe now, maybe in a few hours. Stay tuned.