CHAPTER 6: CAUSE FOR ALARM
Lucy, Cobra, and Rattler were out enjoying the summer day when they listened to a radio a kid was carrying. It was a local news bulletin. They weren't overly concerned until the subject matter came up:
"Police are still looking for the whereabouts of Hilary Wilson. She escaped from Hennepin County Mental Health Facility this past Saturday. No one has seen or reported Wilson anywhere. We interviewed Doctor Barnes, who was tasked with her treatment."
Doctor Barns began, "This girl is very dangerous. We advise not to approach her and if you do see her, contact the authorities at once. But do so when you are at a safe place where she can't find you."
The announcer continued, "Wilson is 11 years old, but is very volatile. She has done various crimes in two years that only an adult could do in twenty. She was also a member of the feared Sparkyville gang The Lizard Ladies." Lucy and the Serpents gasped.
"It couldn't be!" said a shocked Cobra.
"It wouldn't be!" added an also shocked Rattler.
"It shouldn't be!" said Lucy. "Should it?!"
The announcer continued his report. "The Lizard Ladies were responsible for the biggest gang shooting in Sparkyville history that happened at a local salvage yard on the west side of town over a year ago, which cost the life of Margaux Holt at age 10. While Wilson wasn't the one who pulled the trigger, it was another gang member that did so. Wilson wears purple hair, and seems to giggle a lot. She also goes by the handle… Tarantula." The girls gasped in shock.
"Good grief!" said an upset Lucy. "Tarantula has indeed escaped!"
"What are we going to do, Cobra?!" cried a scared Rattler.
"All right, girls, we knew this may happen one day," said Cobra, trying to stay calm. "Right now, we continue to lead our lives as we have been since Python's death. As far as Tarantula knows, we're still out of the game. She hasn't tried anything on us or the Spiders as far as I know. At least not yet. But stay vigilant! She may try something. I'll try to get in touch with Black Widow, and see if she's heard anything. For right now, we'll head back to our homes. We'll only come out when we have to. Agreed?" Lucy and Rattler shook their heads. "Okay, let's head back to our homes now." And the girls headed back to their homes wondering what will happen next. Unbeknownst to them, the three girls from the Lizards tasked with watching them was following each of their targets back to their homes. Gecko tailed Cobra, Iguana tailed Rattler, and Chameleon tailed Lucy, all staying a safe distance from them so not to give away their presence.
A bit later, Mandy had gotten off the bus from Sparkyville Juvenile Detention Center at the bus station. Her parents were waiting for her. They immediately hugged her and grabbed her belongings and went home. Mandy was determined to leave her past life behind and begin on a clean slate. Though she would be forced to go to a different school, as she would not be allowed to go back to a Sparkyville district school. They had already planned to move out of the city to another district. But that would happen later in the summer. For now Mandy would enjoy her newfound freedom and try to get away from her past.
NEXT CHAPTER: ON THE EDGE