CHAPTER 11: MANDY'S PRESPECTIVE
Mandy was walking around a nearly destroyed Sparkyville looking over the damage that had been done. She couldn't believe what had happened. It was all everyone in town was talking about, especially how Ace's Ice Cream Shop was totaled. She didn't know who or what did this, but she had her own suspicions. As she kept walking, she was blind-sided by a vengeful Wendy, the former guard from the detention center.
"At last, I've found you, murderer!" she sneered as she sat on top of her. "Don't worry, I know you had nothing to do with this carnage out here. I'm just here for my own personal revenge on you!" Wendy then pulled out a gun and aimed it at point blank range at Mandy.
"Is this how you killed that girl, huh?!" she screamed. "Or did you do it at a further distance?! No matter, I'm going to avenge the girl who you shot! Any last words? And for once in your miserable life, YOU BETTER SPEAK UP!"
"Hey, that lady is about to kill that girl!" shouted a bystander.
"Someone call the cops!" shouted another.
"Is that lady insane?!" wondered a kid on a bike.
And, as luck would have it, two police officers aimed their guns at Wendy. "Drop it!" said the lead officer. "Ma'am, put the gun down and get up off the girl."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" screamed Wendy. "THIS LITTLE FAT BRAT JUST GOT OUT OF JUVIE, DESPITE HAVING KILLED HER BEST FRIEND IN A GANG-RELATED FIGHT JUST OVER A YEAR AGO! I'M JUST AVENGING THE GIRL SHE MURDERED!"
"Are you talking about the gang fight that happened at Sam's Auto Salvage Yard that happened back during the winter before last?" asked a bystander.
"THAT'S the one!" said Wendy.
"I know the girl, lady," said the lead officer. "I was the arresting officer that night. She was only charged with involuntary manslaughter as a juvenile. I was the one that petitioned for her early release due to her being a model inmate."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" screamed Wendy. "That girl she killed was my DAUGHTER!" Everyone had gasped.
"Mrs. Holt?!" said the shocked officer.
"Why didn't you recognize me, Mandy?!" she asked Mandy. "All I want to know is why did you kill my daughter?!" Mandy signed to the officers if they had a piece of paper and an ink pen to write with. One of the officers pulled out their note pad and Mandy started writing on it.
"Mrs. Holt, I wanted to apologize to you about my role in this whole situation. Your daughter was never my intended target that night. She had pushed the girl I was aiming for out of the way and took the bullet for her. And I am not making any excuses for my actions. I have seen what my killing your daughter has done to you and what it has done to my former friends. When I go to Juvie, I knew I didn't want to go down the wrong path ever again, and I promised myself if I ever got out, I would do right for a change. And I am truly sorry for killing Margaux. I really am."
Margaux's mother read Mandy's statement. Lucy, Cobra, and Rattler also happened to be walking by and saw the commotion. They were shocked to see the scene before them.
"Is that Anaconda?!" said a shocked Lucy.
"It is," Cobra replied. "She must have just gotten out of Juvie."
"But why is Python's mother aiming a gun at her?" asked Rattler.
"Wait, what?!"
Wendy looked at her daughter's assailant. She finally said, "You took my daughter away from me. I'm sure you are sorry, and I'm sure she was never your intended target, but you were her friend. As far as I'm concerned, you will join my daughter in death!"
"MRS. HOLT, DON'T DO IT!" shouted Lucy.
"Lucy?!" said a bewildered Wendy. "What are you doing here, child?"
"We happened to be in the area," said Lucy. "Amanda's not your target. Sure she was the one who pulled the trigger that ended Margaux's life, but she's not the one who's actually responsible for her death. We know who is, though! It's that girl who escaped from the mental facility, Hilary Wilson! She had set it up for Amanda to actually take us all out, but I was her main target when Margaux pushed me out of the way. It was a setup perpetrated by Hilary, who goes by Tarantula."
"Are you serious?" asked Wendy.
"As a heart attack, Mrs. Holt," said Cobra. "She was going to have Amanda take the fall and even take her out after she was done with us. Tarantula is the girl responsible for all of this! The fires that happened last night, the heckling of people from the Lizard Ladies, and even your daughter's death. Amanda is sorry for what she's done, and she will have to live with that for the rest of her life, but an eye for an eye is NOT the way to do this, ma'am!"
Wendy thought for a moment. She looked at Amanda. Then she looked at the cops, weapons still trained on her. She slowly placed the gun down on the ground and then started crying uncontrollably. The drama with Amanda and Wendy was over. The cops grabbed the gun and secured it. They gently picked up Wendy and escorted her to an awaiting patrol car.
"Am I under arrest, officer?" Wendy asked meekly.
"We don't need any extra paper work, ma'am," said the lead officer. "Just give us a brief statement and you will only be charged with misdemeanor assault, due to traumatic stress. We will let the weapons charge go under the circumstance that you didn't fire a shot." Wendy sighed. This had been a traumatic week for her. The girls went over to Anaconda.
"Are you okay?" asked Lucy. Anaconda nodded. She mouthed "I'm sorry, Mamba" to Lucy. She smiled.
"Forget it, Anaconda," said Lucy. "We know about Tarantula and how she manipulated you. She's trying to finish the job on us, though, since breaking out of the mental hospital."
"We may need your help," said Cobra. "But at the same time, since you just got out, you can sit this one out if you want, Anaconda. We will understand." Anaconda thought about it for a moment. Then she stuck her hand out. Cobra grabbed it, then Lucy. Rattler was a bit hesitant, but then grabbed it. She also whispered to Anaconda, "DON'T cross your sisters ever again!" And with that, the Serpent Sisters were reunited, and ready to search for Tarantula and end the trouble with the Lizard Ladies once and for all.
NEXT CHAPTER: RECRUITING THE ORIGINALS