"Ok everyone!", Katie's mom said once she collected the whole section in the main area that evening, "Do you know why you're all here?". The kids tought real hard about it. Finaly, one of them raised a hand, "Are we having a slumber party?". Katie's mom chuckled, "No. We're all here to go find Mertle Edmonds".
The whole group groaned. "Not her again!" "We're all better off without her!" "She should have run off!". "Alright, alright!", she clapped her hands to get their attention, "I know it's a bad idea, but her mom insists on doing it. Remember, you're all here to become better people, and if you help her become a better person herself, that goal may surely be reached for you as well".
And so they all started their journey to the Toonist Community Centre, because Katie eventualy knew she was there. No metter what time it was, they wouldn't give up. They were awake enough to stay up all night, just to find her. While they were walking, Katie retold them how it all happened. What she didn't tell them, was a secret only her family knew.
Somehow, Katie knew where the centre was. So it wasn't hard for them to find the way to the forest the building was hidden in. Everyone holding each other's hand, they walked safely trough the forest and came to the building. It seemed that everyone was asleep there. Katie slowly walked to the door and went in, careful not to wake anyone up.
The dark hall looked villainous, which sent chills down her spine a bit. Still, Katie kept slowly walking, careful not to make a noise, looking into every room she could. There she saw those people sleeping peacefully. It was sad they didn't feel responsible for what they'd done.
Finaly, she looked into one room and found Mertle, asleep as everyone else. Her back was turned towards Katie, as though she knew she'd come. Her things were there beside the bed, except the book. Katie slowly went to the bed and gently shoock her.
"Huh...?", Mertle slowly turned around and saw a familliar face, "What...what're you doing here?!". "Shh, you'll wake someone up!", Katie whisper-shouted, "You need to get back". "Who-who said that?!", Mertle asked in disbelief. Katie sighed, "Your mother".
Mertle just clenched her teeth at her and got up. After dressing up, she took her things and ran out, Katie following close behind. The rest of the group waited outside in anticipation, feeling excited. They didn't know what to expect and the tension grew with every second. Finaly, Katie and Mertle burst out of the building, panting, and everyone gasped.
"What're all of you doing here?!", asked Mertle. "We all came here to take you back", Katie's mom said, then got a little closer to her, "Now. Where's the book?". Mertle frowned, she didn't expect such a question. Not after only Katie knew where it was. She turned to her, "How dare you?!", she whispered trough clenched teeth, then turned back to her mom, "I brought it back to where it's supposed to be".