THE THIEF STRIKES

"Out of my way, blockheads!"

Lucy, Violet and Rerun were walking down the hallway of the school, making a beeline to the latter's classroom for the last period of the day.

Stopping at the young boy's destination, Lucy turned to Rerun, "Well, you asked for an escort, so here we are".

"Hooray" Rerun said sarcastically.

Lucy noticed this sour attitude of his, "What's up with you?"

"Oh, it's this obnoxious kid I'll be sitting next to in my class" Rerun explained "he's so annoying"

Lucy shrugged, "Well, if they get on your nerves, point them out to everyone" she suggested "Or, just show em not to mess with you".

She put her fist in her palm, and Rerun nodded and went in.

Violet then turned to Lucy. "Not a bad suggestion, psychiatrist" she complimented to her. But now, it was time for the next part of their plot.

"So, where's Linus's locker".

By the end of Rerun's class, Lucy's idea looked real tempting.

"And I've got plans to fly around the world someday, I'd like to go to Paris, doesn't everybody" the obnoxious kid chatted on.

"I guess" Rerun drawled.

"But Brazil, there's the place to go…" the kid continued talking and talking.

Rerun was fuming, he just wouldn't shut up.

"Hey Rerun" the kid asked.

"Make him shut up then" an imaginary demon on his shoulder said. And Rerun was all ears.

"Rerun, you'd like Brazil wouldn't…".

Rerun snapped, and punched the kid in the jaw.

"Just shut up, you cement head".

The kid looked dazed, and glared at Rerun, shocked, but then got back up and raised his hand.

"Tell, and I'll do it again" Rerun hissed at him, at his wits end.

The kid lowered his hand, clutching his hurt jaw.

And then, Rerun saw the name on his bag.

JACOB BLACK.

He was mortified. He'd just attacked an ally's brother. Now he'd stuffed up big time.

Linus put his books back into his locker and was about to shut the door when Charlie Brown came up to him.

The two friends began to talk about their day. While from behind another locker, Lucy looked on.

"Why's his stupid blanket tied to his wrist?" she hissed to herself "that's made everything harder"

She was about to run out there, but then saw Janice also arrive, and she almost saw her. She then joined their conversation.

Great, Lucy thought, now that creep is there too. Oh forget it.

She opted to silently and casually walk up to them, and then…

"LINUS, Look out" Janice exclaimed.

…Lucy quickly snatched the edge of the blanket, and pulled. The knot on his wrist came undone.

"wha…LUCY"

But Lucy took off.

"Tough luck blockhead, you jinxed yourself by standing near Charlie Brown" she laughed as she ran.

Linus gave chase, running after her. Lucy flung herself into the main hallway, trying to lose him as the blanket fluttered behind her.

Linus was gaining ground on Lucy, but now, with school ending, there were crowds of people moving in the hallway. And that slowed him down immensely, while Lucy had already slithered through into the mass of kids.

There was now too much distance, she'd gotten clear of him.

"No" Linus moaned. He'd lost his chance.

Charlie Brown ran up beside him, "gee, I'm sorry Linus. Maybe she won't destroy it this time".

Linus however was despondent, he knew that she wouldn't. Because it was a means of blackmail, to stop him from trying to foil her plot.

But in that moment, he also realised something. He didn't feel as withdrawn from his blanket as he expected himself to be.

His new training methods, were actually working.

"Maddison, we're worried about you"

Henrietta was talking to Maddison at her locker, "First you were distrusting, but now you've become distant. What was your problem?"

"I didn't have a problem" she defended herself, as Snoopy lingered beside her "I only thought I did".

"So then what was…" Henrietta began, but Maddison wasn't paying attention anymore. She had wandered to the doorway, and spied into the school's front entrance.

There, she saw Violet, just as Lucy ran up to her. She saw Violet say something, and the two girls high five one another. And, she then saw Lucy was holding Linus's blanket.

Maddison quickly connected the dots, and her anger reignited.

"Actually Henrietta" she stated "I do have a problem".

She readied herself to run. It was time to make it up to Linus, to hell with any chance of this backfiring.

"FLYING ACE" she yelled. Numerous people, including the two girls, turned to her.

"AN ENEMY SPY IS STEALING WARPLANE BLUEPRINTS" she pointed at Lucy, "STOP THEM".

Snoopy obediently rushed at Lucy. Violet grabbed her hand as Maddison also came running down the hallway, dodging and pushing passerby's.

"Let's go, Lucy"

The two girls ran out the school, and down the steps. They'd almost made it to the gate when Lucy was yanked backwards.

Snoopy was yanking the blanket back, and Lucy and Violet pulled against him, "Stupid Beagle!".

The former attempted to punch him, but Snoopy let go off the blanket. He ran past them to the front gate, blocking it, along with some other kids who had seen the commotion.

"LUCY VAN PELT"

Lucy turned back to face the school, and she and Maddison furiously glared at each other, as the latter reached the bottom of the stairs. While at the top, Linus and Charlie Brown arrived, and saw the commotion.

"Who do you think you are, blockhead?" Lucy spat at her

"Thats actually a good question" Charlie Brown whispered to Linus.

Maddison realised the perfect answer, one that would antagonise Lucy, but wouldn't jeopardise Edward's espionage against her.

"I am Maddison Freeman" she declared, "Leader of the Society Of Justice And Security".

"And you" she looked to Linus "have just stolen from one of my friends".

The young boy was warmed by that comment.

Maddison looked back, "RETURN THE BLANKET, OR ELSE".

Lucy looked at Violet, and then back to Maddison.

"OR ELSE" she screeched "I don't care if he needs the blanket, Freeman. Justice and Security eh, well, allow me to match you with my own security".

She took a deep breath and yelled, "EDWARD".

And from within the crowd, Edward stepped forward, facing Maddison. Who internally cursed herself.

Lucy smiled at her worries, now was the time to find out just how loyal Edward was to her.

"You told me you would represent my power" she reminded him "So, on my behalf, I want you to POUND THIS DEFIANT LITTLE BRAT".

Edward blankly stared at Maddison. He was reluctant to make the first blow, as Linus walked forward, concerned.

How would they get out of this dilemma?.

Maddison made her decision.

She charged at Edward first, hitting him in the stomach, and he fell to the ground.

He slowly got up, only to be suddenly pinned down by an arriving Neil, while Samantha and Henrietta joined Maddison.

As Edward escaped from Neil, he looked at the rest of the SOJAS members, excluding Janice.

All of them against him, this would be a fight.

That meant absolutely nothing, because they were all secretly friends.

They all attempted to pin Edward down, but he dodged and deflected all the members attacks. Neil had a small rope that he lassoed around his chest, while Maddison engaged him one on one and the other two held his arms. Edward struggled against their grip.

"The show must go on" Linus commented as he watched.

He then looked at Lucy, who was also watching the fight.

He then looked at his blanket.

He looked at Lucy again.

He looked at his blanket again.

Quickly, he snatched it back from his sister.

"HEY"

"I got it everyone" Linus called out.

"YES" Samantha cheered to him.

Unfortunately, the distraction allowed Edward to break free from their grasp.

"NO"

Neil's rope came loose, and they were all forced to retreat. Edward stood up and drove them back, winning the "fight".

A triumphant Lucy walked up to him.

"Remember" she told the onlookers, "you get in my way, we knock you down, Understood"

The onlookers looked fearful. Except now not of Lucy.

Now, following his display of strength, they were more fearful of Edward. Which was exactly what he wanted.

Lucy turned to Linus and Charlie Brown.

"I'll deal with you two, soon" she hissed to herself.

With clenched fists, Lucy and Violet left the schoolyard. Edward followed them, but before he did, he mouthed "Good job" to Maddison, and winked at them all.

"Who did she think she was" Lucy fumed when they were some distance away.

"Freeman…" Edward confirmed, and keeping with Maddison's lie, continued, "I've heard she is the leader of the club SOJAS"

Violet, through researching bully hunters, believed that name was familiar, and asked Edward about the others.

"Neil Olson, well he's good with technology. Henrietta Cordon is a fine socialiser. And Samantha Lesley, is a musician".

"Musician eh" Lucy looked livid. She didn't want any competition. "She'd better not go near Schroeder".

Violet turned to Edward, "And who's the one called Kingmaker?. I know they have a member with that name".

Edward lied again, that his alias Kingmaker, was not in Birchwood. "If they were here" he warned "we would be in serious jeopardy".

Lucy smiled, "Well, then we're fine. Cause this Kingmaker isn't here to hate us, is he".

Unfortunately for you, Edward sinisterly thought to himself, you couldn't be more wrong.

Authors Note: I have been re-editing some previous chapters. Hope thats not to inconvenient for anyone reading.

Thanks for sticking around, and to that one reviewer, you're absolutely right about the neglectful adults.

Cheers