THE LAST LINE: CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCES

Linus stared ahead as he lead his group to their destination. He was ready. Now he was confident enough to confront his and his friend's tormentors.

The blanket, pinned on his back, was truly no longer needed for security.

Linus, Rerun, Katie and Janice ran through the gate of Black Manor, making a sprint to the front door. Which as predicted, was left unguarded.

"THERE THEY ARE" a clique member yelled out from the far left of the building, "GET THEM".

Linus saw multiple people rush towards his team. It was clear they were intent of settling this with violence, and after all his training and preparation, he was ready to give them a fight.

Linus ducked and weaved past most of their incoming attacks. He then turned around and knocked them down with his own punches. Janice did similar to him, while Rerun and Katie used strong water pistols to knock the opponents back. All four of them were trying to clear a path to the manor's doorway.

And they seemed to be making progress, Linus, weaponising his blanket, was nearly at the door, and their opponents weren't fighting them consistently.

"I'm almost there" he called out to his friends, who were urging him on.

But then the front door suddenly flung open, and Linus found himself facing reinforcements. More clique members, lead by Brad, Patty Swanson and Freddie.

"RATS" Linus exclaimed, as Freddie and him began sparring, but Patty just stayed back and closed the door, while Brad ran straight past them all.

It took seconds for him to realise that Janice's bully's actual target wasn't him, but Rerun.

Brad quickly snatched the water pistol out of the young boy's hands, and Linus's brother fell back on the ground.

All the while Janice and Katie, a couple of yards down, were being swarmed and couldn't help. They'd come so close, but now they were struggling.

Linus turned away from the door to help Rerun, but Freddie Fabulous used the opportunity to hold him by the cape(blanket) and torso, and he couldn't get to them.

"BRAD WAIT" Linus tried to reason with him "don't hurt Rerun".

Brad only laughed as he advanced on his defenceless brother, "I ain't listening to you, Van Pelt" he raised his fist, "I NEVER DID".

"DON'T DO IT"

Rerun covered his face as Linus tried desperately once again to break free. But Brad just smirked as he prepared to deliver a blow to the young boy…

.

And then the bully, was distracted as he saw a growling beagle running towards them.

"Snoopy!", Rerun cheered from the ground.

However, Brad and the rest of the opposing clique stood in surprise and concern, as Snoopy hadn't come alone. A roar was heard from where the dog had come from.

"!ROUND 2, BLOCKHEADS!".

And as the front gates burst open, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Sally, and around a dozen of Linus's friends, came charging through, and into the skirmish.

"THE CAVALRY HAS ARRIVED" Sally called out.

Brad had no time to react, as within moments, a furious Patty pounded him, sending him flying.

The goons surrounding the door then saw Linus use the chance to pull Freddie off him, and drive him back with his blanket.

Rerun ran up to Patty as he was surrounded, who quickly hoisted the young boy onto her back. In turn, he began to fire his water pistols from her shoulders.

"Keep it firing Rerun", Schroeder told him. They were too worn down to fight alone.

As Janice and Katie were helped out by the other reinforcements, The other four kids began struggling against their opponents, right until they were with Linus at the doorstep.

"We'll hold them off" Janice reassured her friend, "you should…get into the house now, Linus"

Linus protested, "I thought you all wanted…"

"This can't be our battle" Peppermint Patty gasped, revealing her still fresh injuries from earlier, "but we'll open the door…so you can finish it".

Schroeder kicked the door open, "metaphorically and literally".

Linus went to run through. But before he did, he turned, and looked once more at his friends fighting in the skirmish.

"Thank you guys…" he said to them, "I don't know what I'd…".

"You're welcome Linus" Sally yelled, "NOW GO".

And Linus got himself into the manor, as a second later the door slammed shut, and locked behind him.

With that, Rerun knew his brother may well be on his own now, and they turned to target the next opponent.


Patty Swanson looked towards Linus inside the manor, only to stop suddenly.

"Don't try anything Patty".

Marcie and Franklin stepped forward, coming towards the door, "you're outnumbered".

"Nice save guys" Linus waved, but then noticed someone'd been missing. "Wait, where's Charlie Brown at?"

His friends looked awkwardly at each other.

"I don't know" Marcie said, "I think I saw Charlie Brown take his sister, and go through the back door".

Then, Patty Swanson shrugged as more of her allies came from the main hall, "Sorry Marcie, but I think you're the one outnumbered actually ".

"Rats". Quickly both groups ran outside into the skirmish, Franklin hiding Linus from view as they lead each other out.

Looking back towards the front doorway, Linus sighed, "Wow, our friend group really has gone to chaos".

But, he could still end this, and he sprinted straight to the round walled hall.

Linus pushed the doors open and stormed in.

.

The room appeared to be deserted.

He'd expected it to be full of Lucy's allies, but it seemed it was empty. It looked like no one had stayed put.

Linus slowly walked over to the throne, and beside it, he noticed his photo album. Picking it up, he soon speculated Charlie Brown had already read through it.

Perhaps he had…

.

"At last!".

Linus spun his head around, to face his sister as she emerged from behind the throne.

Lucy was glaring at him with an angry, yet cold, expression. And from behind her, Linus saw Violet and the rest of her allies gathering behind.

"Look at you, Linus" Lucy spoke "challenging me head on. I'm impressed".

"Okay. I know you're not" Linus told her, and that made his sister sneer.

"You got me there", she got inches from his face.

"Linus, you sneaky snivelling WEAKLING" she continued, "Your actions are brave, but foolish. And all for a crusade against my "cruelty".

"That's right" Linus nodded, looking frustrated, "A "crusade" for change".

"Yeah, Good for you, you're proud. But this delusion ENDS NOW" Lucy spat "NO ONE, is here to help you this time".

Linus stood his ground.

"And…it was all for nothing", Lucy added, "Charlie Brown still failed as per usual, and you…rumour is you weren't even good enough"

Linus's confident attitude faltered. "You found out?"

"Of course, and…my sympathies Linus", Lucy said in a seemingly caring manner, "Rejection by your closest friend…"

His sister patted his shoulder.

"If it's any consolation, Charlie Brown was doomed to fail. And even if he succeeded, chances are you still would've been tossed aside".

"And…why's that?" Linus asked.

His sister stepped forward.

"Because you can act like you're someone else all you want Linus, but nothing has changed" Lucy affirmed, "In the end, you are still…weird, insecure and a freak…".

She let her words hang in the air, and then, she said something that surprised him.

"…but not to me".

Linus and Lucy looked at each other.

"What…but…I thought you were the most ashamed of me".

"No…not of the new you Linus".

Lucy smiled, "Now, I see your pure, raw power. You have ambition, and resolve to do what you believe is best. And that anger, your brilliant righteous anger at my actions….…you were my target, but you've also been a challenger".

She grabbed a satchel from the table.

"The throne" she pointed at the throne, "perhaps…it could seat 2. I believe you should join me".

Linus stood staring, "Join you".

"Think of the potential. With your brain, and my brawn, my aggression, your defence. We are like Yin and Yang. Together, we would be UNSTOPPABLE. We'd be the de-facto Queen and King, of Birchwood."

Linus remembered what he'd been told the previous night, "In another world, had you allied, yourself and Lucy would have been a deadly duo of bullies."

"People already know this, don't they" Lucy affirmed, "Linus, together, no one can stand up to us. Then all that power, it all will become ours".

Reaching into the satchel, Lucy pulled out two plastic crowns, and gave one to Linus.

"And with us ruling, as brother and sister…you will get what you've always wanted".

Linus knew exactly what she implied.

"I'd find true security" he looked at the crown, "Power can make me secure".

Lucy moved to place her crown on her head.

"Or, is the blockhead so worth it?", she asked.

The siblings, silent, were still looking at each other.

For a moment, Linus was tempted by the prospect of finally getting his sister's acceptance, something he'd wanted for ages. For her to be his ally, rather than his tormentor.

But he knew the truth, Lucy was only going to accept him as….…as a changed person, a Linus he should be ashamed of. But Charlie Brown and the rest of his friends had accepted him completely.

And he made his choice.

"No Lucy" he told his sister, "I'm standing with Charlie".

Lucy froze, moments away from placing her crown on her head.

"You're What!".

Both siblings placed down the crowns at the same time, and moved them away, onto the table. His sister was reacting coldly at his decision, his rejection of her pledge. For she had for once, been sincere.

And it was at that moment, that Lucy snapped into a insane rage like never before. And Linus's feelings were proved true.

"THEN YOU…" Lucy cursed "ARE NO LONGER MY BROTHER".

"Lucy" Linus readied himself.

"And now, you will PAY FOR YOUR LOYALTY"

And without any warning, she charged toward Linus, and attacked.


A/N: So, everything just got serious(if not already).

Thanks to all readers who are following the story. I will have my next chapter within a week or two.

Regards

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