Two for one today! Enjoy.
A wide, dusty trail cut through the conifer forest. Kathleen was leading the group, with Amber and an eager Lola by her side and Lori and Leni behind her. Darcy and Lisa were behind them, holding hands and skipping. Behind them were Lucy and Lana, the former quite unenthused while the latter tried not to be too excited at the prospect of going to a carnival. This wasn't meant to be a fun excursion. Last in line were Lincoln, Lynn, and Luan, the shaken mime clinging to the jock.
"So once I escort the twerps to the carnival, I'll get to go water skiing?" an excited Lori looked over Kathleen's shoulder as the colorful constructions in the distance became visible over the horizon.
"Certainly, Lori." Kathleen forced a smile. "It's the least I can do after causing your art competition to come to an abrupt end. I'll just have to phone the guy who will be driving the boat."
"As in never, you plus-sized prima donna." she added mentally.
"Will ya let go." an irate Lynn hissed as she shook Luan off her arm. "If you're gonna be useless at least stay out of our way."
"Lynn, why did you insist that we go to the carnival?" Lincoln whispered.
"To catch Kathleen in the act, you dingus." Lynn retorted with an indignant glare. "This is our plan."
"I know...but I wasn't counting on things going off the rails like this." an uncertain Lincoln raised his hands. "We should take a break and try again-"
"And stay at this dump with Kathleen even longer? Are you out of your mind!" Lynn angrily poked him in the chest, making him stumble back.
"Over my dead body! We didn't go through all of this just to throw in the towel. Read my lips, this is coming to an end today. Without Lyle to bother us, and without mom and dad standing in our way, this is the perfect opportunity to get that conniving bitch once and for all."
"But I don't know how to do it?" Lincoln shrugged. "My first plant didn't work."
"Think of another way!" Lynn snapped at him. "You're the man with the plan, use that brain of yours. All we need is incriminating footage."
"I wasn't counting on One Eye being part of the equation?" Lincoln pointed out when they heard a faint rustle in the woods, causing the two to stop and turn around.
A baffled Luan watched them look around as if they expected a monster to jump out.
"Do you think-"
"It's probably just a bird, c'mon." Lynn said less-than-convincingly and pulled him and Luan with her to catch up with the rest of the group.
Lucy looked over her shoulder and said, "Denial hasn't helped us before."
Lynn and Lincoln felt hot under the collar as they kept hearing rustling, as if something was following them.
"I have a bad feeling..." Lincoln whispered to his sister. "He could be on our trail."
"He can't know where we are." Lynn insisted to him and Lucy, though her tone conveyed a lack of confidence.
Lucy hummed. "His vulture surely tipped him off."
"What are they talking about? One Eye? Vulture? Are those some stupid codewords Lincoln came up with?" a frustrated Luan thought.
The group was indeed being followed, by their stalker was none other than Ryan. He had found his crew but he was in no position to reveal himself yet.
"How to get them to notice me?" Ryan contemplated as he slinked between the trunks of the pine trees, trying to keep the group in his sights. "I can't alert the Queen of Mean and the bimbo squad to my presence."
Several miles away, a hysterical Lyle was zigzagging past the trees until he heard carnival music. Pushing his way past some branches and foliage, he was surprised but ecstatic by the sight of various colorful tents and booths, with a rollercoaster and Ferris wheel towering behind them. And it was crawling with people!
"Yes! That mangy wolf can't follow me there!" Lyle laughed like a maniac and charged right in.
High above, Raza was still on his trail and frowned as the boy entered a large congregation of humans. He couldn't follow him there without being seen, or worse.
Frustrated, the vulture was forced to make a sharp turn away from the carnival.
Seeing this from ground level, Lyle chuckled with exuberance but hid behind a tent after remembering that he was still indecent. Having only one boot wasn't a big deal but he had to find himself some damn pants!
That's when he saw a boy his age pass by him, blissfully eating cotton candy when two hands seized him around the mouth and he was forcefully drug into a dark corner.
A few punches were heard and Lyle walked out wearing a brand-new pair of shoes and new jeans. Tightening his belt, he proudly strolled among the other visitors.
Now he had to contact Kathleen, somehow. Maybe he could mug some other poor sap for their phone?
Flying back, Raza soared over a wide expanse of pine trees with a trail cutting through it. As he neared the trail, he spotted a large group of humans, and after taking a better look, the buzzard was stumped to see one...two...three...no, four familiar faces!
"It's those runts!" he recognized them and, remembering his warning to stay hidden from them, he made a sharp turn and dived down. Upon nearing the prickly canopy, he flew up, navigated through the pine forest, and perched on a branch overlooking the trail.
From there, he could make out the group more clearly, and indeed, those were the same kids he'd seen last night. He saw the freckled brunette pushing through the group.
Lori whipped her forehead. "I can't wait to take a swim, it's scorching out here."
"Hey, I don't want to stroll in the stinkin' heat either!" Lynn barged in between her and Kathleen, her tone rapid. "So how about we do something real fun?"
"What are you yammering about?" Lori scowled and put her hands on her hips.
"I propose a race!" Lynn announced, much to everyone's confusion.
"Why would we race to the carnival?" a confused Kathleen asked. "That will only-"
"Oh, what's the matter?" Lynn cooed at her and Lori respectively. "You sissies scared of a little physical exercise!"
Kathleen glared at her but before she could get a word in, Lynn continued.
"And how about we make it a team effort, everyone lets their partner piggyback on them! We have five big kids and five ankle-bitters, it's perfect!" she nabbed Lisa before Kathleen could and placed her on her back.
Lori counted on her fingers. "Wait, that's not tru-"
"Great idea, Lynn." Lincoln quickly agreed as he grabbed Darcy. "The little ones can hardly wait anyway!"
"Yay! Giddy up, horsey!" Darcy laughed as she placed on his shoulders.
"Bet Kathleen could never run faster than Lynn." Lana got all up in her twin's face. "She's as slow as a turtle with a busted leg!"
"In your dreams, loser!" Lola shoved her back. " Kathleen will make Lynn eat her dust!"
Kathleen facepalmed and grumbled but after all that smack talk and seeing Lynn's infuriatingly smug look, she was forced to oblige and grabbed Lola.
"If you insist, Lynn. But be warned. You'll eat your-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Ready, set, and go!" Lynn bolted off with Lisa on her back, and Lincoln and Darcy followed after them.
"Lousy cheaters!" Lola growled and shook Kathleen by the shoulders. "Come on, we're falling behind! We can't let Lynn win!"
The vexed Kathleen ran after them while Lana jumped on Amber's back and started kicking her with her foot. "We're partners! Now floor it!" Beffudled, Amber opted to follow Kathleen.
"Try not to get any cramps, Lori!" Lana shouted back, making the eldest Loud froth at the mouth.
She huffed in pain as Leni jumped on her back and clapped her hands. "Je serai votre partenaire! La victoire est à nous!"
Grumbling through clenched teeth and sweating profusely, the slouching Lori tried to catch up with the others.
Observing the strange event, Raza pondered and grew a devious idea as he watched the little pale runt and mime get left behind. A smart hunter always singles out the weakest link in a herd. At least that's what he gathered watching an actual hunter.
He knew these vile creatures could be dangerous but a little one looked managable. "This will put me in Soto's good graces for sure!"
"Come on, Luan." Lucy tugged the mime's sleeve. "I'll be your partner."
Luan looked at her with confusion. "Come on, no time to explain. Trust me, it's better to be with Kathleen right now than out here-"
They were startled by a loud shriek, causing Luan to spin around as a dark, winged creature swooped down at her. She covered her head as the flier beat his wings over her, stirring up the dust from the ground.
Luan coughed and heard a cry. Wiping the dust away, she opened her eyes and Lucy was gone. Looking around, Luan's eyes widened at the sight before her. All she could do was watch with her mouth wide open.
Shaking the dust off her face, Lucy found herself suspended in the air, the bushes and trees growing smaller and smaller as she gained altitude. What was going on?
She felt talons gripping her shoulders and the wind was beating in her face. She looked up and made out her abductor's rugose, scarlet-colored head, and his long, black wings.
"The vulture!"
Raza tilted his head down and watched her with malicious eyes. To her shock, he let out a raspy chuckle.
"Don't bother crying, you little gnat. Nobody can save ya up here!"
"He can talk?!" Lucy thought but figured that if his master was a werewolf, it shouldn't be too surprising that the matted avian also had some supernatural abilities. Maybe he was secretly a harpy?
"Let me go!" she cried while squirming in his grip.
"Can't do. The boss needs a hostage and you're travel-sized!" Raza laughed again but then felt the girl gripping his left leg.
Glaring down, he saw her trying to reach up and bite it. Making an indignant grunt, Raza smirked and released her.
"But if ya insist!"
Lucy cried as she found herself plummeting toward the forest floor and Raza swooped down after her. She crashed through the branches of a large willow tree, spooking an entire flock of bats that had been sleeping there.
Before she hit the ground, Raza seized her by her feet and flew her back up. He hadn't had this much fun in a long while! The startled bats scattered but one of them took notice of Lucy and followed them.
"No more funny business!" Raza warned his captive. "Or I won't catch ya a second time!"
"You won't let me die." Lucy's cold and blunt response caught him off guard. "Your master has no use for a dead hostage."
Raza didn't like this little maggot's attitude. "Uhhh...aren't we a clever one!" he jeered when a bat suddenly collided with his face, biting and pulling the vulture's eyelid.
Raza screeched in pain and dropped Lucy again. Hearing her scream, the bat let go while Raza grunted and swatted him with his wing.
"Beat it, ya flying rat! Drat!" he dived after Lucy a second time.
Her face was a mere foot from making contact with the ground when Raza caught her by her feet again and flew forward. Seeing the forest floor covered in rocks and branches, Raza decided to keep flying low and looked back at his captive.
Lucy tucked her head between her shoulders to avoid the rocks, while Raza brimmed with smug satisfaction.
"Hold on tight now!" he mocked her before finally looking where he was going.
"Surprise!"
"CAW!?" Raza shrieked as he saw a big stick heading his way, swung by a grinning Ryan on top of a log.
He struck Raza in the head with all his strength, causing the bird to let go of Lucy as he crashed and tumbled around. Lucy cried as she hit the ground with a thud.
Despite her whole body aching, she rolled onto her side to see Ryan leap over her and run towards the vulture, who was lying in a heap.
Raza cried in pain as Ryan jumped on top of him and took sadistic glee in stomping on him like an old rug, again and again before delivering a series of kicks to the vulture's head. The third one knocked Raza out cold.
"One flying snitch down for the count!" Ryan dusted his hands before walking over to the dumbfounded Lucy and helping her up.
"Dat a girl, Lucy. You delivered him right to me."
"Ryan! You're not dead and buried!" Ryan grew uncomfortable as Lucy hugged him around the waist.
"Hey, hey..." he tried to pry her off but she wouldn't budge. "Look, I know I'm a bit late to the party, but you don't have to get sentimental about it."
Lucy looked up at him. "You're late because One Eye attacked you, right?" she asked with unnerving curiosity.
Hearing Raza groaning, she let Ryan go and he sauntered over to the vulture and delivered another swift kick to the latter's skull, putting him out of commission for good.
"Yup." Ryan replied casually. "Turns out he's a lot smarter than we thought, and he's vengeful. He can talk as well, with a phony British accent no less."
"He talked to you?" Lucy asked, not too surprised at this point. If the lowly underlings could talk, the big bad was a given.
Ryan nodded. "Yes, the flea-bitten bastard attacked me at my treehouse. We fought and we both fell into a river, got swept up here and I gave the cur the slip twice while searching for you guys. No biggie."
"Wicked. I knew he was a werewolf."
Ryan rolled his eyes, not in the mood to humor her right now. "Don't play dumb. He and Beaky over there can talk because of that blue explosion last night. You guys were surely there when it happened."
"Blue explosion?" Lucy's eyes widened behind her bags. "That...that was Lisa's doing."
"Tell me something that's new." Ryan shrugged as he inspected Raza.
"She was using a...eh...modified translation helmet of hers to try and..."
"Translation helmet? Huh...guess that explains some things..." Ryan rubbed his chin before turning Raza onto his back and grabbing both of his feet "...I'm sure it's a fascinating story, but ya can fill me in on the details later, we can't stay here-"
They heard high-pitched chirping as a tiny, dark figure came fluttering between them.
Pleasantly surprised, Lucy smiled and let the bat land in her palms. "Fang, what are you doing here? I thought you and your flock were heading north for the annual lacewing spawning in Quebec?"
"I hate to spoil the happy reunion but we gotta scram, now. "Ryan cut in impatiently and looked back at the vulture. "We gotta get out of here before his boss finds us."
"Right, right..." Lucy realized and could hear the faint sound of carnival music in the distance. Seems the buzzard did her a big favor by nabbing her, she found Ryan and Ryan found them.
"Just follow me. I know where the other are." Lucy let Fang perch on her shoulder and beckoned Ryan to follow them as she ran ahead.
Gripping his captive's feet, Ryan smirked with satisfaction and followed her while dragging Raza behind him. He couldn't wait to torture him for information!
Meanwhile, Lynn and Lincoln watched the rest of their group catching up with them at the carnival. The joyful music and all the noise made by the other visitors assured them that One Eye wouldn't dare come near them here.
As long as he didn't think about Lyle...or his parents and Luna...or the still missing Ryan...or the fact that Kathleen wanted to kidnap Lisa, Lincoln's mind could sort of be at ease. At least there was no immediate threat of death.
"This place is bonkers!" Lana beamed as she soaked in all the fun stuff in her immediate vicinity, like bumper cars, a flying saucer ride, a funhouse, and multiple small stands selling cotton candy and greasy food.
"Keep your head in the game." Lynn squeezed her arm as Lana nearly wandered away in a trance. "We're not here to have fun."
"So what humiliating punishment do the losers have to suffer?" Lola asked Kathleen after Lori staggered onto the scene with Leni on her back.
Soaked in sweat, panting heavily, and with her spine hurting, Lori unceremoniously collapsed. Leni was too distracted by all the flashy, neon-colored carnival fare to think about getting off her partner.
"Cet endroit est magnifique!"
"Looks like it's gonna be Lucy and Luan!" Lola wrung her hands. "I'd hate to be them."
"Hate to burst your bubble, princess, but I didn't say anything about the losers getting punished, or the winners getting anything." Lynn pointed out.
Lola was dumbfounded and grew an ugly frown. "What kinda cacamamie competition is that!"
"It wasn't one, I just wanted to get here fast." Lynn dismissed her.
"Oh, Lola. There is no harm in a little bit of sport purely for the sake of sport." Kathleen agreed and patted Lola on the head, when her phone rang.
"Yeah, Lols." Lynn said bitterly. "You worship the ground she walks on, so how about you heed her advice about sportsmanship."
Lola glowered but then grew a smarmy smile. "Sure, not like I'll learn any of that from the likes of you!"
"Whatever." Lynn didn't care and held her hand above her eyes. "Where the hell are weirdo one and weirdo two?"
Kathleen looked up the text message on her phone and her eyes widened. It was from Jenny. Before anyone grew suspicious, she smiled pleasantly and said, "Excuse me, but I need to make an important call. Feel free to fan out and do whatever you want."
"Amber will be with you and pay for any expenses until I return, right Amber?" she turned to her friend, who nodded obediently.
"Au revoir." Kathleen waved as she left in a hurry, with Lynn and Lincoln watching her with narrowed eyes.
"The game is on..." Lynn said in a grim tone.
Lincoln shifted his gaze to Lisa and Darcy, who were mesmerized by the colorful spectacle surrounding them just like Leni and Lana, the latter of which was still being held in place by Lynn.
Miffed that Kathleen left, Lola grabbed Amber's hand. "Me first! I want you to take me to the carrousel!"
"The...what?" Amber's brow furrowed.
"The merry-go-round, you uncouth twit!"
"Oh...okay." Amber rubbed the back of her head and turned to the rest of the group. "What about you guys?"
"We'll go sightseeing first...scope out the rides...just beat it, will ya." Lynn told her curtly.
Trembling a bit from bottled-up hype, Lana raised her arm but Lynn grabbed it and pushed it down, her fierce glare telling the tomboy to pipe down.
"I want a balloon animal!" Lisa spoke.
"Me too!" Darcy agreed.
"We'll buy you some." Lincoln assured them. " We'll look after them. You can chaperone Lola, Amber."
"See, they're fine, I wanna go to the carrousel!" Lola pulled Amber's hand.
Having enough sense to not pester Kathleen's haters by her lonesome, and remembering that she needed to wait for specific orders from Kathleen, Amber just handed the others some cash before quietly leaving with Lola, happy to be away from their burning and contempt-filled glares.
Groaning, Lori finally mustered up the strength to push herself up. "Get off me, idiot!" she threw the oblivious Leni off her.
Leni's head fell on the lever of a high striker, causing the puck to bounce up.
"I need a friggin' break..." Lori staggered towards the nearest bench and sat on it, sprawled out and with her head hanging back.
Leni rose up, only for the puck to fall back down and clonk her on the head. Seeing stars, the dumb blonde fell forward.
Cringing, Lincoln was the only one who came to her aid and helped her up, while the little ones laughed at her expense and Lynn just shook her head.
"Are you okay, Leni?" Lincoln asked when he heard throat clearing and was confronted by the guy operating the high striker. Sighing, Lincoln paid the mustached man his five bucks.
His sister shook her head. Despite the small bump on her noggin, she quickly regained her trademark, blissfully oblivious smile.
"Sure I am, Linky. Never felt better." she giggled before looking around in confusion. "Say? When did this carnival come to Kathleen's summer hut?"
"Yeah, you're fine." Lincoln said flatly.
"Glad that dumb gag ran its course." Lynn joined him. "But where are the Dutches of Darkness and her court jester?"
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Lincoln looked around and realized they were still missing. But before either could dwell on it, a frantic Luan ran up to them and quietly panted as she rested on her knees.
"There you are." Lincoln asked her. "Where's Lucy?"
Instead of answering, Luan kept up her mime act while flailing around like a fool.
"Not this again." Lynn snapped her head back while Lincoln felt his temper rising.
"This is serious, Luan. Where is Lucy? Tell us."
In response, the panicked Luan started running around and flapping her arms like bird wings before stopping and snatching at the air with her hands.
Lincoln and Lynn watched her with dumbstruck expressions, while Lana, Lisa, and Darcy appeared below them, the latter two laughing and pointing again.
"I get it. She's a bird!" Lisa said.
"Yes, a biwdie." Darcy agreed. "Now do a kangawoo!"
"So has Luan finally gone cuckoo?" Lana asked her older siblings.
Out of patience, a livid Lynn stomped toward the mime and grabbed her by her striped shirt.
"Enough of this mime crap!" Lynn growled at the trembling Luan. "You have five seconds to start singing, or you'll see birds flying alright!"
"Hello, guys."
Everyone jumped as Lucy was suddenly with them.
"Lucy?" an incredulous Lynn let Luan go, who immediately rushed towards the goth and embraced her in a hug.
Lynn exchanged glances with Lincoln, both having an inkling that something odd must have happened.
"Lucy, where have you been?" Lincoln asked. "I told you not to wander-"
"It wasn't my choice, Lincoln, believe me. Is Kathleen gone?" Lucy asked. The others nodded.
"Good, then just cover Lisa and Darcy's ears." she explained as Luan put her down. "I have important news to share."
Blinking, Lincoln obliged and covered Lisa's ears, while Lynn covered Darcy's.
"So what do you know? Spit it out." the jock asked curtly.
"You'll be happy to know that Ryan has arrived. He's not deceased after all." Lucy said with a smile.
"Ryan?" the rest blurted, minus Luan of course. She was stunned but her heart soon fluttered and she clutched her hands. Her hero has finally come to rescue her!
Taking in the news, Lincoln let out a small sigh of relief. At least one of the mounting burdens was lifted off his shoulders.
"Yes, he's waiting somewhere at the carnival as we speak." Lucy explained. "And not to be smug about it, but I was right on the money regarding the reason behind his lack of punctuality-"
"Where is he!" Lynn let go of Darcy, grabbed Lucy, and shook her.
"He's not going to saunter around in the open, less Kathleen sees him." Lucy pulled herself free. "He's supposed to be our secret aid, remember? We have to meet him somewhere private."
Lynn hummed in annoyance but knew Lucy was right. But after being worried sick for him for nearly two days, she was short on patience.
"But he is here right now?" she asked anew, just to be certain. Lucy nodded.
"Alright, something good finally happened." Lincoln swung his fist, showing a rare glimmer of happiness.
"Who's here?" Lisa and Darcy said in unison.
Remembering they were there, Lincoln thought for a moment and said, "Umm...we're talking about Clyde. Yeah, yeah...he and his dads came here for a vacation too. He just can't stay from me...heh?"
Lisa scowled in annoyance. "I don't like 'im. He sucks."
Lucy watched Luan, who seemed to be in her own little world. She hated to break Luan's spirit but it had to be done.
"But I think it's better if it's just me, Lincoln and Lynn."
The mime's face fell and she looked like she was on the verge of bawling.
"Don't take it personally, Luan." Lucy tried to explain. "It's just that we need to discuss some matters that concern...the four of us. We will fill you in once we deal with Kathleen."
"Why do they wanna see Clyde?" Lisa whispered to Darcy, who shrugged.
"Who's that?"
"He's the biggest poop-head in the world. He squirts ketchup from his nose."
"Yuck!" Darcy stuck out her tongue.
"She's right, Luan. We need to be discreet about it. Better keep the meeting small and not make too much noise." Lincoln agreed with Lucy, having a nagging suspicion that she and Ryan knew something that was better kept under wraps for now.
Lynn gladly backed them up. "I vouch for that! But first, we need to figure out what to do with these two rugrats." She pointed at the toddlers, who were growing impatient.
"We want bawwoon animals!" Darcy whined.
"I want cotton candy." Lisa stomped her foot, tired of standing here and waiting while the big kids rambled about seeing some creepy loser with a million phobias.
"Sure, girls." With some renewed hope, Lincoln pondered and rubbed his chin. "We don't know what Kathleen is planning to do, other than nabbing you-know-who. Maybe..."
He snapped his fingers "...I know! Before we go and meet "Clyde", we'll take Lisa and Darcy somewhere...like the Ferris wheel over there." He pointed at the towering object in question.
"You'd like that, right Lisa?" he turned to his youngest sister.
"Ballons and cotton candy first!" she demanded.
"I like the Fewis wheel!" Darcy chirped.
"Good idea, nobody can snatch them as long as they stay way up there." Lynn was all for it.
Lucy knew one goon who could but he was unconscious and in Ryan's custody.
"But we can't leave them there by themselves, can we?" she asked. "Lisa...isn't in the best state of mind anymore."
"No, she isn't." Lincoln said sullenly.
"Then Luan can babysit them." Lynn turned to the mime. "Actually, let's just buy a bunch of balloons so you can entertain the twerps while you're on the Ferris wheel. Let's put your stupid clown talents to good use for once."
"Yes, you're a master at balloon modeling, Luan." Lucy said in a more encouraging tone.
Luan looked unsure. She supposed it was better than clinging to them like a coward. Even Kathleen couldn't do anything to her while she was high up in one of those carts.
"If you're gonna be a wuss about it, Lana can be your bodyguard." Lynn lifted her fellow tomboy's arm, half-jokingly volunteering her for the task.
Lana wasn't thrilled about spending time with the annoying comedian and two babies, but going on the Ferris wheel sounded like fun.
"Sure, I'll protect ya, ya scaredy clown." Lana humored her before turning to Lynn. "But I want some corndogs first, I'm starving."
"Deal." her jock agreed.
Luan sighed and nodded but then held out her palm and rubbed the tip of her fingers on it.
Lincoln blinked. "You want a notepad to write on?" Luan nodded frantically.
"Or you could...y'know...talk with your own voice. As annoyingly squeaky as it might be." Lynn said snidely. "Sounds like a much better idea to me."
Luan fumed, before repeating the scribbling gesture with her hands.
"Alright, we'll getcha one if we find one." Lincoln assured her, not understanding what her deal was but having no time to argue with her. "But first you do your side of the bargain. If you want Kathleen dealt with, you need to cooperate."
With growing frustration, Luan deflated and nodded. She was terrified of Kathleen, but if she could have a hand in taking her down, she was all for it. Ugly gossip wasn't enough.
"Okay, let's purchase the stupid balloons and junk food so we can get back to business!" a determined Lynn said and the seven of them headed deeper into the carnival, keeping an eye out for Kathleen or anyone associated with her.
So far, so good. Now they just needed to devise a new plan to film Kathleen in the act. Unfortunately, Lincoln was fresh out of ideas.
In the nearby woods surrounding the carnival, a familiar dark figure lurked in the shadows, smiling to himself as his good eye reflected the sunlight.
The beached yacht was hard to miss and following the runts' trail from there was easy. Now he just had to lie in wait.
I hope to post the next two or three chapters sooner than later. As you might have guessed, the reason I posted two chapters at once today is because this used to be one, very lengthy chapter, but after realizing how long this one was and that it was dragging a bit, besides the part about Lucy getting abducted and reuniting with Ryan, I split it in two to improve the pacing a bit.