Jasmine Medina #3 "PERILOUS RIVALRY "I can't believe it's the first day of school already" Eighteen year-old Jasmine Medina said to her best friend, Seventeen-year old Lori Fielding. "I know it" Lori replied, adjusting her glasses she sometimes wore "Where did the summer go?" The two girls had met a few months before after Jasmine and her mother had moved to the small town of Thunder Ridge, New Mexico. The two teens had already been through a couple of hair-raising adventures involving criminals and their bond had become almost inseparable. After getting a ride from Lori's mother, the duo walked towards the doors of Thunder Ridge Junior High. Jasmine stared at the big Hawk mascot statue that overlooked the front of the school. The girls then put their backpacks down and took a seat on a bench. "Man there are some cute guys here!" Jasmine said, getting a head shake from Lori "Is that mean you're over Javier?" Lori replied, referring to Jasmine's crush on the soccer star at the local college. "No ... " Jasmine smiled as she crossed her tanned legs and looked around. The girls were both wearing shorts and flip-flops due to the hot weather still. Jasmine didn't know if she was wearing the right things, but felt better after seeing most of the kids wearing almost the same thing. Lori then nudged her friend "What?" "That boy over there ... he's looking at you" Jasmine looked over towards where Lori was talking about and saw a slender blonde haired boy looking at Jasmine. They caught each other's eyes and the boy turned away almost bashful like. The girls just laughed as they waited for the bell to ring. "Welcome to Thunder Ridge Junior High students. I am Miss Alvarez, the principal here" Jasmine and Lori sat next to each other in the auditorium as Miss Alvarez was doing orientation. "As Eighth graders, you are expected to be leaders for the Seventh Grade students and help them out as much as possible" Lori turned to Jasmine and rolled her eyes. "Heard the same speech last year ... " A few minutes later the attractive Hispanic principal was finished and the students were dismissed to go their first classes "Well I'm off to English ... yuck" Lori said to Jasmine "I thought you liked English?" "Not really" the shorthaired brunette answered, "History and Math are my favorite subjects, at least honor grades in both" "Well at least we have both of those together" Jasmine shot back "Lori! How are you?" shouted a light skinned African-American girl with striking eyes and a wearing a blue sundress "Tiffany! Oh my God! How was your summer?" Lori said as they hugged "Great and yours?" asking but not knowing about their adventures "Good.... oh I'm sorry ... Tiffany this is my friend Jasmine" "Jasmine Medina" she said shaking Tiffany's hand "Me and my mother just moved here recently "I'm Tiffany Harrison. I know Lori here from Soccer" "You play?" "Yes I do, for the Thunder Ridge Hawks!" she said smiling "I play also" Jasmine beamed "I'm going out for the team" "Jasmine is awesome to watch" Lori replied, getting a blush from her best friend "Excellent!" Tiffany replied, "We can always need new talent. By the way, what's your first class?" "Science. Mr. Bender" "That's where I'm headed," Tiffany said as she took Jasmine by the hand "We can get to know one another better" Jasmine looked at Lori and smiled. Fitting in at school was almost too easy. "I can't believe all that happened to you guys" Tiffany said to Jasmine as they walked towards History class "Poor you and Lori" "Well, it was an adventurous summer to say the least Tiffany" Jasmine looked around and couldn't help but notice all the different people that attended the school. Most of the kids were Hispanic and Native American. But there were a few African Americans like Tiffany and Caucasians like Lori "It's great to be living here though" Jasmine beamed as they neared the classroom and then saw Lori standing there waiting for them. "So how was your first class?" Lori asked "Great" Jasmine smiled as Tiffany smiled back "And how was English?" Lori just stuck out her tongue at her, getting a laugh from the other two "That bad?" "She loves English Jas" Tiffany answered, getting a nod from Jasmine. Just then another girl tapped Tiffany and Lori on the shoulders. "Nicole! Oh my God how are you?" she said as she hugged the brunette who was Filipina. Lori then hugged her "Good girls and you guys?" she said getting an acknowledgment from both "Hey Nicole" Lori said, "This is my friend Jasmine Medina, she just recently moved here" "Jasmine, I've heard a lot about you" A puzzled look overcame the Latina "How?" "News travels fast around here" Lori then gave Nicole a dirty look knowing her friend liked to gossip or at least had a history of it. The four girls made it into the classroom and sat next to each other. Soon after, a middle aged balding man made his way over to the chalkboard and wrote his name on it. Mr. Jackson was their History teacher. The four listened as the hour ticked away. "Tiff and Nicole are awesome Lori" Jasmine said as the duo made their way to their lockers after lunch "Well Nicole is got a big mouth. She's a great player, but mouthy" "Do you get along with her?" "Yeah, but she rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I mean she calls me a braniac a lot ... I hate that term!" "Well you do like to study and are an honor student ... " "Jasmine Medina! I can be socially active as well as you guys and I play a mean midfield you know" She said referring to her soccer position "And when we beat the daylights out of Roberts Junior High ... " "I heard they're a tough bunch" "That's our rival Jasmine ... The Roberts Raiders. Oh and I forgot to tell you, Emily Patton is our gym teacher as well as the new coach" "Emily from camp?" "The same one" "I hope she doesn't hold what happened against us" "Why do you say that? I mean she didn't know what was going on with Miss Webster" "Yeah you're right. I say we go talk to her, we have some free time" The girls headed towards the gym and then entered it. They were shocked to see what they saw: A big black R was spray painted along the walls as well as the gym floor. Just then Emily appeared. The athletic blonde had her teacher's shirt all dirty as well as her hair "Miss Patton" Lori asked "What happened?" "Lori and Jasmine" she answered "Nice to see you again" "Nice to see you too Miss Patton" Jasmine added as she looked around "Like Lori said, what happened here?" Emily shook her head and finally answered their question "Those little punks from Roberts Junior, that's what happened ... they even knocked me down in the dirt out there and that's after they burned a big R in the middle of our field" "Sounds like they're a bunch of pranksters" Jasmine said "During school hours though?" Emily explained, "This is pure vandalism!" Jasmine looked at Lori and Emily and tried to figure why Emily was so concerned with their rivals behavior ... Later on after school, Lori took Jasmine to where the soccer tryouts were being held. There they ran into their new friends, Tiffany Harrison and Nicole Marcos. "Hey you two!" Tiffany said to the duo "I heard what happened in the gym" "Yeah I know" Jasmine replied, putting on her soccer cleats "Lori told me about Roberts Junior" "Bunch of little brats!" Nicole shouted, getting a look from some of the other girls there "I do know we scrimmage them in three days" Tiffany added "I really don't know why we need tryouts ... Lori says you are good" "She's got it made" Lori said hugging her friend, getting an embarrassed look from Jasmine. Just then Emily Patton blew her whistle and started practice "See nothing to worry about Miss Medina" Tiffany said as she welcomed Jasmine to the soccer team "You're too good...nothing like a another striker we can use" "I did my best, I do know that" "I say we all go out and get some ice cream and celebrate" Nicole said as she wiped her dark hair with a towel "I'm sure Miss Patton can drop us off at Dairy Queen" "Sounds like a plan" Tiffany replied as she grabbed her bag "Let me call my mom and tell her what's going on" As the girls stirred about, Tiffany walked towards the locker room. She took her phone out of her bag and dialed it. "Come on mom...pick up ... she must be away from her phone" Tiffany said to no one in particular. She then left a voice message that she and her friends were going to Dairy Queen. She then untied the blue bandana she used as a headband. The pretty African-American girl waited a few minutes and suddenly heard a noise coming from the lockers. Looking around, she didn't see anyone "Hello? ... .anyone there? ... hello ... .?" Tiffany gulped as she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and let out a scream. A pretty Hispanic looking girl wearing a cheerleader uniform doubled over in laughter "Gotcha!" the girl said who had a resemblance to Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical "Alicia Robles!" Tiffany shouted, "You scared the daylights out of me!" "Sorry, but I couldn't resist ... I know how jumpy you are" "Is cheer practice over?" Tiffany asked after calming herself down "Yep and Soccer?" Tiffany nodded as the duo started to walk back outside "Hey why don't you hang with us?" "Cheerleaders and Soccer players Fraternizing ... that's a first" "Oh stop with the cliques. Jasmine Medina, this is our cheerleader captain, Alicia Robles" "Nice to meet you Alicia" Jasmine replied noticing how cute Alicia looked in her Red and Black uniform "Like wise" Alicia said extending her hand "So your new here Jasmine?" Jasmine nodded And how did you like your first day?" "Very interesting ... . Especially knowing that our rivals seem to be up to no good" "They're ruthless brats!" Alicia replied, "I used to play soccer, but the Raiders are so rough, I had to give it up. The Junior High doesn't have a football team, but they have a great soccer team!" "Which is known as football in most parts of the world" Lori shot back, trying to be part of the conversation "Braniac!" Nicole said giggling, getting cross-eyes from Lori As the girls prepared for their after practice get together, a figure lurked near the gym and watched them, leaving right after a few minutes carrying a spray paint can... A little later on the five girls were sitting in the local Dairy Queen enjoying ice cream and talking. "So Jasmine" Alicia asked between spoonfuls of her sundae. "Nicole and Tiffany told me what happened to you guys this summer" "Yeah, it was pretty wild" Jasmine replied looking at Lori, knowing she would rather forget it "Couldn't we talk about something else?" Lori shot back "Like that scrimmage coming up with you know who?" "It's okay Lori" Jasmine said, reassuring her best friend "It's done and over with. By the way, Tiff you and Nicole weren't at that camp were you?" "No. Mom couldn't afford it" Nicole replied, slurping on her milkshake "And I went last year with Alicia" Tiffany added "It was fun ... " "She's the star striker" Nicole beamed, hugging Tiffany "Aww. No now I have a great partner up front in Jasmine ... right?" "That's if I get the ball to you" Lori shot back giggling "Wrong" Nicole added, "We both do, I'm going to try midfield this year ... or at least Coach Patton wants to try it in the scrimmage" "Stealing my thunder Nicole Marcos!" Lori said before letting out a laugh "So what do you guys think about all these pranks going on today?" Jasmine asked, changing the subject "First day of school even" "It is a little weird even for them" Tiffany shot back, checking her phone for messages "But nothing like sending a message I guess" "When you guys solved that mystery up at camp" Alicia added "You thought it was nothing at first right?" "We didn't solve anything Alicia" Lori said boldly, correcting her "Just fell kind of into it.." "Yeah wrong place at the wrong time" Jasmine added, finishing her ice cream "Well I think it would be cool to try and find out why those guys were persistent in sending a message so early" "I agree with Nicole" Tiffany said "I think it would be kind of fun, sort of a side project" "Kind of like a Thunder Ridge Mystery club" Alicia added "I can be the Cheerleader P.I." "Or Snoopers of Thunder Ridge Junior!" Nicole said, almost squirming in her chair "Are you guys serious or being sarcastic?" Lori said staring at them "Do you know what we went through?" Jasmine returned her stare as the other three figured they got carried away a little bit The next day, Tuesday broke sunny and warm in Thunder Ridge as Jasmine and Lori made it to school through Susan Fielding, Lori's mom. Just then Tiffany, wearing shorts and flip-flops ran up to the duo "Hey guys!" she said looking over her shoulder "You gotta see this!" She led them over to the front of the school where a Police Car was and an officer was there talking to the principal, Miss Alvarez. Jasmine and Lori were shocked at what they saw. The beautiful hawk mascot statue was damaged and spray-painted with a large R. They also noticed a few windows spray painted with R's "Oh my God!" Jasmine said shockingly as she looked at Lori "Still think it's nothing Medina?" Tiffany asked as she clutched her Notebooks "Maybe you guys were right, this is pretty extreme" As the Police car left, Miss Alvarez was looking at a piece of paper. Jasmine could tell it was a threatening note in it was made up like one of those ransom notes in a movie, with cut out letters pasted together. She gulped and thought that this was more than a prank ... Jasmine stood there and stared at the note. Tiffany saw this and nudged the pretty Latina. "What are you staring at?" "That note...it's a threat" With saying that Jasmine walked over to the principal "What does it say Miss Alvarez?" Miss Alvarez quickly folded it up "None of your concern...the Police are handling it" "Not my concern?" Jasmine shot back "This is my school too maam" Lori and Tiffany quickly joined their friend "If someone's threatening the school we have a right to know as well" Lori added looking at Jasmine Miss Alvarez looked at the teen trio and then sighed "I don't think we should play that soccer scrimmage tomorrow Miss Harrison" Tiffany then gasped "Why? You're giving in to those little creeps?" "No" Miss Alvarez replied, "I need to make sure everyone is safe, it's my job to make sure of that" "But what about the scrimmage?" Jasmine inquired, "I want to play" Miss Alvarez thought for a moment before speaking "I'll let you all know tomorrow morning, probably in an assembly.... now I've got a school to run" As she left Jasmine looked at Lori and Tiffany "Something is definitely not right here" "No kidding," Tiffany added, "I say we look into it" Lori then rolled her eyes "Not again" "Lori, the Roberts kids is threatening this school...but I think there's more to it. I say we put our heads together and see what we can come up with" "If it's even them," Tiffany added, thinking it was more than a prank "I don't want my soccer season ruined by this" "I can't believe this she wants to cancel the scrimmage" Nicole said as she sat with the others at lunch. Alicia was there as well "It's just a scrimmage Nic" Tiffany said, taking a sip of her bottled water "But we need to find out what's going on" "I'm in" Alicia said smiling Lori looked at the pretty cheerleader and shook her head "We first need to convince Miss Alvarez not to cancel the scrimmage" Jasmine added as she tied her hair into a ponytail "Maybe I can talk to her before the assembly tomorrow" A little later on that day, before soccer practice, Jasmine went to Miss Alvarez's office and knocked on the door. Noticing the door open a crack, the teen heard her principal on the phone arguing "Don't tell me what I have to do....you do your part....yes I understand. I just don't want anybody hurt that's all...yes I do...this is a mess do you hear me?....just get it done..." Jasmine was stunned. It sounded like Miss Alvarez was behind something....the pranks perhaps? But why? she thought as heard the phone hang up. She tip-toed away from her door and bent down to get a drink of water as Miss Alvarez left her office locked it and went the opposite direction. Jasmine composed herself and quickly went to practice. A few minutes later the Latina joined Lori and the others in the lockers "So did you talk to Miss A" Tiffany asked pulling on a long white sock "Not exactly" Jasmine replied as she started to change "What does that mean?" Nicole quizzed, getting a same look from Lori "You're not going to believe this guys but..." Just then Emily came into the locker room "Okay guys, let's get out there and practice hard, even if the principal says we can't tomorrow" Jasmine and the others quickly changed into their gear as Jasmine couldn't tell her friend what she heard. Tiffany nudged her on the way out of the locker room "What were you going to say?" "I'll tell you after practice" she shot back, knowing it was killing her not to say anything. As the girls went out onto the field, a figure watched them from a distance. He then took out a cell phone and started talking "Plan is going according to schedule....no one suspects you.....okay then...but if anyone interferes, they will be sorry...." "So Jasmine, what did you hear Miss Alvarez say?" Tiffany asked as the girls had gathered back in the locker room after practice "Yeah tell us," Nicole chirped in "Something bad?" "I was going to ask her about the scrimmage when I heard her from the door ... it was open a crack. She was shouting to somebody on the other end, something about take care of your end and not wanting anybody to get hurt" "That's it?" Lori added, "If those were her words, it doesn't prove anything you know?" "I know, but it sounded really suspicious ... almost like she's hiding something" "Miss Alvarez is a super lady Jasmine" Lori shot back "I just know she wouldn't be behind something like this" "We need proof you guys" Tiffany replied, taking off her cleats and socks "But hopefully Miss Alvarez will let the scrimmage be on tomorrow, regardless of what you heard Jasmine" "Yeah you're right" The next day the girls had gathered in the auditorium as Miss Alvarez had taken the stage. "Good morning students. As you know there have been several pranks being committed on the school property in the last few days. We believe our rivals, Roberts Junior, have caused these pranks. Although there is no proof of any of that I have decided to go ahead with all activities with them" The girls looked at each other excitedly as the scrimmage was back on for later that day. "I have been in contact with Mr. Billings, the principal at Roberts and with his full cooperation we are going to get to the bottom of who's responsible for these pranks, some of which has caused several hundreds of dollars in vandalism to school grounds." Jasmine sat and wondered what she had meant by that phone call. The more her principal talked, the more the pretty Latina was convinced that she was covering for someone, or herself for that matter. Later on, the girls were in their pre-game huddle on the soccer field "Let's show these brats that Thunder Ridge is the best!" shouted Tiffany, getting cheers and high fives from Jasmine, Lori, Nicole and the other starters. The referee blew his whistle and the scrimmage got underway "Man they do play rough" Jasmine said as she wiped the sweat off her body with a towel. It was halftime and the team had assembled back in the locker room "But I know we can score on them, because we're better!" "I wonder how far Miss Patton and the other coach will let this go on?" Lori added, knowing it could get really out of hand because of all the hijinks that had gone on Meanwhile in the other part of the locker room, the other cheerleaders had gone back out to the field. Alicia was tying her sneakers when suddenly the lights went out. "Oh great. Now what" She then heard footsteps. Her heart started to pound as anxiety came over her ... . someone was in there with her! Hello? Hello?" the pretty teen shouted, "Who's there?" She started to run towards the only light in the room, when suddenly a gloved hand clamped over her mouth! "Not one sound!" the voice sneered as Alicia's brown eyes got real big. The assailant proceeded to hold a damp cloth over the teen's nose and mouth. It was chloroform! Alicia struggled but soon passed out from the fumes ... In the other locker room, the girls had not heard the commotion going on with Alicia "I think Miss Patton's back on the field" Nicole said, "I'll go ask her about the rough play" The pretty Filipina went outside the locker and didn't see Miss Patton. She then heard some commotion. She ran over to where it was coming from and suddenly was grabbed from behind. "Hey!" Nicole shouted "Let me go!" The teen then elbowed the person in the ribs and twirled to break free from the hold! The attacker was wearing the "Scream" mask and a dark robe. Quickly the person came at her again and reached for her hair. Nicole stepped to the side and landed a hard kick straight to the ribs of her attacker. The masked person grunted in pain however he replied with a quick snapping kick aimed at her chest. Nicole stepped aside, spinning around she hit her attacker with a perfect hook kick against his masked face. Nicole aimed another kick to his head however he ducked low and replied with a hard punch to her belly making her gasp for air. The person then pushed her down, ran to a van and soon took off in it. Nicole saw the license plate and tried to memorize it. Just then Emily ran up to her "Nicole! Are you okay?" Emily asked as she helped Nicole to her feet "Yes. Thank you Coach. I'm just glad I remembered the Tae-Kwon-Do classes you taught me ... . We have to call the Police, this is getting out of hand ... I mean now attempted kidnapping ... at least I saw the license plate ... ." Nicole and Miss Patton went back into the locker room and immediately the other girls noticed something was wrong "Nicole, what happened?" Jasmine said as she looked at the others "Someone tried to grab me outside that's what!" "Oh my God!" Tiffany and Lori both gasped "How and who?" "Some creep with one of those masks from that movie Scream...luckily I fought him off. He took off on a van, but I got the license plate" "I'm going to cancel the rest of the scrimmage you guys" Emily said as she went outside "Yes. We need to call the police" Jasmine added. Just then another cheerleader came into the room. Jasmine noticed she was holding a threatening note like the one Miss Alvarez had "Not a good idea" The cheerleader said who's name was Mindy. She was sobbing "What's wrong?" Tiffany asked grabbing the note "Oh my God!" "What?" Lori asked "What does it say Tiff?" "Guys...they have Alicia...she's been kidnapped!" "Kidnapped?" Nicole gasped "She must have been in that van!" "And you were almost taken too" Jasmine added "Do you have any idea who the assailant was?" Nicole shook her head "Those Roberts punks have gone way over board" Tiffany chimed in, tearing up "Now Tiffany, we don't know for certain if it was them...remember I heard Miss Alvarez's conversation..." Just then Miss Alvarez showed herself as the girls did a double take "Girls i just heard...Miss Marcos are you okay?" "Yes Maam" Nicole answered Tiffany then gave the note to her principal as Jasmine looked at her "Oh my God!...I better call the Police" "It says not to" Jasmine added "I know that, but what are we going to do Miss Medina?" With that, Miss Alvarez took the note and left. "Now what?" Lori asked, almost dreading the answer "You guys up for some detective work?" Tiffany, Nicole as well as a reluctant Lori nodded their heads Alicia stirred about as her head cleared. She felt her head and shook the cobwebs from it. Suddenly she saw two figures in "Scream" masks looking at her. "Who are you, what do you want from me?" Alicia was scared as her heart beat faster. Just then another figure in a "Scream" mask walked into the room. The voice sounded female. "Hello Alicia" the voice said as it took off her mask. Alicia did a double take on who it was "Wendy Stevens?" "Surprised?" "But why?" "You cost me the head cheerleader position last year. I was so upset I transferred to Roberts. Nothing like a little revenge..." "You're the one behind all this?" "I can't do it alone sweetie...you'll find out in good time, that your school will be nothing but a memory" "Just because I became head cheerleader?" "You'll find out that question in good time my dear" Wendy sneered "Now we better tie you up...don't want you causing any trouble do we?" Alicia started to scream, but Wendy was ready with a wad of cloth she stuffed into Alicia's mouth. "Silence!" Wendy sneered as Alicia looked at her captor with fear. Wendy, her former friend seemingly had gone psycho... After changing out of their soccer gear, the girls had gathered near the locker room and talked about what they should do "We need to call the Police though" Lori said adjusting her glasses after taking out her contact lenses "Despite what that note says" "I think we should wait to see What Miss Alvarez does" Jasmine replied "Maybe I did hear wrong ... If she is guilty, she said she didn't want anyone hurt" "What about Mr. Mesa?" Lori quizzed, referring to the assistant principal "He's out of town" Nicole replied "Won't be back until next week" "Then it's up to us to help out" Tiffany added "What about that License plate Nic?" "It had a strange name on it, like one of those personalized plates ... I would know it if I saw it" "Since Tomorrow is Saturday, I think you two should ride over there and see if you see it in their parking lot" "We can do that, right Tiff?" Nicole beamed as Tiffany agreed with her "But what about Alicia's parents?" Lori asked, always worried about the main problem at hand "We need to tell them" "I think her parents are out of town ... . her grandmother is staying with her" Tiffany said "I know her number and I can tell her that's she's staying over at my place, sort of a slumber party" "Good idea" Jasmine added "Hopefully, she'll be back here tomorrow so there's no worry" "I can't believe this is happening to us" Nicole added "Now I know what you guys went through this summer ... " "Hope to God it doesn't come to that" Lori added "And one more thing ... when you guys ride over there tomorrow, don't wear anything red and black to attract attention." "Excellent idea Lori" Jasmine said "You guys need to blend in with the school ... I'm sure some activity will be going on. Lori and me will stay around here and search for any kind of clues those creeps might have left behind. I say we all meet here at ten sharp and go from there ... " "I must say Alicia, you do look so cute in that uniform ... it really shows off your legs" Wendy taunted as she looked at Alicia, now sitting on the floor bound and gagged "But I would look better in it and you know it!" Alicia tried not to tear up, as she had to endure Wendy's taunts as she strained to try and free herself from the ropes binding her wrists behind her back. She was a captive somewhere at Roberts and by the looks of things, in a small storage area that had been abandoned. "Don't worry about telling mommy and daddy where you are ... I'll take care of that right now" Alicia then took Alicia's phone that she had confiscated from her and dialed her home "Mmmmpphh!!" Alicia tried to say behind the wide strip of tape across her mouth. Just then Wendy ripped it form her mouth fast, causing it to sting. Alicia then spat out the wad of cloth and gasped for a breath. "Owww! You are demented Wendy!" Alicia yelled at the risked of being gagged again. Wendy then made a text message on Alicia's phone and shut it "Hmmm. Seems like mommy and daddy aren't home" "They're out of town. My grandmother is staying with me until they get back ... she'll know something's not right, a text message isn't going to work" "Yes it will ... .I told her to call you. But don't worry, I'll be sure to answer it for you, that you're staying at an old friend's house ... " "You crazy little ... ggrmmppphh!!" Alicia tried to say before Wendy stuffed the sodden wad back into the pretty teen's mouth and resealed a piece of tape over it. She even gave Alicia a few playful slaps on the cheek and stood up "Very soon you will know what my intentions are. But for now, this is your home. Good night Alicia" With that the blonde walked over and shut off the light. Alicia sobbed as she realized she was probably there for the night ... Saturday broke bright and sunny, as the girls had gathered near the locker rooms at school. Each of them were dressed in shorts, t-shirts and wearing flip-flops. Tiffany then ran over to Jasmine "Jasmine, you should know something" "What?" "I called Alicia's grandmother last night to tell her she was staying over and she told me she already knew Alicia was staying over at a friends house" "How would she know that?" "Only if the person behind this knew her" Nicole added "Someone made that phone call or text" "Oh man." Jasmine said thinking of what to do "Maybe you should go see her grandmother Tiffany and try and find out who called, but don't lead on about what's going on" "I know where she lives ... gotcha" "Lori can you go with Nicole over to Roberts and help her look for that van?" Lori rolled her eyes "I knew you were going to say that. Why don't you come with us?" "I'm going to stay around here and look for anything that might be some clue to what those creeps were doing" "It'll be okay Lori" Nicole said putting her arm around her "Okay you guys" Jasmine announced, "You all know what to do ... meet back here in two hours, regardless of what you find" "Got it," Tiffany replied as she checked her phone "Ready" Nicole and Lori replied. Soon after, the girls got on their bikes for the ride over to Roberts Junior High. Jasmine then tried the locker room doors and found them locked. She then tried another set of doors and to her luck, found them open. She then went inside and looked around "Well I see sleepy head as awaken" Wendy said as Alicia was stirring about after her nights sleep in captivity. Wendy then removed the tape and packing from Alicia's mouth. The pretty brunette then moved her jaws around, trying to get her dry throat to respond. Wendy then made Alicia sip on a bottle of water. She hadn't slept very well for obvious reasons. But working her wrists back and forth on and off through the night, had not loosened the ropes enough for her to slip her hands through them. "Why are you doing this Wendy?" Alicia asked hoarsely between sips of water that felt very refreshing "You still haven't told me yet" "Revenge my dear, I told you that. But the bigger picture will come clearer very soon, trust me" "You won't get away with this ... I can promise you that! I have friends that will come looking for me" Wendy then laughed and crouched down. "No one knows where you are honey ... and if they do find out ... . well" Alicia didn't have to wait for Wendy's response to know what that meant "Can I least go to the bathroom?" "Okay, but no tricks understand?" Wendy got up and summoned one of her male cohorts. He was a tall kid with brown hair. Alicia figured he was there to make sure she didn't try anything. Soon Alicia was freed. She then jerked Alicia out the door and into the hall and pushed her through another door. "Hurry it up!" Wendy demanded as she waited outside the door. Soon Alicia was done and Wendy again grabbed her "Come on let's...." Wendy couldn't finish the sentence. Alicia punched her hard against her jaw and knocked her down. As Wendy came to her senses, the boy helped her up. "Get her! Now!" Alicia ran as fast as she could down a narrow corridor and hid behind some crates. She then saw the kid coming near her as her heart was pounding... "Well where do we look Nicole?" Lori asked as she got off her bike and parked near the entrance of Roberts Junior "I say we look around the parking lot first...I just hope that van is here" The girls walked around the small school and noticed only a few cars. There was no van to speak of. They walked all the way around the school and saw nothing "Now what?" Lori asked again. "I'm not sure, let me call the others" Suddenly a figure in a "Scream" mask appeared behind Lori and clamped a hand over her mouth! She tried to break free however her arm was painfully forced behind her back and her attacker increased the grip on her mouth. "Mmmmpphh!" Lori tried to warn Nicole as another figure approached her from behind. Nicole turned around just in time to avoid the chop aimed at the side of her neck. She tried to send a punch to his face, however he quickly parried it and replied with a snapping kick aimed at her belly. Nicole stepped back however the kick made her phone drop to the pavement. She thought about running but Lori was held tightly by the other masked man and there was no way she would leave her behind with these two creeps. As taught in her Taekwondo classes Nicole attacked hard and fast. She quickly aimed a round kick to the head of the masked man. The masked man stepped backwards and the kick missed him. Nicole used the momentum to spin through and send a second kick to his chest. The man grunted as her heel slammed hard in his ribs. Nicole raised her leg straight in the air and then kicked down aiming her heel to the top of his head. However at the last moment her attacker moved out of the way. Before Nicole could respond he replied with a hard kick to her upper thigh. Nicole nearly fell over and the masked man used the moment to slap her hard across the face. Her cheek stinging Nicole aimed a punch to the masked face of the mysterious attacker. However he seemed to have expected this as he grabbed her arm with both hands and quickly spun her around. Quick like a wink he twisted her arm high behind her back. With his other hand he pulled her hair and forced her head backwards. The pretty Filipina tried to wiggle free from the hold, but failed as she was held in a vice-like grip "Not this time girl" the figure in the mask sneered, tightening his hold on the arm trapped painfully behind her back. Lori looked wide-eyed at Nicole as both girls were forced inside the school... Jasmine looked around the locker rooms and found nothing out of the ordinary. Luckily for her, the area was open as well as the gym. Against her better judgment, she decided to check out the rest of the school. Just then her phone rang. She noticed it was from Tiffany. "Tiff. What did you find out?" "Something really weird" Tiffany answered as she sat on her bike outside a house "Alicia's grandmother told me that Wendy Stevens called her and said Alicia was staying over at her house. I had to talk my way out of that one" "Who's Wendy Stevens?" "She went to school with us last year. Alicia beat her out for Cheerleading captain. Word is that she was so upset, that she transferred to Roberts" "Oh wow. You don't think she's out for revenge do you?" "What do you think Jasmine? I mean you went through something similar with that Carla girl at camp" Jasmine thought about that incident before speaking. "If she is behind Alicia's abduction, she had help" "Miss Alvarez?" Tiffany asked, knowing that Jasmine was really suspicious "Yep. Look, meet me over here. I'm going to call Lori and Nicole and see if they found out anything" "Okay" With that, the girls hung up. Jasmine then snuck out of the gym area and into the hall. She was trying to get some reception on her phone in a dead area of the building "I hope I'm doing the right thing ... " she thought as she made her way to Miss Alvarez's office. Walking a few feet, Jasmine thought she heard footsteps. Suddenly a gloved hand clamped over her mouth and held a rag over her nose and mouth. Chloroform! Alicia could hear Wendy and the two boys coming near her hiding place. Just then a phone rang. It was Wendy's phone and Alicia could hear her being called away for something. She had to get out of there. She noticed an exit door near her. Alicia then noticed a piece of wood lying near her on the floor. Picking it up, the pretty brunette tossed it in the opposite direction. She heard it make a sound way away from where she was. "Over there!" the one kid said as him and his partner ran towards it. Alicia then made her way over to the door, opened it and made her way outside. She hurried along and then saw something shiny lying on the pavement. It looked like someone's phone. Picking it up, Alicia noticed it was damaged a little and then noticed the word NICOLE on the side. "Nicole has a phone just like ... .Oh my God!" Alicia thought as a bad feeling swept over her. She then heard voices, one that sounded like Wendy near her. She quickly hid in the bushes and watched. She then noticed Wendy meeting with Mr. Billings ... the principal! "Maybe Billings is in on this?" she thought as she looked at Nicole's phone that was basically useless. "I've got to alert the others somehow. Maybe Nicole was kidnapped like me ... ." Tiffany made it to the locker room area and tried her phone. "Come on Jasmine, pick up" She let it rang, but the phone went to voice mail. She then heard a muffling sound coming from inside the storage closet. Her heart pounded as she got nearer the door. She opened it and saw the horrifying sight of her friend Jasmine slumped over on the floor "Oh my God Jasmine! ... who did this to you?" She said trying wake Jasmine up. Jasmine then stirred about. "What happened?" "Who did this to you?" "Someone chloroformed me Tiffany ... " "Who?" "Not sure. I was about to call Lori and Nicole ... .he might be still here" Jasmine then realized her attacker took her phone. "I'll call them" Tiffany said, helping her friend up. Tiffany then called Tiffany but got nothing. "Something's wrong with her phone Jas. I'll try Lori" Lori's phone went to voice mail. As Jasmine and Tiffany pondered what to do, Wendy had Lori's phone in her hand "Someone's trying to contact them" she said to one of her male friends "I think its time to find out who it is, but first you need to find Alicia Robles. She has to be around here somewhere ... I've got ways to make the other two talk" Wendy then let out an evil grin as she walked down the hall and unlocked a door. She then looked at her two prisoners. Lori and Nicole were lying on the floor, bound hand and foot and tightly cleave-gagged with bandannas! "Comfy girls? Or should I say wanna be detectives?" The prisoners looked at Wendy as they could only wonder what she was up to ... "You two are going to tell me what you are up to and who is helping you" Wendy said as she stared over Lori and Nicole who looked at each other's gagged faces "Oh don't worry, I have ways to make you talk" With that in mind, Wendy crouched down and removed the girls' flip-flops. Their bare feet were exposed to Wendy who had an evil grin on her face. She then got up and took out her phone. "Did you find Miss Robles yet? Well keep looking ... . I might need one of you in here in a minute" Wendy then hung up her phone and took Lori's phone and texted something. "I'm sending this to a Jasmine Medina, hmmm I wonder if she's in on this little scheme of yours" Lori grumbled something behind her gag as Wendy reached in a box nearby. The girls' eyes widened as they saw what it was. It was large feather and Wendy was about to use it on their bare feet to get information. "This girls, is a Eagle feather. Very soft and sensitive to some human skin" Lori and Nicole squirmed and started to squeal as Wendy got near them with it "Now what Jasmine?" Tiffany asked as the girls sat down on the locker room bench "Someone is still here I bet" "You mean the person who chloroformed me?" Tiffany nodded as she tried Nicole and Lori's phones again. "Hey it's a text from Lori. She says everything's okay" "I Hope so, Tiffany. But why do I have this feeling that something's not right?" "Do you think we should go over there then?" "We need to find out about Miss Alvarez. I mean whoever grabbed me, might try again. The two of us will make it harder for them to try again" "I hope you're right Jasmine" Tiffany replied with a worried look on her young face Alicia had got away from the school and hid in some bushes on the adjacent property as she saw the two masked persons looking around. "They're looking for me" she thought "Oh man ... I wonder if Nicole and Lori are in there? What I'm I going to do?" "Mmmmpphhh!!!!!! Grrrmmmphhhh!!!!" Lori and Nicole squealed loudly as Heather tickled their bare soles relentlessly with the Eagle feather. Lori was very sensitive to tickling and couldn't stand it as she flopped about like a fish on a deck. Nicole tried to be tough, but she too was sensitive and squirmed about "Okay girls, ready to tell me what I want to know?" Back and forth Heather went, tickling the teens with the feather. Tears of laughter rolled down the girls' cheeks "Well are you?" Wendy sneered as she was loving what she was doing to them "Talk!" she yelled "Oh I'm sorry, you're gagged, my bad" Heather then pulled the bandanna from Nicole's mouth. The pretty Filipina was breathing hard but then started to talk "You're crazy Heather! Do you know that?" "Wrong answer!" Heather replied, now moving her fingers over Lori's soles getting loud squeals from the teen "Talk Nicole ... what do you know?" Nicole looked at her with an evil eye "Let Lori go ... she doesn't know anything!" "Do you expect me to believe that? Besides, I think she's rather enjoying this" Heather kept torturing Lori as tears streamed down her cheeks "Stop it! Okay, I'll talk" With that Heather stopped as Nicole looked at Lori who was panting from being tickled tortured. Wendy was in complete charge as Nicole started to tell her about what the girls were up to ... "I don't think this is a good idea Jasmine" Tiffany said as the girls snuck down the hall to Miss Alvarez's office. "That guy that grabbed you is probably still around here ... ." Jasmine said nothing as the girls came upon their principal's office. "We're going to be expelled ... or worse" Tiffany said worriedly as Jasmine tried the door, hoping that it would be open. To her amazement, the door was unlocked! Tiffany closed her eyes and followed her friend inside "We're doing this for Alicia's sake ... we have to find out what's going on Tiff" As the girls started to look for anything that would tie Miss Alvarez to everything, they heard footsteps outside the door and the doorknob start to turn...! "We have to hide!" Jasmine said as she grabbed Tiffany and hurriedly made it into the closet next to Miss Alvarez's desk. Just then the girls could see the janitor enter the room and sweeping away. "Whew, It's just the janitor" Jasmine exclaimed ready to leave, not worrying about what he might say. Suddenly, Tiffany grabbed her arm and pointed. The janitor had stuck a folded up note in her desk and took out a phone. "Yeah ... it's done ... okay" He then swept some more and then left, closing the door. The girls looked at each other as they exited the closet. "You don't think ... ?" Tiffany asked as Jasmine beat her to it. The Latina opened her principal's desk and took out the note. It was addressed to Miss Maria Alvarez. Jasmine opened it and read it. She then got wide eyes and stopped. "Oh my God! Tiffany, I think she's being set up to take the fall!" "Are you sure? What does the note say?" "It's a demand for more money...like blackmail" "Blackmail? but why?" "I don't know, but it also says: keep our agreement or else you'll be blamed for everything" "Oh my God...Now what?" Tiffany added "Go see Miss Alvarez?" "One better...let the police know" The girls made it to the door when all of a sudden it opened. The girls let out a scream as the janitor blocked their path! "Maybe I can drive ya" the janitor sneered sarcastically as he showed the two teens a gun! Jasmine and Tiffany just froze "So Miss Harrison is in on it as well as this Jasmine girl" Wendy said as she finished retying the knot on Nicole's gag. Nicole looked at Lori's teary eyes, knowing she had no choice than to tell her captor "Now for what's next" Wendy said as she took out Lori's phone and texted something "Okay Jasmine and Tiffany, time to come over here" "Mmmmphhh!" Lori squealed as she knew that Jasmine would be walking into a trap. But what she didn't know is that the janitor had his own agenda and had captured Jasmine and Tiffany "Don't worry about everything" The janitor said pacing back and forth "I just had to tie up a few loose ends that's all" He then looked over to the other side of the room. Jasmine and Tiffany were sitting back to back, tied by rope. Their hands were tied in front of them and then tied to their ankles in a sort of front hog-tie. Thick white rags cleave- gagged both of the girls as well. Jasmine was convinced that he was the one that chloroformed her earlier "Well well two little nosy brats" he sneered "No way you're messing my plans up. Especially you Chica...I thought I scared you earlier, but I guess I underestimated you" The janitor walked away and tended to some things in the basement, while the teens tried to free themselves. The coarse rope rubbed against their flesh without mercy. He then returned to face them. "Miss Alvarez will take the fall...and my cousin will be on charge...maybe you know him. Matthew Billings, principal at Roberts. They're planning on cutting back over there and he's being demoted. Alvarez took this job here...a job that should be his!" "Mmmpphhh!!!" Jasmine and Tiffany tried to say behind the thick gags. Billings was wanting to take over by framing Miss Alvarez, with the help from his cousin the janitor. The girls had found out about the plot and now were in trouble. Alicia was still missing and Lori and Nicole weren't answering their phones. The Latina teared up as she had a bad thought that everything was wound together somehow "Your friend's phones seem to not be on or not working" Wendy said as she tried to text Jasmine and Tiffany. Nicole and Lori looked at each other and had a dreaded thought....had they been captured too? Just then Mr Billings showed up "What are you doing here?" Wendy asked "I told you I had it under control" "Do you?" he sneered as he grabbed Wendy and tried to force her arms behind her back! Wendy reacted fast, as she broke free she threw him over her shoulder. However Billings spun in the air and landed on his elbows and knees. He pounced at her and within moments the two were struggling furiously for control. Wendy was clearly trained in some martial art but Billings moved like a experienced wrestler. Jasmine and Tiffany could only watch on as both of them were fighting chest to chest trying to overpower the other. A knee to the belly stunned Billings and the devious girl quickly used the moment to get behind him and wrap her arms around his neck for a chokehold. His face was turning red as he was trapped in the chokehold. However with a explosive movement he broke free and spun around. Before she could respond he dropped to his knees and grabbed her around her thighs to take her down. As she landed on her belly he quickly straddled her lower back and twisted her hands behind her back. "Let me go!" Breathing heavy from the struggle Billings whipped out a bandanna and cleave-gagged her with it and then proceeded to tie her hands behind her back "You've made a mess a things my dear....you and your revenge. I can't trust you anymore. You and the others will be dealt with accordingly, that includes the other two chicks my partner caught at Thunder Ridge" Lori looked at Nicole and tears started to roll down her cheeks. It seemed like Jasmine and Tiffany were in trouble as well. Alicia was seemingly was their only hope, but where was she?... Alicia knew something was wrong and had to get help. Staying in her hiding place for what seemed like hours, she saw no sign of anybody ... and that included her friends. She had Nicole's phone, which was damaged so it was no good to her. She stared at Nicole and Lori's bikes in the bushes and then made a decision. She then got on one of them and started pedaling back to Thunder Ridge. "I'll try and find the Robles girl, since you and your helpers are useless" Billings just stared at Wendy in her now bound and gagged state. Nicole and Lori still trussed up as well looked at him and the new captive, which had just tormented them. The girls hope for survival now seemed to depend on Alicia ... wherever she was ... "I've got big plans for all of you ... . big plans" he sneered as he left the three teens to struggle with the tight ropes. Lori then reached around to try and work on Nicole's wrist knots. The pretty Filipina sensed what she was doing and did the same. Wendy could only watch them as she struggled to free herself. One minute she was in control and the next minute principal Billings had turned on her. "I think it's time to move out girls," the janitor announced as he untied the rope that held Jasmine and Tiffany together. He undid their ankle bonds and stood them up "Time's a wasting ... time to join your friends" The two teens squealed behind their gags from the rough treatment he was giving them as he jerked them out the door. Just then his phone rang "Yeah ... everything is on schedule ... change of plans?...okay then we'll do it here" Jasmine could only wonder what he meant by that statement. She had a bad feeling that she didn't want to find out Alicia had made it to near the school and parked Nicole's bike. The pretty brunette made her way to the locker area but didn't see a sign of the others. She had to get a hold of someone ... anyone. But who? The Police seemed to be the best choice, but they believe a teenager's story? Especially thinking it was just a prank between two rival schools. Just then Alicia's heart started racing. Someone was coming into the lockers. She frantically looked for a place to hide but it was too late. Miss Alvarez stood there looking at her. "Miss Robles?" she said startled "Are you okay? What happened to you?" Alicia froze at the sight of her principal. Could she trust her? Especially knowing what Jasmine overheard "Y..yes I'm okay ... I'll tell you the whole story soon, but right now I'm looking for my friends, have you seen them ... .? Just then a man's voice rang out in the background "No ... But I have!" It was the janitor and he had a gun! "Leave her alone! I did what you wanted" "I don't think so Maria." He snarled as he grabbed the principal by her hair "Let her go! Where are my friends you monster!" "Better pipe down Chica if you want to see your meddling friends again" "What have you done to them?" Alicia said starting to sob as Miss Alvarez held on to her "This is gone on long enough Mr. Thomas" Miss Alvarez said defiantly "I won't be blackmailed any longer!" "Is that so?" he replied tossing rope to Miss Alvarez "I knew you would crack ... . tie her up" Miss Alvarez was forced to tie Alicia's hands behind her back and then Thomas grabbed the principal and tied her up as well "What are you going to do to us?" Alicia sobbed as she watched her principal being bound "Change of plans. You two and your other friends once they get here are in for a treat ... a nice explosive one!" He then cleave-gagged Alicia and her principal with blue bandanas and shoved them out a side door After several minutes of trying, Lori and Nicole had almost managed to free the other one. Nicole then pulled her wrist ropes apart! She pulled out her gag and freed Lori "Way to go Nic!" Lori gasped as she pulled the bandana from her mouth. "Now to get out of here...I just hope Alicia got away" "Well I know one thing" Nicole added, freeing her ankles "We have to get to the police" "Mmmpphhh!!" Wendy squealed as she watched the others stand up "What about her?" Lori asked "I think we should leave her right there....if we had time we could give her a dose of her own medicine" Lori then crouched down and tickled the barefoot Wendy, getting loud squeals out of her "See how you like it!" Lori said, enjoying herself "The only thing worse than getting tied up is getting your feet tickled" Lori could relate to that statement painfully. Nicole stopped Lori's fun and the girls carefully set off to find a phone or Alicia, whatever came first. They only prayed that they would avoid Mr Billings The Janitor, Mr. Thomas pushed the bound and gagged Alicia and Miss Alvarez through a door where they came face to face with Jasmine and Tiffany, the two teens stood next to each other with their hands tied above a pipe that ran along the ceiling. They squealed through their gags at the sight of Alicia and their principal who returned the muffled sounds. Thomas said nothing as he sat Alicia and Miss Alvarez down into chairs and bound their bodies and ankles to the chairs, immobilizing them. "I hope all your friends get here soon" he snarled as he looked at his watch "Hope they don't miss the party" Jasmine looked at Alicia and her principal, who in turn looked at Tiffany. He had something in store for them, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. A few minutes later, the four females found out just how bad it was....Thomas held what looked like a bomb in his hands! Nicole and Lori ran into the other room looking for a phone. "Nicole, what are you doing?" Lori shouted, "If Billings comes back ... " Nicole then spotted Lori's phone on a table "Oh my God!" Lori added, but her face turning to a groan when she realized there was no signal "Let's get outside" Nicole replied, "Hopefully Alicia hid someplace and we can call the others" The two teens sneaked out of the room and made their way to a door. Just as they opened it, Billings stood there and blocked their path! The girls let out a scream "Going someplace?" he sneered. Nicole then let fly with a kick that sent Billings flying backwards! The Roberts principal lost his balance and he went down in a pile of boxes! Nicole grabbed the amazed Lori and ran outside "Run! Go!" The duo made it over to some large bushes where they crouched down as they were out of breath. "Nicole, where did you learn that?" Lori asked still breathing hard "Miss Patton taught me a few things" Lori then tried her phone. She got a signal, but it was weak. She then noticed the battery was low "Ohhh that Wendy!" she snapped getting her mouth covered by Nicole's hand. The Filipina then pointed to where Billings was ... he might have heard her complaining. The girls felt relieved as Billings moved away from their area and disappeared from view "Are you okay?" Nicole said hugging Lori. Lori nodded back as she tried to reach Jasmine. "Something's wrong Nicole ... I can't get either of them" "I wonder if Alicia made it back to Thunder Ridge?" "Maybe ... I think Billings is still looking for her" "Wait a sec!" Nicole half shouted, "We can call Emily, she can help us!" "But I don't have her number Nic" "I know it" Lori gave her the phone and Nicole dialed their coach. Nicole told her it was ringing. Lori could sense something was clearly wrong at their school, but she had no idea how much she was right Thomas had put the explosive device on a table near the quartet. Squeals filled the air as they realized he was going to blow up the building with them in it! He then picked up his phone and dialed it. "Where are you?....what?...well you better, I'm laying my neck out here to let two brats escape you" Jasmine bit hard on her gag as she looked at Tiffany, the pretty African-American returning her gagged look. Could Lori and Nicole have gotten away safe? By the sound of it, maybe. "Well, I'm all set here...I'll be over there shortly and we'll deal with them accordingly...they won't get far in those woods....rattlesnakes and all..." Jasmine closed her eyes and prayed. Maybe getting away wouldn't be so easy for them after all. After Hanging up his phone, Thomas then set the dreaded timer on the bomb for one hour. "I think one hour will be fine for all of you" he sneered getting all scared looks from the captives "Or maybe a half-hour...." The foursome squealed loudly as Thomas set the timer back to one half-hour and activated it! "By the time this place comes down, my cousin will be in charge of the new school when they rebuild it" He looked at all of them and left, closing a door behind them. Alicia and Miss Alvarez struggled mightily in their chairs, but couldn't come close to freeing themselves. Likewise, Jasmine and Tiffany had continued to struggle against the harsh ropes that tied their hands above them. Jasmine looked at the timer counting down: 29:15....29:14...29:13....29:12. Her young life as well as the others had less than a half-hour left. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized no one was coming, being Saturday left only the janitor there and he was the one behind all of it. 28:20...28:19...28:18... The clock continued to count down to the girls ultimate doom... 22:17...22:16...22:15 The bound and gagged Jasmine, Tiffany, Alicia and Miss Alvarez all kept an eye on the dreaded clock of the bomb that Mr Thomas, the janitor had left them with. Jasmine really felt that this was the end as she had gotten nowhere with the awful ropes that had now made her young flesh raw on her wrists. The other three in the room had suffered the same fate. 21:33...21:32...21:31 They had to get out of there anyway they could but how? Lori and Nicole had got a hold of their soccer coach, Emily Patton and told her the story of what was going on. The duo was still hiding in the bushes when they saw Mr. Billings again walking towards them. "Why doesn't he just leave?" Lori gasped as she gave Nicole a worried look. Nicole then grabbed Lori to keep her from shaking "I just hope the Police believe what Emily told them." Nicole added as they saw Billings get out his phone. After a few minutes of talking, he started to yell something "Oh girls! If you can hear me, you can't escape ... . and even if you can, your friends will be dead soon anyhow!" Lori looked at Nicole with a even more worried look. What could he have meant? Little did she know how bad it really was ... 18:19 ... .18:18 ... .18:17 ... . 18:16 ... . The bomb kept ticking down to the ultimate end. Jasmine tried to think of anything positive. Maybe someone would somehow show up and rescue them? But who? She faced the fact that a miracle was needed to save her and the others' lives Meanwhile Billings spotted a van pulling up to the building. The girls noticed that he started talking to the driver. Nicole then gasped to see who it was. "Mr. Thomas?" "You mean the janitor?" Lori added getting an acknowledgment from her friend "Wait a second ... they're cousins I think ... .oh my God Lori!" Lori started to cry. "They're all dead ... aren't ... they ... " Nicole was braver as she hugged Lori "Now we don't know that. Think positive. I can't believe he's behind this, but why?" Suddenly Thomas had heard the girls talking! "There! In the bushes!" "Oh my God Lori, run!" Nicole took Lori's hand and the girls took off towards the woods as fast as they could. The two teens tried their best to hide, but the van driven now by Billings had cut off their escape route! The girls screamed as they realized they were cornered. Thomas then grabbed both of them and menacingly held his gun on the terrified girls. Billings then got out of the vehicle and helped Thomas get the girls into the van "We'll bury them where nobody will ever find them!" Billings sneered "Hurry up and tie them up" Lori and Nicole now both were crying when suddenly Police sirens filled the air! "Dammit, the cops!" Thomas yelled as he jerked Lori's arm. Nicole suddenly gave him a kick and the girls tried to run again. "Why you little brat!" he shouted as he aimed his gun at them. Suddenly a shot rang out and the girls hit the ground. Nicole looked back and saw Thomas laying on the ground. The Police had shot him! They quickly cornered Billings and handcuffed him "You're too late" he sneered, trying to get the last word in. Just then Emily emerged from a squad car and ran and hugged her two players. "Oh my God Miss Patton!" Lori shouted as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks "I thought we were goners for sure!" "Something's not right over at school" Nicole added "The janitor, Mr. Thomas did something to Jasmine, Tiffany and Alicia" "We need to get over there right away" Emily added. Thomas, who was wounded and Billings said nothing as they were put in the squad car. Little did anyone know that they had just minutes before the bomb went off 10:01 ... . 10:00 ... . 9:59 ... . 9:58 ... . 7:33 ... . 7:32 ... . 7:31 ... . 7:30 ... . Jasmine closed her watery eyes and tried not to think about the horrible sight that was in front of her and her two new friends, Tiffany and Alicia as well as her young principal, Miss Alvarez. The dreaded bomb kept ticking down and there seemed to be no stopping it. 7:10 ... . 7:09 ... . 7:08 ... . 7:07 ... . After telling the Police that Wendy was all tied up inside Roberts school, Nicole and Lori got inside Emily's SUV and headed toward Thunder Ridge. "I'm sorry I didn't see what was going on girls" Emily said as she hurriedly followed the Police towards their school "It's not important right now Coach" Nicole said "But let's hope that everything is fine at school" Lori looked at Nicole and tears rolled down her cheeks again. She could only hope that Jasmine and the others were still alive. Several minutes later, the SUV pulled up to the locker area. Not knowing the bomb had ticked under the five-minute mark, the girls got out and headed into the school. The Police had already made plans to search the entire building. "Now what?" Lori said, "There's no sign of them" She dreaded her last statement and hope to God that they were still alive. "Maybe check the basement?" Nicole responded, "I mean he is the janitor" 4:29 ... .4:28 ... .4:27 ... .4:26 ... .. The clock kept its date with destiny as Emily, Lori and Nicole made their way towards Mr. Thomas's area. Emily then stopped them. "Wait a second girls, he might have this door booby-trapped ... wait here and I'll get the cops" As Emily rushed upstairs to get help, Nicole started banging in the door "Hello?" Jasmine's dark brown eyes lit up and she squealed as loudly as she could. Soon the others followed "Oh my God Lori!, do you hear that?" "Jasmine? Tiffany? Alicia? Are you in there?" More loud squeals were made as the girls desperately tried to warn them, but the thick gags prevented anything but grunts and squeals "Oh my God Nicole, they're in there tied up!" "I'm not waiting then!" Nicole went against Emily's warning and slowly opened the door. Closing her eyes, she dreaded the worst, but the worst was in the room as she immediately saw Jasmine and the others all surrounding the bomb, which now read 2:15! "Oh my God!" Nicole shouted as she froze. The others though made her snap out of it as they loudly told her to free them. Jasmine shook her head wildly as the bomb ticked under two minutes! Lori and Nicole freed the gags from their friend's mouths. "Oh my God!" Jasmine gasped "Thomas the janitor is behind this! Hurry!" As Lori worked to free Jasmine and Tiffany, Nicole ran over and started to free Alicia and Miss Alvarez from the chairs. Lori then had untied Jasmine's hands and worked on Tiffany's. "You have great timing you two!" Tiffany beamed as both her and vigorously rubbed circulation back into their young hands. They then helped Nicole free the others. Meanwhile the bomb was counting down: :59 ... .:58 ... .:57 ... .:56 ... . "Hurry girls!" Miss Alvarez yelled as her and Alicia were soon free. Just then Emily and the Police arrived. "There's a bomb! Hurry!" :47...:46...:45....:44 "Get out of here!" the Police yelled as Emily escorted everyone away and hurriedly up the stairs. The seven females ran away from the school and towards the soccer field. Emily then pushed everybody down, waiting for an explosion. The girls dreaded what was coming. Several moments of anxiety passed then suddenly ... . Everyone sighed a big sigh of relief as the Police had shown themselves from the school and given the all-clear signal. The girls, Emily and Miss Alvarez got up laughing and hugging as they made it over to the school. "What happened?" Emily asked one of the officers "Did you disarm it?" "Not really Miss ... it was defective ... maybe he didn't know it" "You mean we went through that for nothing?" Tiffany shouted. "But you didn't know that Tiff" Jasmine replied, "None of us did" "I'm just glad you're safe!" Lori said as she gave Jasmine a big hug, tears streaming down her face "We're all safe" Alicia replied getting an agreement from Nicole "I think I owe you girls an apology and an explanation" Miss Alvarez said speaking up. I was working by myself all this time trying to figure out how to trap Mr. Thomas ... I didn't mean to get any of you involved" The girls stood there stunned "I'm so sorry things got so out of hand with this ... .." her voice trailing off and tears forming in her eyes. The girls then gave her principal a big group hug "We know he was blackmailing you Miss A" Tiffany replied "I don't know what's going to happen to me now girls" "Testifying against Thomas and Billings would be a start" Emily chimed in "And maybe those punks that was helping him, can be expelled, but that's up to Roberts to decide their fate" "Now I guess we qualify as amateur detectives" Nicole replied, getting dirty looks from her friends, before everyone busted out in laughter "Well, if anything good came out of this day" Jasmine added "Is that I have three new awesome friends!" With that the girls all hugged and smiled THE END