The Night

Chapter 39: Caught

Tuck's POV
"Pass!" Rocky called. I turned to my right and kicked the ball to Rocky, who ran up to it and perfectly kicked it towards Tracker.

"Who wants it?" Tracker offered.

"Lemme take a turn," Everest said as she raised her hand.

"Are you sure you won't kick it to someone's head again?" I joked.

"Ha, ha, ha," Everest sarcastically laughed. "Very funny. Pass!" Tracker shrugged, not knowing what to do, and kicked the ball to Everest. Everest ran up and kicked it away from her. Rex went running towards the ball and kicked it to Skye. Skye's back was turned, so she didn't know the ball was heading for her.

"Skye! Ball!" Chase warned.

"What?" Skye yelled back as she turned around and saw the ball. Without hesitation, Skye put her arms in front of her and set it like a volleyball. The ball then bounced back to Rex, who ran up to it and hit it back to her with his head. This time, Skye kicked the ball, making it go back to Chase. "Sorry I didn't kick it the first time. I didn't know."

"It's fine," Rex smiled.

"Spread out, guys," Tracker instructed. We all stood in a circle and moved away from each other as far as possible. Chase started by kicking the ball to Rocky, who kicked it to Marshall, who kicked it to Tracker, who kicked it to me, who kicked it to Skye, who kicked it to Max, who kicked it to Everest.

"Thank God," Zuma announced as he and Rubble ran into the gym, almost trampling each other. "Have you guys seen Ella?"

"Ella?" Everest asked for confirmation as she kicked the ball, not looking where it was getting kicked.

"Duck!" I warned.

"Duck? Where?" Marshall questioned as he looked around the gym. The ball flew over and slapped Marshall flat n the face. "C'mon," Marshall complained as he rubbed his face. "Again?"

"Surprised your nose isn't bleeding," Skye said as she walked up to Marshall. She then began to examine his face and saw that it had a red mark.

"Sorry...again," Everest apologized as she wore a small smirk.

"You don't know where Ella is?" I spoke up.

"No," Zuma shook his head. "Oh, hi, Rocky. Hey, Rex. Hey, Tracker." The three guys waved back at Zuma as we all looked at each other.

"I saw her last right before we ran into the gym," Skye informed.

"Same," Everest nodded.

"Pretty sure that was the last time any of us saw her," Max announced.

"We ran into the nurse's office, and she was with us," Rubble illuminated. "She ran out, and now she's gone."

"Scan the area," Rocky stated. Rocky, Zuma, Skye, Everest, and Rubble ran all over the gym, peeking into the closets, bathrooms, and hallways.

"So you guys have "code words" now?" I asked Skye.

"I mean, yeah," she responded, not making eye contact. "But everyone understands that one."

"Nurse outside!" Rubble shouted as he looked back at us. He kneeled in front of a window and peeked outside.

"Out now?" Everest questioned.

"Yeah," Rubble nodded. "And it looks like she's talking to someone."

"Could it be Ella?" Rocky asked as we all grouped around the window.

"Can't tell," Rubble replied.

"Okay," Zuma began. We all turned to look at him as he cleared his throat. Zuma pointed at Skye and Everest and then did several random signs and movements with his hands. After, he signaled to Rubble and Rocky and did other uneven indications and gestures. "Got it?" They all nodded and looked at each other in response. "Great, let's go!" They all began to run off when the rest of us stood there with confused expressions.