Time is Running Out

Chapter 4

The next day, the girls got their bicycles and provisions to meet up at the local park, but that morning, all three girls got into trouble.
 
Rachel had the least trouble. "As long as you don't go to Alundi Woods!" her maid said. "You won't, will you?"
 
Rachel felt terrible, lying to her. "I won't, Lily," she said nervously and guiltily, thinking of the dangerous adventure ahead of the trio. She left and walked her bicycle to the park.

Joy got a bit mad at her mother.

"Don't go to Alundi Woods," her mom told her.

"I won't. Don't fuss!" said Joy.
 
"I know you, Joy... Maybe I should keep you home," Josie mused.
 
"WHAT? Mom!" cried Joy.
 
"Alright, Joy, but you'd better not go to Alundi Woods," warned Josie, relenting. "You know I'll ground you for the rest of this year if I find out you're going there."

"Ok," Joy said, shivering at the thought of the grounding she would most likely get.
 
"Promise," said Josie.
 
Joy gritted her teeth.
 
"I promise," she said.
 
"No," Josie said, folding her arms across her chest uncompromisingly. "You have to mean it, Joy."
 
"I promise," Joy said angrily.
 
"Why do I get the feeling that you still don't mean it?"
 
"I promise!" Joy shouted, snapping at her breaking point.
 
"Don't scream."

Emma almost didn't go. "You were supposed to stay home, remember?" said Emma's sister, Verinia.
 
"Yeah, so what?" said Emma.
 
"So where are you trying to sneak off to?"
 
"What do you mean?"
 
"Don't pretend! You're taking your bicycle, getting provisions..."

"Well, why can't I go?"
 
"Because Mom said that you have to stay inside the house!"
 
Emma glared at Verinia and decided she'd have to do something very drastic. "Fine. Just let me tell my friends I can't go." She pretended she wasn't going.

"Good. Use the telephone."
 
Ignoring her sister's demand on purpose, Emma used her own phone to call Rachel. "Hey!"   
 
"Where are you? You're late!" said Rachel, who was already ready and waiting for the others.
 
"My sister won't let me go!"
 
"What?"

"Yeah, so I'm going to jump out of the window."
 
"WHAT?! Are you crazy?!"
 
"Probably. So, can you come to the backyard with a trampoline?"
 
"I don't have one. I'll ask Joy."
 
"Thanks! You're a life-saver, Rachel. Bye."
 
"Um, Emma? Emma?"

She was gone.

Rachel phoned Joy.
 
"Hi, Rachel," said Joy, taking the phone call.

"Can you bring your trampoline to Emma's home?"
 
"What? Why? No!"
 
"Thanks, I'll come over to help get it."
 
"What? Rachel, wait! I SAID NO!"
 
But Rachel was gone.
 
A while later, the doorbell rang. Joy opened the door to find a breathless, panting Rachel.

"What on earth is this about?" Joy cried.
 
"Emma's sister won't let her go. We're going to sneak your trampoline into her backyard so she can jump out," explained Rachel quickly.
 
"Are you both crazy?!" exclaimed Joy.
 
Rachel shrugged. "She said 'probably'. Come on! We have no time to lose! Wait. I am NOT crazy!"
 
Joy ignored her.
 
They dragged the trampoline out of the door carefully. Josie didn't suspect a thing.

✴✴✴

"Emma!" Joy called out.
 
Emma's head appeared out of the huge window. "Joy, Rachel! Hang on. Watch out!" she said and threw her bicycle and rucksack out of the window.
 
They bounced on the trampoline. Joy and Rachel grabbed and set them aside.
 
Then Emma jumped.