Time is Running Out

Chapter 8

"It's been so long," Rachel groaned. "Should we go home?"

"We promised her we would wait for her," Emma said,

watching the sunset. "And if we went home, what would we tell Joy's mum?"

"I don't know," Rachel said weakly, "my mom

is so going to kill me."

The sky started to get dark, and they got so bored that Rachel decided that they were to play games.

"Caught you!" Rachel said happily.

Emma groaned, "Can we not play this game!"

"Nope!" Rachel giggled.

They seemed to have forgotten where they were and what had happened. But that changed when the girls suddenly saw three figures walking toward them.

"Ahhhhh! The Kidnapper!"Emma screamed. "Three? Wait. W-what?"

"It's them!" Rachel gasped.

"Who?!" Emma said.

"Gemma Paris, Laura Paris and Tammy Brendon!" Rachel said, "but... where is Joy?"

"Still being kidnapped, I suppose?" Emma muttered incoherently.

They started walking towards Gemma, Laura and Tammy.

"Emma-rachel!" they yelled when they saw them.

"Gemma, Laura, Tammy!" Rachel and Emma shouted together.

"Where have you been?" Rachel cried.

"K-k-kidnapped-by-Alden," the youngest, Tammy stuttered. "A-Alden-is－"

"We know who he is!" Emma interrupted. "Joy called and told us!"

"But... where is Joy?" Rachel asked.

The three fugitives looked at each other warily.

"TELL US WHERE SHE IS!" Emma shouted, her worry stretching her to breaking point.

"Well..." Laura muttered.

"Sh-she is still wi-with... with Alden!" Gemma burst out, face covered with tear streaks.

"We figured as much," Emma said grimly, "but

what happened?"

"Um..." said Laura. "Joy said Alden told her to give us food."

"Then?" Rachel prompted.

"She took too long explaining, and Alden asked if he ne-needed to check o-o-o-on u-u-u-u-us," Gemma whispered hoarsely.

"Then-Joy-made-us-leave-and-and-she-pretended-to- faint-and-and-and-and we-were-hiding-in-the-bushes- so-we-saw-and-and-and-Alden-was-screaming-and-so- was-his-wife-Mary-and-we-ran-away-actually-I-ran- away- they-didn't-but-they-had-to-run-after-me-and-I- want-to-say-sorry-and-I-was-just-really-scared-and－" Tammy said that all in one breath then gasped for air- "and-I-didn't-mean-to-run-my-legs-did-it-not-me-I'm- sorry-ok-don't-hate-me-please-um-I-just-I-just-don't- blame-me-I－"

"Too. Much. In. One. Breath! You'll hallucinate!" Gemma shouted.

"Sorry-just-please-stop-shouting-I-can't-help-it-it-is- the-way-I-talk-I-don't-really-do-it-on-purpose-sorry- Gemma-please－"

"STOP!"

"Stop-shouting-I'm-not-trying-to-please－"

"STOP!"

"Calm down! Both of you!" shrieked Rachel.

"Sorry-really-I-just-don't-know-how-to-speak- properly-I've-always-been-speaking-like-this-and-I've- tried-to-change-but-it-has-never-worked-so-I-decided-to-give-up-and-so-this-is-the-way-I've-always-spoken-and- I'll-always- speak-like--" Tammy spluttered, face turning purple.

"BREATHE!" Laura yelled.

"We should try to call Joy to see if she's okay," Gemma said.

"I'll do it while you try to get Tammy to

breathe," Emma offered, tapping the call button.

Ring!

Tammy stopped spluttering.

Ring!

Rachel stared at Emma's watch.

Ring!

Laura fell to her knees.

Ring!

Still no one answered.

They looked at each other in worry.