Episode 7: Descent Into Darkness-Point of No Return

CHAPTER 1: EXIT LUCY VAN PELT; ENTER MAMBA

At the Serpent Sisters' hideout at the abandoned warehouse, all of the lights were out, except for a bunch of candles that were lit. Cobra was dressed in a red robe, while Python, Anaconda, and Rattler were dressed in black robes. Lucy was wearing a white robe and knelt down in front of Cobra. The other girls were off to the side. There was an alter set up in between Cobra and Lucy. At the alter were a pitcher of what was believed to be a fruit juice, and a goblet covered in rubies, pearls, and emeralds.

Lucy had completed her initiation into the Serpent Sisters. Now she was about to receive her snake handle. She was once again happy and satisfied with her life, and she had friends again who didn't judge her based on past mistakes. In fact, it was her scheme against Charlie Brown at the Homecoming game two years prior that got the Serpents interested in her in the first place. And now she was about to be one of them.

"Lucy Van Pelt," Cobra began, "you have showed great promise, excellent skills at mayhem, and fierce loyalty to your fellow Serpent Sister. You have completed your initiation and tests of loyalty and succeeded with flying colors. Tonight I am proud to welcome you into the Serpent Sisters gang. From now on you will go by your new Serpent handle which I will reveal in a moment. You will still answer to Lucy if any adults call on you like your parents or teachers. Do not lash out at them about your name. Also any siblings or relatives you may have can still call you by your given birth name. But as for outsiders, your new Serpent name will be… Mamba!"

"Welcome, Mamba!" announced the other three girls.

"To complete the ceremony," Cobra finished, "we will all drink from the Goblet of Sisterhood." Cobra poured some of the punch into the goblet. She was the first to drink from it, then Python, then Mamba, then Anaconda, and finally Rattler.

"The ceremony is now complete," said Cobra. "Welcome to the Serpent Sisters, Mamba." The girls cheered and Mamba smiled big. She made it. She was now a Serpent Sister.

Elsewhere, Charlie Brown and Linus were at the wall talking. He was telling Charlie Brown about the argument Mamba (nee Lucy) had with Peppermint Patty.

"Are you sure about this, Linus?" asked Charlie Brown.

"Definitely, Charlie Brown," said a concerned Linus. "Lucy's now a member of the Serpent Sisters! I never would have believed it myself if I hadn't heard it for myself. Also she and the others apparently vandalized a school."

"Well Peppermint Patty and her almost came to blows at Ace's the other day, so I wasn't sure how true it was that she joined up with the Serpents, until you said she admitted it."

"I don't know if I should come to mom and dad about the situation. I don't want to upset Lucy at all."

"Linus, if she's in a dangerous gang, you have to tell your parents. No matter how upset she'll get, and we both know how angry Lucy can get, you owe it to yourself AND her. How did this come about anyway?"

"As far as I know, it started after the fallout from Homecoming. She was desponded and I think one of the Serpents approached her and pitched her idea about Lucy joining them."

"I guess that makes sense," Charlie Brown said. "I wasn't talking to her, and other folks were pretty much ignoring her. And the ones who still talked to her were weary of her because of what happened."

"I'm just worried that she'll put a hurting on me if I tell my parents," said Linus.

"She usually does that without much provocation, anyway," stated Charlie Brown. "You have to do something, Linus."

"I know. But I'll talk to her first before doing anything myself."

"Probably a good idea. Convince her to come clean to your parents first, then if she refuses, go from there."

"Yeah, but I hope it don't cost me in the long run." Both boys stood for a while thinking about what will happen with Lucy, who, unbeknownst to both of them, was now calling herself Mamba.

NEXT CHAPTER: PEPPERMINT PATTY GETS SOME GOOD NEWS; MELANIE NOT SO MUCH