Episode 12: Ascent Out Of Darkness

CHAPTER 1: AFTERMATH

It had been two weeks since Margaux's funeral, and things finally started to quiet down. Lucy had started going to counseling for her grief and guilt feelings. Her friendship with Charlie Brown was restored prior to the tragic event that cost Margaux her life. Though her friendship with Peppermint Patty was still on the mend. They had started talking again, but Patty was still wary of Lucy after lying about her intentions at the Homecoming game two years prior. But she agreed to try to work things out and work toward forgiveness, especially since Lucy had left the Serpent Sisters.

Lucy was waiting in the office to talk to the psychiatrist. She was starting to feel a little better but wanted to deal with her feelings a little more. She couldn't get over the guilt of Margaux pushing her out the way and getting shot in her place. When the doctor called Lucy in she followed, and the session began.

Elsewhere, Sally was trying on new clothes. Charlie Brown walked in and saw that Sally was looking at herself in the mirror. She even had her hair done up different and she was wearing makeup.

"Sally?" he began. "What in the world are you doing?"

"Oh hi, big brother," she said cheerily. "Just trying out a new look. Of this doesn't win back Linus, I don't know what will!"

"You STILL believe Linus is blinded by Eudora?!" said Charlie Brown in disbelief. "What is it going to take for you to see that they are truly in love and Eudora never stole him from you. There wasn't anything for her to steal because he wasn't with you to begin with!"

"Oh yes he was," said a delusional Sally. "He just was in denial."

"DENIAL?! Good grief, my sister's gone insane!" And a spent Charlie Brown left the room. Sally continued to look over her new look.

"Look out, Linus!" she said to herself. "A new-improved Sally's coming to get ya!"

Peppermint Patty and Marcie were studying together at Marcie's house. Patty was getting back on track with her studies after the whole drama of the Homecoming incident. Plus she and Lucy were speaking again, but Patty was keeping her at arm's length for the time being.

"How are you coming on your homework, sir?" asked Marcie.

"Okay, I guess," said Peppermint Patty. "I was thinking about all that has happened these past few months, Marcie. The whole Homecoming drama, Lucille and the Serpent Sisters, that girl Margaux getting killed, is anything sacred anymore?"

"I'm sure it is, sir," assured Marcie. "Yeah, things have been rough, and that situation with Margaux was tragic, but we need to keep going. Remember what Linus said at her funeral? We just need to keep moving. We will never forget what happened, but we can't linger on it, either."

"I guess you're right, Marcie," said Patty. "Though I'm not ready to warm back up to Lucille yet, either. Sure we're speaking again, but I just can't forget that she deliberately lied about her intentions at the game. I don't know if I can trust her again."

"Just give it time, sir. And like you said, let her try to earn your trust back. Don't completely shut her out, but let's see what happens." And the two girls continued their homework.

NEXT CHAPTER: JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE DRAMA WAS OVER…