Plan

"What?! Amy Elle?!," Ryan asked his father. 

"Yeah. Why are you so shocked? Everything okay?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"Dad, the girl that ran away from Tina's house, Amy is her sister," he answered. 

"What?! So you mean to say that Amy's sister ran away?," his Dad asked. 

Ryan nodded. 

"Does Amy's family know?," he asked. 

"No, they don't. They wanna tell them, though," he said. 

"Why don't they, then?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"It's because I told them not to," he said. 

"What?! Why?! Plus, why are you so involved with this case? I mean, I know it's because of Tina. But, you're going out of your way to help her!," his Dad said. 

"Dad, this is my way. This is how I help people!," he said. 

Mr. Verlice sighed. 

"I'll get you John's number," he said.

"Dad, actually, the biggest thing is that this girl, the runway, she said she wants to be like her sister. That is why she's going to district three or six," he said. 

"What? Why two?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"I dunno. Maybe, she might have some Black Monday work to do at district three. And then, she'll go to district six to see her sister," he said. 

"Yeah, that could be. But, district three is a really long way from district six. You would have to cross district four and five to get to district six," Mr. Verlice said. 

"The worst part is that no one even knows what's her motive behind it. Everybody is just so very confused and stressed about this. I can't believe those girls are spending their first Christmas away from home like this," Ryan said, sighing. 

"Say, Dad. Is Amy Elle dead?," Ryan asked. 

"No," Mr. Verlice said. 

"Oh," he said, staring at the fire. "What?!," he quickly said, eyes wide in shock. 

"Yes, she's not dead. But, why are you so shocked?!," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"Fucking hell! Why the hell did that girl run away, then, if not to take her sister's place in Black Monday?!," Ryan said, angry. 

"Wait, did you say Amy Elle's a member of Black Monday? She's not a Black Monday member! How did you even come to that conclusion?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"God, this is so weird! What do I do now? What do I say to the girls and Luke when I go to their house, tonight?!," Ryan said. 

"Wait? Luke? He's involved, too?!," his Dad asked. 

"Yeah, he is," Ryan said. 

"How much are you paying him?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"We're not paying him at all. He's doing it free of cost because he said he's earned a lot of money through you, and now's the time for him to help us," he said. 

Mr. Verlice sighed. 

"God, you're just making me worry even more! Fine, you can take Luke's help with this, since he's offering it himself. Though, I'm pretty sure you would've introduced him to the girls. But, you've got me hooked up on this. I didn't think I'd ever see a day like this in my life," Mr. Verlice said, laughing. 

"The only thing that's left to do now is to get this other girl out of jail," Ryan said. 

"What?! Which girl? Another convicted housemate?!," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"Nah, she's in jail because of this Elle girl. You just have to go to the police station and tell them to release Kayla Justin," Ryan said, getting up. 

"And you think I'm doing that with my money?!," Mr. Verlice asked. 

"Yes, you are. You should spend your cash once in a while," he said, smirking. 

"Text me John's number, Dad," he said, as he left the room.  

Mr. Verlice sighed. 

"So, her sister's not dead?!," Benny said. 

"Yup, she's not. Dad clearly said that to me," Ryan said, when he was at the girls' house that night. 

Mr. Young was there as well. 

"Call John Mason, Ryan," he said. 

"Wait just a bit more. There's a surprise for you guys," he said. 

"What surprise?," Aroma asked. 

"They could be here any minute now," he said. 

Mr. Young smirked. Ryan had already told him what it was gonna be. 

The doorbell ringed. Tina went to open the door. She was shocked to see Kayla and Mr. Verlice at the door. Her jaw dropped. 

"Oh my God!," she said, as she quickly hugged Kayla. 

Kayla laughed. 

"What? Did you miss me that much?," she said, laughing. 

Kayla herself was falling apart due to how immensely homesick she had felt during her time in jail. The other girls hugged her when Tina let go. Benny burst into tears. Mr. Verlice smiled at Ryan as he came inside silently. 

"Which one's the one you like?," he whispered to Ryan. 

He pointed at Tina as he slightly blushed. Mr. Verlice laughed. 

"Good choice. She seems extremely sweet," he said. 

"I know. Right?," he whispered back. 

"Should we continue to discuss or not?," Tina asked, after the girls had done meeting and hugging Kayla. 

"I don't think so, miss Thorne. You guys should prepare for tomorrow by getting some sleep," Mr. Young said. 

"Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?," Angelina asked. 

"Tomorrow's December 24, Christmas eve," Aroma said. 

"Tomorrow's the day Alethea leaves for district three or six," Benny said. 

Tina nodded. 

"What do we do, then? We can't get her to come back the way things are. She won't come back 'cause she's so stubborn," Kayla said. 

"How do you know all of the details, Kayla?," Angelina asked. 

"Yeah. Tina told me over the phone today. It was one long call," she said. 

"God, this is so tiring! We still have to meet Alethea's parents. We'll obviously do that tomorrow but she'll be gone tomorrow as well!," Tina said, getting anxious. 

"Don't worry. We'll figure something out," Ryan quickly said, trying to cheer her up. 

Mr. Verlice took notice of that as he thought of something. 

"You say you have to meet Alethea's parents tomorrow but at the same time, Alethea will be gone too, right?," Mr. Verlice asked. 

No one thought he'd speak at all.

The girls nodded. 

"I am no one to interfere in this matter, but since I am wealthy enough to fund your trip to district three and six, and since I'm the one who gave my son John Mason's number, I deem myself important with this case. I have an idea," Mr. Verlice said. 

"Oh, someone's talking," Mr. Young said, smirking. 

Mr. Verlice passed him a smirk. 

"Tina, you and you, will go to Alethea's parents' house tomorrow at ten in the morning," Mr. Verlice said, pointing at Tina, Benny and Angelina. 

"Ryan will take you there," he added. 

"But, why should we listen to you? Everybody just comes over and gives stupid advice," Angelina said. 

"It's not advice. It's a plan, brat! And if you don't wanna follow it, then God be with you! You won't be able to find this Alethea at all," Mr. Verlice said, shutting Angelina up. 

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes. 

"You, you and Mr. Young, will leave for district three, the same time as them," he continued, pointing at Kayla, Aroma and Luke. 

"But, what if she's not there? And where are we gonna live at?," Kayla asked. 

"I don't know if she's there or not but you have to go either way. Someone who knows me will find you there. You two girls will change your identities when you enter district three. As for Luke, he can't do that. He's not allowed to," Mr. Verlice said. 

"What? Why?," Aroma asked. 

"I'm a lawyer, miss Nash. Truth is what I support," Mr. Young said. 

"Luke knows what to do when you'll get there," Mr. Verlice said. 

"And what about district six? Who's going there?," Benny asked. 

"Me," Mr. Verlice said. 

Everyone's eyes widened. 

"Mr. Verlice, you don't have to!," Tina said. 

"I want to do whatever I can to help you. I'll go to district six tomorrow and meet John Mason and Amy Elle. I know district six's mayor. He has freedom from Black Monday to do right. The mayor of district six is the only mayor who isn't controlled by Black Monday. If that girl shows up, the mayor will help me. 

We'll all stay connected. You guys at district three will let us know if you find out that she's at district three. You'll meet a friend of mine there. He'll help you. 

If she's at district six, I'll immediately let you all know and you'll drive to that district as soon as possible. 

If her parents tell you something that's important, immediately tell us. Keep texting in the group chat I created just now, about your whereabouts. 

Everybody's gonna use fake identities in district six and three. Don't let out your true identity at all costs. If you do that, you're done for! 

That's all. You guys should sleep carefree tonight. Don't be too anxious about tomorrow. Everything will be fine. Charge your phones and other devices to their fullest. Believe in yourself!," Mr. Verlice said. 

End of Volume 3