Halfway Heroes
Page 48
When she reached the Center’s exit, she already found Sylvia driving away. Presumably she’d gone down the stairs ahead of her. Maybe I should have stowed away in Sylvia’s car. She was happy for Sylvia’s promptness, but her heart began to pound as she pictured her parents tied up somewhere, anxious and frightened. I need to get there fast!
She found Aidan in the dormitory and explained the situation to him. “Bottom line, we’ll have to try without Jando. I’ll get you to Rooke’s, but I have to go after my parents.”
“This isn’t going to work,” he said.
“Does that mean you’re not coming either?”
“No, I’ll come,” he said. “At this point, it’s worth a shot. I could try hovering against the roof of the truck.”
“Good,” Lydia said. “Be ready tomorrow, after school.”
She spent the entire evening packing her backpack with essentials: flashlight, camera, batteries, snack food, spare clothes, and the money her father had given her.
Wren had come into their room during her preparation. When she saw Lydia carefully stowing away all the gear into her backpack, she grinned. “Going on a trip?” When Lydia didn’t answer, her eyes widened. She looked closer at the backpack’s contents. “You’re planning to leave, aren’t you?” She clasped a hand over her mouth. “Oh! That’s why you were asking me!”
Lydia sat her friend down and stared her straight in the eye. “My parents were kidnapped. I have to go save them. I need you to cover for me. You can’t tell anyone, alright? Promise me.”
Wren looked at the backpack and then at Lydia. “I promise.”
“Thanks,” Lydia said.
Wren embraced her in a tight bear hug. “Good luck! Take care and kick some butt!”
* * *