Well, we'll see what comes next!!! If you guys have remedies for creativity, I'd love to hear it!! Lol, JK. Hope y'all like it and have a great weekend! Blessings, A. R. -----------------------------------------------------------      Laurel winced at the tight grip they had on her arms. She hadn’t resisted when they grabbed her, but that didn’t stop them from upsetting the basket of groceries, scaring Helen away, and striking Laurel in the face with a club.      She knew the baton had done some damage. She felt blood slowly dribbling down her face and wetting her fur. She felt lightheaded and sick, but knew better than to speak.      She was under arrest.      Laurel expected something like this would happen. But now? And what was she under arrest for? Had she not been careful enough? Did she let something slip?      The soldiers dragged her towards the Administrations head quarters, yelling and cursing at anyone who stood in their way. Laurel rolled her eyes. Sure, make a spectacle of this. What can be worse than that?      As they entered the building, Laurel tried to think of anything that would give her a clear understanding as to why she was here. She didn’t have to think very far.      Fern.      Did she say anything to anyone about her daughter’s late nights? Had she started a rumor? Laurel didn’t know, but she felt anger and disappointment swell inside her at the thought. Don’t make assumptions, Laurel! She scolded herself as she was led down some steep stairs into a dark, damp basement. She knew that all the cells were down here. There was one that was designated just for her.      The bucks who had an iron like grip on her arms paused outside one of the cells as Marvin opened the door.      Once it was open, Marvin turned and sneered at Laurel, his eyes full of a savage light. “The fun will begin later,” he snarled, grabbing one of her ears and yanking her into the cell.      Laurel yelped, clutching at her ear, but was met with a strike across her jaw. Stars filled her vision and she felt herself stumble against a wall.      “The best is yet to come, Evergreen.” Someone barked, with cruel laughter followed by a door slamming shut.      Laurel looked up, her vision gradually clearing. She was in the cell alright. She was mildly surprised at how large it was. But she was confused that there was no cot or blanket. Was this just a daytime cell? What did they have in mind to do later? Someone had said more was coming; what did they mean?      Laurel sighed, crossed her arms and closed her eyes as she tried to sort through her thoughts. She couldn’t. Nothing made sense. Why she was here, what they wanted to do with her; she didn’t know.      She thought back to yesterday, the atrocities she had seen still fresh in her mind. She could still hear Melody’s voice as she challenged Morbin. She could still hear the shriek and scream. She could still see the horrible scene…      Laurel gasped and sat upright, trembling. She tried to shake the images and sounds away. She tried to think about Patrick, and Dylan-      Laurel’s eyes widened. Where was Dylan? Was he alright? Was he in trouble too? She hoped not.      But as she sat, waiting, alone in this bare cell, she couldn’t help but worry about her friends.        Pounding footsteps and loud voices startled Laurel. She looked up in a daze as the calm door swung open. Outside stood more guards and… her mother!      The guards let go of Fern, then shoved her inside the cell. Fern leaned against the wall, her breathing fast and uneven as she looked back at the guards.      Laurel watched the soldiers, trying to recognize any of them. Her heart froze.      Tori.      He caught her eye and smirked, an evil glint in his eye. He was dressed as one of them. A Wrongtreader. Had he betrayed her? How? He didn’t know she was for the Cause, did he? Or did he start a rumor, or did he blame her for some sort of issue that came up? She didn’t know.      The door shut again, the bolt sliding into place and the soldiers walked away, laughing and talking to each other. Soon, Laurel and Fern were left in silence.      Laurel slowly got to her feet and approached the door, peaking through the small window. She couldn’t see very far.      Sighing, she turned to her mother.      Fern looked agitated. Her arms were crossed and she was muttering to herself.      Laurel felt her anger rise again when she thought of her theory from earlier.      “Mom?” She asked, her tone cold and tense.      Fern sighed, looking up at her. “Well, it looks like we’re stuck here for a bit.”      Laurel looked away from her mother to hide the snarl that formed. “Isn’t that the truth?” She muttered, pacing the cell back and forth.      Fern watched her in silence, the only sound her shuffling feet and indistinct cursing. Finally, after putting up with the agitation and muttering, Fern exhaled sharply and threw her hands into the air.      “Laurel what’s wrong?”      Laurel glared at her mother. “What’s wrong? We are under arrest for who knows what! My co worker happens to be one of them.”      Fern watched her with a steady gaze, her expression not changing.      Laurel almost screamed, but growled instead. “Of course, of course! This is all MY fault, isn’t it? What’s new, Mrs. Evergreen?” She spat, turning her back on her mom as she gripped the barred window.      Fern drew a deep breath. “Laurel, I didn’t say that… you know that I-“      Laurel turned suddenly, her eyes full of angry tears. “What? You know what? Ever since dad’s death you’ve been pinning the blame on me and treating me like trash. Now, why would I be in prison? And why are you here?”      Fern’s eyes flashed. “Laurel! If you’re implying that I had you arrested, you might as well call yourself Morbin Blackhawk.”      “So now I’m as bad as Morbin?” Laurel challenged, her voice rising.      “No! I-I, ugh Laurel! I used a bad analogy.”      “I’ll say! And I’m as bad as Blackhawk because I happen to be friends with Dylan, and because Patrick was moved because we are under scrutiny, and because I’m not good enough for your standards?” Laurel roared.      Fern opened her mouth to say something when the door swung open and a burst of pain erupted from the back of Laurel’s head. She collapsed into darkness.        Her head pounded painfully, and her ears rang. But she also felt tender hands smoothing her fur and a soft humming filled her ears. She opened her eyes, wondering if perhaps it all had been a dream. A dream that her dad was gone, that Dylan had become friends with her, that Patrick was moved, and that the Cause was nothing.      At this thought, she bolted upright, too fast, and the world spun. She groaned.      “Careful, you’ll regret moving too quickly before long.”      Laurel looked up and saw her mother sitting behind her, subtle worry in her eyes.      The anger and accusations came back, but Laurel couldn’t concentrate on them. Her head hurt so bad. And she didn’t know what they had in mind to do to her and her mother.      Fern looked up at the ceiling, sighing. “Didn’t think this would happen,” she murmured.      Laurel looked up at her mom, her heart sinking. “You didn’t?”      Fern grimaced. “No. I didn’t. Laurel, I’m sorry that we've been fighting so much. But you have to know that I never would want to have you arrested. I love you, regardless, and would never want to rat on you.”      Laurel felt tears well up in the corner of her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mom.”      Fern scooted over next to her daughter and pulled her into her arms. “I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t be upset that you’re seeing someone, despite their rank.” But her eyes dimmed. “And that you have a different calling than I.”      Laurel’s heart stopped beating. Her lungs constricted and she couldn’t speak. She looked up at her mom in shock.      Fern gave her a brave look. “Your father knew you would follow in his stead. I didn’t think you would, but… well, it doesn’t matter now. What does matter is that they don’t find out.”      Laurel swallowed. Her mom knew. How long? She didn’t know.      “Then… then why do you seem so angry when you think I’m with… captain Walters?” She asked quietly.      Fern gave her a small smile. “Well, I had to appear angry about something in order to hide the truth, Laurel. And it just so happened that a lieutenant was in the scenario, and it sort of unfolded that way.”      Laurel felt her cheeks blush. “Mom, do you-"      She was cut off by loud footsteps echoing down the hall and low voices. Laurel turned to look at her mother with wide eyes. Fern swallowed.      “Come what may,” she whispered, kissing her daughter’s forehead.      The key rattled in the lock and the door swung open, a high pitched squeal bouncing off the walls. Laurel and Fern got to their feet and braced themselves against the wall as they saw who awaited them.      Vitton smiled at them, his eyes dancing with a psychotic light. Behind him, he had his soldiers, all carrying different tools of cruelty.      “Well, Mrs. And Miss Evergreen. Suppose I should enlighten you both? Perhaps with a… lesson, maybe?” With a gloved hand, he waved in his soldiers.      “A lesson you'll never forget.”