t/w death, mentions of suicide, car crash
too tired to proofread

Lucie absentmindedly sipped on a juice box. The sound of Gregory Patterson's preaching carried out through the crowd of around maybe five hundred. "Hey, Lulu." A familiar voice greeted. "Hey, Laur." Lucie turned to her and smiled a little. "How are you today?" The blonde asked and the Afro-Latina shrugged. "I'm doing okay." She replied. Laura opened her mouth to say something else but Gregory spoke up.

"Sister Laura, sister Lucie, it is rude to speak when the one prophet is speaking." He said. "Sorry, sir." Lucie said, meekly while Laura wore a slight scowl. "I'll tell you later." Laura whispered and Gregory shook his head. "Sister Laura, what did I just say?" He chuckled a little. "I was only telling Lucie I'd talk to her later, that's it." Between the pair, Laura was always the more outspoken one. Lucie couldn't even dream of being like that.

"Very well." And he continued his preaching.

That night, in the second girl's dormitory, Laura shook Lucie awake. The Afro-Latina shot up and the blonde took a finger to her lips, telling her to be quiet. Slowly, the two walked into the locker room. Yes, they had a locker room.

"What is it?" Lucie asked. "Do you remember Tamara?" Laura asked. Lucie looked down at the ground; of course she remembered Tamara. Tamara slept in the bed to the right of her (Laura sleeps to the left) and she was like a big sister to the two girls. Two years ago , when the girls were ten and Tamara was fifteen , she started talking about how she was losing faith in what Gregory was saying. She didn't talk to many other's about it, only Laura, Lucie and one other girl named Valentina.

Lucie remembered the words she said to her one day; "I truly hope you escape this place, Lu. You're smart, bright and by whoever's up there, I know you're gonna do amazing things."

Simple words that had been said to a million different people. But it the 'I truly hope you escape this place' that had stuck with her. That last little bit just felt like a key chain to her.

After about two months, Tamara was gone. Lucie and Laura woke up one morning to find her bed empty and few of her things missing. 

"Sister Lucie, sister Laura, do you know where sister Tamara is?" Gregory asked them during breakfeast. Laura just looked down at her plate whilst Lucie explained that she had been gone when she woke up. Gregory nodded and thanked her, ruffling her hair.

Six months later, they heard that Tamara had "accidentally" killed herself. They weren't told how it was done and they never wanted to know.

"What about her?" Lucie asked quietly. "I'm starting to think like her. And I know you are too." Laura tilted her head.

"No, I am not. I positively, absolutely, am not." Lucie stood up, brushing her white nightgown. Every girl in the church of the true stars wore them to sleep. "Lucie David, we have been best friends since we were babies. I know when you're lying." Laura stood up and crossed her arms.

She didn't want to admit it, but Lucie was right. As much as she didn't want to, it made sense. But it was all she knew. What else was she supposed to do? Just pack up and go?

"Well, Laura Easton, you're right." She whispered that last part. Laura looked up at the ceiling. "We'll leave tomorrow night then."

"WHAT?!" Lucie screamed, her hand quickly flying to mouth as Laura placed a hand over her other one. "SHHHHHHHH!!!" She urged. "We can't do that!" Lucie whisper-yelled. "Tamara did." The blonde crossed her arms. "Why couldn't we?"

Gregory didn't really have security in the church. He was of the firm belief that no one would leave. Well, in the six months until Tamara's death, they had security but it was just members of the church who stood at the exits with guns. One day, it had been Lucie and Laura. Also Valentine and some girl named Riley. She slept in the first girl's dormitory so they didn't really know her. But once Tamara 'killed herself', he thought he had given his example, and he stopped the security. Gregory was fucking delusional.

"Okay." The Afro-Latina nodded. "Fine."

"Good." The blonde smiled.

The next day, Lucie could not focus on anything. Not on Gregory's preaching, not on anything. As her parents turned to walk towards the couple's dormitory, Lucie stopped them. "Mama, papa?" She called. "Yes?" Sofia turned towards her daughter, kneeling down. Michael stood close by. 

"I love you guys." The twelve year said with a smile. "We love you to, Lucie. Now go to sleep." Michael smiled and grabbed his wife's arm, as the two walked away. 

As for Anne and Laura, Laura told her that she was sorry for anything she'd ever done to upset her and that was that.

That night, Lucie could not sleep. Laura was quickly packing their things. One backpack for Lucie, one backpack for her. "Here." She handed Lucie her bag and Lucie quickly put on her shoes.

They slowly crept out of the dormitory and down the halls and out the door. For the next couple days, the two girls lived off the snacks they had. They didn't have any money so they weren't sure what to do when they ran out.

But then that night came. That night if those dark woods.

"You've been really quiet for awhile. You okay back there, Laurie?" Lucie turned around and pointed her flashlight at nothing. Laura was gone. "Laura?!" Lucie yelled, already starting to panic. She started running and dropped her flashlight. Frantically, she continued calling her named to no response.

"Laura!" She was screaming. "Laura, please answer me! Where are you?!" She was sobbing. She was terrified now. "Laura!" 

Lucie hadn't realized she was in the middle of the road and before she could react, a car came up beside her, hitting her.