Deadly Reunion by Elisabeth Crabtree

grabbed Crystal’s arm. “Let's calm down. Don't do anything that you will regret.”
    Crystal sneered up at him. “Ge t your filthy hands off of me.” Kyle held her arm tighter, not quite sure what to do next.
    Enraged, Crystal reached down and bit his hand causing him to release her. Once free, Crystal charged after Hope, tackling her to the ground.
    Kyle watched, horrified, as both women fell to the floor and then rolled down the stairs. He rushed forward shouting their names. In the second it took him to reach the stairs, the fight was over. Crystal had only fallen part of the way. She had a hold of the bannister and was already pulling herself into a standing position.
    Hope was a few s teps below Crystal. Like Crystal, she had broken her fall by grabbing ahold of the bannister. However, unlike Crystal, she was making no attempt to stand up.
    Kyle dashed down the stairs and past Crystal, who was slowly climbing back up. By the time Kyle reached Hope, she was sitting up, holding her head in her hands, and moaning. He gently pulled her hands away to see blood pouring out of a large gash on her head. She was going to need stiches. Hopefully, that was all she was going to need, Kyle thought, as he reached for his phone.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I'm going to call an ambulance.” Hope tried to grab his arm. “Stay still, Hope.”
    “I don't need an ambulance. I'm fine. It's just a little cut,” she insisted. “Where's my phone?”
    “Hope , that's not important. I think you should be checked out by a doctor.”
    “I'm fine. Let’s just go back to the gym. We’ll find Diana and she can patch me up,” Hope said, trying to appease him. “I’m sure it looks worse than what it is.” Hope looked down at her dress and groaned. “Can you do me a favor first?” she asked, smiling up at him.
    Kyle nodded , reluctantly.
    “G o into the ladies' room and get me some paper towels. I'm getting blood all over my dress.”
    Women. Kyle ran his hand through his hair, deciding it would be best to do as she asked. “Where's the restroom?”
    “Down the stairs , next to the trophy case,” Hope directed.
    “Don 't move. I will be right back.” Kyle ran down the stairs and into the closest restroom. He collected a handful of paper towels, and ran back out and up to the stairs only to discover Hope was already gone.
     
    *  *  *  *
     
    Kyle closed his cell phone and walked around the perimeter of the gym again. No sign of Hope or Crystal. In fact, he hadn't seen any of Grace's friends since he walked into the gym.
    He was starting to get desperate when he noticed Tom Lake walk across the stage, and disappear behind a black curtain.
    Kyle followed him. When he reached the curtain, he found Melodie pacing back in forth in front of Diana and Tom, who were seated at a small table.
    Diana was pleading with Melodie to sit down. Tom was slouched in a chair with his arms crossed at his chest. Melodie was obviously agitated and angry. As Kyle approached, he overheard her say, “I'm sick of Crystal and her diva attitude. She needs—”
    Kyle would have liked to hear the rest of what she was going to say, but Melodie stopped speaking when she heard him approach.
    “Have any of you seen Crystal or Hope?”
    Tom was the first to speak. “What's wrong?” he asked anxiously.
    Kyle explained what had happened, purposely leaving out what the two women had fought about. While Kyle was talking, Tom took out his cell phone, and held it to his ear. “She's not answering,” he said, snapping his phone shut.
    Diana stood up, shaking. “I'll run to my office and grab my first-aid kit.” Turning to Melodie, she said, “I have my phone. As soon as you find either one of them, call me on my cell. I’ll find Eric and let him know what’s going on, too. I’m sure he’ll help us search.”
    Melodie nodded her head. “I’ll check the restrooms,” she said, following the older woman out into the gym.
    Tom stood up. “I'll check