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Chapter 3: Fright Night
"Theodora, I'd break it out," Teague pocketed his phone, then looked to Howard, "Howard, do you know how to use a gun?"
"Yes, I'm gay, and a few places come to mind," replied Carl.
"I don't blame him. She's super suspicious," replied Audrey, before it dawned on her, "And I just realized how rich that is coming from me."
"Not with any particular skill," Howard admitted, "But I can manage," he narrowed his eyes, "Why am I not surprised you came armed?"
"One moment..." Theodora went rooting about in her case, "Never fear, Howard, there's no way you're worse a shot than I am, and this one's been dragging me to shooting ranges for the last six months."
She retrieved her weapon, holding it in what she had been told was the correct way, though the thing still felt ungainly as all else in her hands.
"I'm sure we're supposed to find it reassuring that you were hiding all these firearms from us?" asked Fitz dryly.
"Don't suppose you've got anything in that old bag for me, Mr. Wizard?" asked Tina.
"You're still drunk!" snapped Fitz.
"I'm always drunk. I can still use a gun."
"I'll go check the girls' cabins," said Phyllis, "Before you ask, no, I can't use a gun and, quite, frankly, I'm not going to try. Dave," she turned to Evans, "Dave, are you alright to come with?"
***
"Awesome," Eli nodded, "You can lead the way. Deanna's tiny, but she's not a ghost. She'll have left some trace of her somewhere."
"A pile of weed more than likely," muttered Micah. Eli glared but figured there was no point disputing that.
***
"Audrey, you've been so suspicious so many times that it is by now scientifically impossible for you to ever be responsible for anything nefarious ever again," observed Brooke, "I wouldn't get self-conscious about it."
-Howard, Theodora, Tina, Fitz, Phyllis, Eli, Micah and Brooke
"Howard, take my backup," Teague set his left foot on the bed and retrieved his 9 mil, and handed it to Howard, grip first, "There's 12 in the mag, one in the pipe."
"Alright, let's move," said Carl.
"It's just that I was so shady... I never thought you guys would take me back as a friend," Audrey sighed, "And it wouldn't surprise me if Noah still has a suspect."
Howard accepted the gun with a curt nod, "With any good hope, we won't have to use these."
"There are four girl's cabins, five boys, lined up on opposite sides of the main causeway," said Phyllis, pulling a weather-ready beige greatcoat on over her dressing gown.
"We should gather everybody in the common hall," said Theodora, "It's the safest and surest place."
Phyllis nodded an agreement, "I don't see much reason to keep up the gender divide...Howard, would you like to get the girls with me?"
Howard looked at her, a strange glint in his eye. Finally, though, he nodded, "Yes. Of course."
"Then I'll collect the boys," Theodora nodded, "Howard, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but no flashing that gun about in front of the kids, unless something actually happens."
"I'll go with you," Tina moved to her side.
"What a blessed relief," she turned to Teague, "Edward, would you go to the common hall? There's a landline there, it might be it hasn't been scrambled."
***
"Not gonna lie," said Micah as they moved out, "This is actually kinda exciting," he paused, "I mean, not in a good way, but..."
"We get it."
They filed out, west from the cabin.
***
"Noah's got almost everybody as a suspect," said Brooke, "Sometimes I think he suspects himself. I wouldn't worry about it."
-Howard, Theodora, Phyllis, Tina, Micah, Eli and Brooke
"Roger that. Stay together, and watch each other's backs," Teague ordered, "After you clear a cabin, lock the door behind you. We don't want that Bastard using them as a hiding place."
Audrey nodded. Could she tell Emma...she'd already told Brooke...she said, "I love both of you. And you're two of the best friends I've ever had."
Aleks sighed a moment, "Zach...what we've been through, hell I doubt anyone could understand half the tragedy our group alone has suffered. And what I've told you...the little you've told me....I'm surprised we're still sane to be honest."
She was shocked as hell they weren't all locked in a psych ward for that matter, especially all things considered.
"I've got a scar on my abdomen from where Kieran tried to kill me...and I walk around every day with that phantom pain. What I guess that I'm trying to say....is that I can be there for you to talk to about it Zach. Everyone needs someone, and right now you were there for me, so let me be here for you too. Alright?"
She asked him, taking hold of his hand and giving it a squeeze.
Emma sat there a moment, not sure exactly what to say. She didn't want to mess up her friendship with Audrey, not again, not after everything. But there had been that betrayal of Audrey bringing Piper to Lakewood, how could she sit by that?
So she just sat there in stunned silence, for once not able to say a word.
"Audrey..."
This was veering very sharply into 'Very Real' territory. Brooke was tempted to advise her friend that she didn't have to let the moment take her where it was going, but she remembered (none too well) her own grappling with the ugly truth.
You never wanted it to come out. But it had its way in the end. And vindication was sweeter than silence.
"You know you always have my love, honey," she said instead, figuring that as invitation enough to continue.
***
"And...and I wanna be there for you," Zach let her hold his hand, smiling despite himself, "I'm glad you care, Aleks. I...I care too. It's...it's been hard, I'm not gonna lie...letting myself care after what happened to my Mom, and..." he paused, bitterly, "And to Jake."
He looked back at her, "The time's probably gonna come when I have no choice but to talk about it. And when I say 'it', I...I don't mean how I feel about my Mom or Jake or Will or any of them. I could probably talk about that for hours. Not that I'd like to, but...I could."
He turned to her, "You wouldn't want to hear all of it, though. A lot of it's pretty embarrassing."
-Brooke and Zach
"Emma...Brooke already knows this, but there's something I need to tell you," Audrey finally said, after a period of silence.
Aleks held onto his hand, "I wouldn't find any of it like that...I'm here for you Zach, I promise until the day that its all over."
She was glad that they had this moment, because she wasn't sure when or if they'd have time like this to talk again.
"If you ever need to talk, I'm here. A call or text away, I don't care if I'm with the girls or anything...I'll come to talk to you. I promise it."
She told him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze as she nodded her head.
"What Audrey?" Emma asked, tilting her head as she looked at her for a second.
"I...the night after Rachel died... I went to Piper, because she was the only person I could think of, and...," Audrey started, trying to calm herself down, "And... she used me."
Deanna wasn't sure how long she had been unconscious for, and slowly she started to come awake.
Her head hurt, her body ached, and she suddenly came to the realization that she was tied to a tree in three different areas.
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh uh oh
Fear gripped the young Wilcox for the first time in her life.
"H-Hello?" She called out, her voice hoarse and barely audible.
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I've had just enough time
Deanna wasn't one to go down without a fight.
She tugged roughly at the restraints against her wrists, the ones that bound her to the tree, no luck.
Once more she tried to move her ankles, unable to do such a thing.
If I die young bury me in satin.
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
She wanted to see Kieran, for the first time in her life she wanted her big brother, even after everything he had done to her.
She had only called out for him to save her life, and right now she was actually fearing for her life.
"K-kieran..."
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
Her entire body was strung up, and she could feel blood all over her face.
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp intake of her breathe, the way it hurt her chest.
Fractured ribs at the least, bruising on her abdomen, chest and along her spine from what she could ascertain.
Though being strung up the same way Clark had, that had her shuddering in her blood stained clothes.
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
She could still feel the weight of her gun in her waistband, which meant her abductor had never found it.
But her hands were too tied up above her head for her to get any use of it.
"Someone....anyone..."
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
She still couldn't use her voice that well, it was like her abductor had choked her at least twice.
But she could barely move, and right now she feared for her life.
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
She feared for her life more than that night that she had held the gun up to her own big brother.
The memories hit her like a ton of bricks, and she felt as if she had nothing left to live for.
She hadn't seen Smoke, she hadn't said goodbye to him, goodbye to Coral, to anyone...not even her dreadful aunt Tina, not even Eli.
Who the hell would even know she was gone?
She had seen that strange Dave Evans last, before she took off in the woods.
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh (uh oh)
"Look you asshole...if your still out there watching..."
She coughed, blood spurting out of her mouth.
"I won't give you the damn satisfaction!"
She yelled out the best she could, more blood escaping her lips.
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
"I'd rather die than give you sick son of a bitch the satisfaction of watching me cry out for help anymore!"
She bit out, her tone just as sharp as Kieran's at that moment.
Hell she sounded a hell of a lot like her brother in that moment, spiteful, full of rage, almost like a psychopathic killer.
"When I get out of these...I'll shoot your face off!"
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls
No Deanna Wilcox wasn't going to go down without a few threats of her own.
That was for damn sure of things.
"I'll...I'll make good on that," Zach nodded, "I promise."
He looked about, sighing, "Let me...uh...let me get some water for these bandages. They'll want...uh...changing. At some point."
He vanished into the bathroom, and soon the only sound in the cabin was of running water. Oblivious to Zach, the phone on Aleks's nightstand buzzed.
'If he remembers he dies.'
'No second chances,'
***
Brooke bit her lip, lowering herself onto her bed as she looked with mute appeal from Audrey to Emma. She did not want to appear partial or else she would've leant Audrey some little show of support...a hand on her arm or some silliness like that.
But Audrey had never been one for such displays anyway. Brooke refrained.
-Zach and Brooke
Aleks stared at her phone knowing all to well, she had already said to much to him.
She sat there staring at the messages on the screen, feeling the tears falling down her cheeks.
'Don't take him from me...'
'You've already taken everything... leave him be, please... I'll do anything else..'
She sent the messages quickly, before erasing them and slamming her phone down on her bed.
***
Emma sat there, silent for what seemed like forever.
Without a word she got up, looking back at both her friends. "I ned some air...."
And with that, Emma left the cabin and headed to the nearest bench.
'And given you so much more.'
"Hey," Zach asked, reemerging with a newly soaked roll of gauze, "What's up?"
***
"Em?" Brooke called after her, "Emma!"
She paused in the doorway, "Um...okay? That was productive," she turned to Audrey, "Are you okay? Be honest."
-Zach and Brooke
Aleks started blankly at the message.
''Tell me what it'll take to keep him?'
She looked up wiping her eyes, "N-nothing."
"I'm...I'm not sure," Audrey answered honestly, "At least she didn't yell...right?"
Zach clears his throat, "So, uh...if you're, like, alright, I could..."
He almost said 'I could leave', but that sounded like a dick thing to say. And, anyway, he knew that you could never really tell when you weren't alright until you actually weren't. It wouldn't be fair to Aleks to just leave her alone.
"I can bunk down here. Yanno, 'till...Audrey shows up. If you want."
***
"No, she just denied you the healing power of closure," said Brooke, "It's almost worse. No, wait, it is worse than yelling. Yelling is actually very helpful, believe me, I know. It gets your baggage out there and you usually feel better after."
She looked about, at a loss, before making up her mind, "I'm bringing her back. We're all grown women, we should be able to have an honest discussion, hot or cold. We deserve that much."
-Zach and Brooke
"You want me to go with?" Audrey stood up.
Brooke turned to her, "I don't mind. But I'm not about to drag you if you don't want to. This whole thing's bad enough without me having to play 'fetch the friend'."
"I'll go," Audrey said, firmly.
Brooke was right. They needed to talk this out like civilized women.
Noah
Noah had been standing there, listening to the discussion and weighing his options, was it smart to go into the woods, Was it smart to stay here by himself, also no. Were they probably going to get picked off one by one until they were all dead...Probably.
"Yeah, okay why not, let's just go into the creepy swamp." He shrugged.
______
Drew (Dressed As Ghost Terrance)
Drew had grown bored of just walking around, but heard a bit of a fuss, he saw the group of boys, including Micah and knew this was the perfect moment.
He slowly began walking towards them, swaying, moving very ghost like. He made shallow shaky breaths, and his eyes were wide as he approached them.
Aleks set her phone aside, patting the bed. "Will you stay...please?" She almost wanted to say so that she could keep an eye on him, but that would give away too much.
"I wouldn't mind a friend for a bit, y'know." She added, smiling the best that she could.
"For the record," began Brooke as they headed out into the night, "I think it was super ballsy of you to tell her like that. But Emma is Emma, and one second everything's fine and dandy, and the next, bang we've jumped into the time machine: Will's missing, Kieran's a viable relationship option, you're almost certainly a murderer, and we all inexplicably trust some smiley bitch with hideous corrective eyewear."
She shrugged, "I mean, I can't be heartless about it. God knows, I haven't dealt with all this in the healthiest of ways. But you're her friend, as much as I am," she looked Audrey up and down, "Whatever she thinks of you...Piper hurt you just the same. If she could accept it before knowing what you just told her, she sure as hell can accept it now."
***
"Did...did you hear something?" asked Micah, stopping in his tracks.
Was that a...a figure moving through the rushes, coming out of the shadows? He thought immediately of the noise on the hill and tensed. This was closer, more deliberate... It seemed he could see something...
***
"You want a friend," Zach nodded, sitting back on Audrey's bed, "You've got one. Just...try and get some sleep, okay?"
-Brooke, Micah and Zach