Hey everybody! I just want to apologize for abandoning this story. I've had a bunch of computer problems over these past months, not to mention school and life just got in the way. But I am back and I promise nothing like that will happen again!
On a different note, some of you probably heard of KnowMyNameNotMyStory retiring. But I have been talking to her recently about coming out of retirement/coming back to FF. No promises or anything but hopefully(fingers crossed), you will see more of her here on FF. If that is the case, expect some collabs in the future! :D I would also like to thank her really quick, for helping me out with this story!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from 'Victorious' or the 'Scream' franchise. (I wish.)
Detective Vega sat at his desk in a practically deserted police station. He was riffling through various folders, checking and rechecking every piece of evidence, making sure he didn't miss anything. Everyone was either on patrol or off duty.
"Detective Vega." One of the tech guys from the lab approached him.
"Hello sir. We finally deciphered the data we copied over from your daughters phone, well kind of."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the calls came from a cloned cell phone. We haven't seen cloned cell phones since the 90's. Completely untraceable. We weren't even able to get a cell tower response to get an estimated location. Even with all the security built into the phones nowadays, we hit a brick wall. Whoever it is, they're good."
"So there's nothing you can do?"
"I mean, if you were to find the phone on the killer, we could match the calls to it through backtracking. But as for leads, sorry sir."
Detective Vega grew frustrated. The trail was cold again, finding nothing new in the case files, along with no help from his daughter's phone, he wasn't sure what the next move was.
"Detective Vega!" An officer came running towards him, interrupting his thought process.
"We just got a call about another attack!"
"Well did you send out any units?" Det. Vega asked.
"Yes, sir. But you don't understand. The call! It came from your house! Your kids sir, they're taking them to the hospital as we speak!"
Detective Vega's face went blank. He ran right through the officer and straight out of the station, heading towards the hospital for the second time that day.
[…]
"Tori... Tori? Tori!" Beck waved his hand in front of her face, trying to get her attention. Tori broke away from her train of thought and looked up at him. He gestured for her to turn around. She turned to see her friends rush in to the waiting room.
"Oh God, Tor." Andre, as always, was the first to meet her. He embraced her in a comforting hug.
"Hey guys." Tori was barely able to choke out as she broke away from Andre.
"Where's Detective Vega?" Andre asked, looking around the lobby.
"He's in the back now, waiting for any new information on Trina."
Tori spent the next half hour trying to explain to her friends what happened. She had just finished telling them what happened when her father returned from checking on Trina's condition.
"Hey did you find out anything about Trina yet?"
"I need to talk to you, in private." Her father started to escort her away from the group.
"Whatever it is, we need to hear it as a group." Tori pulled away.
Her father sighed. "Okay. Well first of all, Trina's... in ICU. She just had surgery for a severed nerve in her back. She's still touch and go. We won't know much more for awhile. That's why..." Her father hesitated. "I think you should go and try to get some rest."
"Yeah Tori! You can stay with me! Jade too!" Cat offered right away.
"That's a great idea." Her father agreed.
"Dad I can't just leave! I have to be here for Trina!" Tori was getting irritated.
This time her father succeeded in pulling her aside, away from her friends.
"Listen Tori, we won't know anything for a long time. Stay with your friends. Whoever this killer is, they're careful. They don't leave anything behind and they're clever. So don't underestimate them, I mean for God's sake they managed to attack you in a police station somehow-"
"They're more clever than you think." Tori interrupted.
"What are you talking about?"
"The killer, right before he attacked Trina, he called me again. But it was different this time."
"What was different?"
"He was you."
Her father's reaction was a mixture of shocked and confused.
"What the hell are you talking about Tori?"
"He had your voice. He was talking just like you."
"How did he do that?"
"He was using some kind of device. I heard it click when he switched voices. Then h-he attacked Trin-... " Tori trailed off as her eyes filled with tears.
"Okay, okay. It's going to be fine. Just go with Cat. Let me worry about catching this psycho." Her father comforted her, making her feel a little better. Both of them walked back to her friends. Her father hugged her, kissed her on the forehead, and waved to everyone as he walked back to where he came from earlier.
"C'mon Tori. Let's go! You can clean up at my place!"
Tori looked down and realized that, while they washed up as much as they could when they got to the hospital, she and Beck were still covered in Trina's blood.
"Okay." Tori sighed. "Let's go."
"Jadey are you coming too?!" Cat asked.
"As long as you promise not to call me that." Jade responded indifferently, starting towards the door behind Cat and Tori.
"Wait, Jade. I was thinking you could come over to my RV. I think we should talk." Beck stopped her, pulling her off to the side.
"About what?"
"I just want to clear some things up, you know, between us." Beck almost whispered.
"Yo guys, me and Robbie better get outta here. Robbie needs to get home and I have to make sure my grandma's alright." Andre and Robbie waved goodbye to everyone and left.
"Let's get out of here too." Jade ordered to the other girls. Tori and Cat said their goodbyes to Beck, and left the hospital.
Jade lagged behind them and fell back to talk to Beck.
"I'll be by your place later."
Beck nodded and Jade left. Beck stood in deep thought, running his hand through his hair. After a minute, he finally snapped out of it and started towards his car.
[…]
It had been two hours since they left the hospital. Tori and Jade sat on the floor of Cat's colorfully vibrant room, flipping through channels on the TV, trying to avoid anything reporting the news.
"Ugh, there's nothing on." Jade spat.
"We could do something else. How about a board game?!" Cat asked, bouncing with excitement.
"How about a movie instead?" Jade smirked. Tori shot Jade a look of disapproval, which Jade ignored as usual.
"What movie?" Cat asked.
"Well, as always, I have 'The Scissoring.' But, I added a special DVD to my bag, if you're interested."
"What is it?"
Jade took out her 'Stab' DVD and showed it off to them. "It's the Director's Cut."
"I don't think that's appropriate to watch right now." Tori choked out.
"Cool it, Vega."
"No, I won't 'cool it', Jade."
"It's just a movie. I don't see-"
"But it's not just a movie! It's happening in real life. The killer is real." Tori held up her bandaged arm to Jade's face. "This cut is real. Tara and Hayley are dead! And..." Tori trailed off. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Trina could have died. She still might. I can't believe- " She cut herself off as her eyes began to swell up with tears.
"Calm down, Vega."
"God, Jade, you're such a gank!" Tori screamed as she ran out of the room. Jade and Cat sat there as they heard the door slam down the hallway.
"You didn't have to be mean to her, Jadey." Cat finally spoke up.
"Whatever. And I thought you said you weren't going to call me that."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot." Cat gave a somber expression as she remembered her promise.
"C'mon."
"Where are we going?"
"To go pry Vega out of your bathroom."
Cat and Jade left the room. They walked past their phones they left on one of Cat's dresser, where Jade's phone was lighting up:
Call Incoming: Unknown.
"Come on, Vega. Get out of there." Jade demanded through the door.
"No! You're being so mean." Tori answered back.
"Cat has to pee."
"No I don't." Cat added in.
"Shhh. Don't tell her that."
"I can hear you out there! I'm not deaf!"
"Too bad. Would make things easier." Jade replied back sarcastically.
"I heard that too!"
"Well I wasn't talking to myself."
Tori went silent and Jade could tell she was pouting on the other side of the door. Jade smirked, knowing she 'won.'
"I don't need this. I'm leaving."
Jade started walking down the hall when the bathroom door flung open.
"You're leaving?!" Tori stormed out of the bathroom. Jade and Cat could tell she had been crying by her puffy eyes and red nose.
"None of your business, Vega."
"There's a killer out there, Jade! And it's almost 11!"
"I thought you were mad at me? Didn't know you cared."
"Well you are my friend and-"
"We're not friends."
"You know what I mean!" Tori started up again, shooting Jade a glare. "We need to stay together, it's safer that way."
"I'm just going over to Beck's. I'll be safe there too."
"But you shouldn't be going out this late. My dad said we should stick together."
"Oh your dad said that?" Jade acted surprised.
"Yes, so you'll stay?"
"No."
And with that, Jade left the house. Tori stood in the middle of the hallway, surprised at how brave, or stupid, Jade was to leave this late.
"Cat, I'm worried." Tori finally said after they both reentered Cat's room.
"About what?"
"The killer, Cat!"
"Hehe. Killer Cat. That sounds funny." Cat giggled.
"Cat, stay focused."
"Sorry, I'm focused."
"I said I'm worried."
"About Jade?"
"Well, yeah." Tori blushed slightly. Luckily for her Cat was too distracted to notice. "But I'm also worried for all of us. There could be killer among us."
"Well it's not me, I swear!" Cat suddenly got serious and turned to face Tori.
"I wouldn't suspect you in the first place." Tori half-laughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Cat took offense. Tori was taken off guard. She couldn't remember the last time she heard that.
"No, I just mean you're just too sweet and innocent to do something like this, Kitty Cat."
"Oh, why thank you!" Cat returned to her normal happy state.
"I just can't see one of our friends being able to do this."
"Me neither, Tori."
"Cat... are we going to be okay?" Tori was starting to doubt herself.
"Of course!" Cat ran across the room and wrapped her up in a giant hug.
"Okay, okay! Down, Cat, down. I can't breathe!"
Cat finally let go and Tori sighed in relief. They both laughed it off, and looking at the time, Cat decided it was time for bed. They changed into their pajamas, and Cat was asleep before her head even hit the pillow. Tori however, couldn't stop her mind from racing. Trina, the killer, the voice, her friends, 'Stab', her father, the soon to be scar on her arm - all these things were imprinted into her mind and she kept wondering if she was going to make it.
Of course, I can get through this. I will get through it, we all will. But in the back of her mind, there was a lot of self doubt.
[...]
Jade pulled up to Beck's RV. She sat in the car, debating whether or not to actually go in. She had thought about what to say on the way over, running the situation through her head a bunch of times, but now that she was actually here, all of it had slipped her mind. She finally got out and went up to the door. She held up her hand to knock, but she just kept it there, trying to decide if she really wanted to do this. Before she could decide, the door opened.
"Hey." Beck said awkwardly. "Come in." Beck stepped aside and allowed Jade to walk past, who just grunted and sat on the edge of his bed. He poked his head out of the RV, scanned the area, then closed the door.
"So what did you want, Beckett?"
"I wanted to talk about us." Beck responded, scratching the back of his neck and looking down at his feet. Jade's face suddenly softened. Before Beck could realize, she stiffened up and her ice cold stare returned.
"What's there to talk about? You were too busy with another girl, so we broke up."
"Jade, you know that's not true."
"Don't lie to me. I seen you with that girl."
"She was a partner for school! I didn't even pick her. The teacher paired us up!"
"I saw you two. You both seemed pretty close for lab partners."
"Jade... C'mon. Nothing happened with that girl."
"It's not just that either, Beckett. You pay more attention to those kind of girls than you do me. You love the fact that these girls drool over you and you don't do anything about it."
"Jade, I can't control what the girls at school do. And I don't even care about the other girls."
"It sure seems like you do!"
"You know I don't!"
"Then why do you enjoy them gawking over you so much?"
"I don't."
"Whatever." Jade snapped.
A long silence fell over the RV, neither Beck nor Jade were sure what to say to the other. After what seemed like an eternity of unbearable silence, Beck spoke up.
"Jade, I still want you."
Beck saw Jade's face soften this time. Without hesitation, he walked over to her and enveloped her in a deep kiss. Jade was stunned at first, but caved in to the familiarity. They fell back onto the bed but before things went any further, Jade rolled out from under Beck and peeked out the window.
"What are you doing babe?" Beck questioned, sitting up.
"You didn't hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Like someone tapping or scraping on the side of the RV. Seriously how did you not hear that?"
"Sorry I was a little distracted." Beck joked. Jade shot him a glare and his smirk disappeared.
"Fine, fine. I'll go check it out. Stay here." He ordered as he walked out the door.
Jade sat back down on the bed. With the way Vega worries, she figured she better check in with Cat and Tori and tell them she made it to Beck's safely, if they're even still awake that is. Jade checked her pockets, realizing she left her phone at Cat's after she stormed out, so she picked up Beck's phone. She was just about to text Cat when the noises started again, this time coming from the back of the RV. She reached down for the scissors in her boot. She walked over to the door and readied her scissors. She stepped out and scanned the area for Beck. Seeing no one in sight, she went to investigate behind the RV. There she found some of the paint scraped off, and the metal was exposed and jagged. She knew she heard noises, and from the look of the metal, something really sharp tore it up. She decided to not stick around any longer, just in case what or whomever did it comes back. She walked back into the RV and Beck was standing right behind the door. Jade jumped and almost took Beck's eye out. Luckily Beck's reflexes caught Jade's arm before the scissors met his eye.
"God I've had no luck with doors today. First Cat, now you." Pulling her arm away.
"What happened with Cat?"
"When I was looking for her today, she jumped out from behind a door, scared the chizz out of me. What were you doing anyway?"
"I was going to go back out there to find you. Where did you go?"
"I went to check out the noises. Something messed up the RV back there. The paint is gone and the metal is all warped."
"Aww man, what the hell?"
"Don't worry babe, maybe I can take your mind off of it." Jade smirked as she took Beck by the hand and led him to the back of the RV.
[…]
Jade suddenly broke out of a deep sleep for no apparent reason. As her eyes tried adjusting to the darkness, she thought she caught the image of a shadow pass by the window. Scared, she turned over to face Beck. She tried to shake him awake, but he wouldn't budge. She was still having a hard time seeing in dark, with the light from outside missing Beck's shadow, she couldn't see his half of the bed. She tried to nudge him again, but this time she felt a cold wetness on her hands and her stomach dropped. Her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and she could see the blood on her hands. She felt the gash on Beck's neck and her heart sunk. But she had no time to react as the killer from Stab burst into the room, holding a bloody hunting knife. Jade sat frozen on the bed as the killer leapt toward her, burying the knife deep into her stomach. She felt the rush of her own fresh blood soak her hands as she desperately tried to cover the wound. Already feeling lightheaded, she tried standing up off the bed and facing the killer, only to fall to the floor. The killer rolled Jade over, and struck her with the handle of the knife. Jade was feeling even more dizzy now, and could feel her life slipping away. The killer pulled out the device used in Stab to change voices, and even in her condition she could identify the prop.
"The great Jade West…. sad, I was expecting more of a fight." The deep, raspy voice was immediately recognized by Jade. But all she could do was lay on the ground bleeding out, helpless and terrified. She tried to weakly threw a slow punch up at the killer, who easily dodged it, then returned with a powerful kick into her stomach wound. Jade whimpered in pain as she coughed up more blood.
"Ah, ah, ah." The killer taunted, waving the bloody hunting knife back and forth. "C'mon Jade, you know everything about horror movies, if anybody could survive it's you. You know the rules. But now, you lose." The killer raised the knife and drove it down towards Jade's head.
Jade shot straight up from Beck's bed in a cold sweat. She reached down for her stomach and felt around for a wound. Beck tiredly groaned as he woke up from the sudden movement.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. It's nothing.."
"Well try and get some sleep." He grunted as he turned over.
Jade laid back down, but sleep avoided her. For one thing, she definitely knew the rules to survive a horror movie, she was practically an expert, and was going to teach her friends. Two, if she goes down, she sure as hell won't go down helpless and scared like she did in her nightmare. She was going to fight back. And three, what about Beck? What now?
[…]
The next day, Jade was leaning against Tori's locker, waiting for her to arrive when Robbie came walking up, with Rex as usual.
"Hey Jade, whatcha doing?"
"Waiting for Vega. I left my phone there last night."
"Ha! I knew there was something between you two." Rex added in. He turned to Robbie. "You owe me 30 bucks."
"Shut it, puppet, before I put you through a woodchipper." Jade spat, causing Robbie and Rex to gasp.
"Hey guys." Tori walked up and joined them.
"Got my phone?"
"Yeah, here." Tori dug it out of her back pocket and happily handed it to Jade.
"Where's Cat? Didn't she come here with you?" Jade asked worriedly, putting away her phone.
"Yeah she's up at her locker I think."
"How's Trina? Is she...gone? " Robbie asked awkwardly.
"Way to be subtle, genius." Jade deadpanned.
"No it's fine. And she's still alive. Barely. But she's gonna pull through. I know it."
"Sorry I wasn't tryin-"
"It's fine, really." Tori interrupted.
"Hiiii guys!" Cat came charging down the stairs.
"Hey Kitty Cat!" Robbie replied, accepting Cat's big hug. "I was just about to go looking for yo-" Robbie was interrupted by the loud yells of a couple of guys running down the hall in the Ghostface outfits from Stab, flailing their arms around comically and banging on lockers. One of them blew right through the middle of the group, startling Cat. She squeaked and hid her face in Robbie's shoulder, turning his cheeks a dark shade of red, from both Cat's closeness and wanting to put those guys in their place for scaring her.
"Look at those idiots, they think this is some kind of joke." Jade noticed how they scared Cat, and started to get irritated.
"God, it's like they don't even care people are getting killed. It's disgusting." Tori added.
The gang headed towards Sikowitz's class, just as the bell was about to ring. Having turned in their project, Andre and Beck joined the gang as well just before Sikowitz arrived.
"Okay kids, let me just start by saying-" Sikowitz was cut off by the PA system.
"Attention students, as you may or may not know, there was a second attack last night. This time, on a student who attends this school. As a result of this, classes will be suspended until further notice. All students are to head home immediately, unless specifically told otherwise and under teacher supervision. Also keep in the mind the curfew is still active on weekends, thank you children and be safe."
"Well," Sikowitz continued, "all of you be very careful this weekend. Remember, finals are less than two months away. Class dismissed!"
"You be careful too Sikowitz!" Tori replied.
"No need to worry, children. I have two black belts and the power of coconut milk on my side!" Sikowitz yelled as he exited out the window.
"Sikowitz has two black belts?" Robbie asked. Tori raised an eyebrow at the thought.
"No." The rest of the group answered in unison.
"He doesn't get any power from those coconuts either." Jade stated.
"Just visions!" Cat added, giggling.
"Hey will you guys walk with me upstairs? I have to retake a test I missed when I went to the police station yesterday. This school is so creepy when it's deserted." Tori pleaded, leading the group out of Sikowitz's classroom.
"Yeah we'll go with you." Andre turned to the group for reassurance. Beck, Robbie and Cat all nodded, agreeing with him. Jade just rolled her eyes.
"You would be scared, Vega." She mocked as the group started up the stairs.
"Hey it's like I see a shadow around every corner now that I'm being stalked by a homicidal maniac." Tori said, voice shaking a little bit.
"Or maniacs." Jade pointed out.
"Thanks Jade, you always know how to comfort me." Tori rolled her eyes. "Good thing I have this." She took out the small pistol her dad gave her.
"Whoa!" Andre said as the group, besides Beck, backed away. "Where'd you get that?" Andre asked.
"My dad, after the police station incident. He already talked to Helen and Lane. They made a special arrangement, I can have it on me at all times as long as it's not loaded and the safety is on. But I guess that doesn't matter now, since school is suspended."
"You knew she was packing?" Andre asked Beck, after noticing he didn't back away.
"Yeah, when Trina-...I saw her have it before." Beck tried to cover up the sore issue.
"Anyways," Jade interrupted. "I may have something that will comfort you, you know, besides the firepower you're carrying."
"Yeah, what?" Tori was getting curious.
"If this killer is-"
"Or killers!" Tori interrupted with a smirk.
"Or killers." Jade repeated through gritted teeth, she didn't like being interrupted. "As I was saying, if he or she or they are serious about this being their 'horror movie,' then there are certain rules we can follow in hope survive it. And with me being the expert in horror movies, thanks to Andre who graciously pointed that out yesterday, no one knows them better. Not to implicate myself or anything."
"Hey, I apologized for that. But I think this is a good idea. It couldn't hurt right?" Andre spoke up and the rest of the group agreed.
"Let me take this test first. We should stay together this time, like the WHOLE time." Tori emphasized.
"We'll wait out here." Jade responded.
"You guys are staying and waiting for me?" Tori asked, shocked that Jade would be the one to say that.
"Here is your first rule Vega, don't split up."
[...]
It had been around half an hour since Tori started her test. The group was sitting on the floor outside the classroom.
"Why can't we sit in there? You know, on actual chairs." Jade spoke up, squirming, trying to find a comfy position.
"Tori needs to focus. You know we wouldn't be able to keep that quiet." Beck answered.
"Oh!" Cat sprung up. "Robbie I want to show you something in my locker! This way!" Cat pulled Robbie up and dragged him away.
"When did you get so strong?" Robbie asked as he was being dragged.
"You've just always been that weak." Rex jeered.
"Wait Cat!" Jade yelled after her. "We have to-" They were already out of sight. "Stick together..." She sighed. "I'll go after them." Jade started to trail after them, leaving Beck and Andre.
"So wait a second, Jade's the protector of our group?" Andre chuckled.
"If you haven't noticed," Beck said sarcastically. "Jade can be very territorial. And now that there is a killer targeting our group, her passive protective instincts are in overdrive."
"Wait, this whole time Jade has been 'passively' protective?" Andre was in awe. "I'm not sure I want to see what she'll do when she is actively protective. Damn this killer better watch out."
Beck nodded in agreement. "It may not seem like it on a daily basis, but Jade looks out for us, all of us. She definitely won't admit it, but she has a soft spot for Tori. She just can't let her guard down around her for some reason, who knows why. And don't tell her I told you this. If she found out, It won't be Ghostface I have to worry about killing me, Jade would beat him to it." Andre was about to laugh again, when he realized Beck wasn't joking.
"Yeah man, I won't say anything. I kinda figured that anyway. Even though Jade is tough on Tori, behind that Gothic exterior, Jade is a big softie." Andre stated, just as Beck's face fell.
"I'm a big what?!"
Andre turned to see Jade, almost fuming. Cat was already hiding behind Robbie, preparing for the worst.
"Uh, hey Jade. Found Cat and Robbie pretty fast, huh?" Andre tried changing the subject.
"She just wanted to show me her new locker design, it's pretty nice actually. It's-"
"Can it, Shapiro." She turned back around and spat at the nerd. She turned back. "Andre..."
"Beck said you have a soft spot for Tori!" Andre blurted out.
"Dude!" Beck entered damage control mode. "Jade, I just meant you're caring for your friends."
"Vega is not my friend."
"Love you too, Jade." Tori stepped out of the classroom just in time to hear Jade.
"Toriii! Am I glad to see you. How was the test?" Andre changed the subject, trying to wash away the awkwardness.
"Great! I got an 'A'!" Tori held up her test triumphantly.
"Yay for Tori!" Cat finally emerged from her spot behind Robbie to hug Tori.
"Thanks, Cat!"
"Are you two done? I'd like to get out of here." Jade interrupted, seemingly calmed down.
"I know what she wants to do. And I don't think it's a good idea." Beck added.
"We are going." Jade ordered.
"We shouldn't go anywhere near there."
"What are you guys talking about?" Andre was getting impatient.
"Jade wants to go to the Stab-A-Thon tonight." Beck answered.
"The what?" Tori was intrigued.
"It's a late night marathon of all the Stab movies. It doesn't happen often, especially after the last set of attacks on Sidney Prescott again, here in California. But with the Stab reruns hitting theaters all weekend, I found a Stab-A-Thon event here in L.A, well near L.A. Well kind of near L.A."
"That's a bad idea." Robbie joined in.
"Horrible idea." Tori added.
"I'm in!" Rex proclaimed.
"Reex!" Robbie groaned.
"Vega, you have a gun. I have my scissors. We'll be fine. We are going tonight."Jade demanded, then turned to the group. "Let's get to my house. I should go over the rules before we go, you know, just in case." The group, not wanting to fight with a determined Jade, gave in and followed her out of the school.
[...]
The gang pulled up to Jade's just a little past 5:00 p.m.
"Jade, where are your parents?" Tori asked, as the group made it up to Jade's doorway.
"Not that it's any of your business, but my dad's on a work related trip and my mom and brother went with. I finally have some peace and quiet for once." Jade answered nonchalantly, looking for her keys.
"Aren't you scared, being alone, all by yourself?"
"I prefer it." Jade shrugged as she unlocked the door and stepped in.
Jade led the gang down to her room in the basement. Everyone took a different place in her room, while Jade grabbed a notebook and sat in the center of the group.
"Wait, you already have a list of rules… already written out?" Andre questioned.
"I watch a lot of horror movies. You start to notice things. Besides, this notebook isn't full or anything." Jade answered back.
"Ookay?" Andre seemed a little suspicious.
"Let's not go there again." Beck interjected.
"I wasn't going to say anything." Andre surrendered.
"If the Q&A is over, I'd like to start this so we can finish before the Stab-A-Thon starts." Jade snapped. The group nodded in agreement. "Good. Okay, so there are certain rules that one should abide by if they hope to survive a horror movie. First, no sex."
"Jade!" Cat interrupted.
"What?"
"Stop talking dirty!" Cat tried scolding her, resulting in a death glare from Jade. Cat squeaked and covered her mouth.
"Second, no drinking or doing drugs. It's kind of an... extension, so to speak, of rule number 1. It's all about the sin factor. You sin, you die. Third, never say 'Who's there?', 'Hello?', 'Anyone here?' or anything like that. The answer you are most likely going to get will be a knife in your gut. If it's the killer, they wouldn't be announcing their presence anyway." The mood of the room changed to a more serious tone.
"A knife in your gut?" Rex repeated. "Isn't that kinda dramatic?"
Jade's eyes shot from the notebook to Robbie's. "Look at Tori's arm." Robbie and Rex looked at the giant bandage covering half of her arm. "You still think I'm being dramatic?" Jade was getting irritated at Rex's attitude.
Robbie put his hand over Rex's mouth. "Sorry, he didn't mean it."
"Moving on, don't ever go outside to investigate a strange noise you heard, it's a death wish. That noise wasn't the wind or the neighborhood cat."
"Whaty?" Cat interrupted again.
"No, not you Cat. Like a cat."
"I am Cat." She retorted, confused.
"Not you Cat! Like the animal!" Jade was getting irritated.
"I'm not an animal..." Cat trailed off, offended.
"Gah! Cat I didn't mean-" Jade cut herself off and took a deep breath. "Moving on, again, one last thing, don't even expect the killer to be dead after the first time you get a hit on them. You can shoot them, stab them, beat them with a bat, pan, fists, or whatever it is, always suspect they are still breathing, until you know for sure." Jade took a long pause and looked around the room. The thought of this being the last time they were all together started to creep into her mind.
"Is that it?" Andre asked, interrupting her thought.
"For now. More will come to me. But we should get going. I don't want to miss the first one, it's the best."
"Okay wait, my dad wants to talk to me. We have stop at my house." Tori said looking up from her phone.
"Can't you just call him?" Jade retorted.
"No, he said in person."
"Fine, let's go." Jade said, getting up and putting away her notebook in the spot she took it from. Everyone filed out and Jade turned off all the lights.
"Speaking of your dad the cop," She said as the group left her house. "that's another rule. No matter what, calling 911 will never help you in time. You have to fight back yourself. Oh and a '24/7 police watch' won't do anything either, because they will end up dead when you need them most."
"Way to have faith in our police force." Tori replied, walking up to Jade's car.
"I'm just preparing you guys."
"Glad you care, Jade." Tori smirked, staring at her from across the top of the car.
"Just get in so we can leave." Jade rolled her eyes and hopped in.
The gang pulled up to the Vega residence and immediately noticed the squad car parked in the alleyway of the Vega residence. Beck pulled over in front of the house, letting the girls take the driveway.
"What do you think the squad car's for?" Andre asked.
"Maybe her dad is driving it?" Robbie suggested.
"Nah, her dad is a detective. He doesn't drive marked squad cars." Andre answered right away. Beck and Robbie both turned to Andre. "What? I know things."
In the other car, Jade pulled up alongside the squad car.
"Alright Vega, hurry it up."
Tori was too busy trying to figure out why there was a squad car there to hear Jade being pushy. She kept thinking that something happened to her Mom… or Trina. Tori walked through the front door, relieved to see her mom at the kitchen table, talking to two young looking police officers. Tori, ignoring her mother's over interest in the officers, turned to her father.
"Dad, how's Trina?"
"She's still fighting. She'll pull through baby, don't worry. But that's not what I want to talk about. You know I still have to be out there trying to catch this psycho right? So Captain Webb and I decided that you need to be under 24/7 police protection."
"Wow that's ironic." Tori mumbled quietly to herself.
David turned towards the kitchen and waved over the officers. "Tori, this is Officer Smith and Officer Briggs."
"Hello, ma'am." They greeted, shaking her hand.
"Tori's fine." She said, almost blushing.
"I know you have the gun I gave you," Her father intervened. "but I thought you could have more protection. They will be with you no matter what, so stick with them. Now I need to get back to work. If you do go anywhere, stay with your friends, and don't go to far. Watch out for each other. Remember the curfew." He kissed her on her forehead and waved goodbye to his wife as he left out the door. Tori told her mom what she was going to do with the group, and just as her mom was about to object, her phone went off. All objections went away and her mom just distractedly told her to be home by curfew. Tori was off put by this, but she just couldn't deal with it now anyway. She walked out, followed by her police protection.
"Okay, let's go." Tori said hopping into Jade's car.
"Knew it, 24/7 police protection huh?"
"Yes. That is Officer Smith. And that is Officer Briggs." Tori pointed to the officers across the driveway.
"They're young. What would you say? 20? Maaaybe 21 or 22?" Jade asked.
"Seems about right." Tori agreed.
"And with the last name Smith? I don't think they could be anymore expendable."
"Why?"
"It's always the cops that are either really young, or like one day away from retirement that die. There are exceptions of course, but you pretty much have to be Bruce Willis."
"Bruce Willis?" Tori questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"He's the cop that always survives."
"True." She shrugged. "Anyways, at this Stab-A-Thon, we have to stick together, alright?"
"Yes, Vega. I said that before already."
"You hear that Cat? Cat?" Tori turned to the back seat. Cat was lost in her phone."CAT!" She finally snapped away from her Pearphone. "Who are you texting?" Tori asked.
"I don't know." Cat went back to her phone.
"Well why are you talking to them?"
"They say they have Bibble! And they said they can give me as much as I want!" Cat exclaimed.
"...hooow?" Tori was already extremely suspicious.
"Wait that's not the best part! They are giving me it for free! And guess what!" Cat was practically bouncing around in the back seat out of joy.
"Let me guess," Jade interrupted.
"They're going to be at the Stab-A-Thon." Cat and Jade both said it at the same time.
"Cat," Jade continued. "no one is going to have Bibble. It's a trick. Block that number."
"But what if-"
"Now!"
"Okay fine." Cat murmured. "There, blocked."
"Cat, remember, we have to stick together tonight."
"Got it." Cat agreed.
"And no Bibble." Tori added.
"No Bibble." Cat reiterated, shaking her head dramatically, then going back to her phone after her friends turned their attention to the road after leaving the Vega residence.
