Previously: A had gone to Spencer's house to listen in on her sleep talking and see if there was anything of use.

Chapter 7

APOV

I settled into place as close to Spencer's room as I could manage. Just recently, I'd found something that was like a hearing aid, but the opposite. It enabled me, when I was wearing it, to have excellent hearing. I could hear through walls or from a distance. I waited forever for the light to go out, but Spencer didn't get straight into bed-she stood by the window for a moment looking slowly around. I held my breath as best I could and stayed as still as possible, shielding my phone so the glow wouldn't give me away. All other windows that I could see were dark, and with the super-hearing thing in my ear, I could hear snores and the even breathing of sleep. No talking or anything to indicate her parents were awake.

Finally, she got into bed and I relaxed my pose slightly. Enough that I was comfortable, but not so much that I'd get distracted. It was important to keep my body relaxed and stop from getting a cramp-a cramped leg can really slow you down if you need to make a quick getaway. My mentor had given me one particularly good piece of advice in our 'A commandments' as we called them-don't ever let your guard down completely. Unless, of course, you need to manipulate someone else. It was possibly the most obvious thing ever, and that would be why others wouldn't think of it. Others would slip up and fail. But my mentor and I were determined to cover all the bases. We were always careful, and we had to be. For instance, now. It was gone midnight. I had to be creative when I'd explained to my parents why I'd had to go out at 9:30p.m and probably wouldn't sleep in my own bed tonight. They thought a friend was upset about something and needed me. Yeah, not so much. The fact that it was a weekend helped my case.

I focused intently on the film. Spencer was restless tonight, tossing and turning in her sleep. I turned up the volume on my hearing and listened intently. Nothing so far except the sound of her breathing. It was not even or peaceful, but slightly ragged and she drew in a breath that was almost a gasp every so often.

I watched for about three hours and didn't get much. Spencer did mumble something about A and 'wonder who'. My favourite part was when she muttered 'go away' to herself-no doubt wishing I would. Sorry, Spence, no can do. I'm not quite bound by a contract, but there is more to this than just freaking someone out. Years ago, my mentor was beyond furious at me and I owed her something. Not a material thing either, but something deeper.

Given that it was now pushing 4 AM, I really had to get going and home before dawn broke. I quickly shot a text to my mentor to tell her what I heard and that I was now going home. She wasn't too happy with it, but I knew she was more frustrated with lack of what Spencer was saying. She knew that she couldn't ever do anything that would anger me: she was the brain behind this; I was the one who did the work. Then again, her constant scheming was work-my tasks were more the physical like following someone, or sitting outside a house in the cold at 3 AM when I could be in bed. My warm bed. If ever I quit being her lackey, she couldn't do it all. Actually, she could, but having two people split the work helped immensely. Moreover, she wanted to be able to see this through to the end. We both wanted to.

When I considered all the time I'd spent on this, and all the time my mentor had spent creating various schemes, it put everything back into perspective and I knew I wanted to see this through. She'd spent years figuring out how she wanted to get payback and now she knew. Years considering hundreds of possibilities, none of them quite good enough.

My thoughts returned to that night. The one that was infamous as being when Rosewood's golden girl went missing. Of course, I knew the truth, as did my mentor. We both knew everything there was that was worth knowing. When we stopped to catalogue everything we knew, that all added up to a hell of a lot. A knows everything, as our Pretty Little Liars know all too well. So does her mentor. It might seem OCD that we catalogue what we know, but it has to be done. We don't want to forget anything or miss something. It's almost too bad the rest of Rosewood doesn't know the truth about that night. It's probably a good thing though-the truth would blow their minds.

I arrived home and slipped in through the back door, texting my mentor to say I was home. While I waited for her, I got changed and put the heater on before booting up my computer. She arrived minutes later and we began to discuss what I'd seen and heard last night.

'I think we should back off on Spencer for a while. A is obviously on her mind and she might start snooping around or telling others about us if we keep working on her sanity', my mentor decided.

She was right. I turned to my computer and ran a quick Google-search to see if there were any reported stalkings by someone named A in Rosewood… those results showed nothing. Good, that meant that so far the girls were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.

'So, should we focus on Aria for now?' I wondered.

'No, I think Hanna. She's much more vulnerable', she answered.

True. Hanna was so obsessed with looking good that she would be rattled, but she wouldn't try to dob A in. after all, she had her perfect image to keep up. How would it look if she went to the police and said she was being stalked? It would show all of Rosewood that her life was not entirely in her control and therefore she was not entirely perfect.

'Do you think we should also work on Emily some? I know she would be more likely to try going to the cops but she is the most emotional. She still believes Ali is alive. How do you think the police would react to her?' I mused, trying to put myself in the place of a police officer. Law enforcer. Ugh. We both despised them, but were also well aware that they were helpful people to know. After all, two girls who could create and pull off such a sophisticated scheme were obviously not stupid.

'I don't think she'd be stupid enough. We can always make clear what we'll do if she does go to the police. After all, what would Mommy and Daddy do if they found out she prefers girls? Send her away somewhere, is my guess. A convent.' my mentor said, reminding me that A was not afraid to play dirty… all Emily's swimming meets were always packed and that made my job so much easier, if it came to that.

A few days later, Emily was walking down the hallways at school and hoping that A was gone. After all, A had been silent for a while now. Maybe A, whoever she was, had given up. Or got bored.

Just then, her cell beeped and she pulled it out, anticipating the new message.

Hi Em! How's your new girlfriend? I hope you didn't think I'd forgotten you-I haven't. If you're considering going to the cops about me, consider this: how will Mommy and Daddy, and the rest of the school, react finding out about your girlfriend? Stay quiet about me and I'll stay quiet about you. XO, A.

Emily froze where she was, looking around her surroundings. Just by the girl's bathroom, a small figure with black hair appeared to be looking at her, before turning and disappearing.

She continued walking down the hallway, darting anxious glances around her. Once outside, she hid her cell phone in her bag and looked around the parking lot: quite pointless really, as it was the end of the school day and students were everywhere. How could anyone pick out an anonymous person in these crowds?

If she'd looked up, though, she would've noticed a hot-air balloon hovering over the general are of Rosewood. Inside stood a girl with binoculars, taking in every detail and carefully observing what four girls in particular were doing.

Mentor POV

I laughed to myself as I watched the students pouring out of Rosewood Day from the hot air balloon. Taking a ride in one was a stroke of genius-I could take a pair of binoculars with me, and just appear to be the average tourist of Rosewood, wanting to see what it looked like from up above.

Emily was looking carefully around her, obviously trying to pick out someone in the crowd who might be A. How stupid can you get? Trying to see someone, she didn't know, in a crowd of dozens of students. Next step, go and look through the haystack for the needle.

Actually, we could probably use that. It meant that the identity of A meant more to her-she wasn't inclined to ignore A and hope the messages would go away. She was taking it seriously. Same as Spencer… Might have to work on Emily some more then. Encourage her towards trying to find out the truth about what happened that June night, three years ago. Really, it was the rare person who knew anything. Never mind all the people who created conspiracy theories of some kind.

There was one theory that no one in Rosewood had hit upon yet, and we wanted to keep it that way.

The balloon began to descend to the ground and I typed a reminder to myself that Emily should hear from A again soon.

Truthfully, I was grateful that I'd been able to manipulate someone into doing my bidding. That wasn't hard, considering a threat I made. Granted, the threat wasn't recent, but without having A to mentor, I wouldn't be much. And really, she offered it. Penance. Punishment. Payback. Compensation.

Call it what you will, but she offered to do my dirty work while I schemed. How could I refuse? Of course, I was totally capable of doing it all myself. But considering what she had done to me, I deserved to have her as my lackey, doing everything. She thought so too, otherwise she wouldn't have offered. And without the offer, I would have carried out the threat and no one would have been any the wiser.

It works out better this way. I wanted revenge. I was getting it.

Years ago, we hadn't gotten on, but we'd since buried the animosity in order to successfully execute our plan. Now, we got on quite well-the A thing was the deepest connection we had. Kind of sad, really. Ironic too, that a revenge plot is about the only thing bonding us together.

We learnt to put jealousy and negativity behind us. I can't afford to lose A. We're so deeply into the A plan and getting my revenge that if she pulled out today, I'm screwed.

Luckily, I know she never would. I guilted her a lot. I used all the tricks I had. First, the yelling at her anger. The 'you've ruined my life' tactic. Then the tears. Then the 'I hate you'.

I think the last one got to her. She looked genuinely miserable, and I almost felt bad. Then she spoke the words that appeased me, interested me enough to stop me carrying out my threat.

'What can I do to make it up to you? I'll do anything', she said.

I remember I glared at her, wondering what I could ask for… Suddenly, an expression came over her face-the one that said she was scheming. Not just an innocent prank either, but something big. I waited.

She started talking, and I found myself mesmerized by the idea that was forming as she spoke. She spoke quicker, wanting to get it over with. Her words began to run together a bit, and I strained to listen, trying to catch everything.

Her idea was simple, yet so brilliant.

More to the point, I could get everything I wanted. Of course, I'd have to give her something in return, but only after she'd done what I wanted and I was satisfied.

I wanted revenge. On her, and everyone else. This would be the perfect way to get that. Her, doing my dirty work, putting herself at risk. That would satisfy my revenge on her.

Freaking everyone in town out because suddenly, things weren't golden in Rosewood. That would satisfy my need for revenge on everyone else.

She went away, and I made sure to communicate with her while she was away. We stayed in touch the whole time, making sure to carefully develop our plot. Mainly through letters, and since you never knew what nosy people might read them, we were careful to only refer to it a few words at a time.

That was then, and this is now. Here we are, working on a downright brilliant plan.

I texted her with what I'd seen of Emily that afternoon, and she answered that she'd be there soon.

Shortly after, she appeared in my room. She suggested that she try to make friends with one of the girls, particularly Emily or Aria. The perfect way to get more information on either one of them, and by extension, all of them.

Perfect. After all, Emily was the sort of the type to show a new kid around school.

We agreed the best way for A to befriend Emily would be to pretend to be lost and ask her for directions. Of course, Emily would see in A something that Ali had-maybe the blue eyes, and let down her guard. Since we knew how to make people see things that weren't there, it wouldn't be hard to find contact lenses that were the exact same blue as Ali's eyes.

We set up the plan for tomorrow-A had gym with Emily, so that would be the perfect time-then A headed out to go and do some more research.

It's amazing, the information you can get from watching someone when they don't know you're watching.

And that concludes another chapter. I had this chapter as a work-in-progress for a couple of weeks, so please review and tell me what you'd like to see happen.

Question: do you think anyone should be killed off?

I've now decided who A and her mentor are, so am working with that.