Chapter 10

Half an hour later, Mike and Stef arrived at Wyatt's house.

Wyatt was in the kitchen, sitting nervous on a chair. He seemed really stressed and agitated.

Mariana, Emma and Hayley were there, too.

"Officer, I swear to you, I have nothing to do with this." he said with a shaky voice.

"We found the killer's mask in one of his kitchen cabinets." explained Mariana.

Mike raised his eyebrows in curiosity and took the mask, gloves in hands. He looked at it.

But suddenly, he frowned:

"Wait a second." he said. "But what are you three doing here in the first place?!"

Mariana, Emma and Hayley shared some looks.

"Wait." said Mariana. "You don't think that we planted this mask, now do you?"

"Mike, what are you thinking?!" asked Stef.

"I just asked a simple question. Why are you at Wyatt's house in the middle of the night?"

"And what's with the T-shirts?!" asked Stef.

"Um, well..." started Emma.

"We were suspicious of him, okay?!" admitted Mariana. "We did it for Jesus' sake. I just wanted to catch the bastard that killed him, so... we teamed up and... we broke into his house to look for clues or evidence that may point to him being... the killer."

Wyatt looked in disbelief and shock at her.

"What?!" he asked. "This is madness. I'm not capable of murder, you have to believe me! I didn't even wear that stupid mask! Not even once! I didn't even buy one! Someone planted that in my house!"

"How do we know that you are telling the truth?" asked Hayley, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, come on, are you serious right now, Hayley?!"

"Enough!" exclaimed Mike. "We will run some DNA tests on the mask to find out who wore it as soon as possible. But for now, you should go to your houses, girls. And don't ever do such things again without contacting us first."

They all nodded, looking down.

"Good."

"So, can I go to sleep now?" asked Wyatt.

"No, not yet. We will have to ask you some questions, boy."

Wyatt frowned.

"What?! I'm not guilty, I swear to God!"

"We'll see about that." said Stef.

"Stef, go and take the girls to their homes. You need to rest, too. I think I can handle this by myself."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm."

"Alright. Come on, girls!"

Later, Stef drove Mariana, Emma and Hayley to their houses. Meanwhile, Mike was interrogating Wyatt.

They were both sitting at the table from the interrogation room, face to face. The mask was on the table, in front of Wyatt.

"So, Wyatt Casey, with honesty, is this mask yours?"

Wyatt looked at Mike with an emotionless face and answered:

"It's not. My. Mask."

"Are you sure you never wore it? At a club, at a Halloween party..."

"No, I swear to you. I never put that on my face."

Mike nodded, not so convinced by his words.

"Wyatt, you are Callie's ex-boyfriend, right?"

"Yes."

"I heard that you recently developed a new habit of entering her room by climbing through her window. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"But isn't that considered invasion of privacy?"

After a few moments, Wyatt answered:

"Yes, sir..."

"You seem to have some experience when it comes to breaking into other's houses. Did you ever do that before? Excluding the house of Callie, of course."

"N-no, I didn't..."

"What does Callie think of you?"

"She trusts me. But she became a little bit distant from me after a while. I noticed that."

"What does she think of you entering her house that way?"

"I don't know. She didn't seem to mind it. She believes in me."

"Were you two still close before Daria got killed?"

"Yes, we were. But I think we still are, but she just needs some space. And I respect her decision. I think I would've been thinking the same way as her if I were in her situation. She must be really terrified and stressed."

"Yes, indeed. Well, I think that's it." Mike said, standing up. "You are free to go. For now."

Wyatt sighed in relief and stood up, too.

"Oh, thank God. Thank you, officer! I swear to you, I am no..."

"Go home and get some sleep, kid."

Wyatt nodded and left the interrogation room.

At the police station's waiting room, Callie was there, impatiently sitting on a chair. She seemed to be waiting for someone.

She saw Wyatt heading to the exit door.

Seeing him, Callie suddenly lit up, her eyes widening and sparkling in happiness.

"WYATT!" she exclaimed.

Wyatt stopped and jumped, turning around to her, startled.

"Callie!"

They ran and hugged tightly.

"Oh my god, I'm so glad you are okay!" she said, tears filling her eyes.

After they broke:

"What did Mike say to you?!"

"He asked me some questions, but he said that I am free to go."

"I heard what happened."

"Callie, you have to believe me, I..."

"I believe you, Wyatt!"

She gently caressed his long hair.

"I really do. It's very obvious that you are framed. The killer wanted the girls to find that mask so he could still kill people while the police was having their eyes on you."

Wyatt smiled at her with pure joy, a crazy grin on his face.

"Oh, Callie, you have no idea how happy I am that you trust me!"

He hugged her again, this time tighter.

"Wyatt... I am really sorry for how I treated you lately. It was a bad move from my part. And now I regret it. Very much. When I found out that you were in custody, I realised how much I need you in my life. If I didn't do anything to set you free, I would never forgive myself."

Wyatt couldn't believe what he heard. He teared a little.

"Callie... you came here... all by yourself... to set me free?!"

Callie nodded.

"Oh, Callie that's... that's just..."

"And I've been thinking about something lately... and the answer is yes."

"What do you mean?"

"I wanna go on a date with you one day."

"Wait, are you serious?!"

"Of course I am!"

"Look, Callie, after everything that you've been through..."

"I need to relax a little. At least just for one night... spent with you."

"You have no idea how much I care about you, Callie!"

"I care about you, too, Wyatt!"

They smiled at each other for a few seconds. Wyatt was acting kinda awkward, maybe because of his exaggerated excitement regarding Callie's words.

"I will see you tomorrow, okay?" said Callie.

"Yeah. Sure. Cool."

Wyatt nervously chuckled.

Callie kissed him on the cheek, waved him goodbye and left.

Wyatt watched her go with a big smile on his face.

Deputy Adams drove Callie back home.

The next day, at the school break, Jude was eating his lunch outside the school on a picnic rug along with Connor.

"I should've guessed Wyatt. Repressed mommy issues." said Connor, biting from his sandwich.

"I always suspected him. Callie didn't want to believe me. I can't believe that they just set him free after they found the mask of the killer in his house."

"Nothing is for certain yet, so you can't just keep your finger pointed at him. Maybe your mom is right. Maybe he was framed, too, just like Mr. Timothy. I don't know what to believe anymore. Do you?"

"No." answered Jude, shaking his head. "I just don't wanna see Callie get hurt."

"Yeah, I know. You should look after her, that's what siblings do."

Jude nodded. "Right."

A few moments of silence.

"So, are you going to the football game tonight?" asked Connor.

Jude remembered almost instantly.

"Whoa, it's today?!"

Connor nodded.

"I totally forgot about it. I think the killer just got into my head. Yes, I will definitely come. It will help me take my mind off everything for a while."

Connor smiled.

"Good. We'll see each other there, I quess."

"Yep."

They laughed and discretely kissed on the lips.

They looked around. Nobody saw them.

After school, as always, Jude was going home along with Callie.

"Callie, I'm telling you, you can not trust him!"

"Why not? He is trustworthy."

"Things are not always what they seem, Callie. That I can assure you."

Callie started to get pretty upset.

"They let him go. He isn't guilty. Almost the whole school is still suspecting him, but I stand by Wyatt."

"See? That's where you are wrong, Callie. In times like this, you have to be careful of who you trust."

"I am!"

Jude raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, really?!"

"Yes!"

"You seem to trust everyone. Give me an example of someone that you don't trust."

"This discussion gets old, Jude. Why won't you just drop it already?!"

"Because I am worried about you! You may not know who you are messing with!"

"Jude, I appreciate your concern, really, but I can take care of myself. I am the one that should be taking care of you. You are my little brother."

"Stop acting like I'm still a baby!" Jude snapped. "I am the reason why people die. We should take care of each other!"

Callie nodded.

"Yeah, you are right. Sorry for upsetting you, Jude."

Jude sighed.

"It's fine... By the way, will you come to the game tonight?"

Callie frowned.

"You mean the football game?"

Jude nodded.

"Oh my god, I nearly forgot!"

"You too?!"

"Yes. I think I may come. It will help me relieve the stress. Will you?"

"Definitely. I really need it. We all need to relax."

"Of course we do."

Five minutes later, they were about to reach home.

"Jude? I wanted to ask you something..." Callie whispered to him.

"Ask me what?"

"Did you get any other phone calls from..."

Jude didn't even let Callie finish her question.

"No. In fact, I didn't. It's strange, isn't it? I was really wondering why he suddenly just gave up."

"Maybe he really gave up." said Callie.

"I wanna believe that, but I don't. It's not over yet, I'm sure of it. Maybe he is waiting for something. Maybe he is plotting another crazy and risky adventure that will undoubtedly involve me, my family and my friends... or what's left of them..." he said with regret. "They still have no news about Taylor, that's what really worries me. I really wanna know if she is okay... or alive. But the chances for that are very weak if you think about what happened with Daria."

Callie sighed and looked down, feeling mercy for Jude. She teared. Jude noticed that.

"Callie, what is it?"

"Jesus would've enjoyed the game tonight..." she mumbled, controlling herself from crying. She was kinda failing at it.

Jude seemed to get sad, too while thinking about it. She was right.

"Yes... that's true..."

That's when they realised: they reached their house.

Callie wiped her tears and they both went inside.

At the police station. Mike called Stef in his office.

When she arrived, he spread the news to her:

"Ok, the DNA test results arrived."

Stef's eyes widened in surprise.

"Already?!"

Mike nodded.

"So, what are the results?"

"According to the report, there was no DNA found inside the mask, most likely someone managed to wipe it... however, some male fingerprints were found outside the mask."

"Whose fingerprints? Specifically."

"I don't know. We couldn't get a clear examination of them. So, what do you think about it?"

"Mike, what if the mask planted in Wyatt's house wasn't actually the mask that the killer is wearing?"

Mike frowned, interested by the idea. Hmmm.

"That's also a possibility. That may explain many things."

"My theory is that someone placed that mask to fool us. To make us look like idiots. Complete losers."

Mike seemed to get a little bit angry hearing Stef's words.

"We shouldn't let him play us like that." he said, severity in his tone.

"No, we shouldn't. We can't give up now, Mike. Any news about Taylor?"

"Unfortunately, not. Not for now. Her parents keep bugging me and I don't know what to say to them." Mike said, ashamed of himself.

Stef sighed deeply and said:

"Well, at least now we know the gender of the killer... or of the person that put the mask in that cabinet."

Mike nodded, still upset.

19:00. The game was starting in an hour.

Mariana was in her room, watching herself in the mirror while applying some pink lip gloss.

Emma was there, too, sitting on her bed.

Mariana was on the phone with Hayley.

"So, are you going to the football game?" Mariana asked her.

"Yes, I am. Do you mind if I will meet you girls there? I am heading to the school right now. I am about to take a shower."

"Why don't you come over here and use one of our bathrooms instead?"

"Nah, I'm okay."

"Why didn't you wash yourself at home, though?"

"I was kinda in a hurry and I forgot about it. I'll see you girls there, ok?"

"K. See ya."

Mariana hung up and placed the phone on the drawer.

"She wanna come, too?" asked Emma.

"No, she said she will meet us there."

"Why?"

"She needs to shower. In the girls locker room."

Emma gave Mariana a look.

"Doesn't she have her own bathroom?"

"She said she was in a hurry and that she doesn't want to return back home for that."

"Another benefit of living in America, huh?"

Mariana laughed.

"Tell me about it."

Meanwhile, Brandon was in his room, laying on the bed, probably studying.

A knock on the door.

"Come in!" he shouted.

It was Callie.

"Hey." she shyly greeted.

"Hey."

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Brandon threw his notebook and pen aside.

"I'm never too busy for you." he said with a small smile.

Callie smiled, too.

"The game's gonna start soon. Aren't you going to come with us?"

"No, I have to study. Sorry."

"So studying is your way of coping with the whole situation." Callie joked. "You are such a nerd."

"I know. I'll see you all afterwards, okay?"

Callie nodded. She was about to leave, but Brandon interrupted her:

"And have fun." he said.

Callie thought for a few seconds.

"You too." she said, giving Brandon an awkward look, before closing his door.

One hour later. Hayley was in the girls locker room, showering. The room was empty.

At the football field, the cheerleading squad was out doing their thing. Jude, Callie, Emma, Mariana, Stef, Lena and Connor were in the stands, watching.

The cheerleaders finished up their act and left, and the crowd applauded. The football team came out. The crowd gave them a standing ovation, clapping and shouting. Jude remained in his seat, looking irked.

The other team came out as well.

"Hey, did anyone of you see Wyatt around?" shouted Callie at the girls, while the clapping and the cheers were getting louder and covering her words. "He said he will be here."

"Nope." answered Mariana and Emma at the same time.

After a while, the crowd stopped cheering and everyone sat down.

The game started.

Callie looked around for Wyatt, a disappointed look on her face.

In the girls locker room, Hayley shook her hair and let the water drip from her locks. She turned off the faucet, exited the shower and wrapped a towel around herself.

Hayley walked towards her locker and looked through her bag.

Her clothes were gone.

Hayley frowned, digging deeper.

Just then...

THE LIGHTS FROM THE LOCKER ROOM WENT OFF.

Hayley turned around and gasped.

"Hey! Who did that?!" she shouted.

No answer.

Hayley started to panick.

The lights switched back on.

She looked up, confusion on her face.

Then, she heard a locker door slam, most likely from the boys locker room. Hayley jumped.

"Who's there?"

Silence. Pure silence.

Hayley stroked her hair slowly.

Then, she jumped again, startled by her own ringtone.

Hayley took out her phone from the bag. "Unknown"

Hayley frowned. She answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello." answered Ghostface. "What is a hot girl like you doing in the girls locker room alone?"

"Wow, you can prank call chicks with a stupid app for just 99 cents. What can I say? I'm impressed." she said, obviously sarcastic.

"I'm afraid it's not a prank."

Hayley's eyes widened. She was really starting to freak out now.

"Who is this really?"

"I AM THE ONE WHO IS GONNA RIP THE GUTS OUT OF YOU!" snapped Ghostface.

Click. The line went dead.

Hayley looked at the phone, shocked. She let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

No. It can't be real. It must be a prank. This can't be happening... Not to her...

She desperately searched the bag for her clothes. She couldn't find them.

She took her phone.

Suddenly, Hayley heard some slow foot steps approaching her.

She turned around completely and saw THE GHOSTFACE KILLER STAYING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DOOR WITH ONE HAND BEHIND HIS BACK.

Hayley SHRIEKED.

Ghostface just stood there. SPOOKILY SILENT AND STILL.

Hayley was just looking at him, petrified.

Just then, Ghostface raised his hidden hand, revealing the fact that he was holding Hayley's clothes.

Hayley let out a little gasp.

Ghostface let her clothes fall to the ground. He brandished a knife from inside his cape.

Hayley SCREAMED.

Ghostface swinged and charged at her.

Thinking quickly, Hayley flipped the nearest bench over after a bit of a struggle and Ghostface ran right into it, flipping over it.

Hayley took off and exited the locker room. Ghostface quickly got up.

Hayley ran down the hallway, screaming desperately for help, Ghostface running after her.

She kept running, without looking back.

She turned to the right corner...

...BUMPING INTO MR. TIMOTHY!

HE GRABBED HER!

HAYLEY SCREAMED HER LUNGS OUT!

"OH MY GOD, HAYLEY, WHAT HAPPENED?!"

"IT'S THE KILLER! HE IS AFTER ME, HE TRIED TO KI..."

Hayley lost her words as he heard Mr. Timothy groan in agony.

He dropped to the ground, revealing GHOSTFACE RIGHT BEHIND HIM!

He pulled out the knife from Timothy's back.

Hayley SCREAMED AGAIN!

"R-run..." mumbled Timothy, weakened.

Hayley didn't waste any time. She continued roaming through the labyrinth-esque hallways of the school, screaming, Ghostface following her with the speed of the light, Hayley's face tear-stained.

In her shock and panick state, she realised that she had her phone in her hand. She dialed the numbers 9-1-2 due to her trembling fingers.

"FUCK, NO!" she shouted, hysterically.

She backed up towards a wall, and suddenly...

HER ARM WAS SLICED BY GHOSTFACE FROM BEHIND! GHOSTFACE GRABBED HER!

He attempted to quickly slash her neck, but Hayley fought him off, dropping her phone and busting it in the process.

She saw some doors at a few centimeters away from her.

Running as fast as she could, she turned around to see Ghostface still behind her.

She didn't slow down, she just kept going, until she tripped.

Getting back up, she started running again, holding her bleeding arm due to the pain she was in.

Hayley began to slowly cry as she continued to run, finally reaching the doors.

She bursted out of them.

The football field was in the distance and Hayley decided to make a run for it. The football teams were still playing and the crowd was cheering and shouting.

She reached the field and got pushed down by a player who didn't notice what was going on.

She GROANED IN PAIN!

Everyone stopped playing and everybody looked at her.

Mariana and Emma's eyes widened in shock, identifying her almost instantly.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed Mariana, tears in her eyes.

"OH MY GOD, IT'S HAYLEY!" shouted Emma.

"Somebody, please, help me..."

She slowly got up from the ground.

She turned around and...

...HER THROAT GOT SLIT BY GHOSTFACE!

Blood splatted on the grass as Hayley's body fell to the ground. She was dead.

Ghostface ran away.

Everyone SCREAMED!

CALLIE PLACED A HAND ON HER MOUTH, STARING AT HAYLEY'S CORPSE WITHOUT BLINKING, TEARS IN EYES! JUDE, STEF AND LENA PALED! MARIANA AND EMMA SCREAMED AND CRIED THEIR LUNGS OUT! CONNOR GAGGED, ALMOST VOMITING!

FOOTBALL PLAYERS RUNNING AROUND EVERYWHERE! PEOPLE SCREAMING AND SHOUTING! PURE CHAOS!

Everyone ran away from the field in shock and fear.

A/N: That was chapter 10. I hope you enjoyed it, as always. What did you think of Hayley's death? Is Wyatt really innocent? Can he be trusted? Any other theories about who the killer is? Stay tuned for more :) Byeeee!