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CHAPTER ELEVEN

GUT WRENCHING

"I can't believe you packed this," Aunt Abby smiled up at her niece from her spot on the bed in her room as Athena tried on one of her old Halloween costumes. "You absolutely loved Hocus Pocus as a little girl. You wouldn't stop singing that Come Little Children song for weeks after you first saw it."

Athena shrugged as she checked her reflection in the full body mirror over her door, "Well, she was my favorite character."

"You look great, sweetie," Abby complimented.

"Abby..." Athena started her question, something that had been plaguing her since she saw her Aunt again. "Has mom—I mean, has Gretchen, contacted you? Since she ran off?"

Abby sighed, "No, she hasn't. But I am not about to defend her – especially to you. What she did, what she took part in, hurt a lot of people, including you. So, if she ever does contact me, I will turn her in. I hope you would be able to forgive me for that."

"I would," Athena assured her, turning to face her instead of her reflection. "I think I could forgive her, only if she took responsibility. I still can't imagine looking Alonzo in the eye, knowing what I know now. I just was curious."

"I understand," Abby smiled kindly. She took her niece's shoulders in her hands, "I know that everything that happened must get you thinking about what they could have been capable of. But just don't fall into that rabbit hole. It's all over – all of it. It's gonna be okay. Now, sit down so I can do your makeup."

Athena smiled back and sat at her vanity. Before Abby could get into her work though, there was a knock at the door. Without thinking, she called for whoever it was to come in. Sam stood awkwardly in the door.

"Oh, Sam," Athena greeted awkwardly. She stood up and pointed to Abby, "This is my Aunt."

"Abigail," her Aunt put out her hand to introduce herself.

"Nice to meet you," Sam shook her hand dubiously.

The older woman could sense something between Sam and Athena so she quietly excused herself, "I'll give you two some privacy. Just shout for me when you're ready."

"Thanks," Athena muttered as her Aunt left. She then stood awkwardly in front of Sam, not knowing what to say to him.

"You look beautiful," Sam broke the silence, complimenting her.

"Thanks," she folded her arms in front of her.

"Ian told me you were in the hospital," Sam said. "I wanted to see if you were okay. I haven't heard from you since... that day."

Athena nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat, "Well, it's over with now. Did you hear they arrested our English teacher?"

"Yeah, I heard," Sam answered.

Athena sighed, "Look, Sam, I'm sorry I haven't called or anything, I just... I can't face you. Even looking at you now, I just see you tied up in that chair with a knife at your throat."

Sam looked tortured with emotional pain in his face at her words, "I know what you mean, Athena, I do. It happens to me too. I feel like I failed you."

"That's ridiculous," Athena countered, but he continued.

"I wanted to protect you. I just couldn't. I was in that chair, and I was helpless. I couldn't do anything," he ranted. "I don't ever want to feel like that again. I want to be in a position where I can actually do something. So, I've been thinking about it, and I'm going to be leaving soon."

Athena felt heat rise up in her face, "Leaving?"

"I want to go to the police academy," he revealed. "Clark is going to help me out but there's no police academy nearby. So, I'll have to leave Lakeview. Soon, so I can get settled somewhere, because it will take a while."

"Oh," Athena responded dumbly, not knowing what else to say. "Good luck, I guess."

"I'm not running away from you," Sam swore, stepping in front of her so they were nearly touching. "I'm not running away from what happened. I'm just trying to turn it into something useful. I've been searching for a better path in life for a while and I just didn't know what I wanted. Now, I do. I want to protect people like us from the psychos out there."

"I understand," Athena muttered, trying to hide her emotions. She still cared for Sam, more than he knew, and she didn't want to lose him. But at the same time, she wanted what was best for him, and maybe that wasn't her. "I hope you have luck out there, wherever you end up."

"I'll keep in touch," Sam offered lamely. "And I'll always be there for you. No matter what."

She nodded, letting a lone tear fall down her cheek. He cupped her face in his hands and wiped away her tear with his thumb. He then leaned down and kissed her, passionately, slowly, fully, since it was quite possibly the last time he would get the chance. She immediately kissed him back, winding her arms around his neck and letting him pull her closer to him. One arm wrapped around her back and pulled her flush with his body while the other stayed cupped around her jaw, tilting her head back so he could get closer.

To her, it felt like she would explode with emotion. Sam was leaving – the same Sam she had come to trust so much. But she had to be happy for him. That was the only option for her. She had to let him go.

They pulled away, panting a little bit, pressing their foreheads together. Sam licked his lips, "God, I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too," she whispered, scared of breaking the moment.

He pulled further away and kissed her forehead, giving her another hug, "I'll let you finish getting ready. I'll see you before I leave, I promise."

"You better," she warned him in a soft voice, "or I'll drop kick you."

He gave her a chuckle and kissed her cheek, "I'll see you later."

"See you later," she watched him walk out of the room, sighing to herself.

Athena walked into the surprisingly crowded school gym decked out for Halloween. She caught sight of Noah dressed as Dracula working the DJ table, "Come into the light, my children! Let me hear you scream!"

The crowd cheered for him as he played some pop song. Athena just laughed and shook her head, noticing Emma talking to her mom at the punch table. So, she made her way over, "Very topical costume, Emma."

She turned and smiled at her friend, "Hey, Athena. I could say the same to you. Who are you?"

"Sarah Sanderson," she answered, giving a little twirl with her skirt flaring. "She was my favorite character growing up."

"You look lovely, Athena," Maggie chimed in, handing her a cup of punch.

"Thanks," she took a sip. "Where's the Sheriff?"

"I don't know," Maggie replied, not worried. "He's not returning my texts. Must've gotten hung up."

"Well, that seems to run in the family," Emma added, looking at her cell phone. "Kieran is also very late."

Jake slid over to them, dressed as Peter Pan, grinning at Maggie, "Mrs. D, looking lovely, as always."

"Jake," Maggie greeted with a smile.

"One non-alcoholic drink, por favor," he requested, taking the offered drink she poured him.

Emma pulled him away to scold him for something, Athena didn't know. She bid a polite adieu to Maggie before wandering so one of the seats, not feeling in the dancing and frolicking mood. Instead, she watched Emma dance with Kieran before Audrey came up to her. "Hey," Audrey greeted her. "Nice costume."

"Thanks," Athena muttered. "Did you find anything out about Rachel and Branson?"

"No, but I found something else," Audrey said. "I logged into Rachel's cloud and looked through her old footage. She caught footage of Kieran leaving a bar with Nina – and he definitely saw her filming them together. It was right before she was killed."

"Seriously?" Athena gaped.

Audrey rose her eyebrow and nodded, "Deadly serious. Does that not just scream murder suspect to you?"

Athena felt hot all of the sudden, pulling on her dress, "But it's Branson, and they caught him. It's supposed to be over."

"I know, but Athena, they might have the wrong guy," Audrey stressed.

Athena panted a little bit, "But we talked to Brandon's mom, she said Seth was his son. He went to see her, she told us his name. It has to be him. It just has to-"

While she started to hyperventilate, Emma walked over, "Hey, what's going on? What's wrong?"

"Emma, sit down," Audrey ordered gently, scooting over so Emma had room to sit between her and Athena.

Emma still looked at Athena with concern, "Athena, calm down, okay? Just breathe. Tell me what's going on."

Athena took a deep breath, "Audrey, tell her what you told me."

"Okay," Audrey sighed, pulling out her phone. "I went through Rachel's raw footage to try and find a connection to Branson. But I found this instead."

She set up her phone to play the footage of Kieran being led out of the bar by a drunk but smug Nina. Emma gaped, utterly confused, "What is this?"

"Nina and Kieran," Audrey said. "Rachel shot that. Kieran saw her do it. Em, if she was the only witness to see him with Nina..."

"Audrey, Mr. Branson is the killer, okay?" Emma cut her off. "The DNA is gonna prove that. Kieran and Nina were at a bar together, so what?"

"The night before she died," Audrey pointed out. "Emma, you can't trust him."

"Why not?" Emma retorted. "I trusted you. We've all been caught on tape doing things that look bad."

Just then Kieran walked up with a couple cups of punch, "Hey. Looking good."

Audrey glared, "Yeah, you too," and got up and left.

"I'm gonna let you two have privacy," Athena excused herself afterwards. She found Audrey sulking at a table alone. "You're really convinced of this."

Audrey nodded, her face still set into her usual stern expression, "I know you want it to be over, but..."

"But it doesn't add up," Athena finished, leaning her head in her hands.

"Exactly," Audrey agreed.

"I just don't know what to make of it," Athena sighed. "I wanted so badly for it to be Branson just so I could feel safe in my own god damn house again. But I don't think that's ever going to happen. Even if it is Kieran and we catch him and he goes away for life or death."

"Someday, you will," Audrey assured her. She caught sight of Kieran leaving the dance and saw Emma walk into a separated sitting area. "Come on," she said to Athena, pulling the other girl to check on Emma.

"Hey, are you okay?" Audrey asked Emma. "Where'd Kieran go?"

"He left," Emma groaned. "I messed things up royally."

"Or maybe he left because he did it," Audrey pointed out haughtily.

"Audrey, I know that you want justice for Rachel..." Emma started saying.

"Yeah, I do," Audrey cut her off. "And he is the only person I know of who would've wanted her gone."

"So, you want me to believe that he killed everyone else?" Emma asked, exasperated. "Nina, Tyler, Riley..."

"And Elena," Athena muttered, covering her face with her hands. She sniffed and tried to control herself and her tears. She felt Audrey hug her and whispered, "I can't keep doing this."

"Come on, let's get out of here," Audrey coaxed her. She looked at Emma, "We'll have to agree to disagree. You two have fun together. We're crashing Brooke's party and getting drunk." She pulled Athena out to her car and drove off for Brooke's house. As they were driving, Audrey asked, "Hey, is it okay if we stop by my house so I can change? You can borrow something to change in too."

Athena looked down at her dress, "Yeah that sounds good."

She borrowed some jeans and a simple black lace shirt from Audrey, keeping on her combat boots she'd been wearing under her Sarah Sanderson dress and headed to Brooke's big blowout. Thinking on it, Athena pulled out her phone and dialed her Aunt's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey..." Athena chuckled in embarrassment, "I kind of dialed you by habit. I always made it your job to tell my parents when my plans changed, didn't I?"

"I can still assume that job in Lakeview," her Aunt teased her. "What's up? Did you leave the dance?"

"Yeah, Audrey and I," she answered. "We're heading to our friend Brooke's house, she's having a party. I'll text you the address just in case."

"Just in case?" there was suspicion in Abigail's tone now. "Just in case what?"

Athena sighed, "I don't know. Just in case. Given recent events, I figured it's best to be more cautious. This isn't my old neighborhood in Portland."

"All right, well, I'll let Diana know about the change in plans if you want," Abigail offered, still sounding wary.

"Sure, that'd be great," Athena thanked her. "I'll call when we're leaving, we're in Audrey's car. And it's not like I'll be getting drunk and wild."

"You were never the drunk and wild type," she joked.

Athena laughed, "True. So, uh, I'll let you know when I'm on my way to the house, okay?"

"Okay, have fun, sweetie," her Aunt said before hanging up.

As she put her phone away, Audrey spoke, "So, you and this Aunt are pretty close, huh?"

Athena nodded, "Yeah, she and Gretchen were like my best friends growing up. Losing that was probably the hardest part of my situation. I'm glad that I at least have her back in my life."

"Good for you," Audrey said as they pulled up to Brooke's house.

They immediately sat themselves by the back door where there were a circle of seats and a fire. Audrey grabbed a beer and offered one to Athena but she shook her head, raising her wrapped up hand, "No blood thinners."

Audrey shrugged, "Sucks for you," and capsized into a lounge chair. She took a long sip, "I'm tired of this too, you know. I wanted it to be Tyler, I wanted it to be some rando, I was okay with it being Branson too. But if there's the slight possibility that he's the wrong guy and the right guy is still out there..."

"I get it," Athena assured her. "We need to get the right guy."

"Right," Audrey agreed, laying back.

Athena folded her legs and laid back as well, content to forget for a little while what was going on.

Little did either of them know that all Hell had broken out at the Halloween dance. On the big screen, Sheriff Hudson bloodied and tied up and then the Killer's masked face. Everyone had broken out into screams and had to be corralled by the police detail. Once the footage had cut out, Maggie told her daughter she was going to the station. Branson had broken out and killed a deputy. But the body looked staged. Piper was going to the Sheriff's station as well to see what she could do.

Emma found Dracula with his lap top – never not at his side – at a table. She walked up to him, "Noah... I just heard that Branson's-"

"Yeah, I heard," he told her, working on his computer. "One of those rare moments where I hate being right."

"We have to find the Sheriff," Emma stated.

He nodded emphatically, "I think I can help with that. Whoever hacked the big screen is sending a live signal through my AV system."

"Can you trace it?" Emma asked eagerly.

"I'm working on it," he told her. "Hey, have you heard from Brooke or Athena?"

Emma frowned, "No."

"'Cause I can't reach Audrey," he added, looking worried. "They may not even know what's going on."

Emma took in a shaky breath and pulled out her phone, calling Brooke's number. She didn't answer, of course. She cursed as she cut off the line and texted Brooke what was going on. She tried Athena too – no answer, sent a text. She put her phone down on the table with a frustrated huff and looked around the dance. She gasped when the phone started ringing – Unknown caller. She and Noah shared a look before she grabbed the phone and answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, Emma," the killer greeted. "Enjoying the dance?"

"Let him go, okay?" Emma requested sternly. "This is about you and me."

"Oh, I don't think so. Tonight's the big finale, Emma. Gotta make sure everybody's watching the horror show. People wanna see blood, and I'm gonna give it to 'em."

"I'm gonna find him," Emma warned him. "And then I'm gonna find you, you sick son of a bitch."

"Then let's see what you've learned, Emma. Can you put all the pieces together in time to save him? Or will Daisy's heart be broken the way she broke Brandon's? It's up to you. But I can promise you one thing, it's gonna be gut-wrenching."

He hung up and Emma numbly pulled the phone away from her ear, looking at Noah, "He said that tonight's the big finale."

"Of course he did," Noah sarcastically cheered. "A big ill-advised Halloween dance."

"We have to find the Sheriff," Emma repeated.

"I'm trying, but all my serious gear is back at the shop," Noah told her.

Emma looked to the exit, "Okay, well, let's go. Now."

They went to leave but were stopped by a deputy. "Sorry, guys, nobody leaves."

"We need to go to the station now or the Sheriff is going to die," Emma argued with her.

"I'd listen to her," Noah backed her up.

Back at the raging party, Athena looked around, seeing people dancing and swimming. Part of her hoped Emma would show up, tell them that the DNA tests were in and Branson was her long lost brother. Or tell her that Kieran confessed and was going away for life. Anything to assure her that it was all over for real.

"You look more down than usual," Audrey broke into her thoughts.

She looked down at her lap, shrugging, "I just want this to be over. But even then, things won't be the same."

"Why don't you call that guy?" Audrey suggested. "The one we caught you macking with."

"Sam," Athena filled in the name for her. "I can't. After everything I put him through, I can't drag him in any more than he is. And besides, he's leaving town. Wants to become a cop. But can't here, I guess."

"That's noble at least," Audrey offered. "I'm sure he still cares about you though."

She nodded, "He does. I do too – about him, I mean. But it's not enough after something like this. Caring about Elena was what got her killed. It wasn't incriminating footage or to get her out of the way. It was just to get back at me, because I liked her. I feel like poison to the people I care about."

"Hey," Audrey chided her, pulling on her arm until she turned to her. "You're not poison. You're not cursed. You're not any of that. You're just a good person and this sicko punished you for that. You saved Will's life, twice. You've been Emma's voice of reason too many times to count. You haven't let this guy beat you yet – don't let him now."

Athena straightened her back, sitting tall, "You're right. I just wish I could put a bullet in his skull and beat him down."

"Night's not over yet," Audrey smirked.

Emma had removed her wig and tied her hair after Noah dropped her off at the station, finding her mother walking out of the holding cells. "Mom!"

"Emma, I told you to stay at the dance," Maggie scolded her daughter.

"Mom, the killer just called," she rushed out. "He said unless I put the pieces together fast he's gonna break Daisy's heart."

"Oh, my God," Maggie breathed, leaning against the counter. "He's gonna kill Clark."

"No, not if we can find what he wants," Emma insisted. "You said that the deputy's body looks staged, right? When he took Will, he carved a clue onto his back."

"Wait," Maggie told the men wheeling out the deputy's body, "I need to see him." She pulled away the sheet and looked over the dead man's body before she noticed something, "There's something in his mouth." She reached in with her gloved hands and started pulling out a chain, slowly, cautiously, until something came loose and she pulled out a dangling wooden carved heart with DAISY etched into it.

"What is that?" Emma gasped.

"Oh, God. Brandon made it for me," Maggie sighed. "He used to leave me gifts in the tree behind my house."

"Mom... what if that's where Clark is?"

Audrey was on her second beer when Brooke approached them, "Audrey. Athena. Hey." She took a seat next to Audrey, "Did not expect to see you here, Audrey."

"That makes two of us," Audrey deadpanned, taking another drink. She saw the mask in Brooke's hands, "Nice mask. Big plans later?"

Brooke gazed at it, "It's tempting. I mean, some psycho wears this to kill our friends, and people treat it like it's a joke."

"People are dicks," Athena offered.

"I know," Brooke agreed, looking around. "Even the ones I like. Emma bailed on me, Jake spied on me and everyone else, well, they're gone, so..." she looked between the two girls next to her, "looks like you two are officially my favorite people at this party."

"Try in the whole town," Athena teased, letting her legs lay straight in front of her.

Brooke chuckled, "So, uh, what brings you guys to my pity party?"

"I found something that looks like Emma might be sleeping with the enemy," Audrey explained, "but she didn't want to hear it. And I didn't want to see it."

"No," Brooke scoffed. "Kieran can't be the killer. He's too pretty. Although, I guess Ted Bundy kinda proved that hotness doesn't cancel out crazy."

"True," Audrey chuckled. "I just don't want to see her get hurt."

"I know," Brooke sighed. "You're just looking out for her. It's what friends do. Or, at least, they should do."

Audrey leaned forward, "You know, I kinda like this whole real human thing you got going on right now."

Brooke smiled, giving a giggle, "Are you flirting with me?"

Audrey smirked, "Oh, you wish."

The girls all laughed, Brooke adding, "Look at us, bonding."

"BFFs," Athena laughed. "Too bad I can't get drunk."

"We'll get drunk for you," Audrey offered, smiling.

Jake waltzed up to them with a bunny on his arm, "Oh, snap. Just in time for the hot girl-on-girl action."

"Jake, I don't remember inviting you to the party," Brooke glared at him.

He gave her an exaggerated pout, "Oh, come on, Brooke. I think The Jake is the party. Can I get an 'amen'?" The teens around him all shouted 'amen' and cheered and he gave her a smirk in response, walking off.

Athena balked when she saw Will walk up with a bottle of water, "Brooke, I'm sorry about him. He's being a jackass."

"Should you be here, Will?" Brooke responded, looking concerned.

He shrugged, "I'm not drinking or dancing or anything. Taking it easy. I'm just glad to be out of the hospital. Even though it practically gave my mom a heart attack." He took a seat in the empty lounge chair by Athena, "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged, "Better, I guess. I didn't get stabbed."

"It's overrated," he smiled at her.

Maggie and Emma had brought the entire Sheriff's department nearly to the old tree, seeing Clark tightly bark to the large tree. Maggie rushed up to him, looking him up and down, "Clark, it's Maggie. Untie him! Clark, can you hear me?"

Emma watched with baited breath as her mom and the other deputies cut the Sheriff loose, until the rope around his midsection came loose and his intestines spilled out. She gasped as her mother panicked and tried to put him together, save him, begging him to hold on. But his head fell limp and they knew he was gone.

She sat with her mom in the back of an ambulance, wanting to just make it better, "Mom, I'm so sorry."

"I did this," Maggie muttered, looking lost and confused. "I should've checked him more carefully. Maybe I could've stabilized him."

"Mom, the EMT said that there was nothing that you could've done," Emma insisted.

Maggie cursed, "The bastard just kept him alive so he could watch me try to save him. And then he had me kill him."

"I know," Emma murmured. "He tried to do the same thing with Will. He did it to Athena, with Elena. Mom, we can't let him win."

Maggie agreed, "No, we can't." She sighed, taking her daughter's hand, "You need to tell Kieran. He can't find out about this on the news."

"Okay, I'll find him," Emma said. "And then I'll find the psycho who did this."

Maggie's face fell, "No, you won't. I'm gonna go with Clark. I'm gonna have a deputy take you to the station. You wait right there for him." She pointed over to a deputy car. "I'll see you there."

Emma nodded and did what her mother said. Piper came up to her, "Emma."

"Piper, I can't talk right now," Emma said apologetically.

"No, I don't want you to," Piper replied, concern on her face. "I mean, after what you just saw... Anything you need, I wanna help."

"I have to go to the station with my mom," Emma told her. "I can't reach Brooke or Athena. A deputy went to Brooke's party, but I haven't heard anything."

Piper nodded along, "I'll go check, okay? You don't worry."

"Thank you," Emma felt a weight off her shoulders. "Be careful."

"You, too."

Brooke was watching Jake play tonsil hockey with the playboy bunny with a glare of disgust, "First he spies on me, then he shows up with her. Men are pigs."

"Can't really argue with that," Will shrugged it off, taking a gulp of his water.

Brooke sighed, "She's literally dumb as toast."

"Brooke, it's obvious he has nothing for her except the rise it gets out of you," Audrey pointed out.

Brooke smirked, "Yeah, well, I've been known to make things rise myself." She stood up and called over a shirtless dude and before he could answer, she shoved her tongue down his throat. She easily dismissed him to get some wine and walked over to them first.

"Nicely done," Athena answered with a grin on her face.

"Thank you," Brooke grinned back before looking to Audrey. "Do me a solid? Do not let the unwashed masses into this house."

Audrey saluted her sarcastically, "Aye, aye, captain."

Athena let out a sigh, "I'm thirsty. Where's the water?"

Audrey shrugged, "Everything seemed to be filled with booze."

"The non-alcoholic beverages are a bit hidden to promote under-aged drinking," Will quipped. He stood up and offered Athena his hand, "Come on, I'll show you where it is."

Athena bid Audrey, "Be right back," and took Will's hand, letting him lead her to an area on the other side of the house, a side patio, where a large cooler had water bottles and juice pouches.

Emma sat nervously in the police station waiting on her mom when her phone rang. Her heart stopped for a second before she saw that it was Noah's number, "Noah?"

"Well, I've almost isolated the signal," Noah told her. "And I figured out why we can't reach people. The malware doesn't just access web cams. It turns off ringers and notification."

Emma sagged, "So, they don't even know that we've been trying to contact them. Oh, my God. He's cutting us off from everyone."

"Yeah, pretty much," Noah huffed. Then she heard a little ring and him cheer, "Oh, yes. I got it! It's 1221 Sparrow Drive?"

"That's Brooke's house," Emma sighed. "Wait – everyone is there. Audrey, Jake, Athena, Brooke. And I... I just sent Piper over there to check on them."

"Tell the cops we've got him," Noah replied obviously.

Emma's phone dinged with a text and she looked, reading a message threatening her that if she called the cops, everyone would make headlines.

"Emma? Emma, do you hear me?"

Emma took a breath and stood up, answering him, "Noah, pick me up at the Sheriff's station right now."

As always, thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think! I've never written for a show like this before.

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