Tori gasped as she awoke. She took in her surroundings, quickly realizing she didn't recognize the room she was currently in. She noticed a mirror directly across from her and turned her head to try and see the damage to her face. She could see the bruise that was forming from being hit on the side of her head, and judging from the blood, the gash on her cheek from the car crash was now reopened. She went to wipe away the blood from her face only to fully comprehend her situation. She looked down to see her hands tied to the arms of the chair. The first thing she did was wiggle, trying to loosen the rope or even tip over and break the chair, but nothing would budge. She tried again, this time with more force. All she managed to accomplish was almost dislocating her shoulders.
"Chairs bolted down, you aren't going anywhere." The killer taunted as he walked into the room. Tori immediately froze. She watched Ghostface walk over to a table in the middle of the room and set down a gun. She couldn't see what was on the table that Ghostface was preoccupied with.
"Let me go!" Tori demanded, still fidgeting with her restraints.
Ghostface turned from the table towards her. The killer sauntered over to her, kneeling down so they were face to face. Tori gulped. Her worse nightmare has come true. The person causing all of her pain and suffering for the past week was right in front of her and she could do nothing about it. But that thought in and of itself was enough to wipe away the fear in her by sparking an even bigger feeling of hatred. It was pure hatred she was sure she never felt for anyone before. Her wrists were losing circulation as she tried to break free, just to get her hands on the killer in front of her. Ghostface noticed this, putting the blade of the hunting knife to the rope, taunting her, as if to cut her free. The killer moved it up her arm, then her neck, until finally reaching her face. The killer pressed the blade into the cut on her cheek, causing Tori to scream in pain as more blood flowed down her face. Ghostface wiped the blood off the tip of the knife before returning to the table.
"If you're going to kill me just do it already! Why wait!?" Tori shouted, the suspense eating away at her.
"If you reeeally want me to, just know, it's nothing personal..." Ghostface said as he placed the knife down on the table and grabbed the gun instead. Tori closed her eyes and tried to think about everything good in her life. Her family. She wanted to see her sister once last time. Find out what happened to her father. She decided that was what hurt the most, not knowing what happened to her dad. Her mind quickly wandered, and it settled on Jade. She thought back to when they first met. Who would have thought the girl who poured coffee on her head on her first day at Hollywood Arts would be the same girl she has grown so close to recently. The same girl who saved her life multiple times over the past week. Despite the circumstances, she cracked a small smile. But when nothing happened she opened her eyes, only to find Ghostface was gone. She took this time to try her restraints again. Her wrists were bleeding but she was making progress, the rope was starting to stretch and wear down. Tori was interrupted by Ghostface walking back into the room.
"I lied. It is a liiittle personal." She heard Ghostface chuckle behind the mask. Tori's eyes started to tear up, as Ghostface escorted a beaten and bruised Detective Vega to the opposite side of the room, across from Tori. His hands and legs were taped together.
"Don't hurt him!" Tori screeched, her anger rising up again.
"Tori we are way past that." Ghostface said as he kicked Detective Vega in the leg, dropping him to his knees.
"I'm gonna kill you…" Tori hissed.
Ghostface walked over to her and struck her with a jab. Tori shrieked as she recoiled, spitting blood from her now busted lip.
Detective Vega tried to raise up to his feet, shouting incoherently because of the duct tape over his mouth. Ghostface turned and landed a kick straight to the face of the detective, causing him to fly backwards and hit his head against the wall.
"Daddy!" Tori wailed.
"But wait, there's more!" Ghostface shouted, almost with glee, hurrying out of the room once again.
Tori tried waking her father, but there was only so much she could do as long as she was tied to the chair. At least now she had the rope strung out, and she figured a couple more quick movements would free her. Once again Ghostface walked in, another hostage in tow.
"Surprise!" Ghostface practically dragged Andre into the room, his arms and legs taped like Detective Vega's.
"Andre!" Tori called out, but he seemed out of it. Ghostface threw him down next to the unconscious detective.
"Why are you doing this!?" Tori quaked.
"Why? WHY?" Ghostface boomed. "...because it's fuuuun." Ghostface laughed at Tori's shocked expression. "This?" Ghostface motioned to himself, then motioned to the surroundings. "This has been the most fun I've had in a long time." Ghostface tossed the gun onto the table and instead picked the knife up once again. "Wearing this, it changes you. It gives you power, strength. You know what I used to be like. When I wear this, I'm strong, I'm in charge, I won't be pushed around, not anymore."
Ghostface approached Tori with the knife as she broke free, taking the murderer by surprise. She attacked, hitting the killer below the belt with her knee. Ghostface crumpled to the floor, but not before grabbing a handful of Tori's hair as she ran past, slamming her on her back. Both scrambled to their feet. Tori got up first, retreating behind a couch in the room. She couldn't find a weapon, and now Ghostface stood across the couch from her. Tori faked going left around the couch, then tried going right, but Ghostface mirrored her movements. She tried to fake the other way, but this time Ghostface swiped at her with the hunting knife. She shrieked as she jumped back, the knife shredding the couch cushions. Ghostface ran wildly up the front of the couch to try and tackle Tori, but failed, tumbling as the couch tipped over. Tori hurried to the table, grabbing the gun. She turned back to the killer just in time for Ghostface to grab her wrist, preventing her from getting a shot off. Ghostface then raised the knife in the other hand but Tori was able to reach out and grab the killer's wrist.
Both of them stood there, each holding one of the other's wrists. Ghostface pushed forward, backing her up on top of the table in the room. Ghostface then pushed her wrist high above her head, forcing the gun out of her hand. The killer now had one hand on her throat and the other on the knife, driving it towards her heart. Tori reached above her head, trying to find the gun but couldn't find it. Her throat was on fire and she knew she couldn't fend the killer off much longer, so she decided to risk it all. She let go of the killer's hands and used all of her might to break Ghostface's grip around her neck. It worked, but Tori knew she was on borrowed time, she needed to find the gun quickly. She screamed in pain as she felt the cold blade enter her skin. Determined, she grabbed the gun, turned back around and fired. Ghostface's head snapped back as he flew to the floor. Tori, exhausted, slumped down to the floor as well. She winced, looking over her shoulder, seeing the knife still sticking out of her back. She tried to relax as much as she could, then took a deep breath as she reached around and pulled the knife out quickly, letting out another pained yelp as the knife clanked to the floor. She sighed in relief before looking across to Andre and her father. She hurried over, but the detective was still out. That was when she heard Andre groaning. She set the gun down and went to retrieve the knife to cut them free. With the knife in hand, she bent down and cut the tape from Andre's hands, and he took the knife to free his feet. Meanwhile, Tori went back to her dad. Andre, now free, stood up. Tori turned back to him, happy that her best friend made it through this nightmare alive. She leapt up, wrapping up Andre in a gigantic hug. In the middle of this, Officer Briggs rushed in, clearing the room, gun in hand.
"Briggs!" Tori rejoiced.
"Holy shit, you're alive! Detective Vega isn't going to kill me after all!" Officer Briggs responded happily.
"You got that right." Andre added as he pulled the pistol Tori left on the ground earlier from behind his back and fired into Officer Briggs. Tori dropped to the floor, hands covering her ears. A painful ringing echoed throughout her skull. She looked up to see the most evil looking smile on Andre's face she had ever seen.
"No...nonono." Tori stammered. "Not you. Not you too." Tori's vision blurred and her eyes filled with tears.
"You would NOT believe the shit I had to go through to set this up." Andre blurted out, snapping out of his 'concussed' state and into one of joy, in an instant. "I may not be a star like you Tori, but even you have to admit, I pulled this off to perfection!" Andre said with a smile on his face. "You even took him out, for me. Thanks for that by the way." Andre walked over to the dead Ghostface, gun still aimed at Tori. He reached down and snatched the mask off the body. "Make sure you have a fall guy, right?"
"Sinjin?! What the hell?" Tori said in disbelief.
"Yeah I know right? Who would have thought? I originally went to him for the voice device, but he found out about my plans to make this movie. And instead of having to kill him, he joined me. Crazy right?" Andre cackled.
"Crazy is the word I would use, yeah." Tori answered, acid in her tone.
The expression on Andre's face changed in an instant. He walked over, holding the knife in one hand, the gun in the other, a menacing look in his eyes. He crouched down to Tori.
"Watch. Your. Mouth." He ordered, holding the knife to her throat. "Wouldn't want you to push me, and end this scene a little early." The tone of his voice made Tori sick to her stomach.
"Why?" Tori murmured, on the verge of tears again.
Andre sighed. "Was Sinjin's 'bullied nerd' defense not enough?" Tori continued to shoot daggers at him. "Fine. I wanted to put together a movie. I directed, acted, and produced this whole thing. And it was was better than anything that ever happened at Hollywood Arts!"
"You didn't answer my question. How could you do this? Put people through this hell. Your friends. Your best friend."
"You actually think we're best friends? How precious!" Andre sneered. "But you really don't wanna go there with me, considering I killed my real best friend earlier this evening."
"Beck? I-I don't understand…"
"Oh you think he helped put this together? C'mon Tori. He never would have went for this."
"But he was in the costume…"
"I let him borrow mine, I didn't need it for the final scene anyway. Do you know how hard it is to hold someone up while trying to stay out of sight? It was all worth it though to see the look on your guys' faces." Andre noticed the look of disgust on Tori's face. "What? I was just having fun Tor." Andre grinned.
"Don't call me that." Tori commanded.
"Awww, we aren't best friends anymore?" Andre continued to mocked her. "Because I seem to recall us not being 'bffs' for a while now. Or is Jade the only one who gets to call you that now?"
"Is that what this is about? Me spending time with Jade?" Tori quizzed, causing Andre to burst out in laughter.
"This is way bigger than you two. You may be the star in my movie, but that's just it, my movie. This is my claim to fame. I'm using you. Just like you used me."
"What are you talking about?" Tori asked, perplexed.
"I know, Tori."
"Know what?"
"You want to play it that way? Fine. You always have to be 'Little Ms. Perfect and Innocent'." Andre mumbled as he walked over to the table in the room, bringing a folder back over to Tori. "I read them all." He said as he dropped the folder to the floor. She opened it up to find what looked to be a bunch of printed out emails. She keep reading, seeing that most of them were emails between her email address and multiple CEOs of different entertainment industry companies.
"Where did you get these?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes it does! Andre I didn't send these, any of these."
"Bullshit. Is that your email?"
"Andre I-"
"IS THAT YOUR EMAIL?"
"Andre you aren't thinking straight! No way I'd send anything like this! You know I'm not like that!" Tori begged.
Andre ignored her as he bent down, scattering the pile of paper. He picked one up in particular. "This one's my favorite." He cleared his throat. "'..loved the videos of you two on The Slap, would be interested in a sit down to discuss a potential partnership. Are the two of you a package deal?' Andre continued reading off the paper. 'No we aren't, I feel like I would prosper as a solo artist. I already do most of the song writing. He's kinda just there when I need backup.' You know, the first time I saw this, I actually gave you the benefit of the doubt. I thought it had to be a misunderstanding, or maybe you were looking out for me. How sad is that? But there are a lot more like that one. You didn't just use me to propel only yourself, you screwed me. I never once got contacted after they talked to you!" Andre snarled, tightening his grip on the hunting knife in his hand.
"You never got any emails because those are fake! Andre you have to believe me, I never sent any of those messages. I would never do that to you…please...look at me." Tori pleaded, hoping to descalate the situation.
Andre's entire demeanor changed. "No…. Shut up! You're lying!" He stammered, his hands on the sides of his head. "That can't….but the emails…he said..." Andre winced. "My head."
"Andre, we can put an end to this, I know this isn't you. You're sick..." Tori reached out to him. "Let me help you…"
Andre pushed Tori back, knocking her over. She landed on the knife wound on her back, causing her to scream in pain. Andre used this distraction to jump on top of Tori.
"It's too late Tor, for both of us." Andre remarked, soberly.
He raised the knife with both hands, ready to drive it down onto his former best friend. Tori flinched, only to hear Andre cry out in agony. She opened her eyes to see scissors sticking out of his shoulder, his face twisted in anguish. She watched him throw his elbow backwards, knocking his attacker off of him. Tori took this time to flip Andre off of her. He landed on his back, his knife and gun flying into the air. She grabbed the knife that landed within her reach and jumped on top of him this time. He grabbed her hand, delaying the knife from reaching his skin. Tori, knowing she was about to be overpowered, reached her other hand into the gash on Andre's shoulder. He howled in pain, and his grip slipped. Tori put all her weight on top of the knife and drove it directly into his chest. She laid there, face to face with her former best friend, a shocked look on his face.
"You made me do this...you bastard why did you make me do this…" Tori raged, looking straight in his eyes.
"Y-you didn't win." Andre coughed, blood spurting out of his mouth. "You're the victim now. For the rest of your life. The final girl can't live forever…" He smiled, his teeth already stained red, before all life left his eyes. Tori didn't move, she couldn't. It was all too much to process.
Tori finally rolled over, staring straight up at the ceiling. She let out a heartbreaking sob, knowing her life would never be the same. She's killed people, yes they were trying to kill her, but she has their blood on her hands now. Tori felt a hand on her leg and scrambled backwards defensively. She looked to see bruised Jade sitting where she had just scurried away from, with a cut just below her neck. Tori crawled back over to her, collapsing in her lap.
"Beck didn't help them." Tori sniveled. "Andre set it up to taunt us."
Jade just nodded as she held the broken brunette in her arms, trying her best to comfort her, both girls with tears in their eyes.
The noise from the other side of the room caused the girls to jump up, Jade aimed the gun Andre dropped while Tori stood behind her.
"Please, I think I've been shot enough today." Officer Briggs said wearily, causing the girls to smile.
"Dad!" Tori exclaimed, running over to Detective Vega, who was now stirring. Jade made her way towards Officer Briggs, not wanting to get in between the family moment.
"Soo, bulletproof vest?" Jade asked.
"Gotta protect your chest." He boasted.
Jade and Officer Briggs smiled at Tori and Detective Vega reuniting. The touching reunion was interrupted however, by a giant crash in the hallway. Jade handed Detective Vega the gun as he passed her. Briggs and Mr. Vega cleared the hall, Tori and Jade close behind.
"Officer Smith?! You're alive!?" Tori couldn't believe what she saw. The officer was fumbling his way down the hall, knocking over anything in his way in an effort to stay upright, leaving bloody hand prints all over the wall.
"Barely!" Officer Smith barked.
"C'mon buddy. Help should be here soon." Officer Briggs hurried to Officer Smith's side, helping him stand, with an assist from Jade.
"How the hell did you make it up the stairs, we're on the third damn floor."
I am writing a short epilogue, but other than that, it's been an eventful 4 years. Thanks to the people who helped me with this.
As for the future, I found a story I started a long time ago, that was (surprise) another slasher movie style Victorious story. This time it's John Carpenter's Halloween. Not sure if there'd be any interest in a story like that. But as always, thanks for reading.