1 month later, everything was getting back to normal at Gallagher University. Well close to normal anyway. The students who moved out came back and all the other students who were locked inside their rooms came out again. The Dean is still running things. When parents and families were feeling uneasy and scared about people attending Gallagher, The Dean assured them that the Scarecrow menace has ended and he won't be coming back here again.
At the courtyard, Vanessa was sitting at the table with her boyfriend, Travis. He checked out of St. Mary's recently and is doing fine despite his shoulder injury and the fact that he can't play football anymore. They were sitting at the table discussing their near deaths.
"I still can't believe that Tom was behind all these killings." Vanessa said.
"Yeah," Travis agreed. "And to think that he used to be our friend."
"Well, at least he won't be bothering us or anyone else ever again!"
"Do you know where he is now?"
"I don't know. But who cares? At least you're alive and I'm alive and we have each other. I love you Travis." She smiled at him.
Travis smiled back. "I love you too." He over to Vanessa's side of the table and kissed her fully on the lips. His hands around her waist and her hands around his neck. Travis winced a little bit. "Easy on the shoulder, babe." Vanessa giggled and continued to kiss him.
On the other side of town, Katie was lying down on her bed. Like everybody else, she heard about Scarecrow's true identity and was completely devastated. When she found out, she just stayed up in her room for a long time. She sat up and walked over to her dresser. She grabbed a photo and looked at it. It was a picture of her and Tom sitting on a low wall in the courtyard at Gallagher. Katie started to cry quietly to herself. She couldn't come to the terms that her best friend, Tom Barkley, was the murderous Scarecrow. Even though he acted strange around her, she still couldn't believe it. She walked to her window and looked out. The weather was decent despite it was cloudy.
"Tom," she said quietly to the sky. "I know you can't hear me, but I just want to say this to you. Why did you do all this? Has this whole break-up thing screwed you up that bad? I know what Travis and Vanessa did to you really bad, believe me I know, but you didn't have to kill people or tried to kill them. Now I don't know what to do now. I'm in love with you, even though you're a murderer. But no matter what happens to me, I'll always be your friend. And I pray that you'll be all right wherever you are."
After Katie was finished, she lied back down on the bed. She still had the picture of her and Tom. She looked at it again and she put it on the nightstand. She took off her glasses and went to sleep.
At the police station, cops were busy going about their business as usual. Stephens was at his desk doing some paperwork when another officer came to his desk. He had blond hair, 5'10, blue eyes and a charming personality to him. His name is Officer Feldman.
"Hey Stephens," Feldman called. "Capt. Barkley wants to see you in his office, pronto."
Stephens was surprised. "Did he say what for?"
"No. but it has to be important. You should go now."
Stephens got up from his chair and left his desk. As he was walking, he wondered what Capt. Barkley wanted. In no time he got to his boss' office. He knocked on the door and he went inside.
"Come in Stephens. Close the door and sit down." Capt Barkley ordered.
Stephens did what he was told. He closed the door and sat down in a chair directly in front of Capt. Barkley's desk. Stephens took note that the captain has a bandage on his nose when Scarecrow bit him. He also took notice that his tone was serious when he was talking. "Remember when you accused my son of being Scarecrow?"
Stephens remembered. He didn't want to be reminded about that. Regardless, he answered. "Yes."
"And that I didn't want to hear it? And if I do hear about it, I would take your badge in a heartbeat?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, that's why I called you in here. You have been working for me for about 10 years. I took you under my wing and I showed you the ropes. And we also became best friends both professionally and personally. Regardless, it's time for a change of things." He held out his hand. "Please give me your badge."
Stephens was shocked to hear him say those words. He knew not to bring up the Scarecrow issue again. Scarecrow's true identity was now known and Capt. Barkley himself knew that his son was responsible! He knows that now, but why did he want his badge? Stephens didn't argue though. He dug into his pocket and took one last look at his badge. It was a bronze badge. Worn out a little bit because it was in the sun too long. He handed it to Capt. Barkley. He took it and put it in a drawer.
But he wasn't finished. He seemed to be looking for something else. He found what he was looking for and put it on the table. He slid it towards Stephens. Stephens was curious and picked it up. He opened the flap and saw it was a shiny silver badge and under it was the word, 'Sergeant'. Stephens was shocked and looked at his boss.
"With the rank of sergeant, you get to command anybody of an equal or lower rank. You rise in the ranks and you could be lieutenant and one day when and if the time comes, a Captain." Capt. Barkley explained. After he was finished, he smiled. "Enjoy your new rank, Sergeant Stephens."
Stephens gasped and smiled. "Thank you, sir! I'll wear the title proudly."
"And I'm sorry I flew off the handle with you while you were investigating the matter. You do understand why, right?"
"Yeah, I mean if you accused someone in my family of being a murderer, I'd be angry too."
"Glad to see we're on the same page. Are you doing anything after your shift?"
"Well, I'm going to visit Gale at St. Mary's. She was Travis' nurse and she really does like me."
"That sounds good. I don't mean to push you away, but I got more work to do."
"Okay." As Stephens turned to leave, he can't help but ask, "Sir, I'm just curious, but whatever happened to Tom?"
"Let's just say he's going to be looked after by top men."
"Who?"
Capt. Barkley narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice. "Top. Men. Let's just leave it at that, Stephens."
"Yes sir." Stephens turned and left the office. Capt. Barkley sat at his desk and looked at his family photo of himself, his wife Melissa and his son, Tom. "Top men indeed." He said to himself.
100 miles north of Gallagher University, There was a building. It looked scary and has a creepy feeling to it. This building was Scales Asylum. It had a plague that said, 'Resting the emotionally disturbed since 1883.' Inside the building, there were people yelling, screaming and talking to themselves, but they were inside their rooms. In a cell down the hall, it was housing a new member, Thomas Barkley, lying down and was wearing a straight jacket. Tom was just lying there and then, he started to have a sinister grin on his face and was supporting a look that said…this isn't over.
THE END?