"I thought they were just Hanna's hair products," Spencer remarked sarcastically. He smiled, pulling her head against him. She had never felt so relaxed in her whole life, she hadn't thought of studying once since she had arrived at the lake.
They were talking softly when they heard shouting in the distance, Spencer looked at Toby worriedly, sitting up and wrapping the blankets around her body. Toby rifled through his bag, handing her a t-shirt.
"I'll own your whole wardrobe soon," she joked, pulling it over her head along with a pair of her old hockey shorts. Toby quickly pulled on his jeans, sitcking his head out of the flap. Spencer joined him, squinting her eyes trying to see who it was. They both shot their heads back in when they heard footsteps, they had turned the fairy lights off, so they were now sitting in the darkness. Spencer shuddered, she went to speak before Toby put his hand up to her mouth. The footsteps had stopped, seemingly right beside the tent. They saw a torch light shoot through the sheets, they lay back quietly. The torch was turned off and someone ran away, they both sat up quickly. Spencer fumbled for her phone, using that light to find their own torch. Toby found it first switching it on. He climbed outside, "Wait," Spencer hissed, pulling him back. "I'm coming with you," she insisted, he helped her out of the makeshift tent and they walked around it. The grass cold under their bare feet.
Spencer stepped on something, and it crackled, Toby shone the torch on it, it was a folded up piece of paper. She bent down to pick it up, unfolding it she saw it was a picture of Alison. The picture used in all of the newspapers, on it was written: 'You're next.'
She gasped, Toby came up behind her, reading it over her shoulder. He snatched it out of her hand and started walking in the direction the footsteps went, "Toby," she said, grabbing his bare arm. "You can't let someone do this to you!" he said, his eyes glaring, they softened when he saw how worried she was. "Spencer, they've just threatened your life, what do you expect me to do? Just shrug it off?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around him, "I don't want to risk you getting hurt, by trying to find who did this will get you hurt." He kissed the top of her head, "You wanna go and find the others?" She didn't reply, she was desperate to spend the night with him, here, but she didn't feel safe. He ducked back into the tent, grabbing their things, Spencer looked around her into the pitch black night. He came back out, taking her hand tightly, she took the torch off of him shining it infront of them. Everytime she heard a noise she jumped, she looked at Toby, he looked deadly calm. "How come you don't seem afraid?" she asked, moving closer to him. He looked down, "When I ran away, I slept in places like these, alone." Spencer felt her heart sink, he had had such a hard time, but he never complained. "I'm sorry," she sighed, he turned to look at her, her face barely lit by the light of the torch. "Why? None of it was your fault." he said. "I accused you of something you never did, and you forgave me just like that. It just shows what an incredible person you are Toby," she smiled. He shook his head, "The only time I feel good about myself is when I'm around you," Spencer smiled to herself, squeezing his hand tighter. They walked along in a comfortable silence, only for it to be broken by the sound of something falling in front of them. "What was that?" he hissed, she shone the torch on the ground infront of them. Toby bent down to pick up the fallen object, "What the..." he muttered, she shone the light up into the tree above them, then back down to what Toby was holding. It was a doll, not just any doll, the eyes had been gouged out, the back of the skull was cracked, it had the same hairstyle as Spencer, but worst of all it was wearing the exact same thing as Spencer was wearing right now. "Oh my God," she gasped, they began to run. As fast as they possibly could, tears were running down Spencer's face. "There they are!" Toby yelled, pointing at the tent that was lit up. They hurried up to the tent, crawling in straight away, desperate to get in from the night.
The tent was empty, sitting there instead of them, was four dolls. One for Hanna, Caleb, Aria and Emily, all dressed how they had been dressed when they had last left them. Toby picked up the nearest doll, Hanna's. "Where are they?" he asked, glancing around at Spencer who was holding her phone up, "I have no reception," he slid out his phone, "Me neither."
"We've got to find them Toby," Spencer cried, Toby nodded, leaving Spencer's doll with the others. They climbed out of the tent, interlocking their fingers once more. "Where do we go?" she asked, looking around.
"Maybe we should check if Emily's car is still here?" he suggested sensibly, she nodded. They began to run once again towards the parking lot, as they reached there they saw the two cars still there. "Let's leave our bags in the boot, then we can run faster," Spencer said, pulling out her keys and unlocking the car, pulling open the boot she screamed. "What? What is it? Spencer?" he asked worriedly walking over, he stopped dead in his tracks. Hanna and Caleb were both in there, bound and gagged. Toby reached for Hanna pulling her out, holding her until she could stand, she let Spencer undo the ropes while he pulled out Caleb, un doing his ropes himself. "What the hell happened?" Spencer asked. "I don't know, the four of us were outside sitting by the edge of the lake, when suddenly everything went black and..." Hanna started.
"They put bags over our heads," Caleb confirmed.
"Where are Aria and Emily?" Toby asked, looking round. Spencer's face lit up, running over to Emily's boot, it was open. Caleb took Emily's arm and pulled her out, while Toby did the same with Aria. After everyone was untied they stood there, unsure of what to do. Spencer told them all about the dolls, about the picture. Caleb and Toby went off to collect the tent and their things while the girls sat in Spencer's car.
"It's half two in the morning, what are we going to do?" Aria asked, looking out of the window, she locked her door. "We can all crash at mine," Spencer said, "My parents won't even notice."
The girls nodded, Emily practically jumped out of her skin when Caleb tapped on the window. Aria unlocked her door, and Caleb climbed in, she jumped over him standing in the car park, Emily got out too, both of them rushing into Emily's car. Toby jumped into the drivers seat, "All in?" he asked. Hearing their answer he pulled out of the parking lot, Spencer saw Caleb and Hanna's hands meet in the rear view mirror. She smiled, they fought and made fun of each other, but when it came down to it, they were insanely strong.
They pulled up outside Spencer's drive, Emily pulling in behind them. They all poured out of the car, grabbing their bags as they went. Spencer walked up to the front door, unlocking it. Motioning with her head for the others to come in, all five of them walked in behind her. The house was dark, most likely her parents were out for the night and Melissa and Ian were probably in the barn. They snuck into the kitchen, Spencer sighed with relief. Caleb walked over looking through the back doors, "Lights are on in the barn," he confirmed, squinting his eyes. "And there is a guy...fairly built, looks kind of angry, heading towards the door."
The girls faces fell, "Get up the stairs, now." Hanna ordered, as all of them apart from Spencer headed to Spencer's room, Toby lingered on the stairs, he didn't want her to be left alone with Ian. She gave him a reassuring smile, he decided to sit on the top step, hidden away, but close enough to help if she needed him, Emily came back out of Spencer's room and sat down beside him. He shot her half a smile, she grinned back.
They both listened as they heard Ian walk into the kitchen.
"What the hell are you doing home at this time?" Ian demanded to know, Spencer folded her arms across her chest. "It's my house I can come and go as I please." Ian laughed sarcastically, "Listen Spence, all you are to this family is a complication. Your parents only want you home so they can control you and make sure we look like the perfect family,"
"We'll never be the perfect family with you in it. What do you think people would say if they found out that you had a thing for younger girls? Think you'd keep your job? I don't think so." Spencer snapped.
"You would never," Ian hissed. Spencer smiled falsely turning around and walking up the stairs, Toby and Emily stood up as they saw her coming. They all walked into Spencer's room, where Hanna was trying to persuade Caleb to let her brush his hair. "Hanna, put the brush down and step away," he said, staying on the other side of the bed to her. Aria was lying on the bed, her eyes were drooping, you could tell she was tired. Emily lay down beside her, pulling the blankets over them. Caleb and Hanna had finally called a truce and were lying in a pile of blankets on the floor. Toby grabbed some blankets and a couple of cushions, settling down on the long red chair by the window, he opened his arms, pulling Spencer against him. Caleb sighed, getting up and switiching off the light.
"Night losers," he said, lying back down.
A chorus of goodnights echoed the room, a few moments later and everyone was fast asleep.