As well as this being the Halloween Train episode, a small part also ties in with Pretty Dirty Secrets. And also, you have been warned – I absolutely suck at writing horror!

double killer daisy

you seem to replace
your brain with your heart
you take things so hard
and then you fall apart
— melanie martinez

In Rosewood, Halloween was never a good sign, but it couldn't be helped, could it? They'd have to deal with it like everything else they had dealt with, and they'd have to pretend that this October 31st would be no different to any other October 31st.

In Rosewood, people could say that it was Halloween every freaking day, and no one would think differently, because with all the murders, and the lies built up so high, so thick, that was what it was, wasn't it? It couldn't be helped. It just couldn't.

Caleb was still in hospital, and they were still recovering from the aftershocks. A was still out to get them; they were not safe. But they couldn't help the omens; they couldn't help any of it. It was fate, it was fate, and it was always going to be fate.

For now, all they had to do was wait.

Rosewood was unreasonably quiet in the morning. Aside from a few birds in the trees, and the occasional passer-by, things in town were more or less silent. (For now.)

The liars meandered through the pavement on that very morning, quiet as it was. Today, keeping their mind off things was the only goal they had; the only goal they always would have. But it was like playing football without a goalpost.

Still, they walked on, until each eye caught an unmistakable casket standing upright in the lawn of the house they were walking past.

R.I.P Alison DiLaurentis

"Nothing about Clifford Yourdly has changed," Aria said, both bitterness and amusement shining within each word. She opted not to get any closer to the coffin, because this whole setting, it chilled her, and she wasn't ready to get even more spooked out. She saw Emily do exactly the opposite, and just as Aria was about to stop her, and tell her that it was nothing, something else did. The casket was bust open, and there he was, Clifford Yourdly.

"That tosser," Hanna cursed.

"See, this is why nobody will go out with you!" Spencer exclaimed to him as he run away, laughing. Emily, with an expression undreadable upon her face. She shrugged it off quickly, however, and the girls walked on. "So, anyway," said Spencer. "Have you guys got your costumes for the Halloween Train yet?"

Hanna half nodded, half shook her head. "Sort of. But I don't get the point of putting on something fancy if Caleb's not going to be there."

"The party's not for a few days," assured Emily. "And anyway, he's being discharged tomorrow."

"Yeah," shrugged Hanna. "Anyway, costumes?"

"Toby and I have something planned out," smirked Spencer, but seeing the other's faces, she carried on. "And that if for us to know, and you to find out." She turned to Emily and Aria. "You guys got anything ready yet?"

"Paige and I have some thoughts," mumbled Emily.

"I have no idea," said Aria.

"Are you and Jason coming in a package?" Hanna asked, as she began to file her nails.

"We decided to surprise each other," said Aria, before checking her phone. "Oh, and talking of him – I should go. See you all later?" The rest of the girls mumbled goodbyes, and so Aria took off to the Brew, where she promised to meet Jason. When she got there, she saw that Jason was already at one of the higher tables, engrossed in some book. "Hey, stranger," Aria said casually as she took the seat next to him.

Jason turned around, smiled, and replied with a "hey" – Aria noticed a pair of glasses on his face.

"Since when do you wear glasse?," Aria laughed.

"Since I found out that I was short sighted," Jason laughed back.

"They're cute," remarked Aria. "So... am I not going to get a kiss?"

Jason laughed again, before leaning in to kiss her. "How's your morning been?"

Aria winced as she thought over Ali's 'coffin', and that immature prick who had pulled that oh so hilarious stunt on them. She thought about every day before that, especially about Caleb, and how he was doing. Her mind raced, her heart pounded, and yet the only word she could get in edgeways was "fine".

"You are a very eloquent liar," said Jason.

"What're you reading?" Aria said, changing the subject. She pointed at the heavy paperback in his hands, and he turned on the chair, and showed it to her. "The Great Gatsby. Man, I love that book." Jason nodded, and smiled, turning back around.

"It's pretty extraordinary," he said. "Sometimes I wish that I could just... erase my memory so I could read it all over again, in a different light. That's how intriguing, and mind-boggling it is." As he reached the end of his sentence, Aria started to laugh uncontrollably, causing Jason to raise an eyebrow as he turned to her.

"I'm sorry..." Aria said through giggles. "You said 'mind-boggling'."

Jason chuckled, before his expression turned rather sombre, "The same guy who I paid the money to, you know, for the information of Alison's whereabouts. He called me. Again."

"What did he say? What did you say?"

"I told him I wanted the complete and utter truth," Jason sighed. "And he swore that it was."

Aria widened her eyes. "No, no... you can't possibly think..."

"It's been two months, Aria," Jason said, and he ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm getting desperate, my parents are getting desperate, and I know you are, too. It's been two months, and that's too long." Jason looked down, and started to fold one of the corners of his book.

"How do you know it's the same person?"

"That's the problem. I don't. All I know is that his voice is filtered, and he speaks the same way as the other person. He uses really weird words. It's like solving a maths equation," Jason said. "But it's also why I want to know if these people really are the same; if they're working together. If I'm just taking this in the completely wrong direction."

"You know what they say, Jason. Curiosity is what killed the cat."

"But this is about getting answers."

"And it's also about you not getting hurled into some... pit six feet under."

"That's not going to happen."

"But it might."

"Has A sent you another message since...?" His voice trailed off as he eyes Aria carefully.

Aria shook her head vehemently, and put on a different voice, "Nope. Which is a relief." They started to make their way out of the restaurant as Aria carried on talking. "I mean, the messages have sort of stopped since, you know, Caleb... But it doesn't mean they're going to..." Aria then laughed, her voice trailing off. "Sneaky, Jason. Real sneaky."

Jason smirked, and leaned in for another brief kiss. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Aria said, and she walked off down the road.

Jason watched as Aria skipped down the pavement, and just as Jason started to open his car door, he noticed a poster on the roof. It was one he'd seen many times before: the Halloween Ghost Train Party. Jason rolled his eyes, now, that's only reminder forty-seven. He started his car, and started to drive towards the old costume store, just on the outskirts of town.

He knew that Rosewood wasn't plagued with ghosts, or ghouls, or demons, but the sight of each costume, whether it was displayed on a mannequin, or simply on a hanger, really got on his nerves, and he suddenly found costume hunting not in the slightest way appealing.

Just as he was going to leave, he felt a light tap on his shoulder, which caused him to halt, and turn around.

This person had long, wavy blonde locks, and her face was covered with a mask – but it only took him about zero point two five seconds to figure out who it was. He crossed his arms.

"CeCe Drake."

CeCe put her mask down, and flashed him her CeCe grin. "Jason DiLaurentis." She paused. "You've been avoiding me."

Jason looked away. "Does that surprise you?"

CeCe shrugged. "No, not really. Talking of which, where's your little baby doll?"

"My baby doll?" Jason asked incredulously.

"Aria," CeCe rolled her eyes. "Five foot three, raven-coloured hair, big doe eyes—"

"Okay. I get it," Jason rolled his eyes again, and looked at her irritably. This was only the second time he'd seen his ex-girlfriend since she came back to town, and the first they'd spoken privately. Whichever it was, he really didn't like it, talking, and her herself. "What do you want, CeCe?"

"Why would I want anything?"

"Because you're also after something," remarked Jason.

"Fair enough," shrugged CeCe. "I just wanted to check in. To see if you were okay – Alison was your sister, and... and now she's... now she's, uh..."

"You can say it," he said.

"Now she's dead," CeCe said. "And I wanted to talk. Privately ."

Jason looked at her, and her bemusement, but all the same nodded. "And what exactly is it you want to talk about? I thought we were done talking the day after my sister disappeared from the face of the earth."

CeCe cast her eyes down. "I wanted to, you know, apologise."

"Wow, Miss Tough-Nut is apologising?" Jason feigned shock, which caused CeCe to look up bitterly.

"Figures, Jason. Figures," CeCe said. "It's just like before. I try to say something remotely nice, and you turn everything around like I'm the bad guy. I'm trying to be the good friend, and see how you're doing? Yeah, we broke up, but it doesn't mean you have to cut me off completely."

"What did you want, then?" Jason said. "What, you wanted us to be the best of friends so we could, I don't know, braid each other's hair, tell each other's futures, sport friendship bracelets, and pretend that it was all okay? Wow, CeCe. Wow."

"Don't contradict me," bit CeCe.

"No, you stop contradicting yourself. Stop contradicting me. Stop contradicting the past," Jason crossed his arms, and with the look on CeCe's face, he almost almost felt bad, but not quite. He hadn't meant to set himself loose, and get angry at her, but he'd missed out on two years – two years in which 'angry' had not once crossed his mind.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you, and Ali. Always playing people. You really deserve each other, you know that?" Jason scoffed, and still he flinched at each word, because this was his sister he was talking about. He didn't have to hide the accusatory. "You didn't care who you hurt, did you? The moment she met you, she took a step back from the rest of us."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm, saying that she was a kid, playing childish games, until you came along and helped her take them to the next level."

"Oh, that is rich, coming from you," CeCe remarked sarcastically. Jason gave her a look, that urged her to carry on, defiance pouring out each letter. "You think I didn't know what you and your little friends were up to? Don't play innocent victim with me, Jason. Some big brother you are. What a wonderful example to set for your sister."

Jason stared at the creepy axeman costume. This was freaking creeping him out.

"I'm done with this," he said, using well the double meaning.

He had already started walking away when he heard CeCe speak up again, "Go ahead, Jason. Walk away. You know, there's a liquor store around the corner. Maybe you should stop by and grab a drink." Jason carried on walking. "It's only a matter of time, Jason, until you go and get Aria hurt."

Jason really wanted to turn around, but he closed his eyes, and then walked away completely.

Aria went through each and every option that played in her head. From books, from movies, from whatever, she trashed her wardrobe, flicked through catalogues, and searcjed the internet. Nothing was quite, what was the word? Fitting.

A little distracted, Aria picked up her phone, and went through any messages. There seemed to be nothing new, but as she was about to place her phone back onto her desk, she noticed one with an attachment, that she hadn't opened.

It was dated back to almost two-and-a-half weeks before, and so Aria opened it, wondering how on earth she'd been able to forget it for so long. It seemed pretty standalone, what with no text or anything coming along with it. Opening the picture, Aria realised that the dread was unnecessary, because all it was, was a photograph of a truck, namely, Toby's. There was no A message, so it was probably just Spencer, or Toby himself.

Whichever, she shrugged it off within a millisecond.

What the hell was she going to wear? The party was in, if she calculated it right, less than seventy-two hours, and she was currently on zilch ideas.

Then, the book Jason was reading came into mind – Daisy. Daisy Buchanan. It had a nice ring to it, didn't it?

Aria immediately made for her wardrobe, looking for just the right outfit. The one that looked like something Daisy would wear. From inside her closet, Aria heard a few knocks, though muffled, before a final bang.

"Hey, Aria, sweetie, I'm ordering Chinese..." Ella's voice trailed off when she saw Aria emerge from her wardrobe, a nice green dress in her hands. "Is this for that Halloween party you and your friends are going to?" Aria nodded. "Well, it's gorgeous. Who is it?"

"Daisy Buchanan," Aria said. "From The Great Gatsby."

"Ah," Ella smiled. "So Jason's going as... Tom? Gatsby? Nick?"

"No," Aria shook her head. "We actually decided to surprise each other. Of which I should probably go and tell him not to wear orange: orange and green clash horrifically." Aria stared back down at her dress, and reminded herself to go on the web and search for a green headband. "Oh, and Mom? You know what I like. Number twenty-seven and fifty-nine."

Aria lost count on how many times she had readjusted her headband. It wasn't as if it felt wonky or anything, it was more to do with how it felt like someone was... watching her. They probably were, and Aria didn't want to just stand there, doing nothing. Headband readjusting was a passtime of some sorts.

"Hey, Ari, wait up!"

"I was just standing," Aria smiled as Hanna approached. Her blonde hair was bobbed up, and her white dress flowed as she walked. "Wow," Aria started, eyeing up Hanna's costume, wondering just how long she spent perfecting each edge, each corner. "You look amazing."

"Meh," Hanna shrugged. "Took me about six hours. Anyway, you look pretty fab-tab-aroo, too."

"Thanks," Aria grinned.

"So, where's your other?" Hanna asked.

"'No idea," Aria said. "He'll be here soon though. Hopefully." Hopefully he hasn't bailed last minute.

"What are you dressed as again?" queried Hanna.

"Oh, Daisy. Daisy Buchanan. From The Great Gatsby."

"The movie?"

"No..." Aria started. "The book."

They waited some more, as person after person appeared from the smoke surrounding the entrance. It was about twelve people, until Jason finally showed up.

"Go on then," Hanna gestured towards Jason. "Join lover boy."

Aria nodded, and walked towards him. She first started with his costume, wondering what he was dressed as – it all clicked, with the gelled hair, slightly ruffled collar of a slightly creased red jacket. "James Dean. I like it."

Jason smiled. "And you are..." He squinted at her, with a look that screamed make-believe.

"Don't pretend you don't know," smirked Aria, and she fingered his hair.

"Okay then, Miss Buchanan," Jason said, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Technically, Jason, it's Mrs—"

"Sorry. I got bored," Hanna walked towards them, before turning and frowning at Jason. "I was kinda hoping you wouldn't come – solely because I'm the only girl left here who's partner-less. But you're here, and hey, I don't hold grudges."

Jason nodded at her, "That's... that's awesome." Pause. "Caleb's not coming? Wasn't he discharged, though?"

"Yeah," Hanna sighed. "But he's not coming."

"But..." Jason looked at her confusedly, as if he knew something, but then shook it off. "Oh. Right." He turned to Aria and Hanna, and then said, "Well, I'll leave you two alone." He smiled, and walked away, leaving Hanna and Aria to only keep on waiting.

"Hey," Spencer crept up behind them. She then lowered her voice, putting on a accent, "I'm hard to get – all you have to do is ask for me." She paused, and eyed their costumes. "You girls look amazing."

"You look gorgeous, too, Spence," Aria said.

"You do," Hanna said, smiling. "And there's Emily and Paige!"

The girls' heads turned to see Emily and Paige enter through the smoke.

Hanna was the first to speak. "Wow. They look so freaking hot."

"I know!" grinned Aria. "Like a wedding cake from outer space."

Emily and Paige walked towards them, with Paige quickly waving and moving away. Emily smiled at them, commented on each of their costumes, until Noel came behind them, tapping each of their backs. They turned around to see Noel dressed as an unmistakable pirate, and took a moment to roll their eyes.

"All in a pack," commented Noel. "So adorable. Almost like Alison was still here."

"Sod off, Noel," Aria said.

Noel laughed hysterically at that, and retook Jenna's arm, walking away. The liars kept their eyes glued to Noel, and whatever the hell he was doing, which now was stupidly throwing up a sweet to make it land in his mouth. He's been succeeding, however. For now.

Noel started to choke, and Aria wished she could just stay put and watch him die, because she just didn't care

Aria watched as Spencer quickly bent down to try and help him up – sometimes she wished she had a heart as big as Spencer's.

Noel stopped coughing, and as Spencer was still bent down, his jacket exploded, causing every girl, except quite possibly Jenna, and he started to laugh harder than ever before "Got you good, didn't I?" He kept on laughing.

"What are you doing here anyway?" asked Aria. "Don't you hold your own Halloween parties."

Noel stood up, walked towards Aria, and said, "Well, I decided that this year, I'd give someone else a go. Not too shabby, don't you think?"

"All aboard the Rosewood Halloween Ghost Train! All aboard the Rosewood Halloween Ghost Train!"

Emily looked around at her best friends. "That'll be our cue."

As the music blared on the train, Jason had literally no time, or place to think. He sat there, in one of the booths, trying not to let the music deafen him.

"Good choice," a voice chimed as the curtains of the booth were opened.

Jason looked up, and sighed when he saw CeCe. He reopened the curtains, and walked out of the booth, leaving CeCe alone.

"Can you stop ignoring me?" she called out.

"I'm positively frightened of what will happen if I don't," Jason remarked. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"It's a free country," CeCe said.

"Aren't I glad?" Jason said sarcastically, before walking off, not letting anymore words from CeCe scathe him. He walked off, but stopped when in the corner of his eyes, he saw Spencer. Feeling the need to talk to his half-sister, he made his way towards her. "Spence. Hey."

Spencer smiled up at him. "Hi, Jason. You know, I was going to come and visit you..." She stopped herself, and looked deeply into his eyes, and Jason could see the specks of light and dark browns. "How are you feeling, Jason?"

Not how are you?, or are you okay?, but how are you feeling?

Jason sighed, and slowly nodded. "Better."

Spencer looked down. "Look, when you agreed to help us find A, I know you didn't expect what happened at the... lighthouse. But thank you anyway, and I'm glad that A didn't get you seriously hurt."

Jason shook his head lightly, and emitted a laugh. "Spence, I'm not implying that I don't want to help, because I do. And I didn't expect anymore – this psycho has my sister's body somewhere. What more to expect?" He paused. "Have you seen Aria?"

"No..." Spencer said slowly. "Sorry. Have you seen Toby?"

"Um, I think so," nodded Jason. "With Jenna."

"Thanks," Spencer smiled, and then gently squeezed his shoulder. "Jason, everything will work out. I'm sure of it."

"Did you come alone?"

Aria was sitting at one of the tables, looking out at the frosted windows, when she heard a voice that made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle (Halloween really was doing her no good). She turned to see the lead singer of the band standing by her, a look on concern on his face.

"No," Aria said. "But I, uh, don't know where my boyfriend is. Currently."

He smiled at her. "What's your name?"

"Uh, Aria," Aria said, but the music seemed to be taking over any form of communication.

"Sorry, what did you say?" he said.

"Aria!" Aria raised her voice a little, but he still seemed not to have heard. So she let her fingers glide over the condensed windows, writing her name. He seemed to get the message, and smiled charmingly at her.

"Well, then, Aria, I hope to see you at the front when we sing our next song," Adam Lambert winked at her, and Aria started to blush. For a second, she looked away, before looking back, taking a sip of her drink, as if nothing had changed.

And it hadn't, right? Aria was still Aria; the lead singer was still the lead singer; Rosewood was Rosewood. Her punch was still punch.

"Jason! Jason! Hurry!" Spencer tugged at Jason's sleeve, and pulled him towards an empty table. Aria's purse was on the seat, and it was vibrating due to the girls calling. Beside the bag was an A on the window, and it seemed like a name had been rubbed out.

"What the hell?" Jason asked, picking up the green handbag.

"We have no idea," Emily said quickly. "But we got a text message." Emily shoved her phone into his hands, and his eyes skimmed each word, reading it slowly so it could actually make some sense.

Guess who won't be making it to the end of the line?
—A

"We should separate," Spencer said. "Jason and I will go this way. You two go the other." Hanna and Emily nodded, and walked to exactly where Spencer had told them to. Spencer's heart was beating out of her chest as she pulled Jason to the other side.

Jason stopped tracks, however, as he pulled out his phone.

"What's wrong?" Spencer asked. In response, Jason handed her his phone, with the message he couldn't quite decipher.

The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power.
—A

"What the hell does that mean?" asked Jason.

"It means that A can't be compassionate," Spencer said gravely. "A doesn't have a limit to its capabilities."

Man, Spencer was smart, but was she really that smart? He looked at her in disbelief, saying, "How on earth did you manage to get that out?"

Spencer shrugged, and gestured to his costume. "I thought you'd know. It is you, isn't it?"

Jason looked down, too, and then the realisation dawned on him. "Hey, Spencer... Are you... How are you feeling?"

"Why would you think I'm feeling anything other than what I normally feel?"

"Because I know that look," Jason said. "You look like the world's weighing you down."

"I'm just worried, okay?"

Jason briefly nodded, looking out into the distance, where he swore he saw a flicker of green – of course, there were probably countless other people on the train wearing such a colour, but it was just the body figure, the sparkles. It had to be Aria.

"We should separate here," said Jason. "We'll be able to locate her quicker then."

Garrett was dead.

That was the first thing Aria noticed when she realised she was locked in some secluded crate, after waking up suddenly from a world of black. The second thing she noticed was a voice, a voice that was definitely male. The third thing was that she was very almost being pushed off the side of the train, quite possibly to her death. Rule out quite possible – most definitely.

The fourth thing she realised, was that she couldn't scream. She could barely move, and her mouth was duct-taped, her hands tied up.

And she tried, she really did. (But she was better off dead.)

Someone tapped Jason on the shoulder. He'd had enough of these delightful surprises, and had half a mind to ignore whoever it was.

"Stop creeping up on me, CeCe," Jason said, exasperated. "I'm busy."

"Jason, I need to talk to you."

"Well, it can wait."

"Well, no, it can't."

More voices. This time, a female one. The female one seemed to be rambling, and Aria could only hear a few proper words: she was still deafened by the shock, if that was even possible. Through the tiniest crack in the crate, Aria could just about make out a nail, a red nail. For now, she didn't care what the school nurse had told her about hygiene and safety, because she pulled it out, and tried to cut through the duct-tape bounding and gagging her.

"...Lied to me!"

Aria closed her eyes, and pretended that she was all okay. That everything was going to be all okay. That someone was going to save her before they reached the end of the line.

"What is it?" Jason asked irritably.

"I..." CeCe paused, as if she regretted bringing it up. "Come with me." CeCe took Jason's arm, and opened the door to one of the compartments, where Toby, Caleb, Noel, Jenna, and a handful of others were waiting in. "I... I'm sorry," CeCe said, and Jason had no idea what she was on about.

"CeCe, you're freaking me out," Jason said. "What's going on?" He realised that CeCe was not going to answer her, and exhaled deeply. "I need to find Aria." He made for the exit, but this dude he'd never seen before stopped him, telling him that it was all going to be okay, and they weren't going to risk anymore passengers going astray.

Caleb stood up, and turned to him. "What the hell is going on?"

Jason shook his head. "I have no fucking clue." He stole a glance at CeCe, who seemed to be blocking out anybody's words.

Aria could finally breathe again.

(Sort of. But it was a start.)

They had waited for a long time, and now, finally, the door of the compartment opened. Aria scurried in, followed by Hanna, Emily, Spencer, and Paige. Jason felt a hundred tonnes being lifted from his shoulders.

"Aria!" Jason exclaimed, and Aria ran towards him, the tears running freely down her cheeks. He wrapped his arms around her, wondering what on earth A had up its sleeve next. Jason looked down, and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Aria wiped her nose. "Pale. Am I pale?"

Jason shrugged, "It doesn't matter. You're okay. You're okay."

"Yeah," Aria smiled a smile of relief. "I'm okay."

Aria slowly walked back to the other girls, who shot her multiple questions at a time, which Aria managed to shoot back one-worded answers.

"I can't believe Garrett's dead," Spencer shook her head over and over again. "Talking of which..." Spencer stopped, and saw as Noel shot an insult at Toby, who tried to shoot back, but failed.

Each and everyone's head turned as they looked at Toby, and Noel, who seemed to almost be in some full-blow fight. They couldn't quite hear what Noel was saying, but Spencer quickly picked it up, and ran to Toby, in any attempt to defend him.

"That's right," Noel laughed. "You little..."

Toby pushed Noel into the ice cart – to be honest, it was quite comical, and Aria thought that Noel deserved it all. But the ice cart, it fell over, and it uncovered a black bag. One that was pretty evidently a...

Jason pushed in front of everyone, not bothering with apologies, and looked over at what had fallen, and what had been uncovered.

A-l-i-s-o-n.

Her body.

Aria turned all her attention to Jason in a heartbeat – his face showed something of discomfort, utter perplexity, and disgust, and just... betrayal. He was staring down at Alison's body, and so was everyone else.

Aria grabbed Jason's hand, and pulled him away from the toppled over drinks table (she refused to call it – the source of Alison's body). He was shaking his head, almost like a madman, and Aria had no idea what to do, for she had never been one to be good at cheering people up.

"Jason..." she started, but never finished.

"A-Ali," he choked. "Her – body."

"I know," Aria whispered, her voice a little shaky – Jason was right there, in front of her, and she had never felt more nervous in her whole entire life. Her sister – her dead sister's body had just been found under some ice where drinks were being sold. Aria had paid for one – she shivered. "Jason, I know... But let's... let's get out of here as soon as possible, okay?"

Jason only shook his head again, and as Spencer said something quietly, Jason looked on the verge of running away, to which Aria really didn't blame him.

"Here," Aria said, as she passed him a warm mug of coffee.

The mere sight of Jason hurt. Aria never thought she'd see Jason cry – well, if that was how you were supposed to classify it. He murmured an almost silent "thank you", and seemed to be fixating his gaze on the inanimate objects on the table (which to him seemed moving). Aria didn't know what to do, or say – it seemed Jason didn't, either.

The Halloween Train was almost two hours behind them, and they were at home (if that was what people called it nowadays). Safe. (For now.)

Jason spoke up, as they sat silently on the sofa, refusing to meet each other's gaze. "Sometimes, I still feel like it's me. I still feel like I was the one who killed Alison. I can see the blood on my hands, and I just... I think that maybe it was me." He stopped, and shook his head. "Sorry. This isn't... I'm supposed to be the one comforting you."

"Yeah, well," Aria shrugged. "A lot of things don't go as planned."

"You're right," Jason muttered. "They don't."

Quick note: The quote somewhere in the middle (The abuse of...) is from Julius Caeser, but is also found in the beginning of East of Eden, which is a James Dean movie.