hSet five years after the mystery of -A was solved, a fresh batch of teens are settling into Rosewood High. With the small, quiet town seemingly back to the way it once was, a mysterious chain of events causes three new students to have their feathers rustled. Together they must unite to figure out who is causing trouble and who is transforming into Rosewood's new -A

~ C For Corruption ~

Chapter Twenty-Six:

Game Over

"Oh my god," says Cassie, running her fingers through her hair. "What the hell? How does -A know we're together?"

Olivia bounces up and paces across her room. She glares out the window, eyes focusing on the darkened shadow in her garden. A small light glows in their hand in the form of a phone screen. Their gloved fingers tap across it and the trio's phones ring again. They all look down at their phones.

Tomorrow will be a party you will never forget. Don't show up and I won't be playing around anymore. One of you will be dead by the end of the night. Call the cops and all three of you will be dead.

-A

"Now they're trying to threaten us?" yells Jax.

"Guys.." whispers Olivia. "I see -A.. Right there.."

The hooded figure stares up at her. Slowly, they lift their hand and start to wave, then walk backwards and vanish into the darkness. "Where?" asks Cassie, peeking over her shoulders.

"It doesn't matter. They're gone."

"Can we please just talk about the fact that -A wants us to go to that party?" exclaims Jax. "We can't! That's where all of this -A nonsense started. Ever since then, we've been going downhill. I don't want to end up drugged and in a hospital again."

Cassie tuts. "Dude. We have to go. Did you not read the text? -A has kidnapped us before. I'm not surprised if the death threat comes true now."

"We're going," announces Olivia.

"What?!" yells Jax. "Are you insane? We can't go!"

"Well we are!" she continues. "I don't give a crap anymore. It started at Josh's party, and tomorrow, it will end at Josh's party. We are going to end this for once and for all."

Black Hoodie kicks their feet up on their sofa and presses play on their remote. They sip away on their cola, popcorn in the other hand, smirking as the tape plays on their television. Cassie pushing Olivia to the ground. Jax and Josh throwing punches at one another.

In the corner, Lily Allen's voice hums from the radio.

"At first when I see you cry. Yeah it makes me smile. Yeah it makes me smile. At worst I feel bad for a while. But then I just smile. I go ahead and smile."

Olivia crosses the street and checks both ways for cars. She steps up onto the path, clutching her handbag close to her body. Along the sidewalk to Radley, Liam casually strolls along with a bag in his gloved hands with Red Coat at his side. "Bye." Olivia sees the word mouth from him. The red cloaked figure waves and dashes across the street.

"Hey!" Olivia yells, running towards him. Liam spots her and instantly turns around. "Liam! Who was that girl?"

"Don't touch me!" he shrieks, slapping her across the arm. Suddenly, one of Radley's nurses jumps from in front of him and holds him tight. "Do not hit the citizens," she says calmly.

"Don't worry. I know him," Olivia explains. "I just wanted to speak with him."

"Okay," the nurse says. "Not for too long. He is on community service." She takes a step back and leans against the brick wall.

"Liam," Olivia whispers. "I came here to speak with you.. You need to tell me who that girl was."

He closes his eyes and faces in the other direction.

"Please. Just tell me," she begs. Gritting her teeth, she gives her final demand. "Please."

He shakes his head.

"Fine," Olivia snaps. She turns to the nurse. "Who was the girl he was just talking with?"

"The one in the red coat?"

"Yes. Her."

"Oh," she says, pondering. "I didn't really see her face.. I'm sorry."

Sighing, Olivia walks away, back down the street.

Back at home, Olivia looks at herself through her mirror. Her ombre wig fits on perfectly and doesn't look too different to her former hairstyle. Down in the basement, she gently opens up the glass case propped on the wall with the key from her mother's dresser. Acting as if one touch could kill her, she slowly picks up the small handgun sitting inside.

"I appreciate you doing this, but do you seriously have to record it?"

The tripod glimmers in the corner of Savannah's eye. "Of course. Jax, hush hush."

"Whatever," he says, tapping his fingers against the wooden desk. "What does all this mean?" He waves his hand at her computer screen filled with flashing digits and letters.

"Be quiet," she orders. With a swift tug, she yanks the USB connecting from Jax's phone to the computer out of its socket. "Look. Results." She scrolls down with her mouse. To Jax, it's nothing but gibberish. "I will ask you again; what does this mean?"

"GOT IT!" she squeals. Clicking on her mouse, she drags it cross her desk and copies a selection of numbers. "An IP address.." she mutters under her breath. More tapping. More clicking. A minute later, she squeals again. "Oh my goodness. I just found out who your stalker is."

Jax squints as he looks at the screen. "Please tell me this is a joke.." he says. Across the monitor rests an aerial map. A small red dot sits on a tiny square labelled 5 Crescent Lane.

"B-but that's.." he continues.

"Yes," Savannah interrupts him. "That is Josh's address."

"S-so Josh is -A?"

"Probably," she says with a yawn. "There's no other reason why that recent text traced back to his house."

"Well we've got to go tell the police!" Jax says in a panic.

"Hold your horses," pipes Savannah, resting her left hand on his shoulder. "Look."

Suddenly, all the letters and digits vanish from the screen. The map completely disappears and the screen goes black.

"What just happened?"

"Oh my good gravy," she yells, clicking with her mouse. "It's down! The computer won't respond. He must have hacked into it!"

"This is beyond ridiculous," says Jax. "I need to leave right now. Cassie and Olivia are waiting for a ride to his party. We are going straight over there and we are going to confront him."

"B-but-"

He slams the door shut and hastily exits Savannah's house.

Cassie steps into her living room, hands in her blue jean pockets.

"Dad?"

Mr. Rolland looks up from his newspaper. His mouth stretches into a smile.

"Yes sweetie?"

"I just wanted to say that I love you," Cassie says loud and clear. "There's been lots of chaos for the past few months and I just want to come out and say that.. Even without Mom-"

"Forget about Mom," he says in a comforting, soft tone. "Those days are over."

"Okay.." she says. "I'm going to bed now.. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Cassie."

She slowly trails up the stairs and locks her bedroom door. She opens up the window, swings her legs out and slides down the tree bark. She opens up the back door to a rusty old red car and jumps onto the seats. Olivia's face beams at her. Jax starts driving immediately.

"You were ten minutes late," says Olivia.

"I know, I know," Cassie mutters. "We won't be late."

They pull up to Jax's house minutes later. All three step out of the car and look through the darkened windows. The entire house is cascaded in black, no brightness except the light in the small porch. The trio step up into the porch and Olivia taps on the door. It instantly pushes about a couple of centimeters.

"It's not locked," she says. They all look at one another and then unwillingly step inside. Straight ahead is a hallway with several closed doors. To the left, a wide frame that leads into the living room. Olivia steps into the living room and jumps back at the sight in front of her. The Black Widow. A phone in her hand, tapping away on the screen. Olivia yanks the gun out of her pocket and points it up.

"Freeze!"

"What the hell?!" Cassie roars. "You have a gun?!"

Black Widow pauses immediately and tilts her head up. She turns around, hands in the air.

"Tell me who you are right now or I'll shoot you," Olivia bites. "Don't dare question me. You've put us through enough crap. Murder on my shoulders or not, there's nothing left to lose for me."

Black Widow stands motionless like a statue. Eerily still like a doll.

"Reveal your face right now!" Olivia yells. "Game over!"

Jax and Cassie stand in horror just behind her. Sweat runs across Olivia's forehead as her finger tips the trigger of the gun. One pull and her life will be changed forever. Black Widow gingerly motions one hand towards the rim of her veil. Her black-gloved fingers grip onto the soft fabric and slowly pull upwards. She drops the veil over her head, full face on display for all three of them.

And together, all three of them gasp.

Author's Note:

One. More. ChApter.

StAy tuned.