The wind whipped Emily's hair around violently as she stepped out of her car. She pulled her coat closer to ask she jogged across Spencer's back yard to reach the barn, the designated meeting place for the night. Hanna and CeCe were already there, chattering as they leaned against the barn doors.
"And have I told you how much I love your highlights, Han? They make you look like you just stepped off a beach in Aruba."
Hanna beamed in response, and Emily hid a smile. CeCe had been going on and on about how beautiful Hanna was, how smart, how cool. Emily knew that Hanna had been dying to hear it for the last few months. She also knew that Alison was the cause of a lot of Hanna's self esteem issues, and it was really giving her a confidence boost to have Ali's doppelgänger showering her with compliments.
"Em, I am SO glad you decided to come. We are going to have a great time tonight."
Even with skin so dark, Hanna noticed Emily blushing deep pink. Hanna inwardly chuckled. She knew that Ali was Emily's first love, and no matter how secure she was with Paige, Hanna was positive that having Ali's clone around again made her feel at peace. Even though Hanna was positive that CeCe didn't have feelings for Emily "like that," it was nice seeing her friend so happy.
CeCe had wanted the girls to hang out that night, to get to know each other better. She had kept the two of them locked in her house for the last day letting them get over their emotions, and she said that she had planned a night of partying for the two of them tonight.
It was weird, though, because she was very strict about not letting them leave. "You need a vacation," she claimed, "From all of that stress and craziness." She would have her boy friend, some mystery guy who called her cell a lot, bring over food so she didn't have to leave either. The whole thing was pretty sketchy, but Hanna and Emily went along with it because CeCe was right: the DID need a vacation.
CeCe fished her cell phone out of her oversized Chanel tote. "Do you think I should call Aria and Spencer? I feel like we should be with them too."
Emily gulped and said, "We don't really need them, do we? We'll be fine."
CeCe shrugged. "I know, but I feel like we should all be together, make it more special. I want to get to know them, too."
"Wait," said Hanna, scrolling through her phone. "She texted me a while ago and said she's sick."
CeCe raised an eyebrow at her. "I thought you weren't respond to her texts."
"Yeah, but I still read them. She says she sick in bed and really wants me and Emily to come over."
CeCe cocked her head, considering. "How about I give her a call? Maybe if she talks to me it would be better."
She brought her phone to her ear as she jogged away behind the barn. "Better reception back there towards the DiLaurentis house," she said with smile. "I used to hang their with Ali when we were kids." The last thing they heard was CeCe saying into the phone with a bright voice, "Hi, sweetie, how are you?"
Emily and Hanna turned to each other, smiling shyly. "Okay," Hanna said. "I'm just going to come out and say it. This is . . . amazing."
Emily laughed. "You're right. It's kind of a miracle."
"Kind of? Em, it is DEFINITELY a miracle. CeCe is basically Ali, but better. It feels like everything is finally falling into place."
"Not everything," whispered Emily mournfully.
"Why not?"
"Not everyone got that miracle happy ending." An owl hooted in the distance. "I mean, if Ali can come back from the dead. . ."
"Em, CeCe isn't Ali. I mean, they're sisters, and they are so much alike, but CeCe will NEVER be Ali."
"I know, but it's like CeCe filled the void. And if Alison can come back, then why can't. . . ."
"Why can't Maya?"
"Everything is almost perfect now, except for that. It feels like my life is finally the way it's supposed to be, but I still miss her." Emily sniffled sadly. "I just want to hope, you know? What wrong with hoping?"
"But she's. . . dead. She's dead, Emily. She can't come back."
Emily's voice was soft and sad as she whispered the one fact that Hanna was avoiding. "Spencer did."
Before Hanna could respond, they both heard a twig snap. Their heads swiveled in the direction of the sound, the woods behind the barn.
"CeCe?" called Hanna. She might have cut through the woods to come back; it was faster, albeit darker and scarier. A figure appeared coming through the trees. Whoever it was had the same height and built as CeCe, but her clothing was much darker. The person wore black pants and a black hoodie, and her face wasn't visible under the dark shadow of the hood.
"CeCe, is that you?" called Emily as the figure came closer. Whoever it was didn't respond, but they broke into a jog coming towards Emily and Hanna. Their faces conveyed their puzzlement but not a hint of fear as the figure approach and grabbed something out of a large bag. It was so dark in the woods that neither girl was able to see it was an oversized designer tote bag. A Chanel tote bag.
Their eyes widened as the figure broke into a sprint. "CeCe!" screamed Hanna as the figure approach. Soon, the person was thirty paces, twenty, ten paces away. At that point, both girls could see the object the person was holding: a taser.
Neither girl screamed as the electricity shot through their body, only moaned in agony. They both hit the floor, their muscles spasming, mud splattering on their coats. Neither girl was able to stay conscious for more than a few seconds after the thousands of volts surged through their bodies, and neither was aware that CeCe was pulling more things out of her tote. Neither was aware of her binding their hands with rope, their mouths with duct tape. And neither was aware of a tiny girl with eyes the color of honey darting out of the woods next to a boy with dark, messy curls and a baby face to help CeCe lift the limp bodies and take them where no one would ever see them again.
