"Are you sure about this?" Kara inquired, as she walked down the corridors of the Rosewood Police Station, with Jason following close behind.
"I need to find out who that woman is" Jason answered.
"Jase…" Kara trailed off, worried that he was getting his hopes up.
"I know it's not my mum. I saw her body, she…I just want to know what's going on" Jason explained, as Kara nodded.
The pair came to a halt when they spotted the dark-haired woman in question, who was the spitting image of Jason's mother. Kara couldn't imagine how much it hurt him to see her. Kara wanted to protect him from the mess that Rosewood had spilling out in the last few weeks, but she knew he was in too deep now.
"So…who the hell are you supposed to be?" Kara announced, marching up to the woman.
"Kara…I've heard a lot about you…" The woman trailed off when she saw Jason behind her.
"My God, Jason…I haven't seen you since you were a child. You've grown up so much" The woman exclaimed, standing up.
"Who are you?" Jason insisted, clenching his fists.
"My name is Mary Drake. I'm Jessica's sister" She confessed, as Kara's eyes widened.
"You're my Aunt?" Jason gaped, a dumbfounded look on his face.
"Wait…your Charles's real mother?" Kara asked, watching the woman nod in response.
"I don't understand. How could I know not know anything about you? It makes no sense" Jason frowned.
"Fair point, but more importantly, why does Cece have your last name?" Kara inquired.
"Cece became like a daughter to me. I was something like an idol to her. When she asked if she could take my surname, I agreed" Mary told them.
"Oh thank God, no incest then" Kara mumbled, as they both gave her a look.
"I want answers" Jason announced, a moment later.
"And I will give them to you, Jason. I swear, but you're not ready yet" Mary sighed, reaching out for him, as he took a step back.
"Don't" He exclaimed, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else in that moment.
"So, when did A.D contact you?" Kara blurted out.
"You certainly don't beat around the bush" Mary mumbled.
"It's part of my natural charm" Kara retorted, as Jason chuckled lightly.
"I came here after I heard about what happened to…my child. How he was murdered, and the police had no idea who was responsible. I received a text the same day, telling me they'd help me find out" Mary went on, as Jason and Kara shared a look.
"You didn't think to ask me? I mean I was there" Kara pointed out.
"I don't exactly trust you. You were planning on killing Charles, were you not?" Mary retorted, with a glare.
"I sure was. But we're on the same side now. Both working for A.D" Kara stated.
"They showed me the text they received from Hanna. She killed him. She admitted it" Mary gritted through her teeth, angrily.
"…Right. So, you kidnapped her?" Kara asked.
"And I plan to torture her before I kill her just like she killed my baby boy" Mary explained, as Kara and Jason shared a look.
"Uh, will you excuse us for a minute? We need to have a talk" Kara exclaimed, pulling Jason away, as Mary reluctantly nodded.
"…She's crazy" Kara whispered, once they were out of hearing distance.
"Now we know where Cece got it from" Jason pointed out.
"So, clearly she's too brain dead to realise that A.D killed Charles and Cece. But why is A.D setting her up to hurt Hanna?" Kara wondered aloud.
"Scapegoat" Jason realised, his eyes widening.
"What?" Kara frowned.
"We got footage of Mary kidnapping Hanna. The girls will all believe she's A.D. They'll think she was the mastermind" Jason explained.
"A.D's setting her up to take the fall" Kara went on, looking back at the woman who was sitting back down, twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"It's not exactly believable though, is it? A middle-aged woman doing all this on her own" Jason stated as a thoughtful look grew on Kara's face.
"Maybe she's not on her own…" Kara trailed off, walking back over to Mary.
"Who's helping you?" Kara asked as Mary's head snapped up to look at her.
"I believe you've already met him" Mary answered.
"Elliot. Alison's new husband" Kara realised as Jason's frown deepened.
"He was Cece's lover. He wants revenge almost as much as I do" Mary nodded.
"Man, I knew there was a reason I always disliked that guy" Jason mumbled.
"But why did you have him marry her?" Kara inquired.
"Alison admitted herself into a mental health facility tonight. One which her new husband will make sure she will never leave" Mary smirked.
"What did Ali ever do to you?" Kara frowned.
"That little bitch is just like her mother. She took everything from Charles and Cece and acted like she was a saint while doing it" Mary went on.
"Took everything? What do you mean…wait…this is about the money, isn't it?" Kara gaped.
"You want Alison's share of the Carissimi group" Jason realised.
"It's an added bonus" Mary replied, making Kara scoff.
"I think I've heard all I need to hear. Jason?" Kara questioned, looking to the blond.
"You're more like my mother than you'd like to think" Jason informed her, as he took Kara's hand in his own, walking away from his Aunt.
"What are we going to tell the girls?" Jason asked as they walked down the steps of the police station.
"Just the basics. Let them figure things out for themselves. The last thing we need is them suspecting us" Kara explained, as they approached the group.
"Game time" Jason mumbled.
"Her name's Mary Drake. She's Jessica's twin sister" Kara announced, stopping in front of the girls.
"From the Radley file. She's Charles's biological mom" Mona pointed out.
"So why are we still standing here? She thinks Hanna killed her daughter. She's A.D" Caleb insisted as Kara raised an eyebrow at Jason, showing that the group was already jumping to the right conclusions.
"Maybe. But she's one step ahead of us. She just bought the Lost Woods and she's in there filing a report about a break-in" Jason told them.
"By us. Damn it" Ezra sighed, as they heard all their phones bleep, strangely including Jason's.
"'A lie for a lie, an eye for an eye. The bell tolls for Hanna - A.D." Aria read aloud, from her smartwatch.
Kara frowned as they heard the bell of the church ring from behind them, as everyone began running towards the sound. Mary had just told them that she had Hanna, so surely she wasn't in the Church? Her thoughts were suddenly cut off when she heard screams from inside and pushed past Aria and Ezra to see Hanna swinging from the church bells. Her hand flew to her mouth, as she gasped, unable to believe what she was seeing. Had A.D really killed Hanna?
"No!" Caleb cried, looking like his world had just come crashing around him.
Seeing that everyone still seemed too shocked to move, Kara shoved past Caleb and started running up the stairs. Everyone quickly sprinted up the long staircase behind her, crying out Hanna's name as they did so.
"Caleb, help me!" Kara exclaimed, as she tried to reach over the bannister to grab Hanna, but she was too short.
With his help, they were able to pull Hanna over to them, and soon had her untangled from the rope around her neck and body. Lowering her carefully to the ground, Caleb caressed her cheek, as Kara tried to feel for a pulse.
"This is happening" Emily cried.
"I…I can't find a pulse…" Kara stuttered, feeling tears welling in her own eyes.
She looked up at Jason, her face pale with dread. She had wanted revenge, answers…but she didn't want anyone dead.
"She's gone" Emily sobbed, holding onto Hanna's other hand.
"Wait…look at her face…" Jason frowned, seeing that part of her cheek had come off in Caleb's hand.
"It's a mask" Caleb gaped, as he began removing the silicone copy of Hanna's face.
"What?" Aria cringed when she saw a creepy looking doll face underneath.
"Where's the real Hanna then?" Mona questioned.
"What's this?" Emily frowned, as she pulled at a cord that she noticed attached to the doll's back.
"Enough about Charles and Cece. You have 24 hours to give me Bethany's real killer or Hanna dies. Tick tock bitches" The doll announced, as Caleb took his phone out to look at the time, panic in his eyes.
"I just got news from Spencer. She's getting bailed out of prison with her mum" Emily announced, from where they were crowded around the living room in the Hasting's house.
"What about her dad?" Kara asked.
"It's not looking good for him. The tape shows that he knew about what she did…or thought she did" Emily explained.
"Have the police tracked down Melissa?" Aria inquired.
"Not yet" Emily shook her head.
"Spencer will be alright guys. She's a Hasting's remember" Kara pointed out.
"Kara's right. Hanna is our priority" Caleb insisted.
"No shock there" Kara mumbled under her breath, so only Jason could hear.
"So, the real question is why the sudden leap to Bethany's killer? I mean I thought this was all about Charles and Cece" Emily frowned.
"Maybe it was never really about them" Kara suggested.
"Look, we've been trying to figure out who killed Bethany since she died. Do we really think that we're gonna solve that mystery in under 24 hours?" Ezra sighed.
"Yes. We will because we have to" Caleb retorted.
"This is the first time we've all been working together. That's what makes it different" Mona added.
"That and a creepy twin" Aria muttered.
"Mary has to be A.D. What bigger motive is there? And she has to be working with someone" Emily announced.
"Guys, Mona's right. It's just like Ali told Hanna. All of us working together knew what happened to her. So all of us together can figure out who killed Bethany" Kara pointed out.
"I'm sure each one of us has some idea about who did it. Don't we?" Mona exclaimed, looking to Kara.
Soon enough, they had all decided to take an anonymous vote by placing the name of the person that they think had killed Bethany in a bowl. Kara hoped for Hanna's sake the liars would be more truthful than usual.
"Alison, Alison, Alison, No name…Aria, Spencer...Mona" Mona read the results aloud, earning some shocked looks from the group.
"So, most of us think that Alison killed Bethany" Ezra exclaimed.
"Okay, now we need to prove she had the motive and the opportunity to murder Bethany" Kara pointed out.
"Ali is a lot of things, but she's not a killer" Emily insisted.
"She's been on her best behaviour' since she got back, but we can't pretend the Alison who blinded Jenna never existed" Kara explained.
"Maybe she saw Bethany that night and just…snapped" Mona suggested.
"Or maybe it was self-defence. Maybe it was Bethany who snapped again. We all know that the girl was supposed to be unhinged. Maybe Ali defended herself" Emily pointed out.
"Emily defending Alison, now there's a surprise. Have you ever considered that Alison's not the saint you think she is?" Kara rolled her eyes.
"I don't care why she did it, okay? I just, I wanna find a way to prove that she did it so that we can get Hanna back" Caleb interjected before a catfight could occur.
"Okay, then we need some evidence. So, how are we gonna' get it?" Kara asked.
"We'll go to her house to look for it" Ezra suggested, quickly.
"I'm all over Mary Drake. I think she's the fastest route to Hanna" Caleb announced.
"I agree. So we work together. She said she was moving into the motel. All roads lead to the Lost Woods Resort" Mona replied, her eyes flitting over to Kara's.
Mona could clearly tell that Caleb was a loose cannon now and needed someone to reign him in. Thankfully, Mona was just the right person for the job. Kara frowned as all their phones chimed once again, including Jason's. Kara couldn't help but wonder how A had been able to find out so quickly that Jason had found out about their schemes. A.D must have been watching them somehow.
"Oh, my God, Hanna" Emily gasped, as she opened the message and saw a picture of Hanna in nothing but a tank top and panties, her lip bloody.
"Mona, let me see" Caleb exclaimed, grabbing the phone from Mona's hand.
"Oh, she looks so scared" Aria mumbled.
"At least she's alive" Ezra stated.
"Jeez Ezra, way to reassure us" Kara rolled her eyes.
"You guys, we have to get to her. Here are the keys to Ali's house. I'm going to Welby. And I'm not leaving without an answer. Ali has to tell me the truth" Emily announced, flinging the keys to Ali's house over the counter.
"We'll go with you. I want to see my sister" Jason added, as Emily nodded.
"So, we're thinking Ali killed Bethany too, right?" Kara questioned, as they drove behind Emily in Jason's car.
"Maybe" Jason mumbled, making Kara frown.
"Jase?" Kara insisted, wanting him to elaborate.
"I was the one who put wrote Spencer's name" Jason admitted.
"Why?" Kara questioned, surprised.
"Spencer's smart. Really smart. She's the only one I could see being able to pull off a murder" Jason admitted.
"Well, let's hope they figure it out soon or Hanna's going to be six feet under by tonight" Kara bit her lip.
"Unless we do something about it" Jason suggested, as Kara raised an eyebrow at him.
"We could tell Mary Drake that Hanna didn't kill Charles. That she was lying just to protect her friends. It would buy us some time" Jason explained.
"That would seriously piss of A.D" Kara pointed out.
"So? Who says they should be in charge of this? You were Bethany's best friend, you're the one who deserves revenge the most" Jason went on.
"You think I should form a revolution?" Kara scoffed.
"You've got my vote" Jason smirked, making Kara chuckle lightly.
"You're a bad influence, Mr Dilaurentis" Kara shook her head, fondly.
A moment later, her phone began to ring, her eyes widening when she saw it was a call from Wren. She bit her lip when she realised just how out of the loop he would be.
"Hey you," Kara smiled, as she picked up the call.
"Hey, are you okay? I've only had radio silence since the election?" Wren pointed out.
"A lot has happened. Jessica Dilaurentis has a twin, Jason's found out about the A team, Hanna's been kidnapped and-" Kara began reeling off information, as Wren stopped her.
"Wait, Jason knows?" Wren asked.
"Um, I'm actually in his car right now" Kara admitted, nervously.
"Hey Wren!" Jason exclaimed, with a small smirk, as Kara sent a glare his way.
"You told him?" Wren inquired.
"He figured it out himself. Look, I've only told him cliff notes. I wanted to talk to you first" Kara explained.
"Do you trust him?" Wren queried, as Kara turned to look at the blond.
"Yeah…I do" She replied, softly.
"Then so do I. You can tell him about me. Just…come back home to me still?" Wren inquired.
"I always will. I love you" Kara told him, as Jason kept his eyes firmly trained on the road.
"I love you too, baby" Wren sighed, as she could practically feel the conflict in his voice.
"I'll call you in a couple of hours and explain everything, okay?" Kara suggested.
"See you soon" Wren replied, before hanging up.
"He's taking you being driven around in the middle of the night by your ex pretty well" Jason pointed out.
"That's because he doesn't get stupidly jealous like you used to" Kara retorted.
"Nah, he's just better at hiding it" Jason grinned.
"Speaking of hiding…Wren is Bethany's brother" Kara blurted out, as Jason almost veered off the road in shock.
"What?!" Jason exclaimed, trying to regain control of the car.
"Yeah…you remember when I came to your really upset a while back? And you figured out it was something to do with Wren? That's when he told me" Kara went on.
"Oh my God…I told you to get back with him" Jason realised, wanting to facepalm.
"I know it sounds bad, but he really was just trying to protect me. He never meant to…fall for me" Kara sighed.
"I guess I can't judge. I did fall in love with my sister's teenage best friend" Jason stated.
"Are you gonna' be alright with this by the way? Seeing Alison locked up in this place?" Kara inquired.
"Alison completely disowned me, Kara. She tried to take my share of the Carissimi group. Turned any family I had left against me. All because I wanted to help you. She doesn't deserve my forgiveness" Jason explained.
"She's still your sister" Kara suggested.
"Not anymore" Jason mumbled, darkly.
Kara and Jason watched from the corridor as Emily sat beside Alison, taking the blonde's hand in her own. She was so helplessly in love with Alison, it was almost painful to watch. Kara noticed Elliot walking towards them, a happy swagger in his step. He was getting his revenge, of course, he was happy.
"So, my main question…are you actually a doctor?" Kara inquired, turning to face him.
"I was struck off for my…morally grey activities" Elliot admitted.
"Is Elliot even your real name?" Jason asked as the man shook his head.
"Archer Dunhill" He replied, as the pair shared a look, realizing his initials spelt A.D.
"I've planted the seeds of doubt in Emily's mind that Alison may have been responsible for your friend's death, you'll be glad to hear" Archer explained.
"You think she did it?" Kara inquired.
"Perhaps…but it's not the murder I'm concerned about" Archer pointed out.
"Maybe it should be," Kara told him, making the older man frown.
Jason's eyes widened as he realised where Kara could be going with her statement and wondered what he should do. Could he really let her throw his sister under the bus?
"We all know what kind of girl Alison used to be. Most of her friends think she's capable of murder. That doesn't change. She left the house the night that Charles and Cece were killed. They knew who their killer was" Kara explained.
"Why would Alison kill them and not you?" Archer frowned.
"Because I really was her friend once. Maybe her only real friend. Think about all that torture that Cece put her through. Don't you think Ali would want revenge? She's not exactly the forgiving kind" Kara went on.
"She loved Charles and Cece" Archer shook his head.
"And why do you think she was so insistent on getting them released? Maybe she did really want her brother back or…" Kara trailed off.
"Or?" Archer insisted.
"She wanted some good old-fashioned revenge. Just something to think about" Kara smirked, lightly.
"Kara" Jason mumbled, nudging her as he noticed Emily leaving Alison's room.
"Oh good, you guys are here. She was muttering your names" Emily admitted.
"Really? We better go see her then" Kara smiled sweetly, as she dragged Jason into the room and closed the door behind them.
"Are you mad at me?" Kara questioned when she noticed Jason not looking at her.
"You've bought Hanna some time. Archer will probably be calling Mary now, telling her they have a new suspect" Jason explained.
"Mary wanted to torture and kill Hanna…but she won't do the same thing to her niece right?" Kara frowned.
"Ali made her bed a long time ago. She has to lie in it now" Jason answered.
"Jason? Is…is that you?" Alison stuttered, her eyes flitting across the room, as she strained against her restraints.
"I don't think I can do this. I don't want to see this" Jason exclaimed.
"I'll be out in a minute. We're doing the right thing, Jase" Kara told him, as he nodded and left the room quickly.
"Kara? Oh, you came. Thank God. Please help me" Alison begged, tears welling in her eyes, as Kara came into her view.
"Help you? Now why would I want to do a silly thing like that?" Kara replied, making Alison frown.
"They all think I'm crazy" Alison sobbed, as Kara pouted.
"Oh, Ali. You're not crazy. Things would be a lot easier if you were. You're just…bad. A bad person. Always have been" Kara told her, as Alison shook her head vehemently.
"I've changed" Alison insisted.
"You can't change the past. I know what you did" Kara exclaimed, as Alison's eyes widened in fear.
"You killed Bethany…and now you're going to pay" Kara stated, as she stood up.
"Wh-what? I didn't…I don't know…please, you can't just leave me here! Please Kara!" Alison screeched.
"Goodbye Alison…I'll see you in hell" Kara smirked, before turning on her heel and walking out of the room, relishing in the sound of Alison's screams.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Season 7 is getting off to a dramatic start, huh? I'll probably end up cutting a lot from this season just like the last one as I didn't like a lot of things in this Season 7. The best line from this episode was definitely Archer's "Just like you, Alison. Karma can be such a bitch". I wish I had thought of it, haha. Please leave a review:)
aldupotterbing: Thanks for the review. I'll definitely take your vote for Wren on board, cheers! Jason is being sucked into the A team whether he likes it or not, which will be a lot of fun. Aw, that's so great that I can change your opinion that much, Wren had so much wasted potential.
NicoleBeverley234: Thank you:)
0001234: Spencer may be getting bailed out of prison, but she will have to face the consequences for Melissa's tape, don't worry! I think Ali and everyone else has treated Jason so bad in the past, that he just can't find himself to care about them anymore. When did they ever care for him? Aria and Emily will be getting their comeuppance too soon!
fish330: Thanks for the review:) I'll take your vote on board, it would make sense as it is a theme for the show like you've said. I hope you like this chapter!
Ineveryfandom: I think it must have been some sort of video? Or item? Something that threatened a loved one I believe.