Emily gasped.
"Careful Emily. You don't wanna trample a blind girl."
"H–hey. Jenna." Emily stuttered. "How'd you know it's me? "
Jenna smiled mysteriously."You have a very memorable scent Emily. I'm sure Alison loves it," she then walked away with the tapping sound accompanying her.
Emily wrinkled her eyebrows. Confusion took over her mind. As she ponder about today's event, a notification popped on her screen lock.
Unknown has sent you a message.
Her heartbeat elevated every seconds. How? How did she know? I have to find her quickly! Before she tells Ella about the scandal.
Aria gathered her things quickly but as she walked out of the classroom, her hand was pulled by someone. She turned around.
"Aria. Can we talk?" Asked Mr. Fitz.
"I'm in hurry. Maybe later," he let her hand go upon hearing this.
Aria rushed to the hallway. She looked around her but Alison was nowhere to be seen. After a while, her wandering gaze fall on Emily's slumped shoulder. She walked slowly towards Emily–not wanting to shock her.
"Em."
Suddenly, Emily jerked away at Aria's slight touch on her shoulder. "Uhmm, Aria! Do you...need something?" She put her phone inside her back pocket.
"No. Did you saw Ali?"
"I didn't. Maybe she's at the principal's office. Y'know. Cause of...the stunt she pulled. Earlier."
"Are you okay, Em? You look nervous."
"I have to go. I'm...sorry. Aria."
'What's that all about?' thought Aria. 'No, we have much more important stuff in hand right now! Where the hell is Ali?' Aria walked to the other side of the hallway which is the principal's office. She really believed that Ali is the culprit behind the messages she received one week prior Alison's sudden transfer to Rosewood Day.
Hanna was daydreaming when Emily suddenly said, "Hanna! Did you know where Ali is?"
"Weyy, waiyyy waiiiiiyy waaaat? Em! Don't spook me like that!" Hanna turned to look at Emily's face, "No," she rolled her eyes while saying so. "Check the principal's office."
'Nope. No way. She's definitely not there. Cause...well, because she's Alison?' thought Emily in her head. "Uhmm, thank you Hann."
"Wait. Why'd you wanna find her anyway? Did you forget? She didn't even called when she's in New York."
"Maybe she's busy. She got kidnapped for god sakes Hanna."
"Right. And one phone call is too much for the wealthy DiLaurentis...I can't believe that after all these years, you're still on her side. What a loyal subject you are, Emily," mocked Hanna.
"She's our friend. Of course I'll defend her," said Emily slowly.
"Then keep on defending YOUR friend," spat Hanna poisonously.
Emily left as she sense some hostility vibe surrounding her former best friend.
"Oh. My. God! Did you actually just said THAT to Emily friggin Fields?" Asked Mona, dumbfoundedly.
"It's not a huge deal Mona."
"No. I'm so proud of you babe! This calls for a celebration. How about we buy those sunglasses you love?"
"Buy?"
"Excuse me. I mean, 'buy'."
The divas laughed out loud; not caring the stares given by the other students.
"Did you find it?" said Jenna with a stern look.
Toby looked down at his feet. Feeling powerless infront of the blind yet capable girl. "No," he said with a tinge of nervousness in his tone. Toby Cavanaugh knew that Jenna cannot see him. Hell, she cannot function without him! But he is still wary of her. After all... Jenna is HIS precious little sister.
Seeing Jenna's face became red as a tomato, he quickly added, "It's... confusing. I don't know which one's true and which one's not."
"I'm blind but I can still make the girls squirm. Meanwhile you...and your two functional eyes can't even do a simple task. Remember Toby; I'm not the one in a liability right now. You are. So you better find that video. Not for me-" Jenna turned to face Toby. She then smiled as she said, "For you!"
In the end, neither Aria nor Emily were able to get ahold of Ali that day. They looked for her everywhere around the school. The cafeteria, the library, the principal's office and even the toilets, but the small queen just disappeared like smoke after Mr. Fitz had thrown her from his class.
Emily was walking through the usual pathway to her house when she saw police tape, cars and reporters surrounding the St. Germain's new house. She ran to Maya who was looking like a scared mouse, hastily.
"What's going on?"
"Th–they...found a–a body. Under...in–in the gazebo. Someone was buried there Emily!" Maya's body was trembling in cold sweat. "I ate fruits, played guitar, smoke weed! And–and I did it all on top of someone's body? Someone's grave..."
"Shhhh, it's okay," said Emily, comfortingly. She looked around her surrounding to make sure no one saw them, but to her dismay, some old dude in suits suddenly walked to the pair with a serious look on his face.
"Miss St. Germain and...your friend, I presume?" He asked.
"Fields. Emily Fields," Emily introduced herself.
"Hah, Wayne Fields' daughter. I've always admired your dad. I'm detective Wilden by the way," his gallivanting eyes sparked in curiosity. "And I'm in charge of this case," he continued.
"Uhmm, okay?" Said Emily.
"Say– you don't happen to know where the DiLaurentis live now, do you?"
"Why do you wanna know?"
"Well. It's only natural to investigate the last owner of the house. Emily, would you be kind enough too show us the DiLaurentis' new home?"
"Ahh...why don't you just check the system or...whatever."
"I can. But it's too much work. Plus— you're Alison DiLaurentis' best friend. I'm sure you'll know her address."
"How'd you kn–"
"Rosewood is a small town. Right? Emily. Catherine. Fields. Now let's go!"
The whole car ride, Emily can only think of two things: A and Ali. But what if it's only one? No. Stop this. She's your friend and she'll never do that. Then why were you looking for her all day at school? I just wanted to warn her about someone knowing the secret other than us. That's all. Secret...
Emily sighed heavily as her mind drifted to that day. That forbidden, damned day!
"Is it just me or your eyes look different sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
"Uhmm, I mean... sometimes...your eyes look brighter and bluer. And some other times it looks darker."
"Uhmmmmm, what's the colour now?"
Emily smiled in response. She knew Alison is mocking by overusing her signature word, 'uhmm'.
"It's darker now. Unlike that time when we spent all week in your house! But it's beautiful nonetheless."
"I thought I told you to forget about that week."
"B–but...that week holds many of our fondest memories. I don't think I can ever forget that. I mean...that week...is the first time you opened up to us. Me! Aria, Spencer and Hanna really appreciate that. Thank you for being our friend, Ali."
"You're gonna make me cry Em..."
"That's not really my plan. Hehe," she chuckled.
"Still, let's forget about them. Okay?"
Emily kept quiet.
"It's just that– I hate memory," diddled Alison.
"Why?" She asked, simply.
"Because the memory you asked me to keep, showed my weakness as the queen. The leader. The DiLaurentis. DiLaurentis have no weakness. You know that." said Alison coldly.
All of a sudden, Emily chuckled. Seems like she's been holding it back for a while.
"What's funny?" Asked Alison in annoyance.
"Nothing. I just...you hahahahahahahahaha remind me of something hahahahhaha," Emily laughed again but this time it's harder. "Do you remember that time you called yourself quincy? Because you're no longer the queen bee! Hahahahahahah hahahahhaha. And then you called Spencer a stud! Because she's studious! Gosh, you were so drunk at that time. Hahahahhaha hahahahahahahahaha!"
"Done?"
Emily immediately closed her gaping mouth with her hand. "I– I'm sorry, Ali. I won't bring it up again," said Emily acquiescently.
"Okay. Although, I prefer if you'd just forget about them. Anyway...this summer is going to be. Fantastic! We're gonna make lots and lots of new memories."
"Uhmm, like... skiing?"
"Uhmmmmmmmm, I don't know. I was thinking...more like... kissing," Alison's gaze wandered down Emily's lips.
Realising this, she blushed profusely.
"Right or left?"
"What?"
"Right or left?" Asked Darren Wilden again.
"Uh?"
"DiLaurentis house. Right or left?"
"Neither. You just go straight ahead. There's a small road near the park. It's kinda hidden."
"Really? I didn't know that. Did they made this recently?"
"No. It's already there since forever. It's just... hidden."
"And may I ask, how you know that?"
"My other friend, Spencer lives there too. Sometimes we hang out at her place."
"Huh, is that so...? It's beautiful here."
"Yeah," agreed Emily.
"Too bad though. The secrets are too ugly."
Secret. I guess everyone have their own secrets.
"Spencer?"
"Hanna! What a surprise. I don't know you shop here," replied Spencer with a genuine shock.
"Yeah. We're just browsing."
"We?"
"Oh, silly me! Me and Mona."
"Mona and I," mumbled Spencer slowly.
"What are you looking for?"
"Nothing. Just a dress for this useless dinner," Spencer sighed. "Melissa think it is best to spend some quality time as a family before she tie the knot with her new fiancee."
Hanna took a chocolate short dress with a low cut, put the dress in front of Spencer and said, "Hmmm, this looks nice in you."
Spencer's eyes widen in surprise, "No. It's too nice. I don't wanna snatch Melissa's thunder. Plus...in?"
Hanna looked at Spencer weirdly, "Yeah, in. Come on, Spence. You know you look good in it. Just buy the god damn dress. I mean, literally– the god damned dress!"
After keeping quiet for a moment, Spencer finally said, "Know what, screw it! I'm buying it."
Tocktocktock
The door open slightly, showing a small head.
"Yes?"
'I knew it! She's at her home all along.' thought Emily.
"Alison. Is your mom home?" Asked Det. Wilden.
"Who in heavens name are you?" Asked Ali back with a suspecting glare.
"Detective Wilden. Now, your mom?"
"What's your business with her?"
"There's a body. Found under the gazebo. At your old house."
Ali's face turned pale as she heard this. "A body? Whose...body?"
"We're still identifying it. To me, an outsider, it seems very suspicious of your mother to sell the house right after you move back. And then a body was discovered. Don't you think it's weird, Ali?"
"Nope. Not at all detective. Tell you what, why don't you find out what year we built the gazebo and then look into your system to find out whether there's a missing person case at that time or not. And then find some concrete evidence to link the case with my family. AND THEN you can come arrest my mother."
"The gazebo was built around the same time you got kidnapped. So, is that you Ali?"
"Don't call me Ali. Only my friends call me that."
"What's going on here?" Said a voice from inside the house.
"No one's–"
Jason pulled the door, causing Ali to step back.
"Darren."
"Jason. How long has it been?"
"I don't care. Get to the point. What do you want here?"
"Hahahahaha! Still the same old Jason. I believe you should know what I'm here for?"
"Gazebo murder?"
Det. Wilden kept his mouth shut, forming a line. Jason then let out a sigh as he said, "Yeah. I... saw the news. My mom's in the back."
"What? You're just gonna send mom to jail?" Asked Ali in disbelief.
"It's a standard procedure! By the way, I trust detective Wilden here, to put my Mom's safety above ALL?"
"Of course Jason. You have my word."
BREAKING NEWS:
A body was found in the former lawn of a known and wealthy household. The body had yet to be identified as there are no family claiming the body. However the former owner of the house, is currently being investigated–"
Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap
After the person wearing a black hoodie sent the messages, the person then put the burner phone on the acacia coffee carefully while smiling in triumph.