Chapter 3

"Charlotte, let me out of here."

Charlotte smiled, "Now why would I do that? This is what it's all been about Ali," she looked at her sister through the glass, trapped in a room that was a direct duplication of her teenage bedroom, "It's all I ever wanted."

Alison stepped up to the glass, "Charlotte, please. Mum wouldn't want this, you know she wouldn't."

"What mum wanted wasn't always what was best for our family," Charlotte answered, "Anyway, I've taken care of the mom problem."

Alison frowned, "What do you mean you've taken care of…"

Charlotte grinned, "You are seriously in for a ride, Ali. Wait for it."


"When I press the button, it's going to buzz. Go through the door."

"Please – "

"Just do it," Charlotte slammed her hand into a button, still watching safely from behind the glass and walking into view of the next room; Alison's bedroom. The door opened.

Alison looked up at the sound of the door. She stared for a moment.

"Mary… "

Of course it was Mary. She'd dyed her hair, put on Jessica's clothes, her jewellery. She looked ruffled.

"Don't call her that," Charlotte said sharply, "It's our mom, Ali. She's back."

Alison looked at Charlotte unbelievingly, shaking her head, "Don't do this, Charlie," she glanced back at her aunt before addressing her sister, "She is not our mom."

"Alison, do not test me," Charlotte crossed her arms, "Just play by the rules and everyone will be just fine."

"You need help. Real help," Alison pleaded, "I'll support you, Charlotte. Please – "

"Oh, stop," Charlotte rolled her eyes, "I've got everything I need right here. Well, almost," she looked at Mary, "Mom, you're on my side, aren't you? You know all I ever wanted was to be with my family."

"Yes," Mary nodded edgily, "Yes. Ali, we're all together now. You should be nice to your older sister. It's, it's taken a lot for us all to get here."

"Mary, you don't have to – "

Alison felt a sharp pain ricochet through her body as she fell to the floor. Mary rushed to her side.

Charlotte put the remote in her hand down, "I don't want to have to do that again, Alison."

"What the hell did you do?" Alison sat up shaking and trying to catch her breath.

"Chipped you," Charlotte said simply, "Just in case. Technology has come so far, all I have to do is press this little button," she picked up her remote again, "and five hundred volts run through your body. Not enough to do serious damage but well, now you know how it feels."

"I think Alison gets the point, Charlotte," Mary said, helping Alison to her feet, "Come now, we're family. We don't need to hurt each other."

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Charlotte replied, "You know that, mommy."

Mary nodded, "Then why don't you come in here, honey? Give your mommy a hug?"

Charlotte's eye twitched, "Not yet," she whispered.


Mona watched the scenes unfold on the screens so kindly supplied in her room. At least she wasn't in a hole this time, she thought. Albeit her room was certainly not prepared with as much thought the apparent Dilaurentis house replica it was still a decent replica of her teenage room. She was surprised Charlotte had taken the time to pay attention to certain details, down to the wallpaper and colour scheme of the walls. The same dresser and wardrobe. She felt a rush of nostalgia at the books and dolls that sat on the old bookshelf in the corner. She knew it didn't mean Charlotte cared. She just liked it. She liked replicating rooms for her perfect dollhouse. It was something to entertain her psychopathic mind. It was an art form that Mona both feared and admired.

Mona wasn't fooling herself. Alison and Mary were safe. They were playing characters Charlotte had some sense of twisted love for. Mona knew she didn't matter to Charlotte. And that made her future completely uncertain.