Chapter 20

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Sydney and Dewey knew they were running out of time. If this Ghostface kept his word, Sydney would be dead before midnight. They decided to contact this local girl Christina. She was an expert on horror films, she reminded them of their old friend Randy. And since this killer seemed to think this was a horror movie, why not consult this local expert. These three had a meeting, along with Amy, Kalil, and Mary. These four teens reminded Sydney of her own traumatic teen years, and she feared that at least one of these kids wouldn't survive this Halloween night.

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Christina: I made a list of all suspects. Full disclosure, all of us are on this list, even Dewey and Sydney.

Sydney: Why me?

Christina: Given your past, your work supporting the death penalty, one could make the argument that you have come to enjoy killing. This Ghostface is definitely different from all the others, only murdering evil people. Sheriff Riley coud have similar motives, given what happenned to his sister. Not to mention, if he learned what two of his own deputies were up to, that would be a great twist.

Dewey: Who else is on the list?

Christina: Deputy David. He could be dealing with serious guilt for raping that girl 20 years ago, this could be his way of atoning. He harassed Mary to either throw us off the scent, or give her an alibi.

Mary: I have to admit, he was released before Greg was killed, and he's been staying at a motel because mom kicked him out.

Christina: Then there's the possibility that their victim, or her child, would be seeking revenge. That ofcourse implies that he did spare her life, she got pregnant, and did have the baby. But that seems unlikely because the killer is usually not hiding in the background, they're usually a more prominent character. I've actually been looking at all other Ghostface incidents, like the ones regarding Emma Duvall. Piper and her partner Kiernan are both dead, but whoever killed Kiernan in prison was never found.

Dewey: Piper and Kiernan both killed a lot of people. The question isn't just who wanted them dead, the question is who would be willing to murder an innocent prison guard to get to him.

Christina: My theory, Brandon James.

Sydney: Piper's father.

Christina: Yeah, he blamed Kiernan for getting his daughter killed, and unlike all the other Ghostface's, Brandon James' body was never found.

Dewey: But why would he come here and start killing people?

Christina: I don't know, I don't even consider him a strong suspect, but he is a suspect. I'm also not ruling out Miguel Sanchez. His motive is obvious, and giving a confession with enough false details, that's a common red herring. He could have gotten that from any number of episodes of "Matlock." Next is John Harrison.

Amy: The man who assaulted me and slashed my face. He's dead.

Christina: Probably. Most horro movies these days have moved away from the cliche of the killer can survive and come back. Harrison wasn't a vampire, or even the type to stalk and harass his victims before hurting them. Still, we never saw his body. Then we come to the four of us.

Amy: Why am I a suspect?

Christina: Your traumatic past, and you were friends with Tamika this summer.

Amy: She was nice to me when I first moved here, but I abandoned her for the popular kids, Amanda and Greg.

Kalil: We both made that mistake. That why I'm a suspect?

Christina: Yes. Especially if you had a thing for her, and found out what they did to her. It's a believable motive, and means that harassing Mary and Sydney was just to throw off suspicion.

Mary: And me?

Christina: Maybe you found out what your father was doing and were so ashamed you took matters into your own hands.

Mary: I'll admit that Tamika was my friend. But how could I have called myself?

Christina: You couldn't, not without an accomplice. But the first girl not only surviving, but being one of the killers. Ghostface is right, would be an amazing twist.

Mary: Are you a suspect?

Christina: Absolutely. I know I'm not the killer, but I understand why none of you would take my word on that. Maybe I'm like that girl Beth, I'm just a psychopathic goth girl who wants to be the star of her own slasher film.

Amy: If you are the killer, please don't kill me. I'd prefer not to be stalked by a lunatic, not again.

Kalil: It's okay Amy. I promise, you will feel safe again.

Sydney: What did you say?

Kalil: I told Amy she'd feel safe again.

Sydney: The last time I spoke with the killer, he said I'd never feel safe again. He specifically used the word "again."

Dewey: Is there something you want to say Kalil?

Kalil: I'm not the killer, if that's what you mean. No offense Amy, but it isn't hard to see that you don't feel safe right now. I don't know how many ways there are to say comforting words to someone.

Amy: He's right Sydney, there are only so many ways to say these things.

Sydney: Yeah, you're probably right.