Just then, my phone beeped. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at it. A missed text.
It was from maybe a few hours ago or so, around the time from when I'd dumped the coffee on Spencer.
I looked at the number. It was blocked, unknown. I read the text.
"Looks like bitchiness is hereditary! Next thing you know, you'll be on crack! –A."
I looked at the words, not comprehending. Then I understood, someone under this alias had seen me dump the coffee on my friend, and said I was turning into Ali, the person I'd never wanted to be. And then they poked fun at Jason's old ways. Who was this? Why was the number blocked?
"Mads? What is it? Who's it from" Toby asked.
Just then the phone beeped again, and read the next message.
"Don't tell Toby, or I'll make sure he won't leave the room alive. Love, A.
P.S- Spencer isn't really with Wren. She's trying to protect Toby, and I suggest you do the same."
"Uh, nobody. Just my mom." I said, sliding the phone back in my pocket.
He seemed suspicious, but let it go. After all, he knew me better than anyone, but he also knew when I wasn't going to give in.
I stood up, knowing what the last part meant.
"I have to go. Visiting hours are over, and I left all my homework for tomorrow at home…"
"Oh okay. I'll say you later Mads."
"Bye Toby. Take care, and don't do anything stupid over her." He knew who I meant, and he nodded. I had to make it seem like I wasn't saying goodbye for a long time, or he'd suspect something.
"Leaving you to fend for yourself with only Jason as family? Wouldn't dream of it." He grinned.
"Bye." I whispered, knowing full well I'd be avoiding him for a long time, and then I spun around and left. Whoever this person was, A certainly knew exactly how to get me to do what he/she wants.
I got home by the time it was a quarter to 10. I got a third text. I almost didn't look, afraid, but decided I needed to, and I was too curious.
"Try calling your brother. He's been gone too long, something may have happened to him."
I didn't need the signature to know who it was from.
I closed the text, and dialed my brother's number from where I stood in the entrance hall and waited. There was ringing…and there was ringing from somewhere else. I followed the faint sound upstairs and into Jason's bathroom, where his phone lay in a drawer, right next to its charger.
I groaned and snapped the phone shut, Jason's caller ID reading- Missed call from Mads.
He hadn't taken his phone like I had thought when he'd left. And what if he was hurt…or dead or something. I had no way of reaching him. I guessed if he didn't show up I'd have to eventually go somewhere else. I wasn't leaving Rosewood to go to my parents though, and I guessed I could stay at the Montgomery's place, since I was so close with both kids, and I spent a lot of time over there anyway. But it would make more sense to stay at Spencer's, because she was my neighbor, and plus, Mr. Hastings would have to take me in. Jason and I…were more important to him than he let on.
I needn't resort to that yet though. I really should apologize to Spencer though, and see if the girls knew anything about A, if they had been playing a joke on me or not.
So, I went to bed, thinking of how this person had already touched on my need to protect Toby and my older brother, and how they'd use my love for them against me. Maybe keeping them away was for the best.
Next day at school, I found Spencer in the courtyard at a table with the other girls and I walked over, they all stopped talking and looked up at me.
"Spencer, can I talk to you alone?"
"Whatever you're going to say, say it front of my friends."
"I'm sorry alright. I just care about Toby, and hearing it was your fault he was there set me off. I don't want to be like Alison. I know you're protecting him, I know you're trying to help. I know you're lying about being with Wren." She looked to Emily for a second, as if flabbergasted, then I added, "I didn't tell him don't worry. I'm going to stay away from him too now."
"What? Why?" Emily piped up, fully knowing Toby and I were closer than twins.
"I got a threat last night, and I'm wondering if any of you sent it- to get back at me for dumping coffee on Spence."
"No, of course not." Aria said.
"What threat?" Hanna raised an eyebrow.
"A text from someone named A." they all looked like they might keel over from a heart attack, then pulled me down to sit in between Spencer and Hanna.
"You're getting them too?"
"I got the first three last night." I showed them, so I wouldn't have to explain, and they looked at me.
"I'm sure Jason's fine." Aria tried to assure me, but I could see her fear for him underneath too.
"Toby will figure it out. And we'll come up with someone else to throw him off. Mads, you may have to hurt him as I did to throw him off."
"It's only a matter of time before A interferes with her relationship too."
"She's so much younger, and A is only targeting her because she's Ali's baby sister, and our friend."
"Wait? Relationship? What?"
They explained how A ruined all their relationships, and Aria piped up, "Soon, A will threaten Mike. Madeline, you can't let anything happen to him. He's my little brother."
"I won't." I promised. But I could picture getting a text saying to break Mike's heart, or maybe his depression could get the best of him…and then he'd die of grief.
They told me everything about A, and then I knew, the five of us were stuck together now, all because of this predator, and because we couldn't go to anyone else we loved, or they'd get hurt.
Every move, every move at the police station- I'd now be involved in. Great. This week was full of good news.
...
REVIEW!
ALERT!
FAV!
Ooh, so now Mads is lumped together with the liars. ;)
