Sorry for taking so long to update... I got distracted by life and other non-fanfiction stories I'm writing... I hope you continue to like the future chapters I upload. Only a few people review, so obviously no one will be too impacted by anything I do or do not post. :)

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Sidney sat on her bed, the bed in her old bedroom. Since she had gone off to university, her dad had turned her bedroom into a sort of storage room. There were shelves full of books, boxes of old clothing and photo albums, an exercise machine which he had barely ever used even when he first bought it, and a television. The television was set up to receive only local channels, but that was better than nothing.

So she sat on her bed and watched the news, one of the only channels the television antenna would pick up.

A reporter stood at the park. There were lights flashing in the background. The lights appeared to be radiating from a police car, or from several police cars. Sidney frowned. The reporter was not Gale, as it usually would have been. Maybe Gale had finally given up reporting... But Sidney doubted it. She wondered how another reporter had possibly gotten his way onto the local news in place of Gale. Gale was always the first person on the scene of the crime. Instead of continuing to analyze the reporter, Sidney decided to start listening to what he was actually saying.

"-appears to be another victim of what is believed to be a copy-cat killer," the reporter said, "At least two lives have been claimed, and two young girls remain missing. The police have yet to release the name of the latest victim..."

Sidney sighed. This wasn't just a single murder anymore. This really was going to be a repeat of two years ago... She had assumed as much from the start of hearing of Martha's death, of course, but now that a report of a second killing was being broadcast, she couldn't really ignore the obvious or pretend she didn't really believe the murders had anything to do with her. If this was a copy-cat killer, she'd surely make the "to kill" list. The previous murders sort of revolved around her... anyone desiring to finish the job would come after her for sure... Maybe Randy too.

On top of these suspicions, Sidney also couldn't ignore Gale's news report. Gale Weathers had mentioned that the killer wanted to bring back the Woodsboro gang... Martha was killed to bring Randy and Sidney back to the small town... The poor girl was only bait, killed just because of who she was related to, and for no other reason. Sidney wondered who all comprised the "Woodsboro Gang." Dewey perhaps? He was nearly killed last time... He came closer to death than any of them. Gale was involved too... and Martha's death certainly succeeded in luring her back to Woodsboro. What about Cotton? He was either a target or the killer, Sidney thought. He was not really involved in the original killings, but he did have motive to kill... revenge against Sidney for falsely accusing him of murder... But then why lure back Randy and Gale as well? Why not just go to her university and kill only her? Maybe he really had lost his mind and didn't care who he killed... maybe he just wanted to kill, and it wasn't all just about revenge...

But was Cotton capable of killing? She certainly had thought so before, but had been proven wrong... maybe this time she was right...

Sidney gasped as her phone rang. She sighed and blinked her eyes for a moment when she realized the sound was only the phone. She hated being so scared and jumpy. She had just finally gotten over her irrational fear of Bobby and Stu, who she knew were dead... and now she had new reason to be terrified... She reached over to her nightstand and grabbed the phone.

"Hello," she answered, hearing in her voice that she was a bit flustered still.

"Sidney?" she heard a concerned woman's voice on the other end.

"Gale? What's wrong? Are you alright?" Sidney was instantly worried. Gale seemed to be a possible target for murder... so did Dewey, "Is everything okay? Is Dewey with you? Is he alright?"

"Relax, Sidney," Gale's voice became a bit more calm, but still had an edge to it, "I'm fine... relatively. I'm worried about Dewey... I think I know who the killer is."

"What?" Sidney was shocked. How could Gale be confident enough to actually accuse someone? "Who is it? How do you know?"

"I think it's the sheriff," Gale told her... "he told me to stay away from the case, and when I reported on it, he was really angry, and now the woman I interviewed is dead, and she gave me a note saying not to meddle... it had to have been from him! Why would any other killer even care that I interviewed her?" Gale was speaking very quickly now, almost frantically, "Dewey is with him... they are going to process the crime scene, but what if the sheriff kills him!"

"Gale," Sidney tried to calm the reporter, "I know the sheriff... He wouldn't kill anyone... He probably just didn't want you telling the world details about his case... With respect, Gale... you really shouldn't have reported on it... It was none of your business..." She didn't want to offend Gale, but what she was telling her was definitely worth saying. Gale always got way too involved in her reports, and frequently delved in deeper than she should.

"Will you please just go down to the park and make sure he's okay?" Gale's voice sounded like she wanted to cry, "take Randy or someone with you, so you won't be alone..."

Sidney sighed, "why can't you go?" she asked.

There was a pause.

"Gale?" Sidney said after a moment.

"I'm at the police station," Gale informed her. Her voice sounded of sarcasm and frustration, "In a holding cell... Your best friend Sheriff Jones is accusing me of murder."

Sidney was shocked. That was a little extreme of the sheriff... Sure, he had good reason to be upset with Gale, but why accuse her of murder? That was ridiculous, "What?" Sidney asked, "How did that come about? How could he claim you murdered someone?"

"I was there when Bethany died... Um... the 911 operator I interviewed... she was stabbed, and she stumbled out of the trees in the park, and handed me a note from the killer... I was the only person there, so the sheriff is treating me as a suspect."

Sidney frowned, "He's just doing his job, Gale... I'm sure it's nothing personal," she paused, breathing in, "well... maybe it is a bit personal... but they'll find evidence against someone else soon, and you'll be fine."

"Sidney, please!" Gale sounded frantic again, "I don't have much time left on this call... Please just go over and check on him. I just want to make sure he's okay... I have a horrible feeling about the sheriff... If everything's fine, then great... But what if you don't go and then he ends up being killed? He's like a brother to you... You've got to make sure he's okay... He'd do it for you, and you know it."

She knew Gale was right. Not about everything she had said... Sidney was fairly certain Sheriff Jones wasn't a murderer... but she also knew that if Dewey had any suspicion that Sidney was in danger, he'd do anything he could to make sure she was safe, "Alright," she finally agreed, "I'll go over there."

"Don't go alone..." Gale reminded her, "I'm sure the killer wouldn't try anything there at the crime scene... but it's not a good idea to be going anywhere alone lately..."

"I'll ask Randy," Sidney suggested.

"Okay..." Gale still sounded upset, "thank you, Sidney. Be careful."

"Will do," she promised, "and try to calm down, Gale... Everything's going to be fine."

"I hope so," Gale agreed, "I'll see you later."

"See ya," Sidney said, and hung up the phone.

...

Cotton Weary sat in his car, which was parked at a safe distance from the crime scene in the park. He wanted to see what was going on, but he knew going right up to the scene would make him look extremely suspicious. He was probably already a suspect in the minds of many residents of Woodsboro, if only because they were used to thinking of him as a killer.

He craned his neck, trying to make out any aspect of the scene before him.

He could see a few cops scattered around, looking around a bench and in the trees and bushes nearby. It looked like one of the cops was putting something into an evidence bag, something small and black... maybe a cell phone or a wallet.

An ambulance was there, but the siren wasn't on. Whoever was in the ambulance was already dead, perhaps. Or maybe no one was in it... Maybe more ambulances had come than were needed, so anyone involved in this were already taken care of and the remaining ambulance was empty... Cotton didn't really know much about ambulance policies...

*knock * knock * knock*

Cotton held his breath for a second and someone knocked on his car window. He looked up to see Sidney Prescott, and her friend Randy. Sidney was looking at him very suspiciously, while Randy looked a bit disinterested in him, and more interested in the scene in the distance.

"Sidney," he grinned as he rolled down his window, "what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?" he asked. He knew she hated him and found him creepy, but he also felt she was being completely unfair. His innocence had been proven. She had no reason to be angry with him anymore.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her face showing concern as she ignored his comments.

"I noticed something going down over here, so I'm trying to see what's going on," he told her.

She didn't look convinced. She shook her head, "don't you realize how suspicious you look? You claim to be normal and innocent and everything... just because you were proven innocent of one thing doesn't mean you've got a free pass to never be accused of anything again..."

Cotton frowned, "I have just as much right to be here as you do," he told her, "What are you doing here anyway?" he asked again, hoping she'd answer this time.

"Same as you," she responded, "Just seeing what's going on."

"Come on, Sid," Randy finally spoke, tugging on her arm.

"Mind if I join you?" Cotton asked, already reaching to open his car door.

Sidney frowned and looked as though she was going to deny his request, but her strange friend spoke first.

"Knock yourself out, buddy," he clapped Cotton on the shoulder, "don't blame us if people get suspicious though."

Cotton smiled. Randy was an interesting kid, and Cotton appreciated that he didn't seem to hold a grudge. He acknowledged that Cotton might appear a bit guilty, but he didn't seem to actually believe he was. Certainly if he believed Cotton had killed his sister, Martha, he would have been much more hostile toward him.

He followed the two young friends closer to the crime scene. A small group of spectators already stood around a police-taped off section of the park, and a few police officers stood on the other side of the tape, reminding people to stay back. Other officers were searching the area for evidence.

"Dewey!" Sidney called out.

Cotton followed her gaze to see the crippled police officer, who was holding an evidence bag with a cell phone in it.

"Sid! What are you doing here?" he called out, waving his arm and motioning for her to walk around to the edge of the police tape, where there weren't any other people. Randy followed her, so Cotton decided to follow as well. He wanted the inside scoop. Dewey would probably tell Sidney everything he knew about the case.

"Dewey, are you alright?" Sidney asked him.

Dewey frowned, "Of course I am," he assured her, "why? Did something happen? Are you guys okay?" He looked from Sidney to Randy, and then over at Cotton, "Oh... hi, Cotton," he smiled timidly.

Cotton nodded and waved, "Hey, Dewey."

"What are you guys doing here?" Dewey asked again, "all of you together, I mean..." Cotton could see obvious confusion on the cop's face. Seeing Cotton with Sidney and Randy was surely confusing for him, since he probably knew Sidney held a grudge against him.

"We ran into each other by coincidence," Cotton explained, "we all three wanted to find out what's going on over here, so we walked over together... Can you tell us what happened?"

"Uh... um... that's classified information," Dewey stammered.

"It's already all over the news, Dewey," Sidney told him.

"Oh," Dewey looked down, "really? Well... um... I guess I can tell you then, Cotton... The um... the 911 operator who took Martha's call was murdered. Bethany Grace. I don't know if you knew her."

Cotton shook his head. He didn't know her, "How was she killed?"

Dewey looked uneasy, "maybe I shouldn't say..."

"Dewey, I've got to talk to you," Sidney interrupted, "It's important."

"Well, what is it, Sid?" he asked, grasping her upper arms and looking into her eyes, "what's going on?"

Sidney shook her head, "We need to talk in private..." she added, glancing over at Cotton for just a moment.

Dewey nodded and led her away. Cotton tried to listen to hear what they were discussing, but the noise of the crowd of civilians by the scene ruined any chance he had at overhearing them.

"Hey," Randy spoke up, "What's your deal?" the kid narrowed his eyes and cocked his head slightly to the side in confusion.

"What?" Cotton furrowed his brow, unsure of what Randy was actually asking, "What's my deal?" he repeated the question.

"Yeah," Randy continued, "You got out of prison, right... because you didn't really kill Sid's mother. We know you didn't kill her... So you're back here, for some reason... trying to look as guilty as possible... What's up with that?"

Cotton smirked and couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not trying to look guilty," he said.

"Why come back to Woodsboro? And why hang out around crime scenes? It's almost as if you want people to think you're the killer..." Randy mused, "but why would you want people to think that?"

Cotton frowned, "I don't want people to think I'm a murderer..." he promised, "why would I?"

"I don't know," Randy answered, "That's what I'm asking you."

Cotton just shrugged. Did Randy think he was guilty? What was he trying to imply? "What are you saying, Randy?" Cotton finally just decided to ask, "are you saying you think I'm the killer?"

"No," Randy contradicted him, "Not at all. You're much too obvious of a suspect."

Frowning, Cotton sighed, "obvious?"

"Yeah," Randy continued, "you couldn't be the killer, because it's too obvious. The real killer would never let himself look as suspicious as you've been looking. Or herself... you never know."

Cotton laughed. What was wrong with this kid? This was a very serious situation, and yet he was treating it like a game of who-dun-it. It's like he thought he was in a movie. Real life killers don't follow the molds of killers from horror flicks... For all Randy could know, Cotton could easily be the killer, no matter how obvious he appeared. Cotton wasn't going to suggest that though.

He looked over in the direction of Dewey and Sidney. Their conversation looked like it may be serious. Dewey was shaking his head and Sidney was simply staring at him and saying something very quietly, too quietly for Cotton to overhear what it was.

Gesturing in the direction of the cop and Sidney, Cotton looked to Randy, "Any idea what they're talking about?" he asked.

Randy narrowed his eyes, "Wouldn't you like to know." He didn't phrase this as a question, but just as a sort of defensive statement.

"Yeah," Cotton sighed, "I would."

Randy looked conflicted, as though he was contemplating telling Cotton what was going on. Finally, the young movie-buff shrugged his shoulders and exhaled loudly, "Gale thinks she knows who the killer is... So she sent Sidney to warn Dewey. Sid doesn't think it's him though... She's just telling Dewey so Gale won't be worried."

"Why can't Gale tell him herself?" Cotton wondered.

Randy looked around himself, likely making sure no one was listening in. He leaned in closer to Cotton and whispered, "because she's locked up in the sheriff station... The sheriff is questioning her as a suspect of this most recent murder. The lady who was killed was someone she interviewed on her stupid news report or something... I'm just going by what Sidney told me... I haven't been watching the news. I've got bigger fish to fry, you know?"

Cotton was surprised. Gale was kind of a jerk sometimes, but he didn't think anyone would ever accuse her of murder, "do you think she really did it?" he asked, maintaining the low voice tone Randy had established.

Randy shrugged, "I don't know her that well," he began, "and she does have the most to gain from more murders... But somehow I don't think she has it in her to actually kill anyone."

"So the sheriff thinks Gale is the killer," Cotton began, trying to clarify all the gossip, "and who does Gale think the killer is?"

Randy laughed, "the sheriff."

Cotton nodded. Then he laughed, "well, that's a mess... Sounds like they both just don't like each other and are accusing each other just because of they hate each other."

Randy shrugged, "who knows... I think they're both making accusations way too soon. If this were a horror film, there'd be no way the killer would be found out so soon. There would have to be probably four or five more murders before anyone would be a suspect... And even then, the suspect wouldn't really be guilty... and then everyone goes to some big party or something, and half the cast dies, and then the killer is revealed, and it's someone no one suspected, and maybe someone who just blended in to the background the whole time..."

Cotton stared at him. He wasn't sure to say. Fortunately, Randy wasn't finished talking, so Cotton didn't have to try to come up with a response just yet.

"But that's another uncertainty," Randy continued, "it's sometimes someone you'd never suspect, but sometimes it really is the most obvious suspect. I mean, last time, Sid thought it was Billy from the very start... It was only when she was finally convinced otherwise that he finally revealed himself as the killer... So one of the existing suspects really could be the actual killer... The sheriff or Gale could turn out to be the killer, and I couldn't say I'd be really surprised. And then you, of course... you're obvious, so that means that you're definitely not the killer (because you're being obvious to throw people off of the real killer) or it could mean that you definitely are the killer, because we're supposed to think you're too obvious and so we won't suspect you because of it."

"This isn't a movie, Randy," Cotton finally said, "no one's trying to throw off an audience... This is real life..."

"The killer's probably trying to throw off the cops though," Randy commented, "that's kind of the same as the audience."

Just then, Sidney walked back toward them. Randy's attention went right back to her. His facial expression showed his infatuation with her, "Everything okay, Sid?" he asked, looking concerned.

Sidney nodded. She looked at Cotton and then started whispering to Randy.

Cotton scoffed and rolled his eyes, "I'll see you around, guys," he said. There was no point in him staying if Sidney was going to refuse to talk where he could hear her.

"Later, man," Randy called back to him.

Sidney just looked at him and forced a small smile.

As Cotton walked back to his car, he considered what Randy had said. The killer would either be really obvious, or a total surprise, according to Randy. He wasn't sure if Randy's thoughts were necessarily logical, since he was looking at this all as though it was a horror film... But then, films weren't always so different from real life...

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