A/N: Here's the next chapter to make up for not posting one yesterday. Enjoy!
Emily yawned, glancing at her watch. It was after five, and she had promised herself she would finish grading her last class's essays. But she was tired and hungry, and all she would think about was going to see Paige and eating some much deserved dinner. She capped her pen and dumped the essays into a drawer, vowing to go back to them in the morning.
She checked her phone to see if Paige had texted her about Toby coming to talk to her about Darren. She hadn't, so she figured she was talking to Toby now. It was strangely exciting to think that they may have figured out who the killer was. Really, what Paige had said made sense. He had a motive for both crimes. And as far as she knew, he didn't knew that Paige knew.
A shiver went down her spine. What if he did? What if he had somehow overheard her conversation before? She suddenly had a very bad feeling and pulled out her cell phone to call her, pulling her coat on as she hurried out of her office. She didn't pick up.
"Fuck," she muttered, dialing Toby's number as she ran down the stairs.
"Officer Cavanaugh, how can I help you?"
"Toby, it's Emily. Have you talked to Paige yet?"
"What? No."
"Damn it," she muttered, starting to panic. Something was wrong. "Come to the university. I think Paige is in trouble."
"What? What's happening?"
"Darren killed Alison. Paige told me and I think he may know that she knows."
"Hold up. Do you know this for sure?"
"God damn it, Toby, just get here!" she snapped, and hung up before he could protest.
It was late enough that the campus was mostly empty. She hoped she was panicking over nothing, but she just couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. If Darren was already with her, she didn't have much time.
"Please, Paige," she whispered as she opened the door to Curie Hall. "Hang on."
"Darren, please," Paige whispered, sitting curled up on the floor. He stood over her, knife glinting in the setting sun flowing through the window. She wanted to scream, but she didn't know if anyone would hear her. She was afraid to make a run for it since he was so close to her, and after seeing what Alison had looked like she wasn't doubting he would use the knife. "I thought you loved me."
"I do," he replied, his eyes flashing with anger. "And I gave you the choice to choose me. But you didn't, and you have to be punished."
"Darren….. you don't have to do this."
"I do. You don't understand."
"There is nothing to understand! I haven't done anything to you!"
"Is that what you think? What do you call rejecting me? After all I've done for you, all you can do is stare at me! Like I'm a freak!"
"I'm sorry," she whispered, not really sure why she was apologizing. Maybe she thought it would appease him. At this point he seemed to be beyond reason. He had snapped the day he had killed Alison, and he had snapped again now. No amount of stalling would calm him.
"Are you?" he snarled. She gulped. "Why? Why did you have to break my heart?"
"I love Emily," she replied, and that was obviously the wrong thing to say. He roared in anger, pushing her violently backwards. She cried out in pain as she slammed her head on the wall, her vision momentarily blurring as she tried to focus on Darren. His face was twisted with anger, his chest heaving. "I'm sorry. I can't make myself love you." There was no point in trying to sugar coat it now. He already had in his mind that he was going to kill her.
"You should have tried!" he shouted. "You should have tried to love me instead of that…. that dyke."
"Fuck you!" she snarled, and he kicked her hard in the stomach.
"You ungrateful bitch. I'm going to do to you what I did to Alison," he told her, sinking down in front of her. "Do you know what I did to Alison?" Paige didn't answer. She just stared at him, her arm around her stomach as her head pounded furiously. She was pretty sure she was seeing stars. "I cut her slowly. Watched her bleed and beg. It hurt, too. And you know why I thought she deserved it? Because she hurt you." He laughed cruelly. "Turns out you don't deserve protecting. You're a horrible, cruel woman, just like her. Just like everyone. No girl has ever loved me the way I love. And I was a fool to think you would be any different." Paige closed her eyes, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She was going to die, just like Alison. And all she could think about was Emily. Her sweet, devoted girlfriend whose life was going to be shattered. She couldn't let anything happen to Emily. She had promised to protect her, no matter what. Which was why she had to fight.
She kicked him, crying out in pain as a burn ripped through her stomach. It didn't do much to him, but he stumbled a little, a look of surprise on his face.
"Get away from me!" she shouted, stumbling to her feet. Her head spun and she clutched her stomach, gritting her teeth in pain as she tried to get to the door. Everything seemed to be moving around her, her head pounding with the movement. He grabbed her, trying to throw her to the ground as she finally decided to scream for help. Maybe, just maybe someone was here late and would come help her.
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!" she screamed, trying desperately to stay on her feet. "HELP ME!"
Darren slammed her into the wall, his hands around her throat. She kicked him, this time hard, sending him flying backwards as he grunted in pain. She unlocked the door with shaky hands and threw it open, starting down the hallway as fast as she could. It was empty, and her head swam when she saw how far away the stairs were. She would never make it.
"Please, help!" she shouted to no one as she started down the hallway, stumbling as a wave of dizziness washed over her. The pain was too much for her to keep moving. Darren was going to catch her and there was nothing she could do about it. She was so dazed she even thought she heard someone running up the stairs towards her.
"Paige!"
Emily. Emily was here. She watched, dazed, as Emily and Mona came running towards her. Her knees gave out as she sank to the ground, feeling Emily wrap her arms around her. Mona screamed as Darren came charging out of the lab, knife held out in front of him. He stopped short when he saw them, frozen on the spot.
"Get him!" a male voice shouted, and Paige had never been more relieved to see Toby as she was now as he came charging up the stairs with at least four backups, their guns drawn and pointing at Darren. He dropped the knife, his hands up, his eyes flashing with anger as he looked at Paige huddled in Emily's arms.
"It's okay, baby," Emily whispered, holding her close. "It's okay. It's all over."
Paige could only let out a sob as she held onto Emily. Everything hurt and she just wanted to stay there in Emily's arms forever, weak with pain and relief. Emily was here and she was going to make sure she was okay.
"Em," she whispered. Emily cradled her in her arms, her own face streaked with tears.
"Don't cry," she soothed. "It's okay."
"I called an ambulance," Toby reported when he came over to them. "They'll be here any minute. Emily saved your life, Paige."
"I love you," Paige whispered to her, cringing as a pain shot through her head. But that didn't even matter. It was all over. Darren was going to jail, and she could finally feel safe again. She and Emily could have a life together. A real life.
"Oh, Paige, I love you, too," Emily replied, kissing her. "I was so scared. I'm sorry I didn't get here faster."
"Emily, don't. You got here just in time," she replied, burying her face in Emily's jacket.
"I can't believe we didn't see this. That he was the one."
"I should have," Paige replied, watching in relief as two paramedics came up the stairs with a stretcher. "God, my head hurts."
"I know," Emily soothed, holding her close. "I won't leave your side, Paige. I promise."
Paige tried to nod, wincing at the movement as strong arms lifted her onto the gurney. Emily's hand didn't leave hers, and she could see her beautiful face following along as they rolled her out to the ambulance. And that was when she realized, that everything was going to be okay.
A/N 2: One more after this. But don't worry, I definitely plan to have a sequel. Thanks for everyone who read/reviewed!