ARIA'S P. O. V
An entire week has passed since I left the hospital. Nothing has been very special,
except the fact that I ran away. It wasn't very pleasing; we have enough money
left for only another couple days. That is what I am most worried about and that
the police might find us.
"Aria? I think we should go back." said Emily.
For the 'hike' that we took all the way to Brookhaven took us less than 2 hours
but just staying in this stuffy motel room made us both annoyed. But Emily was
annoyed the most; especially because she doesn't have to be here, she's just
supporting my decision. Which by this time is a little regret, I am so stupid.
"I know this was a weird decision. You know, to run away. But I can't go back.
Just imagine how awful it would be for me." I told her.
"We have a couple hundred dollars left. It will cost a hundred to stay for 2 more
nights in this motel. The other hundred will be wasted on food and water. After
those 2 days, what are your suggestions?" asked Emily.
I was speechless; to that simple question I didn't have an answer. The only reason
why I don't have an answer is because a part of me thinks I should go back. But
the sensitive, dumb and regretful side of me thinks I shouldn't.
"Em, I know this is a dumb decision but-" I started.
"You know what? I'm so sick of this. I am sorry Aria, but I can't." said Emily.
She stood up from her bed and made her way towards the open backpack.
"So you're leaving me here?" I asked, standing up from the office chair.
"I'm sorry but I am. I don't have another choice." answered Emily.
"They're going to come looking for me, and I will be upset." I explained.
"It's my choice, I cannot stay in this room for another hour." said Emily.
As soon as those painful words escaped from Emily's mouth, a sound from the
motel door made me jump. Seconds later, 2 police officers stood in front of us.
"Aria Montgomery and Emily Fields? Please come with us." said one of them.
-35 minutes later-
"Oh I'm so glad you're alive!" my mom shouted as she came to pick me up.
Emily and I were taken to the police station and were asked a couple questions.
They told us that Spencer did tell them the truth of why I ran away which proved
that she was innocent. Emily was already gone with her mother and my mom just
came in through the doors to pick me up.
"I am alive." I told her as she gave me a hug.
"And I am sorry for yelling at you."
"I am sorry. And that is why your father and I are going to purchase the needles.
We both discussed it, so I hope you are happy." explained my mom.
"Thank you so much mom!" I exclaimed and gave her another hug.
-2 hours later-
After dinner, I ran to Spencer's house. I needed to explain to her everything and I
needed to apologize. Even though she hurt me by leaving me I understand why.
She probably thought how miserable it would be to stay in a room all day long
knowing that Rosewood is looking for you. That just doesn't sound right. I
knocked on Spencer's front door and waited for someone to open it.
"Aria? You're back?" asked Spencer as she opened the door.
"Yeah, can I come in?" I asked her with a quirky smile.
"No, no one's allowed to come in without adult supervision. I am grounded for
leaving the house. I'll just stay on the porch." she told me with widened eyes.
"I just wanted to say sorry about being so rude to you last week. I mean, it was
a really dumb decision." I explained.
"You decided to come back?" she asked with a long sigh.
"No, 2 police officers found us in the Brookhaven Motel." I admitted.
"So, we had no choice but to go along with them."
"Aria, I will risk trouble from my parents. I will risk many things, even death just
for my best friends. Two of those friends are dead except you and Emily. I lost
enough of them to lose more. I don't need it and that is why I accept your
apology. Even if it's the last thing I do." said Spencer with a smile.
"Thank you Spence, it means a lot." I said as I gave her a hug.
Beep! My cell phone sounded. I gave Spencer a look which meant that it was
probably from 'A':
'Aw, best friend love! I remember when Alison was alive and thought that secrets
kept you close. But that's not the case, because secrets keep you getting into
trouble. The reason why? Because if you aren't a liar, those secrets aren't safe
to be known. Mwah! –A.'
"Oh god." said Spencer.
"I know, why can't A just stop?" I murmured.
"No, not that. Look!" cried Spencer while pointing behind me.
There was a shrivel of blond, wavy hair behind a stalk of trees. It just flowed in
the warm summer wind as if there was no problem. By the time I noticed it,
Spencer was already running towards it and I ran behind her. We kept on
running and running through the streets but that figure was faster than we
thought it would be.
"Hey, stop!" shouted Spencer as we ran.
"Stop running! We saw you already, you won't get away!" I screamed.
That figure ran into the Rosewood Park forest and kept on running towards
the barn. I barely saw anything but it seemed like Spencer did so I went along with
her. We followed the person into the barn, but the barn was so dark we couldn't
see anything.
"Okay, just show yourself. You're trapped." said Spencer.
A lamp flickered on and the person was: Hanna.
"Oh my god, Hanna!" I shouted with tears pouring down my cheeks.
"Are you A?" asked Spencer; backing away.
"Of course not. Why would I be?" asked Hanna giving us a quirky smile.
"Why would you be running away then?" asked Spencer.
"Everyone thinks I am dead so let it stay that way." answered Hanna.
Spencer's face became completely blank as if she was miserably confused. I was
shocked too, why would she be staying behind the shadows, not even revealing
herself?
"I am not psycho. Back in Spain, Alison stabbed me with her knife. Right into
my shoulder. I passed out; I don't even know why you left me behind. Before
the morning, I woke up and realized no one was around me. I went back to the
city and kept my name a secret, saying my name was Megan Holmes. Of course,
I healed myself back, I still have a scar. A month later, I returned to Rosewood.
Of course with pain." explained Hanna.
"How did you manage to get back here?" I asked.
"I snuck onto a ship. A cruise ship. I could really go to jail for doing that. But, I
didn't have a choice. In Spain, while I was getting better I was living out in a
garage with a bunch of bloody napkins. It was cruel. Anyways, I snuck off the
ship after living in a closet room for a week. But I had to. When I came back
to Rosewood, everyone thought I was dead. Even my mother committed suicide
because of my death. I had to stay hidden. So I stayed in this barn; hiding away
from all the drama. Of course, A still haunted me with notes and writing. It was
a nightmare." answered Hanna.
"Where did you go when we stayed here?" asked Spencer; very quietly.
"I lived in the woods. I would check on you pretty often. The lock was removed
by me and A didn't touch you. Emily let me borrow that lock during school until
I got my own. I got in through the windows and removed it. Just to use it for
myself. That's the only reason why you didn't die." replied Hanna.
"Hanna you need to go to the police. You are alive!" I cried out.
"You're kidding right? I can't. They will literally put me into a mental hospital
because I didn't return. I am not dumb! It was my choice." said Hanna.
"You're acting like Alison right now; being a stubborn bitch." said Spencer.
"Thanks, I will put it into my diary. If only I had one." said Hanna.
"And plus, I have nowhere to go. My mom is gone!"
"You can stay with one of us. Even with your dad you can stay!" I said.
Hanna stood there, looking like an old statue making me feel like the most
guiltiest person on Earth. But that didn't matter; she must feel awful.
"Hanna? I am so sorry for leaving you behind like that. I thought you were dead,
we heard you scream. But you weren't, so I need you to come back. Live a normal
life like you did before Spain. Without your mom it will be hard, I know and I am
sorry for that. But you can't stay here forever, it's torture." I told her.
"Aria's right Han. I am so sorry too and I bet Emily will be when she finds out.
You need to come back." said Spencer.
"Fine, and I will move on. But I will never forget what happened." said Hanna.
-The Next Morning-
"Good news Rosewood! Hanna Marin, 17 year old girl from our town has been
found. Turns out she never left Earth! Stay tuned to find out the story."
"God, seeing myself on TV is new." said Hanna while we were having breakfast.
"I am so glad you are alive Hanna." said my mom.
"It was so long since that whole accident in Spain."
"Yeah, I guess it was." said Hanna as she bit into her toast.
"Are you returning to Rosewood High in September?" I asked.
"Actually I am. I guess I will have to. It's already almost August and I haven't
talked to anyone but you and Spencer. I am seeing Emily later on." said Hanna.
"Okay, that's good. Rosewood High needs you." I told her as I finished my juice.
Beep! Bloop! Our phones sounded. It was from 'A':
'Welcome back Hanna! This isn't over. Even though you were 'dead', I was still
haunting your best friends. I was even haunting you without identifying myself.
Just sit back and watch your lives ruin. Kisses! –A'.