Spencer's POV
Ok, I know it was stupid to scream out loud, but there is a dead body right next to me! And why the hell did Hanna and Aria take it with them?! Did they think it would make me feel better? All it did was bring back the memories of Ian trying to kill me when we were fighting on the bell tower. But now if A came?
H- what the hell Spencer?
A- what if A heard you?
S- A probably did! Oh and by the way, thanks for bringing Ian's dead body with you!
A- sorry!
S- why didn't you just leave it where you found it?!
H- I don't know! We thought if we left it in the tunnels A would try to trick us with it or something.
S- news flash! A already tricked me!
A- what do you mean? Apart from A keeping you down here.
S- when I was in here alone there was what looked like a dead body covered by a sheet.
H- and?
S- and when I pulled the sheet off, it was a giant Ken doll!
A- A likes to play with dolls?
S- no! A tried to make me think it was Ian but obviously it wasn't!
H- we're sorry ok? Who knows, maybe the real dead body will freak A out.
A- uh, Hanna? If A tried to fool Spencer with a Barbie doll, I'm guessing A already knows Ian is dead.
H- oh yah.
S- A probably killed Ian.
A- I wonder how long he has been dead.
H- I don't know, but I do not want to find out!
I nodded my head in silence. This tangled web was getting creepier and creepier. But what I don't get is how Hanna and Aria magically appeared in the basement out of nowhere. They didn't come from the door, I would have heard the knob turning. And they obviously didn't come from the windows because they are barred shut. So how did they get here? I wracked my brain for possible answers but nothing came to mind. I was about to ask them when I heard someone—or something walking outside the hallway. Hanna and Aria heard it too. Hanna bit her fingernails as if making them duller would protect her more. Aria was making that face she always made when she was afraid. Her eyebrows were raised all the way her forehead, her eyes had that glare in them that told anyone nearby to back off. And she had her arms crossed tightly around her waist. Whenever she was worried or frightened, she would try and look tough. But deep down I knew she was shaking with fear.
I wasn't just going to stand there and let A get me. I was going to do something to help myself and Hanna and Aria. With one delicate flick of the wrist, I motioned for them to follow me. As we scurried like mice across the room, I could see the doorknob turning. I picked up speed and managed to shove Hanna and Aria behind the self I had studied before. Just as I was getting ready to lurch myself behind the self, I felt a hand grab my shoulder. It tried to pry it off, but the hand was too strong. It pulled me away from the girls and flung me at the wall. I fell down, not having enough strength left in my body to stand up. Then all of a sudden I felt this instant pain go directly to my arm. My arm that A had crunched.
I cradled my arm in my lap, hoping the pain would go away. But it didn't. I slowly slid my back against the wall, using it as a support. I managed to stand weakly. When I was thrust against the wall I hit my back hard. It felt like there was a fire inside of me, rapidly destroying me from the inside out. Then the nightmare continued. Out of the corner of my eye I saw A make their way towards me. I tried to move away but A beat me to it.
-A- (in disguised voice) Spencer. What do we have here?
I couldn't speak. I just stood there, hardly breathing. This was really happening.
S- (stuttering) wh-who are you?!
-A- (laughs) do you really want to know?
S- kind of!
-A- I wish I could tell you Spencer. But I can't. Not here. Not now.
S- but-
-A- oh what the heck. You might remember me as, oh, I don't know... your sister?
I gasped.
S- Melissa?! You are A?!
M- (smiles and takes of her mask and voice disguise) now you see me. Now you don't.
S- what? Mumph!
Before I could say or do anything, Melissa whacked me on the top of my head. I could faintly hear Hanna and Aria scream. I cried out in agony, falling to the floor, blood running down my face. I blinked an eye open and saw in horror that Melissa was beating up Hanna and Aria. I wanted to help them, but I couldn't. I was too weak, too fragile. I felt helpless as I watched Melissa tie them up and slip her mask back on. Then she dragged Ian's body out. I tried to stand up but could only make it a few inches off the ground. With my head pounding, I looked one last time and saw Melissa turn off the light; I was surrounded by darkness.
