chapter 16

Emily's POV

Cece was taking Aria away. Images of Ian's dead body in blood and he hanged up on this bell tower were playing in my mind. We have been wrong so many times. We did the same mistake every time - we jumped on the conclusion too quickly. We had solid proofs against Toby, Ian and Wilden. But in the end we were wrong despite the proofs. We should not do the same thing same time. Aria means much more to us than three them ever did. I just can't stand here and watch helpless Aria. I always had my doubt against the Spencer and Hannah's whole Aria is A theory. But I let myself ignore those doubts completely when Ali confirmed the suspicion. Looking at Aria give us the last dejected look made those doubts to enter my mind again. I have always been passive and let the Spencer make decisions, but I have to stand up now. Even though Aria might be A, I can't watch anyone murder her. Only I know how mean and deceptive Ali can be.

"Guys I am going to get Aria. I can't watch this." Saying this I started running towards the tower not even caring whether Spencer and Hannah were following me. I reached for the door. It was locked. I panicked and tried to bang it with ny good side. Suddenly someone threw the big rock on the door and door flew open,. I looked up and saw Spencer catching her breath, apparently the stone was too heavy for her.

"We are in this together. We will get Aria." Hannah said dusting her clothes and intently looking at tower's door.

We were about enter when we heard someone behind us throwing something bright. Before we could do anything the petrol spreaded all over ground catched fire. We quickly ran away from burning fire to the clearer ground. We could see three panicked figures clearly on the top of the tower. This was all trap. Someone had already spreaded the petrol or whatever inflammable liquid it was around tower and possibly even in it before we came here. Before I could register anything, a person in black hoodie came running from behind us and disappeared in the fire. I was too shocked to even move, when I saw something which made my heart skip a beat. Cece came forward in the opening of tower and threw Aria down straight into the fire.s

Everything around me started spinning uncontrollably. I could not distinguish my screaming from Spencer's voice calling out to Aria or Hannah's voice who was sobbing loudly clinging to my shoulder as if her life depended on it. I was desperately looking for any sign of Aria when I saw someone strangling Alison while Cece was trying to hold that person back. The person was in black hoodie. It was 'the' A. The real A. Aria was never A. She was probably in that fire because we were too blind to let the urge to find answers overshadow our trust in her.

My thoughts were broken when I heard familiar siren of police cars and fire fighter truck. Relief washed over me. Soon the place was surrounded by fire fighters and fire was undr control. I tried to look for Aria on the ground but couldn't as we were surrounded by policemen.

"Hands in the air. You are surrounded. " the main police officer said looking at us. I gulped down heavily. Everything was behind my comprehension power. Why were we getting arrested?

"We didn't do anything! They are in the tower! Look in the tower!"

Hannah was begging continually to the officer with the her voice threatening to break down.

Spencer wasn't even looking at the police. She was staring at something far in woods. I followed her stare. Before I could see what she was looking at, the other police started to put handcuffs on my hands while another one spoke aloud , "Spencer Hastings, Emily Fields and Hannah Marin, you are arrested for kidnapping and murder of Aria Montgomery. You may refuse to speak. Anything you say from now can be held against you in the court."

My world stopped then and there. Everything was going on in a slow motion. It felt so unreal. Was Aria dead? Why we were getting arrested? The police motioned us to enter the car. I could hear Hannah's scream like it was a background music of some movie happening here.

"LOOK IN THE TOWER! SHE KILLED HER! A IS THERE...WE...NO..ARIA.."Hannah was screaming relentlessly.

The officer quitely pushed her in the car. I complied without resistance and so did Spencer.

"We have looked around the area and in the tower. We have found nothing but a burned down body and you four. Please calm down. We will call your parents soon."

I nodded mechanically to that. I stole a glance at Spencer who was still looking out of Window obviously trying to find something. The journey to the police station was surreal.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone clear their throat. I looked up. It was detective. We were in the same interrogation room as we were when we were caught with the murder weapon. The only difference was that now we were only three, Aria was gone. I could still see her eyes begging us to believe her. This was the worst mistake we had ever done. We were the reason our best friend was probably dead.

"Emily, do you hear me? " my thoughts were again interrupted by the Detective.

"What? " I shuttered.

"Get up and follow me. Your parents are waiting to meet you along with Montgomerys. We cannot give you bail though. We solid proof against three of you this time. "

I was thinking about Aria and our parents waiting outside. I wanted to ask what evidence wad but I thought it could wait. It will still be there when I return I thought bitterly.

I entered the visiting room. I could feel the presence of Spencer and Hannah behind me. I looked up and saw six familiar faces staring at us. But only one caught my attention - Byron Montgomery. His eyes were red and puffy. He was standing as far as possible from our parents. His expression was combination of anger and sadness. He looked three of us and whispered , "Why?"

Hannah started to say something when he yelled, "WHY?" and threw himself on Hannah. Before he could hit her, security guard caught him and led him away out of the room.

Finally I looked at our parents. No one said anything for a minute.

Mrs. Hastings broke the silence with a single word "Explain."

.

Miles away Ezra Fitz was holding a wine glass with only Aria in his mind. He sighed audibly. He was now getting tired of these games. He just couldn't wait to get back to Rosewood and run away taking Aria with him. He sat on the comfortable couch of his hotel room and switched on tv flipping through channels to find something interesting. He had no fear of CeCe or Alison now. For all he knew, they both will be crying now due to his and Aria's little trick. He really hoped that they will not hurt Aria. They didn't really have any reason to hurt her anyway. He suddenly halted on the news channel flashing the news he badly wanted not to believe in - "The missing Rosewood teen Aria Montgomery found dead."

The wine glass slipped from his hands and shattered into millions pieces just like his heart. He was still staring at the tv blankly when the reporter announced the names of the suspects - 'Emily Fields, Hannah Marin, Spencer Hastings.' He bolted up from the couch and loudly barked, "That's it. This is the end of Alison Dilaurintis. I am coming Alison. "

.

She opened her eyes. Her throat and nasal area was on fire. She looked around and saw nothing but darkness. She was tied to something like a chair. The last memory she had was falling from tower and CeCe Drake watching her fall in the hot flames below.

Thank you so much for waiting! Please tell me what do you think of the story so far :) Sorry for mistakes, it's like 4 am here and I have not much proofread it.

Please review! It means a lot to me.