A/N: Told you we'd get here. Enjoy. I wanted to get this out before 6x01.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pretty Little Liars.

Warnings: Child Abuse, Foul Language, Violence, Death, Mental Illness, Sex Scenes...

PART TWO

"Alison? Alison?"

Alison was pulled from her sense of peace abruptly, she wasn't in a hospital bed though and one look at her cut and bruised arms, the tacky orange jumpsuit and everything came flooding back painfully. Jail, A, the girls. It all jumbled around in her head fighting for space until it felt like everything was crammed in there in an impossibly tight fit.

She pushed away from the interview table and felt like she was going to throw up. Tanner across from her looked alarmed as Alison wide eyed and terrified backed away until she hit the side of the cage. Trapped. Again.

This couldn't be happening, she fixed it, she went back and she fixed it why the hell was she still in jail? Where were the others? Were they ok? Why was this happening again?

"Alison?" Tanner asked. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes," Alison rasped her throat burned and she swallowed what little saliva she had for no real relief.

"Drink some water," Tanner prompted passing her the plastic cup.

Alison did so greedily not realizing until the cool liquid passed her lips how much she had craved this. She spluttered as she drank too quickly and Tanner gently patted her on the back until she stopped choking.

"You've been on auto pilot for a month now, no one could get you to talk, you barely ate or drank," Tanner supplied as she guided Alison back into her seat.

"You must be worried about your friends."

Alison nodded taking a long sip before she finally set the cup down.

"I am, where are they?" Alison asked frantically.

"We don't know but we did find a lair of this A person and we have proof they're being held captive," Tanner recounted.

"Well what the hell are you doing here! Go find them," Alison all but shouted.

"Alison, the girls weren't alone, Mona Vanderwaal was with them," Tanner explained.

"Mona?"

"She's not dead and she's being held captive by this assailant too," Tanner watched her closely. "You're being released today and all charges are to be dropped, but we need to know if you can remember anything that can help us find the girls."

"Mona can't be trusted," Alison felt frantic.

If A didn't kill Mona then there was a bigger game plan here. Whether Mona had been betrayed or not hadn't been established yet but Alison wouldn't trust the little freak as far as she could throw her, or less actually she could probably throw Mona pretty far if she had to.

"Please you have to find them," Alison begged.

"We're doing all we can, Alison. Is there anything you can think of that might help us find this A person?" Tanner asked.

Alison shook her head trying to clear thoughts of the past, or her dream or whatever it had been, she couldn't focus on anything but the soul destroying emptiness that not only did she not have her friends and Emily in this reality, she may very well lose them all permanently.

"I can't.. I can't…" Alison frantically stood pacing back and forth, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

"Alison calm down," Tanner gently soothed standing as well.

"Calm!? I can't be calm, A has them and I can't do anything!" Alison sobbed crumpling to the ground.

"Alison you need to rest at home with your father, we'll speak again when you're feeling better," Tanner advised.

"Wait!" Alison called through her tears. "You have to let me help I have to find them."

"Alison I appreciate your concerns and drive to save your friends but this is a very challenging investigation, when you feel better we'll go over everything you know about A," Tanner turned towards the door again.

"You still don't trust me," Alison guessed.

Tanner's hard eyes turned back to the crumpled blonde.

"No I don't and I refuse to put more civilians in danger because of a little girl who likes to manipulate people," Tanner barked.

"Thank you, Lieutenant for being honest," Alison sighed resting her head against the cage.

"I'll see you again, Alison, a girl like you never stays out of trouble long," Tanner left with her parting words hanging between them.

Her father barely said three words by the time they got back to the house and then he mumbled something about work and left again. Alone again in a house that was never home.

She collapsed onto her bed and couldn't move.

This wasn't fair, this was so beyond the realm of fairness. She had all these memories, dreams, fantasies she guessed of another life, another reality. Where everything was different, she was different, her friends loved her, Emily loved her, she had a sister. A real family. It hurt so much more to be back here after that.

It was some cruel fate to be shown a world were she could change and then to be thrown back into this dark one. Someone up there really hated her.

She flicked her TV on with no real intention of watching anything and decided the universe really hated her as the program came out of a commercial break. The Nightmare Before Christmas played.

Alison burst into tears, angry, sorrow filled tears that streamed hot down her face. She reached for the remote just as Jack started singing, laying in an gravestone angels arms half dead. He sounded more despondent than his other song, Alison guessed it was a lot further into the film.

"What have I done. What have I done. How could I be so blind? All is lost, where was I, spoiled all, spoiled all. Everything's gone all wrong. What have I done. What have I done"

This was just torture, Emily's favourite film playing while she waited for news on her mermaid's welfare, would they even tell her if they found them? What had she ever done to deserve this?

"Find a deep cave to hide in, in a millions they'll fine me only a dust and a plaque that reads 'here lies poor old Jack'."

It sounded like a good idea, just hide away from the world. She needed to get out of Rosewood that was for sure, she wouldn't leave until the girls were found but she would leave, start fresh somewhere else. Not Paris, Paris was an Emily place, somewhere far far away from Rosewood and Paris maybe New Zealand.

"But I never intended all this madness. Never. And nobody really understood, well how could they that all I ever wanted was to bring them something great, Why does nothing ever turn out like it should."

Alison once again found herself transfixed by his words. He was sad and lost just like her and he'd obviously messed up probably not as bad as her but it was nice to know she wasn't the only one ruining lives.

"Well what the heck I went and did my best…."Alison watched as his tune shifted becoming lighter as he amped himself up, his own little pep talk.

Alison felt herself smile, she could see why Emily loved this film, the thought of Emily made her want to cry again. She had no idea where her friends were, what horrors A was inflicting on them obviously the police were getting no where. A month. They'd been gone a whole month.

"And for the first time since I don't remember when I felt just like my old boney self again and I Jack the Pumpkin King. Thats right I am the Pumpkin King!"

"And I just can't wait until next halloween cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream, and by god I'm really going to give it all my might. Uh oh I hope theres still time to set things right."

"Good for you, Jack," Alison muttered as the skeleton ran off to save the day.

Maybe Emily was right he wasn't the villain. Maybe Alison wasn't either.

She sat up suddenly.

Maybe she'd been looking at this the wrong way, she wasn't super woman she'd never be just and honourable but then again maybe that wasn't what was needed here.

A played dirty and now they were playing with lives, the lives of people Alison loved. Maybe Alison wasn't the hero of this piece but she certainly wasn't the villain either and a villain as ruthless as A needed an adversary just as cunning.

Alison DiLaurentis in all her horror and glory was the only one who could solve this, she'd need help of course and maybe just maybe they'd all make it out alive.

"Thank you, Jack," she whispered grabbing her bag and some essentials.

"Toby," Alison called rushing across the street to catch up to the officer, standing outside the Brew with a few other uniformed men. "Toby I want to help."

Toby shook his head sadly.

"Theres nothing you can do Alison the FBI are already here and they are-"

"They're not us. We've been dealing with A for years these people are just in the way," Alison argued she knew he agreed could see it in his cold expression.

Another officer stepped between them, pushing Alison.

"Excuse me, miss but this is a police investigation and-"

"Miss! Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" She snapped at the rude officer who dared to touch her. Did this imbecile even know who she was?

"Mame I'm going to have to-"

"Mame, pfft likes thats any better," Alison snapped crossing her arms and glaring daggers at the jerk. "Why am I talking to you, you're completely irrelevant."

The officer made a move towards her and Alison raised her eyebrow in challenge, daring him to try something. Toby placed a hand on the man's chest.

"Let it go, Lorenzo, she didn't mean anything by it, she's really stressed," Toby murmured trying to placate the angry officer.

He grumbled something under his breath and Alison had to resist the urge to poke her tongue out at him as he stalked past her. Loser. She turned back to Toby to find him glaring at her.

"Let me help please," she begged. "You, Caleb and Ezra are working this too I know you are, you couldn't just sit around and do nothing, not while the girls are missing."

Toby grabbed her upper arm roughly hauling her away from the other officers.

"Keep your voice down," he hissed.

She yanked her arm free from his grasp. Wishing this was the Toby from the past, the Toby she'd made amends with, the boy who smiled at her not this angry, holier than thou five second police officer.

"Just let me help," she pleaded.

"Not a chance in hell," Toby spat. "You've helped more than enough. Just go home, Alison and stay safe."

Alison shook her head sadly and almost did as he said, almost.

"I'm done asking," she declared with finality.

"You're not helping, Alison. Caleb will bite your head off and Ezra will help him. No one is thinking clearly anymore least of all you," Toby reasoned his eyes softening a fraction. "You just got out of jail, go, enjoy your freedom."

"My best friends are being held captive by some psycho with a grudge against me. That's what it wants, what it's always wanted me," Alison shrieked.

"I know but you're of no use here Alison I'm sorry," Toby answered softly.

"No you're not but you will be," Alison shook her head and stormed off, wiping at her eyes furiously.

She'd show them, she'd figure it all out on her own.

When she got back to the house she found Hanna's mother waiting on the porch. Food in varying container sizes piled high in her arms, the older woman turned to greet Alison as she hurried up the steps.

"No one seems to be home," Mrs Marin said awkwardly and Alison nodded opening the door for them both.

As Mrs Marin slid past her Alison noticed the woman looked terrible, puffy bags under blood shot eyes, she'd obviously been crying for months. Not that Alison blamed her, Mrs Marin's daughter had been in jail and then taken, she could only imagine the pain this mother was going through, she could barely stomach her own.

"Would you like something to drink?" Alison asked as politely as she could.

Mrs Marin followed her to the kitchen. Alison took the containers and started stacking them in fridge.

"I would like some answers, Alison," Mrs Marin said sharply and then covered her mouth as though she hadn't meant to snap.

Alison poured them two glasses of water anyway and allowed the older woman time to collect herself. She handed over the water gently and Mrs Marin took it with shaking hands.

"I just need to understand," Mrs Marin pleaded.

Alison nodded, sipping her own water slowly.

"Where is she, Alison? Who took her? Do you know?" Mrs Marin begged.

Alison shook her head.

"I'm sorry Mrs Marin if I did I would tell the police and I've told them everything I do know," Alison tried to reassure the distraught mother. "Hanna's lucky to have you."

Mrs Marin sobbed.

"I mean it," Alison crossed the island and placed her hand gently on the older woman's shaking one in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.

"She always looked up to you," Mrs Marin whispered. "Before. She was scared of you too but that awe she had…"

Mrs Marin shook her head.

"I didn't want you to be friends," Mrs Marin admitted.

"I don't blame you," Alison conceded though it still stung.

"I just want my baby home, Alison," Mrs Marin moaned dissolving into more sobs.

"I want my sister back," Alison admitted, too late she realized her mistake, that was a dream or a fantasy.

Mrs Marin sat up sharply staring at Alison with a dangerous expression.

"What did you say?" she asked hauntingly.

"Nothing," Alison back tracked. "More water?"

She turned back to the pitcher intent to play off her slip up as Mrs Marin mishearing but the older woman wasn't so easily convinced.

"Did you say sister, Alison?" Mrs Marin asked.

Alison poured carefully giving her concentration to nothing but the task at hand.

"Alison," Mrs Marin snapped.

The water spilled over the brim of the glass and Alison sat the pitcher down, tears streaming down her face. Her realities were so messed up, she remembered a Mrs Marin who was there for her, who wanted to treat Alison like another daughter, but this distraught woman before her all but blamed Alison for Hanna's disappearance.

"Mrs Marin its been a really long day and I just need to-"

"Did you say sister?" Mrs Marin stood.

"Yes," Alison admitted hanging her head. "I consider all the girls' my sisters we were a tight group now please-"

"You're lying," Mrs Marin accused. "You have the same tell as Hanna."

Alison smiled, wide and fake.

"Mrs Marin thank you for the food but I really think you should go, my father will be home soon and-"

"Did he tell you?"

Alison froze.

"Tell me what?" she asked carefully.

Mrs Marin stared at her meaningfully and Alison took a step back. It wasn't possible.

"Hanna is my sister," Alison choked.

Mrs Marin rubbed at her forehead tiredly all the fight leaving her instantly.

"We didn't want you to know," Mrs Marin admitted.

"Want us to know," Alison shrieked. "I befriended my own half sister and everyone thought it was better I didn't know."

"Jessica never knew either," Mrs Marin assured.

"Don't count on that," Alison warned. "My mother had a habit of knowing things you wished she didn't."

"Do you think the person who took her knows?" Mrs Marin asked, her face creasing with worry.

"I don't know," Alison admitted.

Alison tried to wrap her head around this puzzle. Had she actual time traveled? No nothing had changed, everything was the same as when she left. But Hanna really was her sister, something she found out in the past or whatever it was. If that was true what else was true from where ever Alison had been and could it help the blonde find A.

"I owe you an apology, Alison," Mrs Marin softly admitted.

"Why?" Alison asked tilting her head.

"I knew part of what went on here," Mrs Marin admitted. "Stories Hanna would tell me about bruises you'd come to school with, accidents you'd say."

"That was a long time ago," Alison mumbled softly.

"My home life was very similar and it took a long time for me to admit something was wrong, that I deserved something better," Mrs Marin took a long breath like she was reliving something painful. "It took me even longer to get out. I'm sorry I didn't catch the signs."

Alison turned away.

"What does it matter, I wasn't your responsibility," Alison choked trying to appear indifferent.

"You are not my child Alison but you are my daughter's sister, that counts for something in my book," Mrs Marin placed a gentle hand on Alison's shoulder and turned the blonde to her. "You're not alone."

Alison felt a sob bubble out of her throat before she could catch it and Mrs Marin pulled her into a tight hug. She sagged against the older woman.

Mrs Marin was reluctant to leave her side but Ali had finally managed to get the older woman to leave after they had dinner together. Alison's father was predictably not home and Mrs Marin was unleashing all of her mothering tendencies on Alison, she finally got the other woman to leave when she promised she was just going to brush her teeth and go to bed, Mrs Marin was ten seconds away from offering to tuck her in when Ali gave her a quick hug and a shove out the door. As nice as the dotting was Alison needed to be alone. She also needed a shower. The smell of prison still clinging to her.

In the shower the hot spray was a welcome relief and the ache in Alison's muscles subsided somewhat as Alison stuck herself under the steady stream. She closed her eyes and washed out her hair trying to wash away all the pain and turmoil that today caused.

A giggle echoed in her ears and Ali's eyes flew open, she turned sharply to find herself alone in the shower. Slowly she turned back to the spray and relaxed back into her routine.

Another giggle tickled her ears but Alison ignored it, she was just stressed and upset and hopeful. Alison lathered her hair with strawberry shampoo and breathed in deeply, the sent brought the memories flooding back.

A hand ghosted across her skin as a body stepped up behind her and Alison felt her breath hitch.

"You started without me," Emily teased in her ear, raking her teeth over it gently.

Alison hissed.

"I didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful," Alison smiled over her shoulder.

Emily was so young. So in love and so untouched by the horrors that Alison knew awaited her if Alison couldn't stop A, but she pushed that from her mind in favour of the beauty before her.

"I love you," Emily breathed simply, leaning forward to kiss Ali before she could respond.

Alison smiled into her mermaid's mouth as sure hands settled on her waist and turned her into the brunette's arms. Their breasts slid together as Emily drew her in tightly and Alison groaned at the delicious feeling. Emily's tongue teased her own before the brunette pulled away a fraction. Alison whined and reached for her.

"Let me wash your hair," Emily whispered against her lips.

Alison nodded shyly. No one had ever washed her hair for her before and it was just another first she was so happy to share with her lover.

Emily titled her back into the spray and raked her fingers through Alison's hair. It felt wonderful, Emily laying kisses on Ali's neck as her fingers massaged away the bubbles.

"You're so beautiful, Ali," Emily whispered into her skin.

Alison felt beautiful in Emily's arms like this, she felt worshipped and safe and loved and every other happy emotion that she knew she could only find in her mermaid.

"I love you," Alison murmured back, as Emily pulled her from the spray and Alison pushed her lover into the tiles, leaning against the brunette seductively. "And I'm gonna show you how much."

Alison's eyes flew open. She was staring at the tiling, she looked around frantically but Emily was not here. She pressed her burning cheek against the cold tiles and felt herself heave as the tears started. She couldn't stop them she didn't even want to. She pounded her fist into the wall again and again as she cried just to feel something other than this crushing despair that settled in the pit of her stomach.

Emily was gone, everyone was gone, captured, dead, tortured, she didn't know and Alison couldn't do anything didn't even know where to begin.

Hanna was her sister but that didn't make her dream or whatever it was real it just made it hurt more, she lost something she could never get back, a family, her friends, her lover.

Alison slid down the wall slowly as the water pelted down on her, she pressed her back into the wall and drew her knees up and around herself. What if she couldn't save them? What if they were really gone?

She cried harder and then a thought came to her, what if she could go back? Go back to where ever she was before, if it was a dream fine she'd check into Radley get doped up and live forever with her mermaid, her loving sister and her friends. It could work. She could do that, be a vegetable here and live happily there.

"We're gonna get that, Em," Alison vowed. "That future."

"Promise?" Emily smiled.

No. Alison threw her head back in pain. Her mind tortured her with Emily's hopeful smile that one that was reserved just for Ali, the one Emily used when she knew Alison would make all her dreams come true.

"I promise, Em," Alison gasped into her knees, fighting to breath. "I promise."

When she climbed into bed, long after the water had turned cold and her skin wrinkled, her body was exhausted and she fought to keep her eyes open as she wrote hastily across a note pad. She couldn't go to sleep without writing a note to herself, she didn't want to wake up in the morning and wonder if it was all real she needed a quick answer, she didn't want to prolong her inevitable desperation for answers. Like ripping a bandaid off it needed to be instant and painful.

Find A. Save the girls! she scribbled simply.

She lay the notepad on her bedside table and shut off the light, as she lay on her pillow slowly drifting off she prayed for the girls safety but in the back of her mind she wished more than anything to wake up in Emily's arms or at the hospital surrounded by her concerned friends. She just wanted to go home.