Thank you to nick2951, Fun With Typing, RHatch89, and TooSchweddy for reviewing! Yes, this does follow the storyline of the show, mostly because I don't believe that Viola's presence would really change anything major. But some bigger differences are going to start popping up later in the story.

As for this chapter, let me know what you think, as always!

Chapter 20

"This is disgusting," I say, dumping another box on the floor of the RV. "And it's even smaller than the stupid apartment."

"We don't have a choice," Mona says, putting her box down next to mine. "Spencer's getting closer. She hired a private investigator."

"I know," I say, even though I didn't. "And I guess this makes sense. A movable lair, I mean."

She straightens up and looks around, satisfied. "Everything's here. You're good to unpack alone?"

I groan, staring around the RV at the boxes upon boxes of creepy "A" stuff. We've spent the last few hours throwing everything from the apartment into boxes and trunks and hauling it over here to the trailer park. I can't say that I'm thrilled about our new headquarters, but at least now when Spencer inevitably finds the apartment, it'll be completely empty.

"I guess," I answer, grimacing. "I'll probably be here all night. Oh. Here." I reach into the pocket of my jeans and pull out my key to the old lair, handing it to her. "This is the last one."

"Great," my sister says, dropping it into a little bag containing three other keys. "I'll drop it off on my way to the school."

"Good luck in New York," I say, kneeling down and opening one of the boxes. The decathlon team has a big competition this weekend, and I'm thrilled, because this means that aside from unpacking the new lair, I most likely won't have any "A" related duties all weekend. "Try not to get strangled this time."

Mona smiles a little, reaching up to touch the bruise on her neck. "Oh, don't worry. I'm making sure that Spencer gets exactly what she deserves."

I do not like the sound of that, and jump up in alarm. "Wait, what? What are you planning?"
She reaches for the door, pulling it open. "Don't worry about it. I'll explain everything in a few days."

…

I walk into the Brew, my stomach churning. As much as I didn't like the last "A" plan, I hate this one even more.

Mostly because I really don't know what's going on. "All you need to do is find Spencer at the coffee shop," Mona told me this morning. "Make sure she follows me." When I asked for details, she refused to give them to me, only telling me that this is the final stage in our plan against Spencer.

Something about this makes me very nervous. I have a feeling that whatever Mona is going to lead Spencer to, it's going to be pretty terrible. Terrible enough that she doesn't want me to know ahead of time.

I order a plain coffee, even though I already feel like I'm going to explode, and immediately spot my sister sitting on one of the couches. I almost wave, but she shakes her head discreetly, so I look away.

It takes me a moment to locate Spencer, who is squatting on the staircase leading to the loft above the shop. It looks to me like I won't have to do much convincing here, but I walk over and kneel down beside her. "Hey. What are you doing?"
She looks over at me, and I nearly wince. Her face is pale and her hair is tangled and frizzy. But I shouldn't have expected anything less. Just this morning, she broke the news to the other girls that Toby is a member of the "A" team.

I can practically see the betrayal in her eyes and force myself to calm down. After all, I have no idea how this plan is going to end. Maybe it won't be anything bad.

Yeah, right.

"Nothing," she whispers, waving me off.

I ignore the gesture, trying to look worried. "Why are you spying on my sister?" I ask quietly. "Do you think she's up to something?"
Spencer gives me the same suspicious look that she did a few days ago, in the bathroom. "When is she not?"

I shake my head, hoping that my acting is at least a little believable. "That's true. She's been acting kind of weird lately. I think you might be right, that 'A' is still around."

Before she can respond, below us, Mona's cell phone goes off. "I'm on my way," she says into it, then stands and heads out the door without even a glance in our direction.

I panic for one brief moment, then remember the plan and grab Spencer's arm. "Um, hello? Come on, let's follow her!"

"You don't need to come with me," she says hurriedly, but she's already up and rushing for the door. I run after her, because yes, I do.

"I know how dangerous Mona is," I insist, following her out the door and getting in the passenger seat of her car before she can stop me. "I'm coming with you."

On any other day, in any other situation, Spencer probably would have argued further with me. But I can tell that she's too frazzled to make any sort of protest, so she just sighs and puts the car into gear, pulling out after my sister's.

"Viola," she says in a high voice as we drive through town, headed in the direction of the woods. "I need you to tell me the truth. Are you working with Mona?"

Yes. "No," I say sharply. "Would I be following her into the woods with you if I was? I have no idea what's going on right now." At least that part is the truth. I wasn't told anything about going into the dark woods at night.

Mona parks her car on the outskirts of the woods, gets out, and heads right into the trees. Spencer and I exchange a glance. I do not have to fake my uneasiness. "Come on," I say, and leap out of the car. "Hurry." Together, we dash into the woods.

We rush through the trees, pushing branches aside for what seems like forever. It's getting darker and harder to see, but at last, Spencer pushes aside a branch and stumbles into a clearing. I nearly ram right into her, and gasp once I peer around her.

There's a small campfire set up, looking recently used, with a bit of smoke still rising out of it. A tent sits nearby. And in front of it lies a body.

I look at Spencer, genuinely horrified, but she is not looking back at me. She walks slowly over to the body, dropping down on her knees beside it. The person is clearly male, but the motorcycle helmet on his head makes it impossible to make out a face or even hair.

I can feel my heart beating hard. This can't really be part of the "A" plan, can it? Spencer may be pretty emotionally fragile right now, but what would be the point in leading her to some body? Although, I have to admit, finding a random dead person in the middle of the woods is frightening enough, "A" plan or not.

"Oh my god," I whisper, squatting down beside her. "Who is that?"

Wordlessly, Spencer bends down, examining something on the body. I lean closer as well, and my heart drops when I realize what she's looking at.

The person's shirt is slightly rolled up in one place, revealing a tattoo on their side. 901 free at last.

Toby's tattoo.

I gasp, swallowing hard and trying not to throw up. Toby can't be dead. He's a member of the "A" team…and the whole reason behind that is so he can protect Spencer. He wouldn't sacrifice himself for a team that he doesn't really want to be a part of, would he?

"Spencer…" I say quietly, tearing my eyes away from the body to look at her. She is staring down at Toby's body, her expression almost emotionless. "Is that…"

She shakes her head at me, reaching a hand out toward the helmet. I grimace and put my hand over my eyes. I do not want to see this. I do not want to see any of this. I think I'm going to be sick.

But just before she can wrap her hand around the helmet, my sister's voice cuts through the quiet. "He's dead."

We both spin around, but she's already gone, running through the trees. I put my hand on my chest, feeling my heart beating hard. Everything is starting to spin.

Someone else is dead because of this, this stupid game. Once again, my goal to keep anyone from getting hurt has failed.

"Mona!" Spencer screams, leaping up and tearing after her. I jump to my feet, turning in a circle for a moment in a blind panic, and finally running off in the other direction.

I run blindly, trying to push branches and leaves out of my way, but still getting poked. I'm sure I'm bleeding in at least one spot, but my whole body feels numb. The only thing I'm aware of is the tears leaking out of my eyes.

I want to stop and just stop thinking, even if that means staying out here all night. My lungs feel like they're going to explode. But I keep running, because that's what I know I'm supposed to do.

I'm just beginning to wonder if I'm totally lost when I see a flash of color, and force myself to run faster until I finally trip around a tree, grabbing onto my sister's arm. She runs along beside me, almost smiling. I can hear Spencer's footsteps, crashing through the trees behind us.

My lungs are burning, my side aching, by the time I burst through the trees. I get to the car first, only due to having longer legs, and hurl myself into the passenger seat, barely able to breathe.

Mona jumps in beside me, looking out of breath but fairly calm, somehow. She fumbles through her purse, pulling out car keys.

It is only in the next few seconds, once I get my heart beat under control, that I finally burst into sobs. "Was that really Toby?" I gasp, my breathing shallow. "Is he really dead?"

She shoves the key into the ignition and slams on the gas. The car shoots out of the clearing, away from the woods. "Mona," I scream, because I'm sick of not getting any answers. "Answer me!"

"He's not dead," she snaps, like I am the one being irritating.

"He's – what?" Even though I was hoping for this answer, I'm not really sure how to react. "Then who was…" I can't bring myself to finish that question.

"You don't need to worry about that. It's over. It worked."

I raise my hand to my heart, which is still beating wildly. "Toby's not dead," I repeat, shaking my head. I think of Spencer, of the look on her face when she saw the tattoo. In the weeks after she discovered that he was "A," she looked upset, angry, betrayed.

Tonight, she looked destroyed.

Broken.

And I'm partially to blame. "I can't do this anymore," I murmur, as we pull into the driveway. "I can't hurt people anymore."

Mona shuts off the car, pulling the key out of the ignition. "It's too late to back out, Viola," she says sharply. "If you try and leave the team now, you'll regret it."

She gets out of the car and slams the door without waiting for me. I try to follow but can't. I can barely feel my legs.

I sit the car for what seems like forever, thinking, but by the time I get out and go inside, I still have no idea what I'm going to do.

...

Hope you enjoyed. The next chapter's a long one. It's time for the fire at Thornhill Lodge, and Viola's about as confused as everybody else.