Wow, I can't believe I got six reviews so quickly. You guys are amazing! And please make sure that you review this chapter, too, because the next one is BIG. Like, remember how I said the last chapter was big? Multiply that by ten. I'd love to get it up in a few days, or even tomorrow, so let me know what you think!

Chapter 32

A feeling of shock spreads through my body all at once, reverberating like I was just struck by lightning.

Alison DiLaurentis was murdered over two years ago, in her own backyard. There's a headstone in the graveyard with her name on it. Her body was dug up by "A" only two months ago!

And now she's standing in front of me, very much alive and not even unhealthy looking. Her face is bright and full, her blond hair cascading in curls halfway down her back, no longer concealed by the red hood.

She looks fine…aside from her expression of both shock and…anger?

"Oh my god," I whisper, because that's the only thing I can think of. I can tell that the last place she wants to be right now is here, and I wonder briefly why she's not running. Then I look down, and realize that my hand is still gripping the sleeve of her coat tightly.

Alison seems to realize this at the same time as I do, and yanks out of my grasp. She turns, but I reach out, pulling her back before she can disappear. "Wait! Oh my god, you're…you're alive."

"Viola," she says under her breath, her voice low and pleading. "You need to get out of here."

"You're alive," I repeat, because it's the only thing that's running through my head. "You've been alive this whole time…oh my god."

"You need to go," Alison says again, shaking her head and glancing down the stairs at the entrance to the building. "And you can't tell anyone that you saw me."

Immediately, my wonder at seeing her alive is replaced by about a million questions. I was never friends with Alison – in fact, I hated her – but I want to know everything. Where she's been all this time, who's buried in her place, why she left…

But I choose the most pressing question out of the mess in my mind and blurt out, "Why? Where are you going?"

"I can't come back," she says, and now it's her who grabs me by the arms. Her expression is so intense that I am actually a little frightened. "Not yet. You're not supposed to know I'm here."

I wiggle out of her grasp, backing up until I'm right against the edge of the stairs. I stop myself before I topple right down. "You're – you're Red Coat," I gasp, grabbing onto the banister and feeling like I'm going to pass out. "You're 'A.'"

Ali's expression softens into a frown. She looks disappointed, but also almost…scared. "Oh, honey," she says sadly. "Things aren't always what they seem."

"What?" I demand, but then she's gone, darting around the corner and up another set of stairs, her red coat billowing out behind her. I gasp and rush after her, but by the time I get to the bottom of the staircase, she's gone.

I lean against the wall, pressing a hand to my thumping heart. I have been to hell and back over the past year, and that was by far the most shocking thing I have ever seen.

I can't believe it. She's alive. Alison is really alive. I remember back to the night of the lodge fire, when Mona, Hanna, and Spencer had all insisted that they'd seen her. I close my eyes, thinking of that flash of red I'd seen right as I had woken up.

It was Alison.

And she obviously hadn't meant for me to find out it was her. But still…the way she had waited in the doorway, and again at the top of the stairs. She wanted me to find this place, wanted all of us to. I stare at the door in front of me. All at once, I realize that Alison isn't "A."

But maybe she just led us to "A."

My head spinning, I rush down the stairs just as I hear footsteps pounding down the street. The other girls appear in the doorway, Emily among them. I breathe a sigh of relief. I'd almost forgotten about her near death just minutes ago. It seems more like a lifetime ago.

"Viola," Hanna cries upon seeing me. "We've been looking all over for you."

"The other red coat was Cece," Aria says, out of breath. "She fell off the landing, and she's gone. She escaped."

"Did you catch the other one?" Spencer asks intently, looking around. "Did you see who it was?"
I open my mouth but only a squeak comes out. I want to tell them everything, that their old best friend is alive and has been this whole time, that all of our suspicions were correct. Isn't this what they've always wanted, for Ali to be alive?

But Alison's words just moments ago stop me. She sounded so insistent that no one is to know that she's alive, that she can't come back. She'd looked almost scared when she asked me to keep her secret.

I'm used to being on the other side of the equation, of begging people to keep my secrets. It's been a long time since I've been asked to keep quiet about something.

I know what it's like to fear your secret getting out. So, as much as I couldn't stand Alison when she was alive – well, before she went missing, I guess – I know what I have to do.

"No," I say bluntly, shaking my head and staring down at the concrete floor. "I didn't. But guys…I think whoever it was wanted to show us something. She wanted me to follow her, she led me right up to the door at the top of the stairs and then disappeared."

"I saw her, too," Spencer replies. "In the doorway." She glances at the others, but focuses her attention on me. "Do you think…I think it might have been Ali. You're right. She definitely wanted us to follow her."

I feel my heart stop for a moment. But maybe this is a good thing. Now I don't have to completely lie, just pretend like I'm not as sure as I really am. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," I agree quickly, hoping I don't sound too eager. "I bet whatever she wanted us to find is right behind that door."

"Come on," Spencer declares, already heading up the stairs. The rest of us follow, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. For now, at least, they seem to believe me.

The door at the top of the steps is shut tight, but when Spencer reaches out for the doorknob, it turns easily. She pushes it open and we exchange uneasy glances before trooping inside.

We enter a room filled with pictures. Large ones at first, the size of paintings, covering the walls. They're all of Ali, smiling in some, even blowing a bubble in another. As we walk further into the room, though, it becomes apparent that there are photos of much more than Alison in here.

Most of the pictures that cover the walls and the several big whiteboards in the center of the room are of the four girls beside me. But along with them are pictures of everyone they've ever met, including myself. My latest yearbook photo is stuck to one of the boards, with the words "Viola V. – little sister" written below it.

The feature of the room, though, is along the far wall. A large desk takes up most of the space, with three or four big computer monitors and keyboards filling it. I'm itching to sit down in front of them, see what kind of information could be on those things, but I'm sure they're locked up tight.

But despite my fear, I can't help the little triumphant smirk that crosses my face. I was right. There's no doubt about it.

This is "A's" lair.

"What is this place?" Hanna asks in horror, stepping around me to walk further into the room.

"I think it's 'A's' lair," Spencer replies, confirming my own thoughts.

"Guys, look at this," Aria calls. She's standing beside one of the whiteboards, examining it. "There's a timeline for each of us. All our secrets, private moments…he's documenting everything."

"He?" I repeat, looking around. There's nothing on any of the boards to suggest that "A" is a male. "Why do you say that?"

"It has to be a guy," Spencer explains, gesturing to a wardrobe along the opposite wall, that I hadn't noticed before. It's partially open, revealing a row of neatly pressed black suits. " 'A' has to be a guy."

Whoa. I walk over and rub the material of one of the jackets between my fingers, trying to wrap my head around this. All this time, the game has seemed so feminine. There was never a question in my mind that the person in charge of all of this could be a guy.

Bitches. Kisses. The wording in the texts always screamed out "girl" to me, even when "A" was sending me orders. The thought of "A" being a man sends a chill down my spine. Somehow, it makes this even creepier.

"Viola," Emily says, catching my attention. "Did you know anything about this place, when you were working with 'A'?"

"No," I say instantly, tearing my eyes away from the suits. "The RV was the last lair that I ever knew about, I swear. 'A' must have found this place pretty recently."

For once, the girls seem satisfied with my answer, and don't question me further. They keep talking as they walk around the room, messing with the boards, the pictures on the walls, and especially the elaborate computer system.

I try to listen, knowing that what they're talking about is probably important, but all I can focus on is my conversation with Alison. There was something so strange about her, like she was an apparition and not a real person. Like instead of grabbing onto her arm, my hand should have gone right through her.

"Guys," Spencer calls, breaking me out of my daze. She's standing at one of the whiteboards, and gestures for us to join her. " 'A' hasn't just been watching us. I think that he's been following Ali, too. Look, he has her at the lodge the night of the fire. It looks like he's been following her trail to Ravenswood."

Hanna looks thoroughly creeped out. "If Ali's been alive this whole time, then whose funeral did we go to?"

Aria grimaces. "Okay, that's creepy."

I stare intently at the board of pictures and timelines. This would be the perfect time to tell them about what I saw, about what Alison just told me. If they already think that's she's alive, what would confirming it really do?

But thinking back to the look of pure fear on her face keeps me quiet. She said that she'd be back soon. I can keep her secret until then. It's all I can do.

And as big of a bitch as Alison was (or is?), I have a strange feeling that she'd do the same for me.

I gaze around the room, trying to shake this from my head, when I catch sight of a flyer on the table. I grab it and stare. "Check this out," I say to the others, waving it in the air. "There's some celebration going on tonight." I point to the handwritten note on the flyer. 11 pm, written in red pen. "And 'A' thinks that Ali's going to be there."

"Which means we have to find her first," Emily chimes in, taking the flyer out of my hands and staring down at it.

I shake my head. This seems like a bad idea. The longer I'm in Ravenswood, the more uneasy I get. I already know Ali's alive…I don't need proof. And would Alison even want me to find her? We've never been friends. I already know that I'd feel like a hanger-on if I went to the party with these girls.

"My mom thinks I'll be back for dinner," I lie, backing toward the door. "I really have to go."

Spencer looks almost aghast. "Seriously? You have to go now?"

"I'm sorry," I say, a little glad, despite myself, that it seems like they've finally included me. "I can't lie to my mother again. Don't worry about it. I'll take the bus back to Rosewood and get my car from your house."

"Fine," Hanna gives in, walking over to sit at the computer. "But be careful."

"You too," I warn, grabbing the doorknob. "Text me if anything happens."

And something does. I've only been on the bus for ten minutes, trying to ignore the creepy old man who keeps staring at me, when my phone chimes. It's a text from Hanna, and reading it sends my mind into a tailspin all over again.

Just talked to Mrs. Grunwald. She pulled Alison out of the ground that night. Ali's alive?

...

Next up, a repressed memory is sparked that changes Viola's entire perspective of that fateful night. Any theories? Let me know in the reviews!