Hey everyone, here is another chapter!
This is a big one, but it is necessary for the character development and it was alot of fun to write.
Also we're nearing FNAF's ninth anniversary, how that franchise has grown, with the RUIN DLC now out and the Mimic becoming the central villain of the story going forward, at least it has connected the Tales From The Pizziaplex books to the games, Mimicsweep!
I really thought the Burntrap ending from Security Breach was canon though, but the end reveal in Ruin was a pleasant surprise.
Now we just have to wait for Help Wanted 2 around the year's end, but there is the film in October and the remaining TFTP books to enjoy until then!
Plus, there is to be Scream VII, the last one supposedly, who will come back, who will die and how will the blood stained saga end. If it is going to end, then please end well.
Thank you to those who have continued to read this story, glad that you are enjoying. There is much still left to come. ;-)
Apologies for any lingering grammar mistakes.
Chapter Six
Morning's Lamentations
"Why did you come to me back then?"
"I could have helped."
"Because. . .I was scared."
"Of what?"
"I was scared that I would turn out just like him, so I ran, to protect you. . .from me."
"Sam. . .you could never be like him."
Tara and Sam Carpenter from Scream V (2022)
"Tara. . ."
"Tara. . ."
"Tara. . ."
"TARA!"
Tara's eyes snapped opened, internally recoiling at the suddenness of the noise.
Bright light blinded her momentarily, but she had to cover her eyes to avoid sensory overload.
"Tara, are you awake honey?"
That voice, Tara could remember it, sounding so familiar and good natured.
Once the light had died down Tara's brown eyes focused on the face that formed the centre of her universe.
Sam Carpenter stood before her, holding her hand out with a small but reassuring smile.
"You seemed to be lost in thought, you ok baby girl?"
Baby girl, an affective nickname if there ever was and that Tara would always warm to, only Sam could make her feel that way.
Tara licked her lips and shook her head, speaking with confidence, forcing any expression of worry deep down. . .like always.
"Yeah, I'm ok Sammy, I was just thinking."
Sam tilted her head with a curious look, her long brown hair gracefully falling across her shoulders.
"About what Tara?"
Tara raised her eyebrows, looking very much unsure.
"I. . .I don't know."
Sam smiled again, her warm brown eyes lighting up.
"Well, you're here now, I can see you got the playdough out for us."
Tara snapped her head back to Sam, now looking confused.
"Playdough?"
Sam playfully rolled her eyes with a mischievous grin.
"We agreed to play playdough after I had returned those baby birds and their mother to their nest, remember?"
"You got the playdough out and ready to play with, do you want to recreate those four baby birds, I can make the mother bird?"
As Tara's mind filled with questions, but what she saw through her own eyes gave her the answers.
First off Sam wasn't as she looked currently, she was a child, barely aged twelve with childish features that were just starting to be impacted by puberty. Her hair was much longer back then as she preferred with her glossy black locks cascading down her back.
Also of immediate note was the fact that despite standing, Sam was still taller than Tara, despite the fromer' age degradation.
Tara quickly looked down at her hands and feet, they were small, child sized and their clothes matched those brightly coloured items worn by a child at an elementary age.
She was seven and more to the point she was back in their old family house.
Was this heaven?
Had she died from her wounds?
Instantly panic gripped Tara's mind, her eyes widen in the fear that she was lying dead in the store with a distressed Sam trying desperately to revive her; all whilst screaming her name in the fading hope that she could wrench Tara free from death's grip.
If so, then this wasn't heaven, if her Sam wasn't in it.
"Tara, are you feeling ok?" Sam asked, gently taking hold of her hand, slowly interlocking her fingers with Tara's like they were the petals of a delicate flower. Sam's brown eyes expressed concern; whilst Tara warmed to her sister's touch.
"I'm fine, sorry Sam, I didn't mean to worry you," Tara replied hastily, giving Sam a small reassuring smile, whilst forcing her fears down deep, crushing them into a box that she could mentally lock away. . .for now.
"I was thinking of something else, let's play."
It was strange to be thinking with an adult's mind inside of a child's body, but Tara forced herself to focus, to avoid unnerving Sam.
Sam in return smiled, seeming to be reassured.
"Did you return those birds back to their home?" Tara asked curiously.
"Yes, well, I made sure to put them somewhere high and safe from any animals that might try to eat them," Sam answered proudly.
"Can I see them at some point?" Tara asked wishfully, she didn't know if there were any rules. If this was heaven after all, then anything was possible, she never recalled seeing those birds again in her waking life.
Sam's smile dropped a little, the light in her eyes dimmed ever so slightly.
"I had to put them up high, to keep them safe Tara, the branches cover their new home, but you might be able to hear them."
Tara could read Sam now; her younger past self had just clapped with joy and then proceed to mess around with the playdough; but now with literally fresh eyes Tara could see cracks in Sam's demeanour.
Cracks that told the full story.
Those birds weren't back in the tree, when thinking backwards, Tara could remember sitting under the tree, listening out for the birds, but neither saw nor heard from them again.
Days, weeks, months, and years went by and still nothing. Granted one year later her entire world had been turned upside down and then gradually disintegrated.
"Sammy, what did you do?"
The thought ran through Tara's mind like a bullet, and she wanted to ask, but relented because she didn't wish to upset Sam.
Instead, Tara hugged Sam enthusiastically, wrapping her small arms around her sister's waist as she rested her head into her chest.
Now, was as good as a chance as ever for Tara to unburden herself.
"You're so caring Sammy and I don't say that often enough, if anything I say the complete opposite."
Tara stated up at Sam with big wide eyes that she knew made Sam crave every time.
She remembered having a habit of using such a look at times for manipulation, to get something from Sam, but often the expression was shown out of sincere devotion for her sister.
"I love you, you are my rock, without you I don't know where I would be."
Sam was stunned to say the least, to hear such elaborate words from her younger sister.
"Thank you Tara, but so are you."
Sam gently took hold of Tara's face, her hands cupping her cheeks as she looked down at the younger Carpenter with complete sincerity.
"You mean everything to me ok, never forget that, even when times seem hard."
Tara's eyes darken slightly before asking.
"Why would they be hard Sammy?"
"Not everyday will be a good one ok, sometimes you are going to have bad day," Sam replied warmly.
"But just know that no matter what happens I will be there to support you."
Tara hugged Sam even tighter, resting her head firmly against Sam's chest, listening to the comforting sensation of Sam's heartbeat.
Ka Thump
Ka Thump
Ka Thump
Ka Thump
Ka Thump
"And I will be there to help you, ok Sammy, you'll have bad days too and you deserve equal support as well."
Sam's inhales and exhales grew intense, indicating her confusion as to her sister's words, although they were no doubt comforting to hear.
Tara knew that the words which had just passed between them had not been spoken at all.
The memory had already diverted, but Tara wanted to say what she truly felt and as much of it as she could.
If this was truly heaven, then she wanted to amend all wrongs.
"You'll never be alone again, ok Sammy?" Tara muttered, holding Sam in a strong grip, despite her small size.
"You will always have me and I am so sorry for all the mess that I have given you since you came back into my life."
Tara felt the natural tendency to swear, but she relented, deciding that such words didn't fit coming out of a seven year old's mouth.
Still, Sam's eyes widen, unsure of how to respond.
"Tara. . ." she began, but Tara cut her off, her emotions and thoughts pouring out of her like a river in full flood.
"I know that we have fought over nothing and that you only have my best interests in mind, even if I cannot see it at the time."
"I won't be a burden to you, I never want you to feel obligated to be my guardian, or for you to feel that I am merely putting up with it to make you happy and have a purpose in life."
"I want you to be with me in my life, I am happy to have your support whenever it is needed, despite everything bad between us, it won't tear us apart again, ok?"
"Oh Tara," Sam muttered, her voice wavering as she held herself back from sobbing, covering her own mouth as tears began to build in her eyes, threatening to run.
"You'll never be along again Sammy."
An instant Sam rested her chin on Tara's head, drawing immense comfort from the younger Carpenter.
"You speak so elegantly baby girl; I'll never leave you."
"No matter, wherever you go, I'll always be one step behind you."
Tara smiled, both externally and internally, her chest feeling swelled with immense warmth as relief descended on her mind.
Be this heaven or not, she could at least tell some version of Sam that she loved her and was forever grateful given the Herculean effort that Sam performed for her.
Tara rested her head against Sam's chest and closed her eyes, feeling the tranquillity of the moment wash over and pull her under, she didn't fight it.
"I'll always have your back Tara," Sam whispered warmly, gently stroking her hair in the affectionate way.
"You are my sun, you know why?"
Tara only responded with an affective sigh.
Suddenly she felt Sam grip her armpits and lift her up in the air, spinning her round in circles with her legs dangling.
"Because you lit up my whole world babygirl!"
Tara couldn't help but laugh in delight at the act; Sam was beaming from ear to ear, clearly enjoying herself as well. She used to perform this move on Tara often during their childhood, because it could always make her laugh no matter what mood she was currently in.
She still did it, but not as much in their adult years, not that Tara minded it.
Despite her small statue Tara wondered if maybe she could return the favour.
Then again, even in present day, Sam was probably too heavy, and attempting would just result in Sam falling on top to her. Still, it would be fun to try.
"But you must be careful Tara, with those who you let get close to you," Sam muttered, sounding both distant and reflective.
Tara's eyes widen slightly at Sam's shift in tone, before asking.
"Why?"
Sam's smile dropped a little, a painful realisation dawning in her eyes, as she drew Tara in close for another hug, allowing the younger Carpenter to rest her head on her shoulder.
"Because getting stabbed in the back by the ones you love is the worst form of betrayal that you can ever experience."
"I might know a thing or two about that Sam," Tara muttered softly, as vivid images of Amber's cruel eyes and demented smile flashed through her mind, bringing it with her demented words.
"I love you Tara, but I am bringing about the rebirth of my beloved franchise."
"It cuts so deep, more than you ever think it will."
Tara exhaled deeply, pushing the hurtful memoires aside as she nestled her head on Sam's shoulder.
"I want you to know Sam, that you never betrayed me, you were only doing what you thought was right for both our sakes."
Sam sighed, sounding weary.
"I know Tara, what I did was to benefit both of us, but it is such a pity. . ."
"Such a pity that what?"
Sam's voice was so low that Tara couldn't' decipher the tone when she next spoke, but she heard the words.
"It is such a pity that you can't return the favour, despite your proclamations. . .you are a pathetic waste of space."
Tara's eyes flashed opened, glancing over at Sam with a look of complete shock. Her brown eyes widening with utter bewilderment.
"What!"
When Sam's own brown eyes turned to look at Tara's, the warmth was completely gone, uprooted, replaced by unbridled anger.
"You dam well nearly got me killed with your inconvenient asthma!" Sam growled, her voice immediately becoming cold and harsh.
Critical, as sharp as a knife.
"I'm sorry?" Tara weakly mumbled, still reeling from the impact of Sam's first words.
What the hell was happening?
"You were struggling to find your inhaler all while I barely held off Ghostface, you didn't even pack your spare, Christ Tara could you be any fucking clumsier?!" Sam seethed, her expression becoming angrier by the second.
"What if you didn't manage to find it and I got stabbed, killed and then where would you be?" Sam asked harshly, her enraged gaze cut straight through Tara, as though she had been insulted by Tara's mere presence.
"Talk about fighting with one hand tied behind my back while I tried to cover your dumb ass!"
Tara struggled to form a response, her words catching in her throat as her mind raced. After some effort she could only utter out.
"Sam, why are you saying any of this?" She asked, feeling both deeply hurt and confused.
Sam's darken brown eyes narrowed as she growled with immense annoyance before responding with much frustration.
"Because you are dragging me down Tara, fuck can't you take a hint!?"
Sam's hands gripped Tara's shoulders tightly, as though they were iron chains.
"You are such a parasite!"
Then Sam's grip suddenly disappeared, Tara felt light, then a sharp sudden pain erupting up across her entire back as a solid force hit her from behind. She screamed, clutching her back as the pain returned in waves.
Tara then realised that Sam had thrown her across her bedroom with her hitting her own bed as she sunk to the floor.
"WHAT THE FUCK SAM!" she yelled, her eyes glaring up at her elder sister with such anger, confusion, and betrayal that it physically hurt worse than the actual pain that raced up and down her back.
Sam for her part looked completely unmoved by Tara's plight, slowly walking across with a determined stride, whilst declaring with both dismissal and scorn.
"How you clung on for so long without me I'll never. . .oh wait, you stuck to Amber to the point where she could gaslit you about me!"
"You are so desperate for warmth Tara; for any form of human contract as a distraction from the hell that you were living in that you effectively allowed yourself to get nearly killed by a psychopath!"
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" Tara roared, painfully pushing her small body upright, the ache of betrayal burned within her heart, encasing it within a sharp tight vice.
The height difference between the two sisters had never been an issue for Tara because Sam had never threatened her, but now, the difference made Sam appear imposing, stirring up feelings of fear in Tara.
She never felt scared of Sam, not once. . .but now, Tara suddenly became frighteningly aware of her own weakness.
Sam glared at Tara with an expression of pure frustration, she was surging wellspring of anger, that she could barely keep repressed like a wolf snarling at the limits of its chain. When Sam spoke, her voice carried both a burning annoyance and a festering hatred.
"I am doing this because you bloody deserve it Tara, you didn't see the darkness in Amber; you refused to listen to my warnings about being ready for another Ghostface attack, hell you didn't even attend fucking therapy because you didn't want to confront your problems."
Most of that was true, Tara couldn't deny it, she had been lacklustre about taking the dangers as seriously as Sam wanted her too.
Yet Sam wasn't done listing Tara's faults out one by one as the younger Carpenter stood shaking from head to toe as conflicted emotions swirled within her.
"And you had the fucking balls to yell at me about running away from my issues, remember my confession back in Woodsboro, when you verbally ripped my heart out and showed it to me!" Sam snarled, her hands tightening into fists.
Tara could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, the repeated stabs of betrayal retracing the lines left by Amber's insidious actions as the emotional pain echoed in her mind, body and soul.
This was hell, having Sam viciously turned on her was among her worst nightmares.
Having Samantha Carpenter stand before her, debase, mock, and insult her to no end was cruelty enough for Tara. Yet for Sam to actually hurt her, that went much further, and it cut so deep into Tara's mental image of her elder sister that it cracks began to form.
An array of thoughts filtered through the storm raging in Tara's mind.
"I deserve it."
"I am a burden."
"I need to be with others to feel warm, to distract me from everything else."
"I shouldn't be here, not while others have suffered and paid the price for my naivety."
"Everything that has happened is my fault."
"Wes, Liv, Judy, I gave Amber the chance to enact her sick fantasy and kill them; I shouldn't be here; I can't bring them back and reminding that fact hurts so fucking much!"
Sam raised one eyebrow, a knowing smirk crossing her features with her cold brown eyes lighting up with insidious joy.
"Is it all finally dawning in on you Tara, the costly mistakes you've made over the years, the price and knowing that it was preventable."
"However, to be honest baby girl, I think you already knew, you've just been repressing it, letting it fester, it would explain why you've be so reckless ever since starting college."
Tara eyed Sam with dreaded anticipation, her train of thought stopping at every college party she had attended and everytime she had hugged Sam, despite constantly pushing her away.
"You want constant distraction, to be loved, wanted, or cared for, that's why you wanted to hookup with that douche bag; because any contact takes your mind off those intrusive thoughts that drown you in the past, dragging you under as you struggle to remember that you are a person with an actual life, a miserable one, but one that you want to desperately forget."
Tara felt the tears start to run free down her cheeks, the words, they were all true more or less.
"And that is why you fought so hard against me to not leave after the first Ghostface murders, barely two blocks away; because it would mean acknowledging the truth that you cannot have a normal life, an illusion that you fanatically cling to."
"I just want to be free of all this bullshit," Tara muttered lowly to herself, more to convince herself that she wasn't delusional or selfish, but it prompted a swift response from Sam.
"At least I wasn't delusional and saw the reality of my situation and left you when I did and for the most part it kept you safe; excluding Amber's killing spree, but then I should have kept a close eye on Richie and seen him for the manbaby psycho that he was."
"And yet you were so angry with me for leaving you; like I was the only one of us who was purely at fault for what happened back in Woodsboro."
Tara fought back with what she knew to be the truth with as much vigour as she could muster, pushing her self-doubt down, even though it actively fought back.
"I was angry at you Sam because you just straight up left me without any serious goodbye for five years, you abandoned me no less!"
"I had every right to be mad, especially when you dropped a bombshell on me about your real father, after I had my girlfriend of several years brutally stab me!"
"If roles were reversed, wouldn't you have felt the same, you understood why I felt the way I did!"
Sam tilted her head slightly, her brown eyes soften slightly, but the maliciousness remained.
"I know and you are still angry about it, but let's be honest Tara, whilst we are on the subject; what gratitude have you shown me since I came back into your life?"
Tara fumed; how could Sam be so bloody stubborn.
"At the stor-"
"FORGET THE STORE, BEFORE THEN, WHEN HAVE YOU HAVE SHOWN ME TRUE GRATITUDE?" Sam screamed at the top of her lungs, the suddenness of her change in tone made Tara tremble with shock.
When Sam was angry, she was terrifying to be around, Tara knew that, but to actually have that anger be solely directed at her made the fear all too real.
Tara could only quickly mutter out with conviction.
"I was grateful to you in the ambulance when they took us away from Amber's house, remember?"
Tara's mind instinctively took her back to that moment, in the immediate aftermath of surviving Amber and Richie's wrath.
"SAM, SAM, SAM!" Tara desperately cried out, just as the paramedics were closing the double doors, she could see Sam approaching just beyond. She wanted her elder sister by her side for the ride to hospital.
Thankfully the paramedics stopped, reversing their actions and allowing Sam; who despite having an obivious limp in her walk from the stab inflicted by Richie, took the opportunity to quickly clamber inside, giving the paramedics a passing 'thank you'.
"Well, you're not going anywhere without me," she remarked firmly, moving to sit right besides Tara as she lay out on the stretcher bed.
Tara couldn't help but smile, the feelings of companionship from her childhood remerging from their long slumber.
"Don't worry," Sam said with a reassuring grin, holding out her hand for Tara to take.
"I am going to hold your hand the entire way there."
Tara looked down at Sam's hand, it was scared and bloodied, but the mere act meant so much to her in that moment.
Sam was here to stay. . .for good this time.
Tara instantly grasped Sam's hand, interlocking her wounded fingers with those of her sister's, forming a tight bond. Happiness flooded through her, eclipsing her entire being.
In an ironic twist, the darkest act of betrayal had brought about her deepest wish, the return of her sister, fully back into her life.
Never to be parted again. . .
Sam gave Tara a slight if begrudging nod, responding dismissively.
"Yes, you were, but that reconciliation pales in comparison to everything I have done for you since then Tara."
Sam's tone became steadily harsh, her inner frustration building inside like an ominous storm.
"I was constantly by your side, banged your wounds, help to bathe you, calmed you down whenever your trauma kicked into high gear, fed you, clothed you, stayed with you all night to help you sleep. . .like old times."
"And when I warned you on the need to be careful, to be wary about others at college, you completely ignored me!"
Tara attempted to respond, but Sam kept cutting her off.
"I-"
"You just wanted to a 'normal' life, to repress what happened and defy reality, well let me tell you Tara, you fuck about with fate, it will seriously screw you over as revenge!"
"I-"
"Tell me, were you actually serious about hooking up with that douchebag at that party without any protection like a taser?!"
"Thank God Chad stepped in, but you were reckless without restraint!"
"I-"
"And finally, after your course mate Jason and his roommate Greg get axed off and I wanted to take off, pretty understandable given our past history, you fought with me!"
"Had we just packed and left with Chad and Mindy, we could have avoided the whole brush with death at the store!"
Tara snapped, something broke inside of her and she had to release it.
"I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO BEING FUCKING SCARED ALL THE TIME OK!" she screamed, bailing her fists as her eyes burned with anger at Sam's indignation.
"I didn't want any of this bullshit for a life, every time something good happens to me, it gets ripped away and I couldn't tell the difference between you having a genuine concern or being overprotective, you keep wanting to have tabs on me twenty four fucking seven Sam, it is suffocating!"
Tara angrily wiped the tears away from her eyes as Sam quickly responded with much anger.
"Yeah, on some occasions I did overdo it, but it was because you were being far too reckless with your own safety!"
"I had to be extra vigilant because you weren't, I had to be for both our sakes and yet you still berate me Tara!"
"You were and are such an ungrateful bitch at times!"
Something clicked inside Tara's mind, a like a jigsaw piece slotting perfectly into place and she could see Sam for who she truly was.
Tara mentally kicked herself for not realising it sooner, but now that she knew, her fears lessen a little.
"Yeah, well you can say what you like because you are not Sam, she would never ever speak to me like this, let alone hurt me!"
Sam folded her arms and glared at Tara with an annoyed expression in her eyes.
"You really think so Tara, that I don't have a breaking point, even with you?"
Tara shook her head in dismissal, conviction creeping back into her voice.
"The last thing you want to do is destroy the bond we now have; you cling to me like I am a life raft and I likewise 'Sam'."
Yet Sam shook her head in response, a confident smile slowly coming to the fore as she spoke critically.
"Oh Tara, if only you could go back and make those feelings more apparent, I could be dead right now and-"
"Shut the fuck up Sam, you know that I was grateful after we killed Ethan and you responded in kind!"
"If we are both dead, then I have said everything I wanted to you, I love you despite the parts of you that drive me up the God dam wall, but I know that you would never, never, say or do anything to hurt me!"
Sam grinned, it was like she couldn't help it, enjoying their verbal back and forth too much.
"Well said Tara, but with Sam out of the picture, who else would want to hurt you?" she asked amusedly, before immediately following it up with.
"Do you still love Amber, despite everything that murderous bitch did to you and me?"
"Who is more fucked up her or you?"
Tara growled, her anger flaring in her eyes as she spoke.
"Her, Amber, there is no debate on that Sam!"
Yet Tara's answer only made Sam's smile grow, her inner confidence radiated off her like a sun.
"Really, well, if you are indeed that confident Tara, why don't you confess your feelings to everyone. . .oh wait, you won't because of the shame it would bring, and the unspoken judgement would you get from others."
"Sam would understand, in fact she knows, she doesn't say anything because there is no need to, and she has never judged me for it," Tara answered sternly, her expression going dark.
"So fuck you, or rather me, if having Sam be the one to berate me is the best punishment I can create for myself."
"You know it is Tara," Sam replied confidently,
"And you know how far you want to punish yourself. . .I'll more than happily oblige."
Tara dared herself to ask, despite knowing Sam's mentality.
"How?"
Sam just smiled; her brown eyes glinted with something sinister. . .the look reminded Tara of Amber. What could be considered an obsessive passion was in fact a cruel sadistic streak in disguise.
The look unnerved her.
Feeling her muscles ache with pain, Tara forced herself to move, she eyed the bedroom door on the room's far side, with Sam standing in her path.
Perhaps she could run, get out and away from the twisted mirror version of her sister.
A shiver ran through Tara, never would she ever imagined that she would have to run from Sam for her own safety.
Not once. . .
Sam though looked at Tara with narrowed eyes, but with something of an amused expression, anticipating a challenge.
Again, the look remained Tara of Amber, but it was different, possessing a quality that only Sam Carpenter ever possessed.
An unhinged euphoric joy of cruel pleasure, manic beyond manic, but possessing a coldness that was almost inhuman.
Distinctly Loomis. . .
The fear that had took up home in Tara's gut twisted and rose like a shadow, consuming her from the inside. Her breathing quickened, her hands shook as she began to tremble and the evident height difference between the two sisters wasn't helping matters.
Sam, her Sam would burn the entire world down and everyone in it if it meant keeping Tara and the others safe.
Sam would rather die than hurt Tara; hell, Sam left her because she sincerely believed that staying would only result in Tara getting hurt by Sam's downwards spiral.
"Sam?"
"Yes Tara?"
"Is this hell?"
It felt incredibly stupid to ask, but Tara wanted to hear Sam admit it, rather than purely guess.
"Yes and no, but it definitely isn't heaven, you don't deserve it with how you ungrateful and incapable you have been to me, despite pouring my entire soul into helping you get to where you are today."
A shadow passed over Tara's heart, her breathing felt restrictive as her inner panic exploded within her, she could barely keep it in check.
"What really is this place!?" she demanded firmly, trying to both sound and look composed beyond measure.
"You baby girl, all of this is you, for you, because you know the kind of person you really are," Sam answered coolly, but the coldness in her voice was strong as was her malicious gaze.
"A thankless denial driven, frustrated individual who latches onto others in order to feel any warmth and whose vulnerabilities had a habit of manifesting at the worst possible times and without considering any failsafe to compensate for said times."
Tara struggled to control her breathing, feeling her heartbeat pounding away in her ears like a mighty roar.
"How can I truly believe that I deserve this treatment?"
"You held my hand Sam, you promised me that you would never leave me again, despite everything that could happen to us."
Shakely Tara stared at Sam, with sincere disbelief.
"And I hugged you and equally promised to help you through the pain you had suffered through since you last left."
"And you want to know why Sam, because despite all of the shit that I was left with when you first took off I love you; and it is not fair that you put all of your effort into helping me when you are clearly suffering as well!"
Unexpectedly Sam's expression softened, almost becoming crestfallen. Her eyes narrowed and became wide and for a moment there was the familiar spark of warmth in them, it looked gennuie.
"Then why are you refusing to go to therapy, which I have helped pay for; why did you make things difficult for us when I tried to get us to leave immediately at the first sign of danger?" She asked, sincerely sounding hurt.
"I am giving everything to you Tara and you reject it."
"I didn't reject I just didn't want to split my focus between two th-"
"LAIR!" Sam suddenly screamed; in a split second she had reverted to her angry and manic self, like flipping a switch.
"DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO LIE TO ME, I THOUGH WE PROMISED TO NOT KEEP SECRETS FROM EACHOTHER!"
Tara responded in kind.
"FINE, I ADMIT I AM FUCKING TERRIFIED SAM, I JUST WANT TO AVOID IT ALL, BECAUSE HAVING TO LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER EVERY-TIME SOMEONES PASSES ME SO THEY DON'T GET THE CHANCE TO STAB ME IN THE BACK IS EXHAUSTING SAM!"
Tara hugged herself, dropping to her aching knees as the tears which she had manged to keep in check started to flow unabated.
"I just can't keep doing this shit, this isn't life; I can't relax half the time with your constant warnings and the dam legacy that started all of this looming over us both."
Tara bowed her head and hugged herself in even tighter, barely able to prevent herself from sobbing.
"Everything time, I think I have found something good I fear it might be ripped away from me."
"So, I fight, desperate to hold onto it because I would drown without it, without you Sam."
Tara raised her head, glaring directly at Sam, who looked back at her with a domineering expression.
"That's why I didn't want to leave immediately, because life has fucked around with me too much and I am sick of it."
"Is that good enough for therapy Sam, did I make enough progress to make you please for once?"
"Well," Sam answered reflectively, with narrowed eyes, although she didn't sound all to impressed.
"It was a worthwhile start, but I have even better news for you Tara, in here, you'll have all the time you need to confront your demons."
"They've been waiting for you, and you can't push them down any further."
Tara jerked her head upright, her eyes widening, surely, she misheard.
"What?"
Sam gave Tara a small but amused smile.
"You didn't think that you would just be seeing me in here, wake up Tara, you've got a shit ton of baggage."
Her brown eyes lit up with sinister anticipation.
"So, let's go."
Tara quickly staggered to her feet, stumbling as she did.
"Wait what!"
Sam marched forward, whatever it was she intended to do, Tara didn't want to find out, so she ran.
She made a move to dart right, causing Sam to mirror her act, only to then reverse course and dart left, going around Sam.
Tara was fast, making use of her nimble size to avoid Sam's attempt to grab her.
"TARA!" she yelled in open frustration.
Suddenly something swung at Tara from her right, she just barely ducked before it slammed into a nearby wall.
Sam had just tried to hit her and with a lot of force.
This wasn't Sam, her Sam would never dare lay a single finger on her.
Whatever this monster was in Sam's skin, Tara wasn't going to let it catch her, not while she was free from its grasp.
Tara ran headlong towards the bedroom door, flung it wide open and legged it down the hallway.
"TARA, YOU CAN'T AVOID THIS!"
Tara ignored the angry cries of her sister, rushing to the stairs, her little feet hitting the carpet hard.
It was soon swiftly superseded by the heavy quick footfalls of Sam, pursuing her as Tara made her escape.
She didn't dare try to move down one step at a time, she just jumped every two to three steps to quickly cover the distance.
Tara was just only halfway down when Sam burst into view at the top, looking down.
Tara glanced back, immediately regretting it for her frantic brown eyes locked with those of her sister.
Sam's face was one of pure rage, her brown eyes burned with an intense anger. Her hands gripped the banister with such strength that her nails dug into the wood, scratching across its otherwise smooth surface and her once former smile had transformed into a murderous frown.
"YOU HAVE TO CONFRONT THIS TARA; YOU CANNOT KEEP RUNNING!" she screamed. Sam was beyond mad, but there was also some desperation in her tone, almost pleading.
Despite being in her twelve year old body Sam held an figure that was terrifying to behold; the unhinged look in her eyes only frightened Tara more.
Sam had been angry before, mad, enraged, but almost always on the behalf of Tara and at times herself as well. Sam's protective fury of her sister's interests was a constant shield against the odds that life continually threw at them. To now be on the receiving end on such anger infused willpower that bordered on ruthlessness was both deafening and deadly.
And much to Tara's horror, she was now seemingly on the other side of that line.
Sam leapt down the stairs, quickly passing several steps and she casted a lengthy shadow over Tara. The latter could only move forward and keep jumping down the stairs before Sam landed with a deafening crash.
Tara stumbled forward, feeling her chest tingle with an all too familiar pain, her lungs!
No, no, no, no, she couldn't having an asthma attack, not now!
Tara gripped the wooden banister and pulled herself down the stairs, hopping down over the final few steps before making it to the ground floor and legging it off towards the front door.
She never thought in a million years that she would be running from her sister, let alone be terrified of her.
"COME ON BABYGIRL, RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR PROBLEMS WILL ONLY MAKE THEM WORSE!" Sam called out adamantly, jumping over the last few remaining steps. She immediately hit the ground running, allowing her longer legs to rapidly close the distance between herself and Tara.
Tara was straining herself to stay ahead, feeling her lungs starting to burn from an all too familiar sensation.
"Please, please, not now, please not now!" she begged, pushing herself as far as she could go.
Sam's footsteps echoed behind her like an ominous drumbeat.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
Tara screamed at the top of her lungs for the one person who she hoped could help her.
"MOM!"
"MOM!"
No answer came and Tara couldn't believe that she found herself wanting to be in her mother's presence as protection against Sam.
Against Sam, Samantha Carpenter, her own sister who would burn the entire world down twice over to just keep Tara safe and secure in her arms. . .victory was slim.
"MOM!"
"MOM!"
Still no answer, save for Tara and Sam, the house was seemingly empty.
"There is no one else here but us Tara, it is all for you, because you want it to be this way!" Sam called out maliciously, evidently enjoying her sister's torment.
Tara didn't bother to respond, too busy looking for an escape. Her gaze glancing about in all directions. In her current seven year old body, she was too small to reach the front or back door, unless she jumped up to grab the door handle after undoing the latch.
And that was if she had the time to even acquire a proper grip.
Why was she even thinking about running from Sam, her si-no.
This version of Sam wasn't her Sam, it was some twisted mirror replica of her, seemingly filled to the brim with malice.
Had Sam shown genuine affection earlier, or was it just an elaborate ploy to lure Tara in before hurting her?
Tara didn't bother to ask; the answer was fairly obvious, and she doubted that this version of Sam would be openly honest with her.
Instead, Tara sprinted hard for the back door, she actually wanted the front door, but throwing Sam off was key if she were to stand a chance at getting the door unlocked without having Sam fiercely breathing down her neck.
"RUNNING WON'T SOLVE ANYTHING TARA, YOU KNOW IT WON'T!" Sam yelled, her frustration boiling over.
Tara's lungs continued to burn, that growing fire alit in her airways steadily grew. She darted around to the kitchen with Sam hot on her heels.
This wasn't real, this place couldn't be real, it had to be a nightmare.
Tara had just passed out and was lying next to Sam amidst a scene of absolute carnage in that dilapidated store.
She had to wake up!
Tara dashed around the corner leading to the dinning room, she knew it was a risk to go the longer route given her weaker stamina against Sam's, but she was better at moving around corners given her nimble statue.
Tara rushed across the carpet, eyeing the kitchen doorway at the far side, only a couple of steps.
Sam equally sprinted into view, one hand out stretched, trying to grasp Tara by either her hair or shoulder.
She was very quickly bearing down on Tara.
"YOU CANNOT KEEP RUNNING FROM ME TARA!" Sam roared ferociously.
"YOUR PROBLEMS WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW YOU!"
"WHAT ARE MY PROBLEMS?" Tara dared to ask, she didn't glance back, her eyes on the kitchen doorway.
Even so, Tara could feel the coldness and honesty of Sam's words rip through her like a knife as she replied.
"Your fears of abandonment and your fear of losing me forever, because you see me as the most fragile thing in the universe and worst of all you are afraid that the complexity of your own problems will eventually, if not inevitably drive me away from you, being the burden that you truly are Tara."
Tara felt her heart convulsed, the painful sting of truth to Sam's words causing her to catch her breath.
She had always feared driving Sam away, that one day Sam would just declare 'screw it, you are far problematic for me Tara; I can't fix what is broken and I can only carry you so far' and then promptly leave.
It was the originating fear from which all others had been born.
And right on cue Sam spoke, her bitter and cruel words cutting in deep.
"You need people to feel warm Tara, you are a planet without its star to orbit around."
"Shut up!"
"You are constantly searching for a distraction, but it always proves to be fleeting."
"Shut up!"
"Maybe you do not deserve love, destined to forever worry about being abandoned."
"Shut up!"
"Because you cannot fully make up your mind whether you want to be independent or keep me so close that neither of us could move without the other?"
"SHUT UP!"
"You cannot keep it quiet anymore Tara, perhaps therapy might have helped you untangle some of it, but you refused and now you'll reap what you've sowed."
"YOU ARE NOT SAM!"
Sam laughed heartily, before responding with.
"Clever deduction baby girl, took a while but you got there in the end."
Tara didn't ask what Sam truly was, she already knew it was herself, the part of Tara that loathed herself for her many failures, genuine or perceived.
Tara scrambled through the kitchen, just barely ducking an attempt from Sam to grasp her hair when she skirted by the table. Tara had to grab one of the wooden table legs to pull herself further forward and stay out of Sam's reach.
The kitchen doorway would take her through to hallway and the front door. Tara darted for it, with Sam once more breathing down her neck.
She was so close Tara could feel the vibrations of her movements be carried through the air.
"Tara. . ."
A voice, so familiar and yet equally repulsed by Tara called to her, just as a figure stepped through the doorway.
"WHERE'S SAM MOM?!" another anguish voice screamed into being.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
Instantly another figure came rushing in from Tara's left side.
Their dark brown hair was composed in a row of pigtails with a distraught face streaked with tears and visible unending sorrow.
It was Tara herself, aged thirteen, with all the emotional unbalance that puberty brought.
Tara could only look at herself, gazing up with heartbreak despair at her 'she wolf' of a mother Christina Carpenter.
Christina herself with her gorgeous brown locks and her piercing blue brown eyes stood directly in the doorway through to the hallway.
Tara instinctually skirted to a halt, nearly falling over backwards. Her immediate exit was barred, unless she could run through it like a ghost, but she was hesitant to try.
However, she needed to do something before Sa-
THUD!
Suddenly a heavy force slammed into Tara from behind, knocking her forward and onto the floor.
A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around Tara's shoulders, before moving onto her neck and grasping her throat tightly.
"Got you baby girl!" Sam sneered triumphantly, practically burying herself into Tara, as though to cement her control.
Swiftly Sam rose off the floor and Tara was quickly pulled upwards, kept bound by Sam's iron like hold around her shoulders, pinning the younger girl's arms in place.
In a contest of physical strength against her sister, Tara couldn't hope to win, but she made her immense displeasure clear by struggling to break free.
"No, you won't run anymore!" Sam hissed venomously; the intensity of her dislike made Tara's skin crawl.
Tara tried to pry Sam's hands off her shoulders by digging her fingers deep into Sam's skin, enough to pierce it and draw blood.
PUNCH!
PUNCH!
Sam's reaction was vicious, even coming from her, swiftly manoeuvring one of her hands to fiercely punch Tara hard in the stomach.
Tara cried put in pain, heaving over in agony, and instinctively gripping her waist. Suddenly, her hair was grabbed and pulled backwards, forcing her to look upwards.
Sam closed in, whispering harshly in Tara's ear amidst the girl's sobs.
"You will stay and listen Tara; you cannot push it away any longer; your fears are very much real, and you will realise just how true that feeling is."
Tara against her own desire for freedom forcibly compelled, standing still and trying to control her breath lest she give the burning sensation in her lungs any opportunity to bring about an asthma attack.
"WHERE IS SAMMY?!" the other Tara (rather past Tara, given that current Tara was still technically her nineteen year old self).
Christina sighed deeply, the spark in her eyes dimming as she gazed down at her grieving daughter.
When Christina spoke, she did so with both reflective and yet dismissive tone.
"Sam has left us Tara, she just packed up and departed in the night. . .given how thorough she cleared out her room, she isn't likely to return."
"WHY, FUCKING WHY?!" past Tara screamed, her pain induced rage and despair on full display, whilst her deep brown eyes were ablaze with both confusion and shock.
Christina's reply and demeanour was in stark contrast to Tara's. The elder Carpenter was stoic, calm and seemingly unmoved by the sudden departure of her eldest daughter.
"She left because she didn't want to be a burden to anyone anymore with her destructive behaviour."
"In truth, it was for the best Tara, nobody could help Samantha with her problems; no matter hard we both tried to keep her."
Lie, that was a God dam lie!
Tara had tried to keep Sam, naively hoped that her love for her eldest sister would be enough to keep her grounded.
Christina had done next too little to help Sam going through whatever down-spiral she had become caught in, for reasons that at the time were unknown to Tara.
In the end, Christina gradually became lost in her own despair and that descent had quicken after Sam's departure. The ever growing dependency on alcohol, visiting bars and the questionable company that she sometimes brought back with her all resulted in an absentee mother.
Yet it was the bitterness that Christina held towards her eldest daughter that Tara mainly remembered from those lonely days.
And no matter how many times Tara asked, Christina would dismissively tell her to ask Sam, which of course Tara couldn't do as Sam had deliberately given no indication as to where she disappeared off to.
"Samantha couldn't stay anymore Tara, she knew that she was bringing in more trouble than it was worth for everyone," Christina remarked dispassionately, with her hands clasped before her.
Her lack of care was evident to even someone in as deep distress as Tara.
"WHERE DID SHE GO?!" past Tara demanded, amidst her crying and shaking.
"WHERE IS SAMMY?!"
"I did not know Tara, she left no sign in her departure, but it is probably for the best."
Past Tara screamed, clutching her chest as she sank to the wooden kitchen floor in a fit of devastated anger.
"SHE COULDN'T HAVE LEFT, NOT ON HER FUCKING BIRTHDAY!"
Immediately she started rambling, all manners of incoherent words came flooding out. A tide of denial induced beliefs that Sam hasn't left at all, that she was staying over with friends, or that she was merely hiding somewhere nearby ready to surprise Tara.
In truth, current Tara knew as past Tara already did that none that was true. She just wanted to deny the true implications of Sam's sudden and devastating exit.
Having it be on Sam's birthday though, it only made the pain worse with the gift that Tara had made for her, including the birthday banner as she and her friends had made at school and even the lemon cake she had in mind for Sam.
A birthday with no birthday girl, it might as well be a wake for a funeral.
Well, Sam's birthdays become one for Tara, a day of remembrance for their sisterhood and she constantly questioned why Sam had left whenever that heart wrenching day came round.
Sam didn't love Tara enough to stay and more importantly Tara didn't love Sam enough to convince her that it was worth staying and try to endurance whatever mess she was in together.
A fact that Sam was more than happy to point out, whispering coldly into Tara's ear.
"You didn't think that you loved me enough to make me stay and you fear that I could walk away again."
Tara couldn't help but listen, as much she didn't want to.
Sam held her in a strong and unbending embrace, keeping Tara pinned in place and force to watch.
"You are afraid of yourself Tara," Sam said, still cold, but speaking with conviction.
A conviction that was born from Tara herself and she knew it.
"You are too much of a problem to be fixed; you want Sam for the nurturing care and to make up for lost time."
"Only she can provide you with enough warmth to feel alive and yet you push her away, both out of frustration for her overprotectiveness and the belief that eventually she will leave you."
Sam leaned in closer, practically resting her head on Tara's shoulder, sinking in the warmth of Tara's skin like a snake coiling itself around its prey.
"So, you reason, why don't you be the one to push Sam away, instead of letting her decide if she should stay or run," she muttered convincingly.
Tara felt Sam's eyes on her, but she dared not look in her direction, not willing to let Sam see her distraught expression over remembering the immense pain of Sam's swift departure.
Sam whoever became more direct and took hold of Tara's chin, slowly turning it without any resistance to face her.
Bringing Tara's pained and tearful brown eyes to lock with a pair of similar brown eyes that were alight with a dark joy and in absence of any genuine warmth.
"That way, when Sam does eventually leave, you can confirm to yourself that you really are a problem and not that Sam doesn't love you enough because she judged you too difficult for even her to stick with."
Sam slowly pulled Tara's chin upward, so her vision was filled only by that of Sam's face.
"Isn't that right baby girl?" she asked knowingly and with all the smug confidence that her domineering expression radiated.
"I. . .I. . .I," Tara stuttered, she wasn't confused, she just didn't want to admit it, but Sam didn't wasn't taking her refusal for an answer, with her gaze darkening.
"For Christ's sake Tara, can't you be honest with yourself for once?!"
"Sam will never leave me, to do so would be a death's sentence f-"
Suddenly, a hand grasped Tara's throat, cutting deep into her airways and reigniting the fire that until then been smouldering in her lungs.
"Then why am I here Tara!?" Sam asked angrily.
"Why have all of these fears and doubts, you cannot lie to me; it will only make me mad!"
"Sam. . .loves me. . .she. . .won't. . .le-AHHH!"
There was a sharp hard kick against the back of Tara's right knee, hitting a nerve and Tara staggered forward, despite being firmly in Sam's grip.
"I am getting really tired of your bullshit babygirl!" Sam hissed venomously, before delivering another powerful kick, this time to Tara's left knee.
Tara fell forward with another cry of pain and Sam let her drop; before binding the younger Carpenter in her grip again, holding her in a kneeling position.
"You really are in denial, but fine, we both know what I said was true, you fear that if you don't love Sam enough that she will leave you and you will blame yourself like you did last time."
Tara cast back an angry gaze of her own amidst her tears and for a seven year old she did look unnerving.
"Fuck you, despite my fears, you still talk a ton of shit!"
Sam smirked with raised eyebrows, her twelve year old face morphed to an expression of complete confidence in her dominance of the situation.
"Its your shit Tara, I mean you remember how this memory goes, just listen to yourself."
Tara listened to the sobs and cries of her past self, who was still undergoing emotional devastation in front of a passive Christina.
"DIDN'T SAM. . .LOVE ME ENOUGH TO STAY?!" Past Tara begged; her arms wrapped firmly around herself as though she was trying to keep herself together to prevent her heart from splintering even further.
Christina remained passive, not showing any outward signs of either enjoyment, anger, or sorrow at Sam's departure, answering with quiet disconnect.
"Tara, Sam probably left to ensure that she couldn't drag you down any further with her destructive behaviour, she was aware that was causing problems for us, especially you."
Not a compete denial. . .
"BUT WHY DIDN'T SHE SAY GOODBYE TO ME, SHE JUST LEFT IN THE NIGHT?!" Past Tara screamed, feeling herself break away repeatedly with each heavy heart ache.
"Perhaps she didn't want to burden you with one final tearful goodbye Tara."
Tara would have clung to Sam if she had awaked her to say goodbye; physically clinging to Sam as she tried to make it to the front door, begging her no to go and she might have succeeded.
Because if there was one person who could've convinced Sam to reverse her decision it was Tara and only Tara.
Sam returned her gaze to Tara, her face now lacked its confidential smile, but her brown eyes remained devoid of warmth and adapted a calculating look that naturally fitted her.
When she spoke again, the coldness returned, lacing her words with a chill that cut deep.
"Despite your attempts to stay close to Sam, she still left you and maybe, just maybe, because Sam did indeed leave as she sincerely believed that it would be best for everyone, especially you Tara; might she not do so for the same reason again, despite your fierce protests?"
Another fear and perhaps a little more real than the previous one. Sam could be headstrong, steel willed and resolute in whatever she put her mind to.
The fear crept into Tara's mind and readily took up root.
What if Sam did leave her again because she believed that it that could safeguard Tara from the monsters that hunted them. Sam would in a heartbeat, tear the spotlight away from Tara and let it fully illuminate herself so that she could shield Tara from the legacy of Billy fucking Loomis.
It was completely in Sam's nature to commit to such a sacrificial act, and it gave Tara's fear greater strength than a mere preconception.
Sam slowly smiled, correctly sensing the realisation dawning on Tara and equally because she could literally feel the strength of that fear, being the embodiment of Tara's self-doubt and loathing.
Tara had chosen the right form to debase and mock herself. Having the words and actions come from Sam did indeed make it especially cruel.
"You know it could really happen, what with Ethan's vicious attempt on your lives and you know that there are other Ghostfaces out there, just waiting for the right moment."
Sam leaned in close, and Tara had to force herself to not struggle, less she ended up provoking Sam again.
"Who can you truly trust Tara, Mindy, Chad, Quinn, Anika, anyone else, even me perhaps?" Sam asked with a cold smile, taking immense delight in the emotional agony her words caused and her sheer dominance of the situation.
"It is just like Amber, isn't it?"
"So sweet and attentive, doesn't seem to dislike or hate you in any major way beyond anything 'reasonable' and then BANG, suddenly they are holding a knife to your throat and lecturing you on how much they want to rip your heart out!"
Sam smirked, keeping one hand on Tara's neck, and forcing her to look in her direction again, their eyes locked once more.
"See, you can't escape it Tara, you are an integral part of this ever ongoing story, even Sidney Prescott has to keep looking over her shoulder for the fear that one fucked up nut job will come after her, eager to add their mark to this blood soaked saga."
Sam reached round and gently tucked Tara's hair behind her ears, it almost felt affectionate.
"Running away to the big apple was only going to temporarily delay the inevitable baby girl."
She gave Tara a small, but reassuring smile, not that Tara could be reassured by her own self-doubt in the form of her sister.
"Still though, you got a brief reprieve right, a nasty wake up call, but you survived, so if you are clever enough you might make it out alive and turn the tables on these bastards."
"Hell, you enjoyed ripping into Ethan, to be the one wielding the knife."
"I did enjoy it," Tara muttered reflectively, sounding quiet as her mind's eye replayed the moments of her screaming in both sadistic glee and anger as she tore deep into Ethan's stomach and chest. Each stab was a vent for the emotional storm that raged on behind her eyes and each stab merely demanded a fresh one.
Tara wasn't going to deny how she had felt. She simply couldn't and she felt so justified with how Ethan had gotten what he truly deserved.
"It felt right, didn't it Tara?" Sam asked, again with a knowing tone rather than simple curiosity.
"Ethan fucking deserved it, he deserved to die a virgin!" Tara growled, briefly allowing her anger to flare up. The sensation made her eyes briefly glow with a cruel dispensation.
Suddenly Sam's grip on Tara tightened, her arms becoming firmly wrapped around her waist as the elder Carpenter dug her head into Tara's neck.
"Ah, baby girl, I knew you would come round eventually!" she giggled, her sweet laughter becoming infectious as Tara actually smiled, be it a small one.
"I am so pleased that you enjoy it like I do!"
Tara felt pride wash through her and briefly suppressed all her previous wounds.
Sam was proud of her, that sensation could make her feel on top of the world. Just like her being proud of Sam would have the same impact. Both sisters drew confidence, inspiration, and peace from the comfort that the other always had their back.
No matter the dire circumstances. . .
Tara still smiling felt Sam's eyes on her, watching with glee as her inner sadistic streak manifested itself.
Granted, Tara did not share the same tendencies as Sam, she wasn't plagued by hallucinations of people dead or alive, let alone her father.
Yet, she did have it in her to enjoy the supremacy of the moment when she was the one inflicting the pain on some deranged fucker. Given Ghostface's 0-9 success rate; It was like there was a constant line of deranged narcissistic idiots just asking to be slaughtered.
If someone came after you, utterly determined to viciously end your life, then why wouldn't you enjoy ending theirs when the chance came?
It was only fair for those twisted fuckers to brutally and ironically reap what they sowed.
Tara couldn't help but grin, much to Sam's pleasure and Tara's own immense sense of self-disgust at giving into such feelings.
She didn't want to give Sam a win, but she couldn't help it.
Ethan deserved what he got, and the others would too, when they eventually met their end.
"Carpenters together, right Tara?" Sam asked, leaning against Tara's head and gently nuzzling her neck.
"Or are you afraid of embracing it, like Sam?"
"I am not a monster, I kill in self-defence, I just want a life free of this hell," Tara muttered sombrely, letting her smile drop, but Sam cupped her head, tilting it towards her own and softly pressing their heads together, whilst she whispered embracingly.
"Oh Tara; baby girl, I know that, but we must embrace reality, either you will sink or swim."
Sam cupped Tara's face with her hands and turned her gaze towards her past self, who was still bawling her eyes out. Christina remained unmoved, looking down at her daughter with a sombre gaze. One could argue that Christina looked sad, but she was unable to decide on what to do with a heart broken Tara.
Eventually, she would make the call to Amber's mom for Amber to come round and help calm Tara down. Amber would succeed, but only after spending the entire day with Tara, hugging her and talking her down from her emotional distraught.
"This act broke you, but you survived, granted you clung to a monster like Amber, but hindsight is twenty twenty," Sam remarked passively, but her voice retained a certain level of scorn.
"Yet, Sam might or might not hurt you when she is in the clutches of her own darkness, she has hurt you before, regardless of her lack of intention in doing so."
The agonised screams of past Tara rang out loud and clear amidst Sam's words.
Tara stared at her past self with sombre reflection, vividly recalling the emotional stabs that ripped through her body and mind.
And still, Christina stared down at her openly distressed daughter with a detached passivity.
She had already written Sam off, chosen to move on and live whatever life she was scrambling together. Tara's wails of despair merely reminded her of the broken family and the shell of a home that she inhabited with a daughter whose welfare she couldn't not fully provide for.
The mothering aspect of herself had been viciously crushed and the weight of her responsibility in causing this chaos simply proved too much for her to bear.
"Why didn't you hug me mom?" Tara asked, more so to herself, as she watched the scene unfolded.
"Why didn't you try to make me believe that everything was going to be ok?"
As usual, Sam chimed in with a clear answer, coupled with her knowing tone.
"You know why Tara, she was too self focused to truly be a parent for you and that is why Sam's departure hurt so deeply, because despite her problems you had lost the only person who truly cared."
Sam then signed, sounding reflective, before adding.
"Amber did care for a time, or although you have wondered ceaselessly whether she truly ever did."
Tara felt her heart ache, as countless images of the childhood she shared with Amber, both before and after Sam's departure.
Playing tag in the playground under the sun.
Sitting together at class picnics.
Close collaboration in their many classes in high school.
Laying on one another's bed and getting deep into conversation about their favoutive subjects.
But most of all Tara could recall the warm comfort of Amber arms around her neck, letting Tara sink into her when she had one of her emotional moments.
Tara could recall the immense safety with she would feel in those soft arms and gentle hands.
Hands which would one day wield the knife that put her in hospital for weeks on end.
Tara could respond to Sam's words with painful reflection.
"I both wanted and didn't want to ask Amber on why she did it; all she gave me as explanation was it was done to save her beloved Stab franchise."
"Would she even be straight with me if I ever could ask her, the real her?"
Sam slowly turned Tara's face back towards her, with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Funny you should say that babygirl. . ."
"Because I have got a surprise for you."
Suddenly Tara was lifted up, turned around and thrown across Sam's left shoulder. No sooner had she done that Sam proceeded to march out of the kitchen and towards the front door.
The tearful screams and heart breaking sobs of past Tara echoed throughout the house, following Sam and current Tara to the front door.
Tara was at first bewildered and then she realised the true meaning behind Sam's words.
She was going to take her to Amber!
"Welcome to act three. . ."
Suddenly the fire that had been lingering in her lungs, distantly burning away but not enough to cause Tara any major concern swiftly exploded into an internal firestorm.
Tara grasped, clutching her chest, feeling her airways constrict under the pressure.
"Sam. . .I need. . .my inhaler?!"
She didn't want to see Amber, not if reconnecting with her was going to be as painful as her experience with Sam was.
And knowing how batshit insane Amber turned out to be, that was more than a guarantee.
"You won't die from suffocation babygirl, but Amber will have your spare inhaler I am sure," Sam muttered dismissively, merely tightening her hold on Tara's waist.
The real Sam would have within an instant raced upstairs, broken Tara's bedroom door down and ransacked her bedroom to find her inhaler before rushing downstairs (without killing herself in the process) to deliver it to Tara.
Sam, however ignored Tara's strained gasps for air, keeping a tight hold on her body as she quickly reached the front door, unlocking it with one hand.
"Don't worry Tara, Amber knows how to give you your inhaler and the two of you can catch up," Sam remarked cooly, as Tara gasped for air, struggling to get her words out.
"Amber. . .is. . .dead."
"I. . .fucking. . .shot. . .her. . .through. . .the head!"
Sam chuckled with an amused tone.
"Not in here she is Tara, everything that you thought long gone has been kept alive by you."
Tara kicked hard at Sam's chest, trying to angle her feet so she could hit Sam in the neck, but the later maintained her iron like grip.
"Go to. . .hell!" Tara cursed, but Sam replied firmly with.
"Hell is empty Tara, and all your devils are in here."
"I don't. . .want. . .to. . .see Amber!" Tara insisted, kicking frantically away at Sam's chest, and wiggling about to slip free. Yet, Sam still retained her vice like grip, her voice becoming low and foreboding.
"Well, that is a pity Tara, because Amber really wants to see you."
She dug her fingers into Tara's flesh to get her still as the girl fought with her to escape.
"If you. . .really were. . .my sister. . .you wouldn't. . .do this!" Tara hissed between her constrained raspy inhales.
Sam grinned maliciously.
"You're right Tara, I wouldn't, but you already know who I am and besides, you want to suffer, so get a fucking grip!"
"FUCK. . .YOU!" Tara screamed desperately, delivering a massive kick to Sam's chest, but the older girl didn't loosen her hold.
"I thought a girl your age would have learnt better manners Tara."
"I don't. . .want. . .to see Amber, I. . .don't want. . .any further part. . .of this shit!" Tara yelled; the emotional weight of her tone being strangled by her inflamed airways.
Sam remained dismissive of Tara's pleas, speaking determinedly.
"Like I said earlier Tara, you have to confirm to reality, if you don't you will drown."
She threw the front door wide open, and Tara had to wonder if Sam literally intended to carry her across Woodsboro to Amber's house.
When Tara got the chance to glance round to see ahead of her, the truth couldn't be made any clearer.
Darkness greeted her eyes, impenetrable, cold, and enveloping darkness.
There was no sky, no ground, and no end in sight, just a bottomless chasm.
Frantic fear took hold of Tara's mind, and she felt her airways further tighten, limiting her ability to breathe.
Could you even die in a dream?
"Sam. . .please. . .don't-"
"Throw you in backwards, you know me too well Tara," Sam answered with obvious mischief.
"Sam. . .please. . .I'm. . .begging. . .you!" Tara screamed, frantically kicking and wiggling, but Sam remained unmoved, her voice cold, rigid and above all confident in her words.
"Begging won't get you anywhere babygirl, how about all the times you begged for me to come home, or for mom to be a proper mother."
"That's. . .different!" Tara yelled defiantly, but her fear was evident in her face, to which Sam smiled, before uttering with mild amusement.
"You have to be brave babygirl."
"Otherwise, your demons will consume you whole."
Steadily Sam moved Tara off her left shoulder but retained a strong grip on Tara's shoulders.
"SAM. . .PLEASE. . .DON'T!" Tara yelled and with her arms now free she frantically pried at Sam's hands, fighting to loosen her hold.
Her lungs were beginning to scream, her airways greatly inflamed and constricted whilst a fire roared through them.
Yet, when Tara's eyes meet Sam's, she saw the opposite of what she expected.
Sam's brown eyes was alive and vibrant, but of a completely different nature. Whereas 'alive' usually meant bright, happy, and energetic, Sam's expression was dark, malicious, and thoroughly cold faced. Sam was making clear that Tara's frantic pleas were falling on ears that refused to hear her.
When Sam spoke, her voice was firm, unwavering and detached.
"You want this Tara. . .you want to suffer."
"I don't. . .want. . .any. . .of this. . ."
"Then why am I here, why are you revisiting nightmares and the worst scenes of your life, if you didn't want to punish yourself?"
"Why. . .would I. . .want to-"
"Listen, if you want to stay with Sam, then you'll have to dive in Tara; or would you dare to leave her, as she left you?"
Sam's words caused Tara's throat to tighten as the question hit her.
Could she ever been in a situation where she would leave Sam, willingly decide to walk away, to effectively abandon her?
Adamant refusal rose in her before she could even countermand herself.
"I would. . .never. . .leave. . .Sam!"
Sam sighed, now sounding disappointed as she stared at the girl in front of her.
"There's a first time for everything babygirl," Sam remarked cautiously.
"But do enjoy spending time with Amber. . ."
"I might see your beloved Sammy on the other side you make it."
Other side, did she mean this was hell and that was heaven in reach?
Or that this was really just a nightmare and Tara needed to wake herself up to escape back into the real world?
"Other. . .side?" Tara asked hesitantly, whilst forcing her airways to take in enough air to relive her aching lungs.
"You still haven't worked it out have you Tara," Sam replied with dry disappointment.
"Sometimes, the only way to escape the nightmare, is to move through it."
"Oh, and one final thought."
"Regarding your fears of Sam leaving you, there might be another way to keep her around and safe from all of the bullshit."
"How?" Tara dared herself to ask, even though she dreaded the answer.
"Maybe if you were to don the mask and share in the madness with Sam, make her feel that she isn't own in her own darkness."
"Perhaps she would stay, and you can keep her forever, remember you liked holding the knife."
Sam drew Tara in close, but the lack of warmth was beyond apparent, and Tara physically turned away from the mirror version of her sister.
Still Sam leaned in, gently resting her head against Tara's, before whispering into her left ear.
"Yet, like I said babygirl, you have a lot of time to reflect."
"I'll give you one piece of advice. . .don't let the monsters get close enough to bite. . ."
Suddenly Tara felt light, the strong grip of Sam's hands on her shoulders having instantly evaporated as the latter had thrown her through the open door.
The horrible feeling of weightless in her stomach caused Tara to scream, one of her hands stretched out to grasp Sam, but the latter refused to extend her hands.
"SAMMMMMMMM!"
Instead, Sam watched with a cold expression as Tara fell into the deep bottomless darkness, to join her other demons.
Very soon Sam disappeared from Tara's vision. The open door also vanished as she was completely swallowed up by the darkness.
Falling to where. . .was anyone's guess. . .
Tara could do nothing but scream in sheer terror as she fell blindly, unable to hear anything but her own voice echoing around her. Even her asthma attack couldn't break her from shrieking her head off as her primeval response to danger rapidly kicked in.
Tara knew that at the end of this rapid spiral, Amber was waiting for her. . .this might as well be her descent into hell.
Sam. . .Sammy, all Tara wanted was to be back in her sister's arms.
If Sam told her that if she managed to survive Amber, she could break free, she had no other option.
Hugging herself by wrapping her knees with her arms, Tara plummeted like a stone, waiting, hoping for the darkness to eventually clear.
One resolute thought cut through the fear that had already enveloped her mind, bringing with it some much needed determination.
She had to swim, or she'll drown. . .and Tara Carpenter refused to go quietly, for Sam's sake, she had to see through this self-made hell to the bitter end.
We can be our own worse enemies. . .
Tara is arguably in a worse position then Sam because she never truly confronted her problems. Granted she doesn't have attached chaos of being the daughter of a serial killer, but Sam at least tired to work through her problems and confront the past, despite the lukewarm support she received.
Tara never attended therapy, Sam even confronts her on it in Scream VI, but Tara doesn't want to talk about her past, understandably, but in here, she will face the consequences of her refusal.
We'll be seeing Amber in the next chapter and things will get. . .wait, I'll rather leave it a surprise!
Thank you for reading and please review, I deeply appreicate your thoughts.