Hello, guys!
ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR THE BIG A REVEAL?!
Hope you guys like it!
With love,
White Tigresss
Spencer waited for Emily outside the ICU, her heart heavy with concern. When Emily emerged, she looked defeated, her healthy arm hugging her torso protectively with her good arm. The sorrow on Emily's face was unmistakable.
"What took you so long?" Spencer asked softly, her worry evident.
"She's dead," Emily whispered, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "Sydney's gone, Spencer!"
Without hesitation, Spencer wrapped Emily in a gentle embrace, careful of her injuries. She knew this wasn't the time to worry about physical discomfort; Emily needed to release her pain. Spencer held her close, letting the former swimmer's sobs fill the space between them.
"We're going to find out who did this, I promise you," Spencer murmured into Emily's hair, her voice firm yet comforting. "But for now, we need to get you to Alison's family. They're waiting to hear about her surgery."
Emily nodded weakly, struggling to pull herself together. She wiped her tears, her mind racing with a troubling realization. As they walked towards Alison's family, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was a crucial detail that had been overlooked in the investigation. She had to uncover it before Big A could strike again.
THE ROSEWOOD OBSERVER
Olympic Swimmer Sydney Driscoll passes away after car explosion
Olympic swimmer Sydney Driscoll has tragically passed away following a car explosion. The Rosewood Hospital confirmed her death during a joint press conference with the CIA.
This explosion has claimed a second victim, an unidentified woman, earlier in the incident. Driscoll was initially rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, but it has now been confirmed that she did not survive.
The CIA has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the attack, including who orchestrated it, the motive behind targeting Driscoll, and why the CIA, rather than Rosewood PD, is handling the case.
Residents of Rosewood are increasingly alarmed as their once peaceful suburban town is rocked by a spate of violent crimes. On the same day as the explosion, Driscoll's teammate and fellow Olympic swimmer, Emily Fields, was abducted. The CIA has confirmed Fields is alive and well but declined to comment on rumors that CEO Alison DiLaurentis, who is also rumored to be Fields' girlfriend, was involved in the incident.
Spencer led Emily to a secluded room where Ali's family waited for the surgery to be over. Upon entering, Emily saw Jason's son, Seth, engrossed in a game on Jason's phone. A middle-aged woman, presumably a family member, stared blankly at the wall. Charlotte stood near Lorenzo, who had a firm hand on her shoulder.
"I'm guessing the press conference went okay," Charlotte said, tugging at the lapels of Lorenzo's suit.
"As okay as it could've been," Lorenzo replied, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Ce, I promise you, I'm going to find whoever is behind this."
Emily hadn't realized the immense pressure Lorenzo was under. Unlike Spencer and Alison, being an agent was his full-time job. Now, his sister-in-law was in surgery, and the tension was palpable.
"I know you are, love," Charlotte said, leaning into him. Spencer cleared her throat, making their presence known.
All eyes turned to Emily. She felt a wave of intimidation, especially with Ali's family scrutinizing her. But Charlotte's eyes sparkled with recognition as she rushed over to her.
"Emily!" Charlotte exclaimed, enveloping her in a hug. The resemblance to Alison was uncanny, and it brought Emily to tears, reminded of the promise she had made to Charlotte in this very hospital.
"I'm sorry, Charlotte!" Emily cried, her voice breaking. "I tried to keep her safe. I tried to knock Paige out, but I was tied to a chair and—"
Charlotte gently interrupted, "Emily, none of this is your fault. You didn't kidnap or shoot anyone. If anything, Alison would've wanted to keep you safe."
"Still—" Emily started, her guilt overwhelming her.
"Don't go there," Charlotte said softly, but firmly. "It's not your fault."
Emily nodded, tears streaming down her face, feeling the weight of Charlotte's words.
Charlotte kept her arms around Emily, offering her a moment of comfort. The room was silent except for the occasional beeps from nearby medical equipment, each sound amplifying the tension.
"I can't believe this is happening," Emily whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't lose her, Charlotte."
"We won't lose her," Charlotte replied, her voice steady but eyes filled with worry. "Alison is strong. She'll pull through this."
Lorenzo stepped closer, his face a mask of determination. "Emily, I need to know everything you remember about tonight. Every detail could be crucial."
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Paige… She was unhinged. She had this wild look in her eyes."
Spencer nodded, jotting down notes. "Did she mention anyone else? Any names, places?"
Emily shook her head. "No, it was mostly rants about how she was jealous of me. She did mention something about a team. I just talked to Sydney and she mentioned a Big A. I have no idea who that is."
"Big A," Lorenzo repeated, his eyes narrowing. "We need to figure out who that is."
Just then, the door to the waiting room opened, and Wren stepped in, his clothes stained with blood, presumably Alison's. Spencer was the first to rush toward him and everyone else huddled around him.
"How did it go?!" Spencer asked
"We've had a few complications, but the surgery was successful," Wren nodded and gave the family a tired yet warm smile. "She lost a significant amount of blood, but we've managed to remove the bullet. She's stable now, but the next 24 hours are critical."
Emily was ecstatic. She even forgot about her burns and her broken collarbone. Alison was going to be alright. For a moment, she even forgot about Ali's betrayal and the whole situation they were in. She was wading through so many feelings in only one night that it was hard to fixate on just one emotion.
Ali's family also celebrated. Jason even threw Seth in the air and caught him. However, there was something in Wren's eyes that told Emily he wanted to say something else. And he did:
"I must warn you, though: we found during this surgery that Alison has a congenital defect in her heart that caused her to have arrhythmia. As her body was weak, she had a heart attack and we had to resuscitate her," Wren told them, the happiness once again settling into a gloomy feeling in the room. "She should be alright for now, but I'd advise against her ever going into the field again."
"Wren, I've raised her! She's never shown any signs of arrhythmia!" the middle-aged woman pointed out. Emily guessed she must be Ali's aunt, Mary.
"Sometimes these symptoms show under certain triggers," Wren theorized. "We know Alison was electroshocked at the scene. That could've triggered the arrhythmia."
"She was," Emily confirmed, the guilt settling into the pit of her stomach. She knew there was little she could do to protect Alison in the situation Paige put them in, but Alison had still taken the shocks to protect Emily.
"What matters now is that Alison will be alright. She's resting in a separate room right now," Wren informed. "Two of you can stay there with her."
"I'll go check up on her and then I'll have to go," Charlotte said. "I'll have to deal with the media repercussions in our company, so I'll be working all night."
"I'll go with you," Jason offered. "I need to take Seth home."
"Lorenzo and I can visit after you guys," Spencer replied. "Then we'll head back to our case."
"Perfect, so it's settled that Emily and Aunt Mary will stay with Ali," Charlotte concluded, making Emily feel overwhelmed.
"I really don't want to intrude," Emily said, feeling bashful in front of Ali's family.
"You're not intruding. Ali would want you here," Charlotte pointed out.
"I know it's been a lot to process, Em. It's okay if you're feeling overwhelmed," Spencer added, trying to comfort her.
Emily considered both sides. She was still angry and upset at Alison for keeping her CIA side gig a secret. They would need to talk about it once Alison recovered. However, for now, Emily didn't like the idea of being away from Alison. She wanted to be near her, to protect her, just as Alison had protected her.
"I'm okay. I can stay with her," she finally agreed.
"Good!" Wren interjected. "Don't forget to take your painkillers! You're still nursing a broken collarbone. I'll visit later to give you the meds."
Emily nodded in agreement but didn't feel like taking any pills. The tension had increased her pain tolerance, or maybe she just hadn't paid attention to her broken collarbone yet.
They followed the plan, visiting one at a time until it was time for both Emily and Aunt Mary to stay with Alison.
Emily and Mary entered the dimly lit hospital room where Alison lay unconscious, her pale face contrasting starkly with the sterile white sheets. Emily felt a pang in her heart, seeing the usually vibrant Alison looking so vulnerable.
Mary sat down on the chair beside the bed, her eyes filled with worry and sorrow. Emily stood at the foot of the bed, unsure of what to do or say. The silence in the room was only broken by the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
"She looks so fragile," Mary whispered, her voice barely audible. "I've never seen her like this."
Emily nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "She's always been so strong. I hate seeing her like this."
Mary looked up at Emily, her eyes softening. "You've been through a lot tonight. Are you sure you're okay to stay?"
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I need to be here. For Alison."
Mary reached out and took Emily's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you for being here. Alison means a lot to me, and I know she means a lot to you too."
Emily nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "She does. More than anything."
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the night's events heavy on their shoulders. Emily couldn't help but replay everything in her mind, the fear, the anger, the helplessness. She knew that they still had a long way to go, but at least for now, Alison was safe.
Mary suddenly spoke up, her voice soft but firm, "It might be a lot to ask, but please don't resent my niece."
Emily looked confused, her brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"
"I can see it in the way you look at her," Mary explained, her gaze steady and knowing. "There's love, but there's also conflict. I have a feeling Alison hasn't been completely honest with you."
"No, she hasn't," Emily admitted, a bitter edge to her voice. "But she saved my life at the same time."
Mary nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Family means a lot to her. In her own brash ways, Alison has always tried to protect those she loves. If she hadn't run away, I wouldn't have known about CeCe's and Jason's struggles. They would have had to endure their parents' abuse for much longer."
Emily's eyes softened, the anger in her chest giving way to a deeper understanding. "She's always been complicated."
"She has," Mary agreed. "But she loves fiercely. Sometimes, that means making choices that others don't understand. Give her a chance to explain when she's ready. You might find that her reasons, though flawed, come from a place of love."
Emily nodded slowly, absorbing Mary's words. "I'll try. It's just… hard to reconcile everything."
Mary gave her a reassuring smile. "Love is rarely simple, Emily. But it's worth fighting for."
"I don't know where you're coming from," Emily said, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Alison will do a lot to protect us, believe me," Mary said firmly. "She learned how to run a company and make it successful after I got diagnosed with breast cancer. She never stopped pushing back against everything life threw her way. But, in a way, I don't think Alison has ever felt real love before she met you."
"She really has a reputation," Emily remarked bitterly.
"I wanted her to settle down, but I knew it had to be her own choice. Charlotte found Lorenzo, Jason was madly in love with Seth's mother before she passed away giving birth. But Alison never connected with anyone like that."
Emily gulped, feeling a mix of emotions as Mary continued.
"It took me years to finally understand that, behind her façade of strength, Alison had been deeply traumatized by her childhood," Mary revealed. "Her parents were abusive, and her elder siblings couldn't protect themselves. Alison had to cover for them. Imagine what that must have felt like for her."
Emily absorbed the information, but it still didn't help her understand why Alison lied. "With all due respect, how does that explain Alison keeping secrets from me?"
Mary sighed, her expression softening. "Alison learned early on that the only way to survive was to be strong and protect those she loved, even if it meant keeping secrets. She's spent her whole life shielding others from pain. It's not right, but it's her way of coping."
Emily's eyes softened as she began to understand. "So, she lied to protect me?"
"Exactly," Mary said gently. "Alison's actions come from a place of love and fear. Fear of losing you, fear of you getting hurt because of her. She needs time to learn how to trust fully, to let someone else in on her burdens."
Mary continued, "My niece has always been charming, ever since childhood. She could get anything she wanted and get away with anything she did. With that and her past, I was afraid that Alison would grow into a cold and manipulative person who was unable to care for other people. But the CIA offered an outlet for that. She could be manipulative there and it still would have a positive outcome in most cases."
"Not in mine," Emily bitterly replied.
"She didn't expect to fall for you," Mary stated. "I remember her always saying that she wanted to be the cool aunt who never settled down. And then the next thing I knew, she took a bullet for you. My niece was very serious about her job, but she had never gotten hurt like that."
"I don't know what you want me to say," Emily said, her voice tinged with frustration and confusion.
"You don't have to say anything," Mary replied, her tone softening. "After all, I know what it's like to be manipulated and fooled. Ali's mother is my twin sister, and I had to deal with a lot of her machinations. It wasn't easy. But I promise you, Alison isn't like that. She has a good heart."
Emily glanced once again at the scar on Ali's chest. "I know that," she murmured.
A soft knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Wren, who brought Emily her painkillers. She took them reluctantly and then, feeling the exhaustion and emotional weight of the night, fell asleep holding Alison's hand.
Emily woke up groggily, the painkillers leaving her in a haze. She blinked a few times, trying to get her bearings. The room was dimly lit, and she could hear the soft, rhythmic beeping of Alison's heart monitor. Mary was sitting in a chair nearby, reading something on her phone but looking up occasionally to check on both Emily and Alison.
"Hey, you're awake," Mary said softly, closing her book. "How are you feeling?"
Emily stretched slightly, wincing as she adjusted her position. "I'm okay, I guess. Just… tired."
Mary nodded understandingly. "It's been a long night for all of us. But Alison is stable, and that's what matters right now."
Emily looked over at Alison, her heart aching at the sight of her lying there, pale and vulnerable. She reached out and gently took Alison's hand in hers, careful not to disturb the IV lines. "I still can't believe all of this is happening," she murmured.
"I know it's overwhelming," Mary said. "But we'll get through it. Alison is strong, and so are you."
There was a brief silence as Emily watched Alison's chest rise and fall with each breath. She felt a mixture of relief and anxiety, knowing that while Alison was stable, the road to recovery would be long and uncertain.
"Do you think Alison will be okay?" Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mary sighed, her expression thoughtful. "Physically, I believe she'll recover. The doctors are doing everything they can, and she's in good hands. Emotionally… that might take longer. She's been through so much."
Emily nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just want to be there for her, no matter what."
"And you will be," Mary assured her. "But you also need to take care of yourself, Emily. You've been through a lot too."
"Yesterday felt like a nightmare," Emily said, her voice trembling slightly. "I kept wishing I'd wake up and realize it was just a bad dream. But it wasn't."
Mary nodded, her expression filled with empathy. "It's a lot to process," she agreed gently. "But you're both safe now. You can take the steps towards recovery one at a time."
Emily nodded, though doubt lingered in her eyes. "I hope so," she said softly, uncertainty coloring her words. The weight of last night's events still pressed heavily on her heart.
Mary stood up from her seat, her movements deliberate and calm. "Well, I'll have to go now. Jason is needed at the company, and I need to stay with Seth." She paused, looking at Emily with a reassuring smile. "I'm confident Ali is in good hands right now. She's lucky to have you by her side."
Emily looked up, meeting Mary's gaze. The older woman's confidence was a small, comforting anchor in the sea of chaos. "Thank you, Mary," she said, her voice firmer. "I'll do my best."
Then, she sat by Alison's bedside, her eyes scanning the room to ensure they were alone. The beeping of the machines around them provided a steady, almost soothing rhythm, contrasting with the turmoil in her heart. Carefully, she reached for the blanket covering Alison, hesitating for a moment before gently pulling it back.
Her breath caught in her throat at the sight. A long, vertical scar ran down the center of Alison's chest, the fresh sutures stark against her pale skin. Emily's fingers trembled as she traced the line with her eyes, imagining the pain and the procedure that had left this mark. Further down, she noticed smaller scars on the sides of Alison's chest, where additional incisions had been made.
Emily's gaze shifted to Alison's upper chest, where faint burn marks from the defibrillator pads were visible. She winced, knowing those were the result of the heart attack and the frantic efforts to revive her.
Her eyes continued to roam, spotting minor marks and bruises on Alison's arms and hands—evidence of IV lines and the myriad of monitors that had been attached to her.
With each scar and mark she discovered, Emily felt a surge of protective anger mixed with deep sorrow. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Alison's forehead, whispering, "You're so strong, Ali. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
Eventually, Emily found herself getting bored. The silence in the room, interrupted only by the rhythmic beeping of medical monitors, was oppressive. Wren had come by in the morning to check on both her and Alison. The blonde's condition was delicate but stable; it was only a matter of time before she woke up. Wren had also given Emily more painkillers for her collarbone, noting that she seemed to be recovering well.
With Wren gone and no one else to talk to, Emily decided to check her phone. She remembered Sydney mentioning an interview with Aria Montgomery, and curiosity got the better of her. She opened The Rosewood Observer's website, searching for the latest interview with Sydney Driscoll.
To her surprise, there was nothing. No recent interviews with Sydney by Aria Montgomery. Emily frowned. Either Sydney had been delirious, or the interview hadn't been published yet. But another thought crossed her mind—Sydney hadn't had any interviews arranged for a long time. The National Swim Team's PR team coordinated all their interviews, and the athletes usually knew each other's schedules.
A much darker thought began to form in Emily's mind. Sydney had claimed she talked to Aria, and Ezra Fitz was the one who planted the bomb under her car. But Ezra was supposedly keeping Aria hostage in the woods at the time. How could that timeline possibly work?
Emily's mind raced as she considered the possibilities. The CIA had Ezra on tape planting the bomb, and his body had been found in the woods where he had supposedly been holding Aria. But the sequence of events didn't add up. Could Ezra have managed to plant the bomb, then return to the woods to keep Aria captive, only to end up dead?
Or maybe... there was a third betrayal that day. The thought sent a shiver down Emily's spine. What if someone else had been involved, someone they hadn't yet considered?
Ezra and Aria were engaged to one another. No one had seen him abduct Aria, just as no one had seen Paige abduct Emily. The security cameras had been conveniently turned off. Sydney had claimed that Ezra didn't have the brains to be the mastermind behind all of this, and Emily agreed. If he had, how would he have ended up dead, murdered by his own victim?
A chilling thought crossed Emily's mind. What if Aria was the mastermind behind all of this?
Aria could have been the one who turned off the security cameras in the studio. She might have been the one who knocked out Emily, maybe even the one who took her to Paige. Then, Ezra and Aria went to find Alison, but Jenna and Sydney were already there. Aria had to distract Sydney with an interview while Ezra planted the bomb, conveniently taking out both Jenna and Sydney—and possibly Alison, if they could have.
Then, Aria could have taken Ezra to the woods to get rid of the only person who had witnessed her crimes. And then she cried wolf and played the victim, as no one would have suspected that a highly respected journalist like her would be the mastermind of this.
It was likely, but could Aria actually be Big A?
Emily frowned in deep thought. Aria had always been connected to sports. Her brother Mike was a pro lacrosse player. She had dated two martial artists before Ezra. Her connections only deepened as she made her career as a sports journalist. Every athlete in Pennsylvania knew of Aria Montgomery and dreamed of being interviewed by her. And, by dating Ezra, she also got access to money and political connections.
Emily shook her head in shame. Aria was one of her best friends. Could she be a criminal? A third betrayal would sting, but it probably wouldn't shock Emily as much as the first two had. Still, it was a long shot.
Emily's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She had always trusted Aria, but the pieces were falling into place in a way that made her doubt everything. She couldn't ignore the possibility, no matter how much she wanted to.
As if on cue, a soft knock on the door interrupted Emily's train of thought. It was Aria who came into the room. Normally, Emily would have found her presence comforting, but the only thought that crossed her mind was that no one was supposed to know where Ali's room was. Spencer had ensured that even she had limited information about it. Aria wasn't supposed to be there.
"Hi, Em! Spencer told Hanna and me where you were," Aria said, walking into the room with a cup of coffee in her hands and a donut. "Here, I brought breakfast."
Spencer would never give away information that would lead anyone outside their circle to Alison.
"Thanks, Ar!" Emily replied, eyeing the donut. It looked appetizing, but something in her gut told her not to touch the food Aria had given her. She would have to get rid of it. "The painkillers are really messing with my stomach, so I don't think I can deal with the donut right now, but I'll take the coffee."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you were on painkillers," Aria apologized sheepishly as Emily set the donut aside.
"That's okay," Emily dismissed, pretending to take a sip of the coffee Aria had given her.
"Alison is so strong, you know," Aria commented absentmindedly, sitting closer to the blonde. Emily's instincts perked up, and she had to control herself to avoid sitting between them and pulling Aria away from Alison. Sydney's warning that Ali might be in danger echoed through her mind.
"She is," Emily agreed. Noticing that Aria was distracted watching Ali's vitals, she discreetly threw away the coffee in the garbage can, hoping the liquid wouldn't slosh and catch Aria's attention. "Thanks for the drink, but I think I need more caffeine. I'm still so drowsy from my meds."
Emily faked a yawn, knowing that it was what Aria expected to see.
"You can rest, Em. I can always bring you more coffee. Or maybe something for your stomach," Aria offered.
"Yep, that would be good," Emily nodded slowly and pulled out her phone as if to check the time. Discreetly, she texted Spencer:
S.O.S! Come to Ali's asap!
Then, she leaned her head back on the couch and faked another yawn, "I think I'm going to take a nap. Can you watch Ali for me?"
"Sure!" Aria replied with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Emily closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. For the first five minutes, nothing happened. She was about to open her eyes and mentally apologize to Aria when she heard soft steps near Ali's bed. Emily's heart raced as she cracked one eye open and saw Aria planning to meddle with Ali's IV bags with a syringe.
When Aria was about to inject something into the IV, Emily jumped up and slapped her on the wrist, making her drop the syringe, which smashed on the floor.
"Emily?!" Aria jumped away in surprise, eyes wide with shock.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do, Big A," Emily challenged, her voice cold and steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Let me hear your thoughts on this Big A reveal!