Joe's pov
(A/N: Scream lore spoilers)
I had joined my family at the Bay Ridge house for a movie night. I had been very glad to find more family, and that we gelled well together. I had been lonely since my Mom passed, even though I had found another relative online, and had started talking with her. I'm brought out of my thoughts by my Grandfather, Police Commissioner of the NYPD, Frank Reagan
"Ok, everybody! Movie night. Whose turn is it to pick a movie?"
Those present were Grandpa, his father Pop aka Henry Reagan, the former PC, my Aunt ADA Erin Reagan, my Uncle Detective Danny Reagan, other Uncle Sergeant Jamie Reagan, his wife Officer Janko, Aunt Eddie at home. My Cousins were Nicky, the second oldest and only girl, Aunt Erin's daughter, and Uncle Danny's sons, Jack and Sean. Sean found me through a DNA test for a school project, I was raised by my Mom, who never told Detective Joe Reagan she got pregnant. I never got to meet my biological father, who was born after Danny and Erin, but before Jamie. I entered the NYPD with my Mom's maiden name, Hill, which was my legal surname, and did not change it, even after the press had a hayday with connecting me with the Reagans, the Kennedys of cops. Currently, I was a Detective, just like my Dad. Sean broke me out of my thoughts
"My turn! Meta-commentary slashers based on true crime."
He turned to me
"Ever heard of the Stab movies, Joe?"
I went pale, breath hitching at my throat. My hand scratched the back of my neck nervously
"Yeah... I know a thing or two about those... And the real stories that did not feature in the Stab movies, of the Woodsboro murders in California, the subsequent ones in Windsor College in Ohio, Hollywood, Woodsboro again, and then again. I know about the Ghostface attacks, the calls, trivia, stabbings... All of it."
Sean nodded
"You seem like you're just as big a fan as I am, then."
Wincing, I replied
"Not exactly... It's more like... Family history. My mother Paula, she was Nancy Loomis' sister. Yes, Nancy the fourth Ghostface killer. Yes, as in Billy Loomis, the original Ghostface's mother. I'm not exactly proud of this legacy. I was just a little kid who would follow Billy everywhere, he would always spend time with me. Then Aunt Nancy snapped when Sidney Prescott killed Billy in self defense, vowing revenge. Orchestrated a whole other Ghostface spree, trying to copy the original, got an actual serial killer to do most of her dirty work for her, but escaped her pattern to kill a round one survivor who was trash talking Billy. A while back, I found another cousin online, here in New York after fleeing both Woodsboro and Modesto California. Sam Carpenter, Billy's biological daughter, who he never knew existed. We've been wanting to meet up."
Despite the heaviness of what I had shared, I felt lighter since I did not need to hide that from them anymore. A silence followed, making me second-guess having said anything at all, until my Grandpa broke the silence
"Well. That just might be a heritage harder to mange than being a Reagan in the NYPD."
We all chuckled, a laugh I had not known was so necessary for me. Anyone online had known what had become of last year's Ghostface attack in Woodsboro, a clear imitation of Billy's work in the first one. Sam had been fooled by Richie Kirsch, the Billy to her Sidney. He tried to kill her, her half-sister Tara, friends Chad and Mindy, whose Uncle was Randy Meeks, the one my Aunt had killed for slandering Billy. His accomplice was Amber Freeman, Tara's close friend. Others in their group did not make it out alive, like Liv McKenzie, Wes Hicks, his mother Sheriff Judy Hicks and former Sheriff Dewey Riley, having survived the previous four attacks. Sidney had survived, along with Gale, author and reporter, and on-and-off significant other Dewey. In the end, social media vitriol had spun it to where Sam had somehow been the villain that killed Richie for no reason, and he was now beloved and revered. I'll admit Sam takes after my Cousin Billy and the rest of the Hill family line when it comes to wielding a knife or using a gun, but thankfully, she uses it for defending herself and her loved ones. She once told me she's on meds to try to get rid of visions of Billy that talk to her, trying to make her cave in to the stabby desires that Billy had. So far, I've had no visions of any kind. No Billy, no Aunt Nancy, since I spent more time with her than Billy, even if it was just an extra year. I just hoped things stayed that way.
We settled for watching a Western, and by the time it was finished, I started getting my things
"I gotta go for my overtime shift. I volunteered to do patrol at Blackmoore University a few blocks away. There's a frat party going on, they needed people to keep the peace, and, even though I'm not a patrol officer, I needed the OT. Plus, Tara, Chad and Mindy are gonna be there, Sam might join, maybe not."
After saying goodbye to my family, I left for the party grounds.
Sam's pov
Tara wasn't picking up her cell, and we had promised each other we'd always pick each other's calls up. Especially after everything last year... I walked into the apartment I shared with Tara and our friend Quinn Bailey, only to see Tara was nowhere around and Quinn had a guy over. I took her aside
"Do you know if Tara went to the party after I told her not to?"
She was hesitant, but coughed up an affirmative soon enough. More worried by the second, I asked
"Did she at least have her taser on her?"
Quinn replied
"I cannot speak to how armed Tara was at this party."
Great. I thanked her and left for the party, hoping for the best and fearing the worst. When I got there, I could hear drunken laughter all over. Ugh. I heard a conversation between Tara, Chad, and this creep known as 'date-rape' Frankie. He was trying to get her upstairs, and my wasted sister was actually about to let him, until Chad stepped in. He and Mindy are great kids, I used to babysit them and Wes when they were just little kids. Man, I miss Wes. Anyway, as soon as Chad had freed Tara from Frankie, I subtly walked up to him and said
"I'm just gonna tase you down below real quick"
Then proceeded to tase him in his privates until he dropped to the floor. Chad and Mindy stifled giggles, but Tara was none too pleased
"You're gone for five years and now won't let me out of your sight! If I wanna make a bad decision, it's still my decision! My life! I'm not gonna let what happened for 3 days last year define the rest of it! You followed me here, work two or three awful jobs you hate just to make ends meet, and for what?! You need to butt out, Sam."
With that, she stormed away, and I sighed in exasperation, only smiling a bit at a familiar voice approaching
"Hey. Nice handling of that creep, Sam."
I turned to the source of the voice and hugged the brunette clad in leather
"Thanks, Joe. But the rest of this party is your headache now. I gotta go patch things up with Tar."
He grimaced
"Good luck."
I smiled
"Thanks."
Just as I was leaving, angry Richie- defenders threw Diet Cherry Coke on me, calling me a murdered. The only thing that made that better was seeing them get arrested by my Cousin, then running into my apartment building and the safety of my for-now secret boyfriend, our neighbor Danny Brackett. It was hard to trust and love again after Richie, but Danny made it easy. He teased
"Is this supposed to be a new perfume or lotion? Cherry Coke?"
I rolled my eyes
"Diet at that. And no. I got this thrown at me."
He grimaced
"I'm so sorry."
He went for a kiss and I stopped him, fearing the twins and Tara would see too soon
"Not here. People could see us."
He smirked
"Ah, yes. How terrible for your sister and friends to discover you secretly enjoy the touch of another human being."
I rolled my eyes playfully
"I'm serious. I'm not ready yet."
He nodded, ever so understanding
"I know. I'm just joking. Relax, Sam. Here."
He handed me a towel to dry myself off, ever the gentleman. More family, more friends, and now love again. I was cautious, but also letting myself try to enjoy this and hope for the best. But always prepare for the worst. I had to protect my loved ones, after all.