Hello, guys!

This will be a short update, but it will wrap up a huge piece of the plot, so beware. To the ones asking if I have any other PLL ideas, as a matter of fact I do have some things sketched out after I wrap this one up. But if you have any ideas, you can always hit me up in the DMs.

Anyways, hope you enjoy this!

With love,

White Tigresss.

RULE XIV: CREATE AN OPENING

Jenna walked out of Ali's apartment soon after the blonde rushed off to save Emily, leaving the blind woman alone in the empty home. As Jenna moved, she contemplated why she had decided to help Alison, the very CIA agent responsible for her blindness. She knew it hadn't been Ali's intention; it was simply the consequence of an agent chasing after a criminal.

It all came down to Sydney, the woman who had shown Jenna how to love and that there was more to life than the criminal underground. Jenna had quit her old ways, finding a reformed path to follow. Money wasn't an issue, with Sydney being a professional swimmer and Jenna having amassed a fortune during her drug-dealing days.

Outside the building, Sydney waited. She took Jenna by the arm and guided her to their car.

"How did Alison react?" Sydney asked, concern evident in her voice.

"As expected. She threatened me first, then rushed out to save Emily," Jenna replied.

"Do you think she'll be able to save her?"

"Alison is smart. She won't go there alone. Emily will be fine," Jenna reassured her, offering a comforting smile.

Sydney helped Jenna into the car and then slipped into the driver's seat. She turned the key in the ignition. In an instant, their car exploded in a fiery blast, sending debris flying and lighting up the sky. The explosion's shockwave knocked Jenna out, her last thoughts a jumble of fear and confusion. Sydney's hand had been on hers just moments before everything turned to chaos.

Alison stood exposed, her heart pounding in her chest. Emily's shocked gaze bore into her, though she dared not look up and meet it. The shame was too much.

Paige yanked Emily by the hair, making her wince, and tilted her chin up. "Pay attention, Em. Alison, who you thought was so much better than me, was actually an agent in disguise, just using you to get clues for her case. How does that feel?"

Tears streamed down Emily's face. She replayed every moment she'd spent with Alison: their lessons, their first kiss, Alison holding her through the night, their first time together, her pressed against Ali's closet… Had everything been a lie? Was Alison so heartless as to make her fall in love just to solve a case?

Then, she remembered all the times Alison seemed a little off to her. Like when the blonde seemed to flirt with Archer Dunhill, probably only to squeeze information out of him. Or when Alison got shot at the same time there was a CIA operation in town and now it made sense. Or how Alison could pick her up bridal style with seemingly no problems despite her not being an athlete.

Alison finally dared to look up and cried when she saw Emily's heartbroken expression. Her dishonesty had shattered Emily, and Alison didn't know if they'd ever get a chance to make things right. But she couldn't let Paige twist the knife.

"That's not true," Alison said, her voice breaking. "Emily, I did get close to you for this case, but that was before we started our relationship. I fell in love with you!"

"Alison DiLaurentis doesn't do love," Paige sneered. "All you care about is your reputation as the sexiest woman in America. Seducing someone to get your job done is nothing for you."

"I love you, Emily!" Alison cried out. "Don't let Paige divide us."

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Emily shouted.

Alison recoiled. "I was about to. I couldn't keep lying to you. I wanted to tell you tonight, when you got back from your interview. I knew you'd be upset, but I wanted our relationship to be built on trust and honesty."

Emily's tears continued to flow as she processed Alison's words. The pain and confusion were almost too much to bear. Paige, sensing her control slipping, tightened her grip on Emily's hair.

"Oh, how touching," Paige mocked. "But do you really think Emily will believe you now?"

Alison's eyes never left Emily's. "Emily, please. I know I've hurt you, but my feelings for you are real. I swear it."

Emily's voice trembled as she spoke. "How can I trust you, Alison? After everything—"

Paige pressed the taser into Emily, making her scream. Alison shrieked at the sight, fearing for Emily's heart. She sighed in relief when Paige pulled the taser away, but Emily was left panting, struggling to catch her breath. Alison knew she had to act.

"Paige, please, let her go!" Alison stepped forward, her voice pleading. "She doesn't have anything to do with this. You're angry at me, not at her. I'll let you do anything you want to me if you let her go."

Alison's heart raced. She loved Emily and couldn't bear to see her suffer. Plus, as an agent, her duty was to protect the civilian. If sacrificing herself could save Emily and stall Paige until the CIA arrived, she would do it.

But Paige wasn't falling for that. Instead, she waved the gun back at Alison, "Stand back!"

"Paige, please—!"

"I said, stand back!" Paige shouted, and Alison reluctantly stepped back.

Emily watched the exchange, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and pain. She knew Alison was trying to protect her, but she couldn't decipher the reasons. Was it love? Or was Alison just fulfilling her duty as an agent? The uncertainty gnawed at her.

"You must think I'm stupid to fall for that," Paige sneered. "Neither of you is leaving tonight alive."

"You don't have to do this," Alison insisted, her voice trembling. Suddenly, Paige laughed cruelly

"Actually, I have a better idea," she said. "Why don't you come closer now, Alison?"

Emily, sensing Paige's intentions, pleaded, "Paige, no!"

"It's not like she has a choice, Em," Paige mocked. "If she doesn't, I'll shock you. And she doesn't want to see that."

Alison stepped closer carefully, her mind racing to grasp the reason behind Paige's sudden change of heart. The blonde would no longer have the chance to dodge a bullet if she needed to. But she'd get the chance to tackle Paige the moment she found an opening. It would all come down to what came first.

As Alison approached, the dim light flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room. Her hands trembled, not just from fear but from the desperate will to untie Emily from that chair. Each step felt like an eternity, the distance between them shrinking yet feeling insurmountable.

She stopped in front of Paige, close enough to see the sadistic gleam in her eyes. Alison's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She tried to keep her breathing steady, her gaze locked on Paige's, searching for any sign of hesitation or weakness.

Paige smirked, enjoying the power she held. "Good girl," she taunted. "Now, let's see how much you're willing to sacrifice for her."

She pressed the taser against Alison multiple times, making her shriek as the electricity zapped through her body, the smell of burned skin spreading into the factory. The blonde tried not to scream, not wanting to leave Emily even more scared, but she couldn't control her body's natural reaction.

"Ali!" Emily screamed, her voice filled with terror and desperation.

Eventually, Alison stumbled to her knees, her strength faltering under the intense pain. Paige was so entertained by Alison's suffering that she dropped the hand wielding the gun, her attention fully on the blonde.

At that moment, Emily saw her chance. With Paige too focused on Alison to notice, Emily lunged forward, toppling the chair she was tied to. She fell on top of Paige, using the momentum to knock her ex off balance, sending the taser and the gun skittering across the floor.

Emily groaned in pain as she felt her collarbone cracking. She knew she had broken her collarbone in the fall but hoped she provided enough of an opening for Alison to get back at Paige, who was currently down on the floor.

The blonde took a second to realize what had occurred but scrambled back to her feet as soon as she had room to breathe. However, she knew something was wrong. Her heart was beating irregularly, in a way that made her feel dizzy and weak. Nevertheless, she scanned the room and decided to free Emily first. Paige couldn't possibly deal with both of them at the same time. She walked over to Emily and pulled the Swiss knife she kept hidden underneath her shirt.

"Em, it's gonna be okay, I promise," she slurred, her vision swimming.

Emily's eyes widened in alert when she heard that unfamiliar slur in Ali's voice. She knew something was wrong but didn't have much time to dwell on it. Alison cut the ties around her wrists and ankles, freeing her from her restraints. Then, she pulled her up.

They barely had time to address one another when Ali's instincts perked up.

Paige had scrambled back to her feet again. And, instead of the taser, she was wielding Ali's gun.

"This ends here," Paige growled and shot twice.

"Emily!" Alison yelled and lunged forward, bringing Emily down with her to protect her from the bullets. The former swimmer groaned again as her injured shoulder cushioned the fall.

Seeing both of them down, Paige took a step forward to shoot again. However, another shot came piercing into the room, taking her down with a single strike. Then, Spencer, gun in hand, and Lorenzo stormed into the room with a pack of CIA agents. Two of them went to check on Paige, but she was already dead.

After that, Spencer came rushing to them. Emily didn't find it surprising. She knew that Spencer worked for Alison, so it made sense that they also shared a side hustle in the CIA.

"Are you okay?!" Spencer asked.

Emily used her uninjured arm to propel herself up. "We're alive; it's all that matters."

She had expected Alison to complement her statement afterward, but the blonde didn't speak. In fact, Alison was immobile in her arms. Then, the smell of blood filled her nostrils and she looked down to find blood on her hands.

Alison had been shot while protecting her.

Oh no, I just keep throwing cliffhangers. Will Alison survive? Is Paige the big bag guy? If not, then who is? Will Emison be okay?

WHEN WILL WE EVER CATCH A BREAK?

Let me hear from you! Reviews are appreciated!