I am soaked in blood, my heart racing with adrenaline. Sam and Tara stand in the middle of the room, frozen in shock. The realization of what we have just accomplished begins to sink in.
I run up to Ethan and wrap my arms around him in a tight embrace. "We did it!" I exclaim, pulling away from him with a smile.
"We did it," he echoes, smiling back at me before kissing me passionately.
"What the hell is going on? Seylah, he's the killer!" Tara yells, breaking our embrace.
"I know," I reply, turning to face them.
"What?" Sam asks in disbelief.
"He told me the night that Anika got stabbed," I explain, my heart heavy with the burden of my secret.
Betrayal washes over their faces. "You knew... and you didn't tell us? Are you guys working together?!" Sam shouts, his voice laced with anger and hurt.
"No, listen. He told me, and I was going to tell you, but we had a plan. He wasn't really working with them. He's one of us," I plead, hoping they'll understand.
"He killed Chad," Tara says, her voice quivering with emotion.
I step away from Ethan and face him, tears welling up in my eyes. "What?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
"He's not dead, okay? I called the police, and I didn't stab him in any organs. I told you I didn't promise that nobody would get hurt. You agreed!" Ethan puts his hands on my shoulders, trying to reassure me.
I shake my head, unable to comprehend the gravity of what just happened. "Do you know, for sure, that he's not dead?" I ask, my voice shaking with fear and uncertainty.
He's silent.
"Yes."
I nod. Tara comes over and hugs me, offering me comfort in the midst of the chaos.
Suddenly, we hear a cough, and I look up to see Kirby. Police officers rush in, along with Danny.
"Sam! Hey!" Sam looks up at him, hugging him tightly. "I called Mount Sinai, and Mindy and Gale are going to be okay. Mindy's on her way here now. They couldn't stop her."
"Not bad, cute boy," Tara says, nodding in approval.
_____________________
We step outside, and Ethan stands beside me. He has taken off his costume, and though I think Sam and Tara still don't trust him, they didn't say anything to the police.
"If you ever need me, call. We're all part of the same messed-up family now, and legacy doesn't always have to be a bad thing," Kirby says, still lying on the stretcher.
Tara starts to cry. "It's just Chad."
I turn around and cover my mouth, trying to contain my laughter.
Tara looks up at me, startled and confused as to why I'm laughing.
"He is actually fucking immortal," I say, pointing to Chad on the stretcher.
She runs over to him. "Chad! Chad!"
"How are you alive?!" Sam asks, incredulous.
Chad starts to mutter something.
"Dre- Drea-"
Tara looks at us and laughs.
"Dream fucking team," she says, pulling off Chad's mask and kissing him.
Sam looks at me and Ethan, and nods at him. "Thank you," she says, and Ethan nods back. I hug him tightly, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
We hear Mindy running towards us, her face a mask of concern and worry. "Oh my God! Are you guys okay? I know who the killer is!" she exclaims, her gaze settling on me and Ethan. Her face drops. "Sey, get away from him! It's Ethan and Bailey!"
I shake my head, my mind reeling. "It's Quinn and Bailey," I say, hoping to clear Ethan's name.
"Quinn?! Fuck! Did I miss the monologue again? Are you okay? You don't look okay," she says, following Chad into the ambulance. "Oh my God, we all survived. It's a twist on a twist!"
I look over at Sam and Tara. "Hey, can we keep the whole Ethan thing a secret? Mindy will never trust him again.."
They both nod, and Sam looks down at the mask. I furrow my brows, before ultimately deciding to walk away.
"You know, you look pretty hot covered in blood," Ethan says, smiling at me.
I smile back, feeling a sense of relief and contentment wash over me. I lean in and kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
