I could recognize who grabbed me, his soft yet strong arms wrapping my waist to stop me from escaping. He pulls me against his back, making me face the screen that was playing a video montage with a young boy in it. Bailey walks forward to the screen, gazing up at it.
"Have I been the perfect dad? No. Have I maybe overindulged Richie's love for these movies? Yeah. They're just a little dark for me, but Richie really loved them; he even made a few of his own," Bailey says as he continues staring at the screen, and I realize the little boy in the video is Richie. I tried prying Ethan's arm off my waist, but he was too strong.
"There's a very special bond between a father and his first son," Bailey says, and I could feel Ethan stiffen. I couldn't help but feel a little bad for Ethan. "Which is why I helped him with this collection," Bailey continues, turning around to face us.
Sam looks around and asks, "This was all his?" Bailey faces Sam and Tara as he explains. "He's a very passionate collector." We had to kill those wannabe fake students because we had to kill you first, Sam. We put the theater in their way so I wouldn't just stumble on it, but I didn't have to because, my god, that Gale Weathers is one hell of a journalist," Bailey says, and we all just stare at him, but I could feel Ethan gripping onto me tighter.
"I built a tribute for my son, which is why this is where you have to die, Sam," Bailey says, and Sam's and Tara's eyes widen. Bailey comes closer. "Surrounded by all the things he loved the most," he comes even closer. "What happens next, huh? Are you just going to disappear after you're done?" Sam questions.
"No, I'm going to hurry to the hospital to make sure Mindy and Gale don't pull through because everyone dies, Sam. Everyone who had to do with my son's death will suffer and die," Bailey raises his voice fiercely as he comes closer and holds a gun to Sam's chest. I try again to escape Ethan's grip, but he just pulls me back.
"Now, put the mask on," Bailey says as Sam stares at the gun, and she smirks. "He was so...pathetic," Sam says, looking down. "That's not true," Bailey denies what Sam says quickly. "Yeah, your son was a man-baby who had his girlfriend do all the killing," Sam says, moving her head up to face him.
Bailey shakes his head. "He was a strong, young man," he yells at Sam defensively. "He was a limp, dick little fuck who cried before I slit his throat," Sam roughly says, and Quinn strides running at Sam and Tara, "Shut the fuck up!" Quinn yelled, but was cut off by Tara smacking her with a brick. This made Ethan loosen his grip a bit. I took this chance to kick one of his legs, and I started running away from him.
Suddnely, gunshots were fired from Kirby, who tried shooting Bailey, but he had a bulletproof vest on. "Sam, Lauren, come on!" We turned to see Tara near the ladder, and I ran to her. I turn around to see Ethan Stab Kirby, but luckily Sam smacked him out for a while. She takes out the knife that Ethan punched into Kirby and puts it by her side as she runs towards us.
We started climbing up the ladder and had to crawl over this railing. Heights weren't really my thing ever since what happened to Anika, so I was the last to go. But as I crawled over the railing, a gunshot startled me, which made me lose my balance and slip off the railing. Now I was dangling off it. "Lauren!" The sisters shrieked, and Tara grabbed my arm.
"Haha!" Bailey's cruel laugh echoed in the theater as I panicked and tried desperately to hold on. "Dad," Ethan angerily yells at his father as he stands up and realizes I was dangling. I looked down and saw his face-his sweet, cold face. I hated and loved it.
Quinn was now with us, her knife pointing at Sam and Tara. I notice Sam handing Tara the knife and say, "You have to let go." I understood what she meant, and she handed me the knife. We both let go of each other, and I fell down onto Ethan. I aimed the knife at Ethan's face as I fell, but I couldn't bring myself to kill him; there was still a part of me that wanted him. A small part of me wanted to forgive him, love him, and maybe change him.
Crashing on top of Ethan, the knife that was supposed to stab him in the face was now right in front of his face. I tremble as I point the knide towards him, and he just stares at me wide-eyed. Suddenly there was a gunshot from above us, which took me aback. Ethan took this opportunity to gain back control and track me to the ground, sliding the knife away as he pinned me to the ground.
"Fucking liar, you lied to me! You broke the promise!" I yell at him as I struggle underneath him. Tears started to form again as I looked at his face again. He looks down at me coldly and tightens his grip.
He tried looking cold and evil, but I knew he wasn't; he couldn't. If he really was evil, he would have stabbed me already, right? There was a hint of guilt and sadness on his face. Did he feel bad? This was too confusing, and I want answers. I need answers.
"After everything I did, I trusted you. I defended you. I LOVED YOU!" I scream as the tears spill, my breath becoming shakey. I stopped struggling and stared directly into his eyes. "Did you even mean anything you said to me? Did you even care?" He silently stares at me. I try to get closer to his face.
"Answer me Ethan, goddammit! Did you actually love me-"
"I love you! I....I really did love you, Lauren."
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