NO TIME TO DIE ━ scream²

07. theater kill box

chapter seven,
theater kill box

        THE GROUP HAD decided to take Bailey's advice of staying in public. They were headed to the nearest subway station. It was Halloween, so the subway would be even more full than it normally was.

"Is this even a good plan?" Ethan questioned, the only one of the group to voice his doubts.

        Tara glanced back at him. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

       "So we just peel off and the killer picks us off one-by-one? No, thank you," the curly-haired boy shook his head and Tara let out a quiet huff.

        Carlyn grabbed his hand and paused. "I don't want you to come."

        The plan was easier said than done. Trapping Ghostface and killing him would not happen without any damage. Carlyn had sucked at helping the people she cared about, and she was not adding another name to her list. Maybe Ethan was the killer, but if he wasn't, she wasn't gonna let him die. Not when she could to something to save him.

        "What?"

        "I don't want you to come," Carlyn repeated.

        Even though Ethan had made it clear that he was against the plan, his eyes softened. "Carlyn—"

        A lump formed in her throat and tears began to pool in her eyes. "Ethan—"

"The only way I'm not going is if you don't go."

"I don't want anything to happen to you, and if you come and something does, that's gonna be on me," her voice held a mixture of annoyance and desperation. "I don't want you to come."

"If you don't want me to come, then you're not going either," Ethan argued, laying his hands on her shoulders. He leaned down so he was at her height. "And I know you're not going to stay behind, so I'm going."

Carlyn would've argued back, but Chad's voice stopped her before she could. "Guys, come on!" he called out to them as the group stood before the entrance to the subway station.

"Fine," Carlyn sighed. "But stay close, okay? I'm not letting anything happen to you."

        She took his hand and led him over to the subway entrance where the others were waiting. Mindy eyed Ethan and Tara rolled her eyes as the group headed down the stairs.

        Chad grabbed Carlyn's hand, making sure he kept her close as they pushed through the crowded station. A person bumped into her, making her let go of Ethan's hand. She turned back, catching him at the end of the stairs with Mindy. "Wait—" The loud chatter surrounding them made it so the others couldn't hear her and Chad continued dragging her into the subway. "Chad—"

        The boy finally turned around and followed her gaze, noticing his sister wasn't with them. "Mindy—"

        Before either of them could go back to get the two that had fallen behind, Danny was pulling them back.

        "No," Carlyn breathed out as the subway took off. She groaned as she felt herself get pushed back. Anger flared through her body — they were supposed to stick together, yet two of their friends were left behind.