𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙸𝚝...? | E. Landry

05. the subway

Alana, Liam, Ethan, Chad, Mindy, and Kirby are all in a cramped-up van, while Sam, Tara, Arianna, and Bailey are outside in Central Park looking for Ghostface. Ethan and Alana are sharing a bag of Cheetos, Liam is playing on his phone, Chad is eating pizza, and Mindy is leaning back in her chair, watching Kirby type away on her computer.

"So we're really doing the phone tracing thing that never works in the movies. It'll be all. 'Keep him talking, Sam. Two more minutes, I've almost got him.' And then he hangs up just before we can get a lock." Mindy looks at Kirby extremely skeptical.

"I can trace a call in under 15 seconds." Kirby looks at Mindy with a look of pride.

Alana stares at Kirby in complete awe. "Dude, that's amazing. How do you do that?" She sits up quickly, ignoring the pain in her lower stomach.

Mindy stops Alana's fangirling and raises her eyebrows before sitting up. "Well, you've got them out there as bait."

"Because the killer usually calls from somewhere nearby."

"And you think they're safe because it's broad daylight in a public place?"

"Look, I am here, okay?" Kirby looks at Mindy before going on, "And so is Bailey."

"This is exactly how our Uncle Randy died. Broad daylight. Public place. Yanked into a van. Stab, stab, stab. No more Randy."

Kirby stares at her, then nods. "Huh."

The other four just stare at her before Ethan offers Chad some Cheetos, and Alana smacks him. "Not the time, babe." She grabs some Cheetos and eats one.

Kirby goes back to her computer. "Hey, Sam? Stay frosty out there, okay?"

The five wait until they hear Sam's phone ring. Kirby types at her computer while Alana shakes her leg anxiously. Ethan notices and puts his hand on her thigh to calm her down, making Alana look at him with a smile and lean her head on his shoulder.

After a few minutes, Kirby finds his location. "Yep. Geolocation coming through right now. He's on the Upper West Side. He's in an apartment building halfway across the city."

Alana looks at Ethan as Tara says, "On West 96?"

"How did you know that?"

Sam looks at Tara then says, "Gale."

The group of friends are in the lobby of Gale's apartment complex when Danny runs in. "Hey. Hey. I got her as fast as I could."

Tara looks up at him with a fearful expression. "Did you?"

Danny just looks at her confused.

"I'm scared, you guys. I really don't wanna get hurt again."

"Neither do I."

Mindy closes her eyes, remembering what happened to Chad a year prior before looking at the said boy. "I don't want you getting hurt again, either."

"I know." Chad leans back and places his head on his sister's shoulder and his hand on her knee. "I know."

Tara puts her head on Mindy's shoulder, making Mindy put her head on Tara's.

"So what do we do now?"

Ethan sighs, making Alana grab his hand and rub it with her thumb.

"Maybe he gets to win this time." This makes everyone look at Sam confused. "He wants to punish me. Me. So maybe I let him." Sam sniffles. "I'll just give myself up. If this is what I have to do to keep you safe, it's worth it."

Arianna shakes her head. "No, we're not doing that, Sam." She stands up in front of her sister. "You went back to Woodsboro to protect me and Tara. Every single day, you make the decision to protect me, Tara, and Alana. None of us would even be alive if it weren't for you." She gestures at everyone else. "You have to let us protect you this time."