DAMSEL IN DISTRESS [SCREAM 1996]

9. Die Hard

Cassandra followed Sheriff Burke through the station, her heart pounding. They stopped outside a small room where Sidney was sitting, wrapped in Dewey's jacket, her face pale and drawn. She looked up as Cassandra entered, her eyes widening in recognition.

"Cass?" Sidney's voice was barely a whisper.

"Sid," Cassandra said, rushing to her side. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Sidney shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "He came out of nowhere. He had a knife, and he was wearing that mask. I thought I was going to die."

Cassandra hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Sid. I'm so sorry."

"It was Billy," Sidney said, her voice breaking.

Cassandra pulled back, her mind reeling. "Are you sure?"

"He came right after the killer left. The costume was ditched in a bush. Billy had a cellular phone. It's him."

Cassandra's thoughts were a jumbled mess. Could it really be Billy? She remembered his calm demeanor, his seemingly genuine concern for her. But if Sidney was certain...

"I don't know what to think," Cassandra admitted, her voice trembling. "But we'll figure this out, Sid. I promise."

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Cassandra turned to see Billy being led in, handcuffed and flanked by officers. His eyes met Cassandra's, and for a moment, she saw a flash of something in them—fear, anger, she couldn't tell.

"Billy," she whispered, her heart breaking.

Billy looked at her, his expression desperate. "Cass, I didn't do it. You have to believe me."

Cassandra's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. Could Billy really be the killer? Or was he being set up? She didn't know what to believe anymore.

"Sidney, look at me," Billy begged. "Come on, you know me."

As Billy was led away, Cassandra turned back to Sidney, determination hardening her resolve. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Sid. I promise."

Sidney nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Tatum asked as she walked over.

Cassandra stood up. "Don't start shit you don't want me to finish."

"What?" Sidney asked. "What's going on?"

"Cassandra blamed Stu for Casey's death. Embarrassed him in front of everyone."

"Stu?" Sidney repeated.

"He's still not off the list," Cassandra denied.

"Billy was caught. Don't be some uppity slut chasing after a guy who is clearly the killer-"

"Says you who pawned after Stu when he was with Casey?"

"Guys!" Sidney shouted, pushing her hands between the girls, though she never stood up. "Not now. How am I the logical one right now?"

Tatum and Cassandra eyed each other down, though their argument stopped.

"The killer is an asshole. Us girls going after each other is just gonna make it easy for him," Sidney continued.

"The killer is caught," Tatum reminded. "Billy is in handcuffs."

"We don't know if he's the killer. Until we know for sure, the killer is still around."

"Yeah? Is that because you're the killer?" Tatum asked Cassandra.

"Tatum, come on," Sidney complained.

"Wasn't then, but if you keep fucking testing me, I might become one-"

"Hey!" Sidney shouted, standing up and getting between them. "How about we don't make death threats in a literal police station?"

Tatum scoffed and rolled her eyes. She wrapped an arm around Sidney. "Come on. I'm gonna get you out of here."

"I'll see you around, Sid," Cassandra said and walked over to Sheriff Burke.

--

"Cassandra," Sheriff Burke said, his voice gentle. "I need to show you something."

She followed him to a back room where a black robe and a white mask lay on the table, now in evidence bags. The sight of the mask sent a shiver down her spine.

"This was found at the scene," Sheriff Burke explained. "Have you seen anything like this before?"

Cassandra shook her head, her eyes glued to the mask. "No, I haven't. But that doesn't mean anything. It's a costume of, what, a ghost? It's almost Halloween."

"Exactly. Deputy Riley says they're sold everywhere," Sheriff Burke moves to the desk, pulling out yet another costume, this one still in its original packaging- he hands it to her for her to inspect.

"Father Death," Cassandra read the package. "Real original. So, like a grim reaper?"

"Grim reaper," Sheriff Burke repeated. "Like this person is trying to lead people to the afterlife. It's some sick joke."

"Do you think he used this mask when he killed Casey and Steve?"

"It's possible."

"Can't you test that mask?" she asked, pointing to the evidence one. "Like fingerprints or something?"

"We're working on it, but it'll take a few days to come back. Testing that and the phone call logs for Billy's cellular.. everything is running a bit slow."

Cassandra sighed and rubbed her lips together. A few days still felt too long.

"We need all the help we can get to figure out who did this. I have an idea, but it's a bit unorthodox. If you're willing, that is."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "What do you need me to do?"

"I want you to talk to Billy," he answered. "In the interrogation room. He won't know I'm listening, but I need to see if he slips up. Sometimes, people say things they normally wouldn't with a cop in the room."

Cassandra's heart pounded in her chest. The idea of confronting Billy, of looking him in the eye and asking if he killed her friends, was terrifying. But she also knew she had to do it. For Casey.

"Okay," she said, her voice steady. "I'll do it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she assured. "I need to. Anything to help."

Sheriff Burke led her to the interrogation room. Inside, Billy sat at the table, his hands on the table in front of him, though no longer cuffed. He looked up as she entered, his eyes filled with a mix of desperation and confusion.

"Cass," he said, his voice raw. "I didn't do this. You have to believe me."

Cassandra took a deep breath and sat down across from him. "Billy, I need you to tell me everything. From the beginning. What happened tonight?"