DAMSEL IN DISTRESS [SCREAM 1996]

15. I Spit on Your Grave

Cassandra woke up with a gasp from a nightmare. For a brief moment, she forgot where she was and why she was there. Then, she took in the familiar room and calmed down. Casey's room. She was in Casey's room. 

She half-expected Casey to burst through the door, laughing and ready to drag her out of bed. But the harsh reality crashed down on her—Casey was gone. That reminder dropped her in freezing water and told her that her father was also gone.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind like a nightmare she couldn't escape. She was in Casey's bed because her own home had become a crime scene, and she couldn't bear to be alone.

The mask seeps back into her brain like a cursed image. That was what her nightmare was. That damned mask. Ghostface.

Cassandra felt a lump form in her throat. Today was Casey's funeral, and she had to find the strength to say goodbye.

She forced herself out of bed and walked to the bathroom. The mirror reflected a pale, haunted version of herself. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping to wash away the remnants of her trauma, but the scars ran too deep.

Casey. Her father. Ghostface. The deal. The spare of her life.

Downstairs, Mrs. Becker was already up, preparing breakfast. She looked up as Cassandra entered the kitchen, offering a sad smile. "Good morning, Cassandra. Did you sleep okay, Dear?"

Cassandra nodded, though it was a lie. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you for letting me stay."

"Of course, dear. You're like family to us," Mrs. Becker said, her voice warm despite the grief that tinged it. "And we should stick together. Today is.. a difficult one."

Cassandra took a seat at the table, trying to force down a few bites of toast. Her mind kept drifting to the funeral. This would be the first time she'd see Casey. Casey's body. Casey's lifeless body being lowered into the ground. The thought was unbearable.

Billy arrived to pick her up, his presence a welcome distraction. He looked as troubled as she felt, and the ride to the funeral was silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Cassandra appreciated his support for what it was. She didn't read deeper into anything right now. She couldn't.

The funeral was a somber affair. Friends, family, and classmates gathered to pay their respects. Cassandra felt a pang of guilt as she walked with Billy, her hand tightly gripping his. She leaned on him for strength.

The hardest time was when Cassandra had to stand up and talk. She had to talk about how good of a person Casey was. The dreams they shared. How Casey was the light of her life. She noted that Steve was good to Casey and that the only solace she had in the wake of Casey's death was that Casey and Steve were together. 

At the cemetery, the tension was palpable. Billy's presence drew stares and whispers, but he remained stoic. Cassandra clung to him, drawing from his calm demeanor.

During the service, Cassandra felt her emotions overwhelm her. She stared at the casket, unable to reconcile the lively, vibrant Casey she knew with the stillness of death. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered a silent farewell to her friend.

Billy squeezed her hand, his grip reassuring. "It's okay," he whispered. "I'm here."

After the service, people mingled, sharing stories and offering condolences. Cassandra stayed close to Billy, feeling like she might break apart if she let go.

Mr. and Mrs. Becker approached them, their faces etched with sorrow. "Thank you for being here, Billy," Mr. Becker said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Of course," Billy replied, his tone respectful. "Casey meant a lot to all of us."

"You're a good, young man," Mr. Becker said and held his hand out to Billy. "Better than that Stu character that-"

"Dear," Mrs. Becker scolded.

There's a tense moment as Billy looked at Mr. Becker's awaiting hand. He looked at Cassandra and then slowly shook Mr. Becker's hand.

Mrs. Becker hugged Cassandra tightly. "Your speech was beautiful, honey. I know Casey is smiling down at us and giving you all the love she has."

Cassandra hugged Mrs. Becker tightly, hoping to patch up the older woman's heartbreak from the outside.

"She'd be proud of you," Cassandra tells Mrs. Becker. "For being so resilient. So strong."

Mrs. Becker pulled away enough to cup Cassandra's face in one hand and kiss her free cheek sweetly.

"Are you riding back home with us?" Mr. Becker wondered.

"Um.." Cassandra hesitated and looked at Billy.

"That's fine," Mr. Becker assured, sensing her want to be with Billy. "Take your time. We'll see you later."

Mrs. Becker kissed Cassandra's cheek once more before they parted ways. As Casey's parents left, that meant that only Cassandra and Billy were at the graveyard.

"I'll just be a second. Is that okay?" 

Billy nodded. "Of course. Take all the time you need."