SCREAM - THE GHOST OF LONDON

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The large fountain on campus was a popular meeting spot, its gentle splashing a calming backdrop to the conversations held there. On this particular day, though, the mood was anything but calm. Joe, John, Paris, Olivia, and Lucas sat around the edge, their voices low and filled with tension as they discussed the recent events.

"Who do you think is next?" Paris asked, her eyes darting around nervously. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, a habit that surfaced whenever she was anxious.

"I don't know," John replied, shaking his head. "But we need to figure something out. We can't just sit here and wait."

"What are we going to do?" Olivia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, we don't even know who the killer is."

Joe leaned forward, his face serious. "What if the killer is one of us?" he said, his voice cutting through the murmurs.

The group fell silent, the possibility hanging heavily in the air. Lucas frowned, glancing around at his friends. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Joe took a deep breath, his eyes dark with concern. "Think about it. The Stab movies are always about a group of teenagers, and someone in their group is always the killer. It's how it goes. It's what happened with Sidney Prescott and Laura Thornhill. There's always someone close to the victims, someone they trust."

"Are you saying one of us is the killer?" John asked, his voice incredulous.

Joe nodded slowly. "It's a possibility we can't ignore. Look at the patterns. The killer always blends in, always knows their victims personally. It makes sense."

Paris shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No way. We've known each other forever. None of us could be capable of something like this."

"But we don't really know, do we?" Olivia said quietly. "I mean, everyone has secrets. We don't know everything about each other."

The group sat in uneasy silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The fountain's splashing seemed louder in the quiet, a reminder of the normalcy that felt so far out of reach.

"So, what do we do?" Lucas finally asked, his voice steady but filled with determination.

"We stay vigilant," Joe said firmly. "We watch each other, and we don't let our guard down. If one of us is the killer, they'll slip up eventually. And when they do, we'll be ready."

Joe paused for a moment, then added, "What if it's Charlie?"

Everyone turned to look at him, shocked. "What are you talking about?" John asked.

Joe sighed, rubbing his hands together. "Look, think about it. Charlie's already killed his best friend, Oliver, and that guy in Chicago. What if he's snapped? What if all this trauma has finally gotten to him?"

Paris shook her head vehemently. "Charlie wouldn't hurt anyone. He's a victim, not a killer."

"People change," Joe replied. "Trauma can mess you up. What if he's been pretending this whole time? What if all this is just an act?"

Olivia looked thoughtful, but uncertain. "It does seem far-fetched. But we can't rule anything out, I guess."

"Exactly," Joe said. "We need to consider every possibility, no matter how unlikely it seems. We have to be sure."

After the bell rang, the group seperated and went on their way to class. Lucas walked alongside Olivia, his backpack slung over one shoulder. They moved through the bustling campus, the sound of students chatting and laughing around them providing a stark contrast to the anxiety gnawing at Lucas. He glanced sideways at Olivia, noticing the worried furrow in her brow.

"Hey, Olivia," he began, frowning slightly. "Why was Kit at the hospital with Charlie? Were they friends or something?"

Olivia looked at him, her expression puzzled. "Kit? You mean Kit Connor?"

"Yeah," Lucas nodded. "Charlie never mentioned knowing Kit Connor. It just seems odd, don't you think?"

Olivia bit her lip, considering his words. "Yeah, now that you mention it, it is a bit strange. I don't remember Charlie ever talking about Kit. Maybe they met recently or something?"

Lucas shrugged, still feeling uneasy. "I don't know. It just feels like there's more to it. I mean, Kit showing up right when all this stuff is happening? It's a bit too convenient."

Olivia nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Maybe we should ask Charlie about it. If they're friends, he might have a good reason for not mentioning it."

Lucas agreed, but the unease lingered. They continued walking, each lost in their thoughts. The campus felt strangely surreal, the normal bustle of college life at odds with the dark shadow of fear that hung over them. As they reached their next class, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something important, something that could be the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding Charlie and the recent attacks.

As Lucas and Olivia continued their walk to class, Lucas couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. He pulled out his phone and quickly typed "Kit Connor and Ghostface" into the search bar, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The search results populated almost instantly, and Lucas clicked on the first article that caught his eye. The headline read: "Kit Connor: Sole Survivor of the New York City Ghostface Attacks." His eyes widened as he began to read.

The article detailed the chilling events nearly thirteen years ago, when the cast of "Stab! The Musical" was brutally murdered in a series of attacks reminiscent of the original Ghostface killings. Kit Connor was the only one who managed to survive, mirroring the harrowing events of Stab 3 back in Hollywood where the original cast was killed off.

Lucas glanced over at Olivia, who was engrossed in her own thoughts, and then back at his phone. He continued reading, his heart pounding in his chest.

The article went on to mention Charlie, describing his survival of the Ghostface attacks in Woodsboro and later in Chicago. Lucas's eyes widened even further when he read that Kit had also been present in Chicago during the time of those attacks. It was clear that their paths had crossed multiple times, both becoming targets of the infamous killer.

"Olivia, listen to this," Lucas said, his voice tinged with urgency. He summarized the article, explaining Kit's connection to the New York City Ghostface attacks and his presence in Chicago.

Olivia's eyes widened in shock. "So, they both have a history with Ghostface... That can't be a coincidence."

Lucas nodded, feeling a chill run down his spine. "Exactly. There's definitely more to this. We need to talk to Charlie and find out what's really going on."

They exchanged a determined look, both understanding that they were now caught in a web much larger and more dangerous than they had realized. As they walked into their classroom, the weight of the knowledge they had just uncovered pressed heavily on their minds, leaving them with more questions than answers.

"What if it's Kit?" Lucas asked in a whisper, glancing around to make sure no one else could hear them.

"It could be," Olivia replied, her voice just as low. "I mean, it's a possibility."

Lucas locked his phone and lowered his gaze, frowning. He mulled over how he could approach Charlie about it, then remembered his involvement with the school paper. Maybe he could try to interview Kit about it, or come up with a fake school report and see if Kit would talk to him.

"Maybe I can use the school paper as an excuse to get some answers," Lucas said, more to himself than to Olivia.

Olivia nodded. "It's worth a shot. Just be careful, okay?"

Lucas gave her a small smile, the unease still lingering. "Yeah, I will. Thanks, Olivia."

Olivia then chuckled. "You're like a little Gale Weathers, aren't ya".

"Gale who?" Lucas frowned.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about it".