DAMSEL IN DISTRESS [SCREAM 1996]

25: Call Me

Cassandra's hand gripped the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The terrifying voice on the other end of the line sent a cold shiver down her spine. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath as her mind raced with a million thoughts.

"That's right," the voice on the other end said as she figured out it was Ghostface, his tone smooth and mocking. "Surprised to hear from me?"

Cassandra's heart pounded in her chest, but she fought to keep her voice steady. She wasn't the same girl who had broken down on her knees before. She had to be stronger, smarter.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice firmer than she felt. "Why did you let me go?"

There was a chuckle on the other end, cold and devoid of any real humor. "Straight to the point. I like that. But let's not rush things, Cassandra. We have so much to catch up on. Much business we need to tend to."

Cassandra's grip on the phone tightened. "What business?"

"Casey," he said, the name sending a jolt through Cassandra. "She was quite the fighter, you know. Fought till the bitter end. You would've been proud."

Cassandra's stomach twisted, but she refused to let him see her falter. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying she saw my face, Cassandra. Just before the end, she got a good look. Tore the mask right off," Ghostface revealed, his tone dripping with malice.

Cassandra felt the room spinning, but she steadied herself against the counter, refusing to let the fear take over. "And did that make you feel powerful? Killing her after she saw your face? What the hell do you get out of telling me this?"

"You could say that," Ghostface replied, his voice cool and collected. "But you're different than Casey, aren't you? You.. well, you just got right on your knees for me. All pretty like a good girl."

Cassandra clenched her jaw, anger slowly replacing the fear. "I'm not the same girl I was that night."

"I noticed," Ghostface said, almost sounding impressed. "Which is why I'm curious, Cassandra. Wanna know who else you're different from?"

"Who?" Cassandra spat.

"Dear Sidney Prescott, of course."

That name set Cassandra on edge, too. "How's that, asshole?"

"Sidney.. well, she's a fighter, too. Hell, she survived the very same fate Casey died from. Makes me think Sidney's more woman than Casey."

Cassandra's anger was so overwhelming that she felt like she'd burst at the seams. 

"But, you're more loyal than Sidney. I'll give you that one, Cassandra."

The compliment felt like a double-sided knife. She wanted to throw venomous words at him, but her body was nearly vibrating with rage.

"Sidney blamed Billy.. thought he was behind all this. Whereas you.. well, Cassandra.. Why did you apologize to Billy that night? Right before I spared you."

The mention of Billy's name caught her off guard. Her mind flashed back to that night, the overwhelming fear, the hopelessness, and then.. Billy. She had apologized to him as she awaited her death.

"Answer for an answer," she said, forcing her voice to remain calm. "I tell you why I apologized, and you tell me why you spared me."

There was a pause on the other end, as if Ghostface was considering her proposal. "Fair enough. You first."

Cassandra took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Billy.. he's my safe place. That night, I was ready to die. I felt bad because of how much faith he had in me.. he pulled me back from the cliff's edge after Casey and I was throwing it away. He's the only reason I didn't go over the edge."

Her heart ached. Then, she felt overwhelmingly possessive and protective.

Now Ghostface knew how much she cared for Billy.. what if he used that?

"If you hurt him, if you so much as touch him, I'll kill you. I swear it," she said. "I'll string you up on the courthouse light pole if you try hurting him."

The line was silent for a moment, and Cassandra could almost feel Ghostface's amusement through the phone. 

"Such loyalty," he finally said. "But loyalty can be a dangerous thing, Cassandra. You might find yourself hurt by it one day."

"Your turn," Cassandra demanded, ignoring his warning. "A deal's a deal."

"Why did I spare you?" Ghostface repeated, as if savoring the question. "Because it made for a better plot twist. Imagine if I'd killed you that night.. no fun in that. But sparing you? Watching you squirm as you try to piece it all together? That's what makes this game worth playing."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut, the casual cruelty of his tone making her blood boil. "You're sick."

Ghostface laughed, the sound sending chills down her spine. "Maybe. But you're still alive, Cassandra. Maybe you should be grateful."

Before she could respond, she heard the front door open, and Stu's voice calling out from the hallway. There were more people with him. Guests for the party.

Panic surged through her, and she slammed the phone down, her heart racing.

Stu walked into the kitchen, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Who was on the phone?"

Cassandra forced a smile, trying to mask the terror that still clung to her. "Wrong number."

Stu raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Weird. Anyway, I finished unloading the car. And we've got some early partners ready to part-tay!" 

Cassandra nodded, her mind still reeling from the conversation with Ghostface. She followed Stu into the other room where a dozen or so people were piling inside- but her thoughts were elsewhere, replaying every word of the call in her head.