DAMSEL IN DISTRESS [SCREAM 1996]

32: Frantic

The sight of Billy like this, injured and vulnerable, flipped Cassandra's world upside down once again. She had been so sure he was the killer, but now he looked like he was in genuine distress.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling as she knelt beside him. She cupped his face in her hands, her heart aching with the weight of her confusion and guilt.

"The killer.. he's still here," Billy managed to say, his voice strained. "You need to get out. Find help."

Cassandra's tears welled up, her heart breaking at the sight of him. "I'm so sorry. I thought— I thought you were Ghostface. I didn't know. I just.."

Billy gave her a weak smile, his eyes reflecting a mix of pain and relief. "I know. Just.. get out. Please."

"Stay here," Cassandra said, her voice firm despite her inner turmoil. "I'll be right back. I'll get help." 

She leaned in, pressing a quick, desperate kiss to his lips. When she tried to pull back, Billy grabbed her by the back of the head, keeping their lips locked a little longer.

"Go," he said against her lips. "Don't look back. Don't come back.. it's okay."

She raced back down the stairs, her mind racing with the urgency of her mission. The front door swung open as she bolted outside, her heart pounding with each step. She dashed toward the van, but stopped when she saw a body sprawled on the ground. 

She took careful steps closer to find Kenny, choking on his own blood from a slash in the throat. His eyes locked with hers and he took his final breath, body going limp. The sight of him, dead and unmoving, sent a shiver down her spine.

She stood frozen for a moment, her breath hitching as she realized the gravity of the situation. She looked around desperately and saw Sidney running away in the distance. Cassandra tried to call out to her, but Sidney was too far away to hear her.

As she stood there, her eyes fell on the monitor screen inside the van. The footage from the house flickered in the dim light, showing the interior of Stu's house. Randy was the only person visible on the screen. Cassandra's breath caught as she realized the implication.

"Shit," she muttered. "So the killer is Randy. Fuck! I was right!"

She knew she couldn't risk going back through the front door— Randy would be waiting for her, ready to strike. In a desperate bid to find another way in, she remembered the garage entrance she had used earlier. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the garage, her heart racing with fear.

When she reached the garage, her breath caught in her throat. Tatum's lifeless body was strung up in the door, hanging from the pet door, her face frozen in a silent scream. The sight was horrifying, and Cassandra felt a wave of terror wash over her as she fell to the ground.

All she could do was stare up at Tatum's body. How long had she been there? Cassandra saw Tatum earlier her in the garage.. was it right after she left? Was the killer already in there with them?

"Cass!" Randy's voice called out suddenly, causing her to jump. "Cass, we gotta fucking go!"

Cassandra pulled herself to her feet just as Stu ran around the corner, dropping in sweat. 

"Back up!" she screamed at Randy.

"Oh, shit!" Randy exclaimed upon seeing Tatum's body.

Cassandra, Stu, and Randy stared each other down, nearly pointing fingers at each other under Tatum's lifeless body.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

so anyway