Echoes of the past

Tensions Rising

Eve's phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the ground as the words on the screen sank in.
"No one is safe."
Her breath came in short gasps as she looked around, panic surging through her. The quiet streets of Woodsboro had never felt so dangerous. Where was Noah? Was he okay, or had Ghostface gotten to him?

She grabbed her phone and dialed again, her fingers trembling. No answer. The dial tone echoed in her ears, heightening her fear. Eve started walking, moving quickly, her eyes scanning the darkened streets. She had to find Noah.

Her mind was racing, her thoughts jumbled as she tried to make sense of what had happened. Why had Noah told her to meet him at the old movie theater? Had he been lured there by the killer too, or was there something else going on? A dark thought crept into her mind, one she didn't want to acknowledge. Could Noah be part of this?

She shook her head. No, Noah couldn't be involved. He'd been by her side through all of this. They were in this together.

But doubt lingered, festering like a poison.

The next morning, Eve sat in her kitchen, a cup of coffee growing cold in front of her. Sidney had already left for an early morning meeting with Dewey and Gale, leaving Eve alone with her thoughts. She hadn't slept at all, too anxious about Noah's disappearance and the killer's chilling message. She had called him several more times, each attempt met with silence.

The doorbell rang, pulling Eve from her haze of worry. She jumped up and rushed to the door, hoping it was Noah. Instead, she found Lila standing on the porch, looking just as worn out as Eve felt.

"Have you heard from Noah?" Lila asked without preamble, her voice strained with worry.

Eve shook her head. "No. He told me to meet him at the old movie theater last night, but when I got there..." She hesitated, her stomach knotting. "Ghostface was waiting for me."

Lila's eyes widened in horror. "What? Are you serious?"

Eve nodded, stepping aside to let Lila in. "I barely got away. I've been calling Noah all night, but he's not picking up."

Lila ran a hand through her hair, pacing in the living room. "This is bad, Eve. Really bad. What if Ghostface got him?"

Eve swallowed hard, the same fear gnawing at her. "I don't know. I don't want to think about that."

They sat down on the couch, both of them lost in their thoughts. The weight of everything pressed down on Eve's chest, making it hard to breathe. She felt like she was drowning, and there was no one to pull her out.

After a long stretch of silence, Lila spoke again, her voice quiet. "What if Noah's involved?"

The question hung in the air like a grenade, ready to explode. Eve's head snapped up, her heart racing. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... think about it," Lila said carefully, her eyes avoiding Eve's. "He's been really obsessed with figuring this out. And he knew all about the Ghostface copycats. What if he's the one behind this?"

Eve shook her head vehemently. "No. There's no way. He's my friend, Lila."

Lila sighed, sitting back. "I know he is. I just... I don't know, Eve. This whole thing doesn't feel right. Ghostface knew where you'd be last night, and Noah's the one who told you to go there."

Eve's mind reeled. She wanted to reject the idea completely, but a tiny sliver of doubt wormed its way in. Noah had been acting strange lately—more intense, more secretive. Could he really be involved in this?

Later that day, Sidney, Dewey, and Gale sat around the dining room table in Dewey's house. The three of them were deep in discussion, their faces etched with concern. Sidney's phone lay on the table, several missed calls from Eve lighting up the screen.

"This new Ghostface is smarter," Sidney said, her voice low. "They're not just following the old patterns—they're creating their own rules."

Dewey rubbed the back of his neck, his usual calm demeanor fraying. "We're looking at someone with insider knowledge. They know too much about the original murders. And now they're going after Eve."

Sidney's chest tightened at the mention of her daughter. She had always feared that one day the horrors of her past would come back to haunt her family, and now it was happening. She felt powerless, and she hated it.

Gale leaned forward, her eyes sharp with determination. "I've been digging into the old cases again, trying to find any connections we might have missed. I think I've found something."

Sidney and Dewey turned to her, waiting for her to continue.

"There was a boy," Gale said, pulling out a file from her bag. "He was close friends with Billy Loomis. His name was Mason Williams. He was never directly involved in the murders, but he disappeared not long after Billy and Stu were killed. His family left Woodsboro, and he was never heard from again."

Sidney frowned. "You think he's connected to this?"

Gale nodded. "It's possible. He had every reason to blame me—and you, Sidney—for what happened to his friends. He could be coming back for revenge."

Dewey glanced at the file, his brow furrowed. "But we don't have any proof that he's the one behind this."

"No," Gale admitted. "But it's the best lead we've got. If he's still out there, he could be our Ghostface."

Sidney's mind raced. This new revelation brought a sense of urgency, but it also opened up more questions. Why come back now, after all these years? What was his endgame?

As evening fell, Eve sat on her porch, staring out at the quiet neighborhood. She felt restless, like something terrible was about to happen. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Noah's name on the screen.

She answered quickly, her voice shaking. "Noah? Where have you been?"

There was a pause on the other end, and then Noah's voice came through, strained and distant. "Eve, I'm sorry. I—"

Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted him, followed by the sound of a struggle. Eve's blood turned to ice as she listened, her heart racing.

"Noah?" she called out, her voice rising in panic. "Noah, what's going on?"

A voice—deep and distorted—came through the line. "You should have stayed away, Eve. Now it's too late."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Eve in stunned silence. Her hands shook as she stared at her phone, her mind racing. Ghostface had Noah. There was no doubt about it now.

She needed to do something. But what? Going to the police felt pointless—they had never been able to stop Ghostface in the past. And she couldn't risk dragging her mom into this. Sidney had been through enough.

Eve stood up, her resolve hardening. She wasn't going to let Ghostface win. Not this time.

She grabbed her jacket and headed out the door, determination fueling her every step.