The Carcajou

Chapter Twelve: The Rage of Ghostface

That night, Tara stood in the kitchen, preparing some vegetables for dinner, as she kept sneaking glances at Luke, who was helping her on the other side of the counter.

Everyone thought it would be a good idea to crash at Quinn, Sam, and Tara's apartment until they could figure out who Ghostface was. So while the others prepared sleeping arrangements in the living room, Luke helped Tara prepare a nice meal for them all to share together.

Unknown to Tara, however, Luke was sneaking glances at her, too.

"I think you should leave the city," Tara finally said to him. "If you leave alone, no one will notice. Besides, you admitted you aren't healing like before. It'll be safer for you. And... I wouldn't blame you if you... wanted to go."

"Thank you for the offer," Luke said, "but... I'm not going anywhere. You guys need me, eh? And besides... I don't want to leave you."

"Oh, my gosh," Mindy, who was witnessing the whole thing, complained from the other room. "Will you two just make out or get in each other's pants already?"

"Come on," Luke complained. "Not appropriate."

"Whatever," Mindy said, raising her hands in defense. "Get it over with!"

"Sam?" Mindy asked as she, Chad, and Sam joined Luke and Tara in the kitchen. "We do not have to stay here."

"Well, too bad," Sam said as she grabbed a bottle of wine. "I insist. Safety in numbers."

"This is gonna be fun," Chad said. "A little slumber party with El Núcleo Cinco!"

"What?" Luke asked.

"Did you just give us a nickname?" Tara asked.

"I sure did," Chad answered. "It's Spanish for 'The Core Five', but that in English doesn't sound as catchy. We've been through a lot together, and it's a pretty cool nickname."

"No, it's debatable," Luke said.

"Extremely debatable," Tara agreed.

"You can't just give yourself a nickname, dingus," Mindy said to her twin.

"Of course I can, dingus, because I just did," Chad argued, the sibling bickering causing Luke, Sam, and Tara to lightly stifle their laughter.

"Núcleo Cinco up top!" Chad shouted, holding up a hand for a high five.

"No," Mindy said.

"Down low," he said, holding his hand to Tara.

"Get that away from me," she said.

"Fist bump," Chad said, holding a fist out to Luke.

"Not a chance, bub," Luke answered.

"Please, for the love of all that is holy and pure," Chad pleaded, holding it out to Sam, who shook her head.

"Don't do it," Mindy told Sam, causing Tara and Luke to laugh.

"I would like a little more respect and support from my fellow members of El Núcleo Cinco," Chad complained.

Just then, Tara remembered something.

"Luke, I have something for you," she said as she left the kitchen for her bedroom.

"Guys," Anicka called from the main room as she turned up the TV. "What on Earth?"

"We're hearing from sources inside the homicide division that the prime suspects are none other than Samantha Carpenter and Luke Howlett," the reporter said on the screen, "two of the survivors of the Woodsboro killings in 2022. Carpenter is seen here attacking a woman on the street last night and Howlett assaulting a Blackmore University student at a fraternity party."