𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙣, 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝘾𝙪𝙩

09.

nine.

The cold air caresses Amber's cheek as she presses herself against the street lamp, her arms tightly holding herself as her eyes wander around the dark, empty street hoping for anything to distract her from the ringing in her ears.

   Her stomach aches a dull pain, she hasn't even checked it since the Older Quinn had swung his knife at her. Part of her is scared that it's deeper than she thinks; another part of herself is disgusted at the now remembrance of tonight- disgusted in herself for trying to change his mind. So she had zipped the jacket up in hopes to just forget about it.

    "Amber?" Amber's eyes shift towards the voice that clears all her thoughts, the voice that she had liked, hated and loved. She doesn't know what to say, she doesn't know what anyone can say now. Lucy is gone but so is Older Quinn.

    A little light to another tragedy this whole situation has brought. "I miss Lucy." Summer admits, the toe of her shoe digging into the street beneath her as she plops down onto the curb with a huff, the air visible from the cold night.

   Amber nods in agreement, taking a step and settling down next to her friend. She barely knows Lucy, and that's her fault she knows, but Lucy had grown on Amber.

    She admires Lucy for trying to help everyone even if that meant she wouldn't be alive at the end of this. "I kind of liked having a sister.. I never got to tell her that." Summer smiles lightly as she stared ahead the group, her hands tucked under her knees. "Well, at least the slasher's gone."

   Amber shivers at Quinn's sudden closeness, his arm brushing against hers as he takes a seat with the two girls. "So is Lucy." Amber rests her head on Summers' shoulder at Summers' words, in hopes to help her.

   But she doesn't understand what it's like to know you have a sister and for her to suddenly be ripped from you, for the chance of never seeing her again- "No, I'm not." The three look up at the voice, shocked to see Lucy standing in front of them with a soft smile.

   Summer immediately gets up to greet her, the two sharing a sweet hug while Amber turns to smile at Quinn before getting up and embracing Lucy in her arms. "And the slasher?"

   "He's dead." Chills ran down Amber's back as she steps away from Lucy to give Quinn a turn, her eyes glancing at Lucy's hands hoping not to find any blood on her. "But what about you? Your life, your future?"

   Lucy shrugs her shoulders once the two part. "I got back to 2024 and I started thinking.. Maybe where I'm meant to be is here. With you." Summer grins at this, tears brimming her ears as she sniffs, trying to calm down. "You are meant to be here. This is your future."

   Amber nods to this, hooking an arm with Lucy as the four begin to walk down the street to talk more about what had happened. Amber can't help but feel forever grateful for Lucy Fields, the girl she once had envy for blossomed into admiration.

   "Wait so you killed the slasher then what? You decided to just come back?" Quinn questions from beside Amber. "Well.. I may have gone home to see if anything had changed.. My parents had no idea who I was."

     Ambers frowns at this despite the fact Lucy was trying to be funny, her arm squeezing Lucy's gently in a comforting way. Lucy looks down at Amber with a smile. "It's okay, really. We weren't close. It's probably better this way."

   "Well, since you need a place to stay you are always welcome at my house. My parents are never home, it'd be nice to have some company. Not that I'm trying to steal her from you- well maybe." Amber grins as Lucy's smile widens to match hers, Summer lets out a laugh at Amber's words and waves her hand dismissively. "I'd like that, thank you."