tׁׅ@ᧁׁᧁׁꫀׁׅܻժׁׅ݊ ~ ꭈׁׅ. ϐׁׅ֒. | tׁׅhׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮ꪀׁׅƙׁׅ֑꯱ׁׅ֒ᧁׁꪱׁׅ᥎꫶ׁׅꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁ

7.

Moments passed. Awkward, silent moments of just sitting there and waiting. But silent moments turned into silent minutes. And, I started to get fidgety. I mean, what the hell were they doing?

So, I got up, pushing through those metal doors. The hall was dark, the lights turned off, but I could make out a figure at the end of the hall. A figure wearing a... top hat?

It didn't register in my mind what was happening as the figure ran forward, toward me. I was fast on my feet, my heart leaping to my throat as I jumped back, stumbling my steps and falling into the lockers with a bang.

I wasn't fast enough, a sharp blade coming down on my arm, back up again and into the lockers as I screamed and pushed myself away. My eyes became teary and I forced myself forward, shoving the doors open.

"Gaby! Evan!" I screamed, the footsteps following me growing louder as the axe came down on my shoulder again.

I ran, and I kept running until I realized I wasn't going to make it. I made a sharp right into the cosmetology classroom, ducking amongst the mannequins. The man stalked around the class, flicking the lights on and searching for me. I forced myself to stop breathing as I got a good look at him. In full black, plus a John Carver mask and a pilgrims top hat. The same masks from Rightmart.

He was angry that he couldn't find me, so angry he slammed his axe into the table beside me, ripping it apart with his hands. Whilst he did this, my eyes caught a glimpse of something shiny. A pair of cosmetology scissors. I tried to reach for them, my arm stretching beyond it's lengths. But I couldn't reach them.

Defeated, I tried to retract my arm, knocking over a mannequin head and a can of hairspray. This caught his attention, and he lunged at me. But, in the nick of time, I fumbled with the can and sprayed it, slamming it to the floor as my grip-less shoes squeaked against the tile flooring.

A cry left my throat as I lunged forward through the main doors, scrambling into the parking lot and slamming right into the concrete.

Jess and Sheriff Newman met me there, picking me up. "Fawn? Wait, what the hell just happened?"

"Ma- I- axe- go-" I couldn't breathe properly, stumbling and stammering and crying. Sheriff Newman gently pulled me from Bobby and sat me in his cruiser.

"Did you notice anything?" Newman nodded gently.

"Uhm-" I spoke, my voice trembling as I cried, "He was dressed as a pilgrim. And he had a John Carver mask."

Newman nodded, "Anything else? The smallest mistakes are the biggest giveaways."

I tried to think. I really did try, but the cuts in my shoulder burned under the snow and I was getting fidgety. I couldn't. I just couldn't. "I- I can't- I'm sorry- I only looked at him for a second-" I cried.

"No, no, don't apologize. You're doing great," he nodded. "We're gonna get you home, alright."

He turned, walking slightly to reveal Scuba and Yulia arm in arm behind him. "You too. You guys should get home."

Scuba nodded and the pair made their way toward me.

"Jess is coming," Scuba announced.

"Is she-" Jess began, "Hey! You okay?" I nodded as she pulled me in for a hug. The second she let go I was met with Ryan and Bobby.

"Hey! Hey, Fawn, hon," Ryan hugged me tightly, kissing my head.

"There was a guy- with- with an axe- mask- he had a mask and a- a hat- some kind of- of hat." I cried.

"Shhh, you're okay. It's okay. This has been happening a lot recently. Not anymore, we've got to stop this. Not my girl, not my friends. Fawn, baby, you're bleeding."

"I know- he- he tried but-" I stammered.

"I know, baby, I know. You're okay now," he nodded and tightened his hold on me. He was warm, taking off his jacket and draping it around my shoulders, which smelled like mahogany teakwood.

"He found me- but- there was hairspray- and-" I tried to speak, but my brain wasn't working so I just shut up.

"I get it. I know what you're talking about," he nodded. "Atta girl."

"Y'know," Bobby began, "You wanna tell us about your buddy the security guard?"

"I'm sorry, who?" I let go of Ryan to stare at Bobby. Not the time!

"Stop lying to her, man!" Bobby scoffed, "Just like you lied to the cops, going to the corner huddled up together?"

"Are you talking about the security guard from Rightmart? Doug?" Ryan asked, taking a step forward for confirmation.

Oh no. Oh fucking no.