SCREAM: Mother of All Secrets

Chapter 9

Gilbert and Phoebe finished explaining why Erik borrowed Marina's car.

"Yep, that's definitely stupid." Marina says. "So, where'd he run off to?"

"The church."Phoebe replies.

"So, what are we waiting for?" Kat asks. "Let's go get him."

"I'm actually waiting for his call." Phoebe states. "There's still forty minutes left."

"Let me get this straight." Marina steps toward Phoebe with a little aggression. "You want us to stay here for forty minutes while waiting for a call from Erik that he may or may not make, and while we're sitting here with our thumbs up our asses, Erik could be killed by that maniac in a ghost mask?"

"Yes." Phoebe replies. She doesn't hesitate with her response or take her eyes off of Marina's.

The room is filled with a tense silence. Marina and Phoebe staring each other down while Gilbert and Kat nervously watch.

"Fine." Marina says. "I'll wait for forty minutes. But if we don't here from him when the forty minutes is up, we bust down the doors to the church." Marina turns and heads for the living room. "So in the mean time, let's all sit on the couch and have a good time while we wait for a life-or-death phone call."

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Erik lead Serena to the grave that he was buried in. The casket has been dig out, and the headstone has been removed for evidence.

"Again, I ask, what are we doing here?" Serena inquires.

"This is where the killer lead me." Erik vaguely explains.

"To bury you when you got here, right?"

"That's what I thought too." Erik says. "Then I realized that it was the X on the map for a different reason."

"What reason?" Serena questions.

Erik kneels down and picks up two shovels that were left behind from digging up the casket. He hands one to Serena and she grabs it. "If I'm right, then this is what leads to Mrs. Robertson." Erik climbs down into the disturbed fake grave. And starts digging. Serena climbs down next to Erik and helps him.

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In the woods off the side of the main highway, four teens have been hiking. Two of the teens have no idea where they're being led to.

Fiona is extremely irritated. "Ugh!" she exclaims. "Can you just tell us where we're going?!"

"No." Monroe replies.

"Why?!" Fiona complains.

"Because, we're here."

The four are standing under a beautiful weeping willow. The vines are long and blooming with hypnotic pink flowers, and they're all dancing with the wind.

"It's gorgeous." Fiona says.

"Please don't tell me we came all this way for a fucking tree." Malcolm says.

"Nope, the tree is just a landmark." Vanessa states.

"A landmark for what?" Fiona asks.

"Are you sure you want that question answered?" Monroe replies.

Fiona and Malcolm look at each other. This is actually turning out to be a little scary. The two turn back toward their friends and nod.

"All right, then." Monroe says. "Let's get digging."