SCREAM: Mother of All Secrets

Chapter 12

Erik lies on the cement floor still chained to the wall. Staring at the blood covered corpse just a few feet away. The tears are still falling from his cheeks.

Erik leans up when he hears footsteps approaching. His blood runs cold when he realizes that the killer is walking toward him. "No." Erik wipers. "No, no, no."

The killer kneels next to Erik and strikes down with the knife.

Erik gasps when his eyes bolt open. He looks around the room and realizes he's no longer in the church's basement. He is lying in a hospital bed and his friends are in his room and they're all staring at him.

"Bad dream?" Phoebe asks.

"Yeah." Erik replies. "But it was also real."

"What were you thinking?" Marina asks.

"I was thinking that I could save Mrs. Robertson." Erik answers. "And I almost did."

"Yeah, and you almost got yourself killed." Marina comments. "You should have went to the Sheriff. They would have saved Mrs. Robertson."

"If I went to the police, that bastard would have killed Mrs. Robertson way before they got there." Erik argues.

"Guys, calm down." Gilbert says. "This isn't anyones' fault."

"Oh, yeah? Tell that to the bastard that killed Mrs. Robertson because it's clearly his fault." Marina comments.

"Marina." Kat says in shock. "Why would you say something like that?"

"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking." Marina replies.

Everyone becomes quiet when someone knocks on the door. The teens turn to see that the Sheriff is standing in the entryway. "Do you mind if I speak privately to Erik?" he asks.

"Not at all." Phoebe responds and rises from her chair. "Come on, guys." The other three follow Phoebe out of the room and Jakob closes the door behind them.

"I just have a few questions for you." Jakob says. "First of all, what were you thinking?"

"If you want that question answered, then go talk to Marina." Erik says.

"I already questioned them." Jakob states. "Do you realize that what you did was so stupid and so reckless. You could have been killed."

"I wanted to save Mrs. Robertson." Erik argues. "I wanted to do something that wouldn't backfire on me."

"Oh, really? How did that work out for you?" Jakob harshly asks.

Erik turns away and tries to fight the tears that want to fall.

Jakob realizes how hurt Erik is by his words. "I'm sorry for what I said, but you should have come to me."

"And then the killer would have killed Mrs. Robertson earlier than he did." Erik says.

"But we have an entire arsenal of shotguns and rifles." Jakob points out. "That maniac has one knife. Ever here the expression: Never bring a knife to a gun fight?"

Erik thinks about what Jakob says. Maybe if he had went to the police, they maybe would have saved Mrs. Robertson faster than he would have. Maybe they would have saved her, period.

"It's my fault." Erik says. "It's my fault she's dead."

"Erik, you weren't the one that was holding that knife." Jakob tries to comfort Erik. "You didn't kill anyone. The only person that's at fault is that lunatic in the mask."

Erik starts to calm down and the tears stop flowing. "Thanks."

"Now, I just need to ask you a few questions, is that all right?" Erik nods. "Okay, now, how did you know that the killer was holding Mrs. Robertson?"