Anika walked out of the apartment complex, intending to venture out alone. However, to her surprise, Amber emerged from the doorway and called out to her, determined to join her.
"Anika!" Amber exclaimed, opening the door and following her. "Wait up!"
Anika turned, a mix of concern and frustration on her face. "Amber, no... Go back inside and lock the door," she urged, gently pushing the younger girl back.
Amber's determination shone through as she stood her ground. "No way. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not," she declared, refusing to be left behind. Anika sighed, realizing that Amber's insistence was unyielding.
"Fine," Anika relented, nodding reluctantly. "Just stay close," she instructed, recognizing the importance of sticking together in uncertain circumstances. They continued walking down the street, their bond as sisters serving as a source of strength in the face of the unknown.
Anika felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and quickly retrieved it. The caller ID displayed "RICHIE KIRSCH," causing Amber's eyes to widen in shock. "What the hell?" she gasped.
"I never had his number," Amber exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief. She glanced around anxiously.
"Don't answer it, Anika. Just let it ring," Amber advised, her concern evident. But Anika disregarded her sister's suggestion and answered the call, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Who is this?" Anika inquired, her voice tinged with caution and uncertainty. The identity of the caller remained a mystery, adding to the growing sense of unease that enveloped the sisters.
"Why, hello, Anika. Did you miss me?" the familiar, chilling voice of Ghostface emanated from the phone, held closely to Anika's ear.
Anika's voice carried a mixture of determination and defiance. "I want you to think long and hard before you do this, because the last two people who fucked with us ended up dead," she warned, her words laced with a firm resolve.
Ghostface chuckled sinisterly before continuing. "You guys should really be thanking me, honestly. I took care of those two film nerds who were planning to come after you."
Anika's eyes narrowed as she noticed a suspicious figure approaching. She swiftly positioned herself in front of Amber, shielding her sister. "So now you're our bodyguard, huh?" she retorted, her voice tinged with both sarcasm and caution.
The voice from the phone grew more menacing. "Not quite. I'm going to expose who you really are to the world-a liar and a killer. I'm going to make you pay, Anika."
Anika's tone hardened as she fired back. "You really shouldn't believe everything you see online," she countered, her voice steady and resolute.
"Watch your back," the caller threatened, the warning hanging ominously in the air. Anika braced herself, prepared to face the looming danger that had engulfed their lives.
"You watch yours." Suddenly someone comes behind Amber and grabs her and holds her by the neck about to attack before she used her elbow to hit them in the face. The girl pushed them into bikes before the two sisters started running away.
The two girls were being chased by Ghostface as they ran toward the bodega, "help please!" Anika yelled before pushing Amber inside of the store. "Help! Please help us we were being chased!"
"This guy is going to kill us!" Amber yelled. While they were trying to warn the cashier Ghostface stepped in and they gasped.
A customer, exuding a tough demeanor, stepped forward, addressing Ghostface challengingly. "You got a problem here, buddy?" he taunted, unaware of the danger he was about to face. Ghostface tilted their head, and with a surge of fury, began relentlessly stabbing the man, causing gasps of horror to fill the air. Amber and Anika recoiled in shock, their eyes wide, as another customer rushed to intervene but met a fatal stab to the neck.
The cashier, seizing the opportunity to protect the sisters, swiftly retrieved a shotgun from the back and fired at Ghostface, who narrowly evaded the shots. The cashier hurried over to Anika and Amber, urging them toward the back of the store. "The back door!" they shouted, their voice filled with urgency. The girls nodded in understanding, their hearts pounding with fear, but as they reached the door, they discovered it was locked.
"It's locked! We need the keys!" Amber cried out in desperation, directing her plea to the struggling cashier, who fumbled to retrieve the keys from his pocket. Ghostface came and stabbed the guy in his collarbone before pushing him toward a freezer.
Ghostface then grabbed the shotgun and aimed it at the clerk before shooting them in head making blood go everywhere and Anika and Amber fell to the floor in another aisle in shocked.
The two girls crouched low, crawling quietly along the floor, straining to hear the crunch of crushed chips under Ghostface's footsteps. Amber, overcome with fear, held back tears as she huddled beside Anika, doing her best to remain as silent as possible. Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the store as Ghostface fired at a freezer, causing the sisters to instinctively duck. Another shot followed, prompting them to find refuge behind a nearby shelf, huddled together for protection.
Anika's mind raced, searching for a way to create a diversion. Slowly, she picked up a soda can, mustering all her courage, and threw it to the side. Ghostface, lured by the noise, turned their attention away momentarily, granting the sisters a precious opportunity to crawl to another aisle, striving to maintain their stealth.
Amber accidentally bumped into something, causing a slight noise that sent a shiver down their spines. Anika quickly brought her finger to her lips, silently communicating the need for absolute silence. They locked eyes with Ghostface, their hearts pounding in their chests, as the masked figure prepared to take aim.
But just as Ghostface was about to shoot, Anika and Amber summoned their strength and pushed a nearby shelf onto their assailant. With adrenaline coursing through their veins, they sprinted out of the bodega, their ears filled with the distant wailing of approaching sirens. "Run!"
But when they looked back they were gone and the only thing left was a single mask.
➩➩➩➩➩
Amber sat in a chair, her head resting on her hand, while Anika leaned back, stifling a yawn, as they waited in the investigation room. Detective Bailey entered, holding a plastic bag containing the mask, and took a seat, placing the bag on the table.
"This was found next to the body. It's believed to belong to Richie Kirsch. Are you familiar with him?" Wayne inquired, leaning closer as he set the bag down.
"We know him," Anika replied, acknowledging their acquaintance with Richie.
Amber let out a sigh, sitting up straight. "But the person who attacked us wore a different mask. It was more worn-out and old-looking," she interjected, emphasizing the disparity between the mask found and the one they encountered.
Detective Bailey shifted his focus, raising an important question. "I have to ask, do you two have alibis for tonight?" he inquired, seeking clarification on their whereabouts during the time of the incident.
"We were both at a party with our friends," Amber promptly responded, providing their alibi for the night.
"Was this incident before or after the murders?" Wayne inquired, showing Anika and Amber a video capturing their confrontation with the lady who had splashed coke on them. Anika let out a sigh, crossing her arms in frustration.
"Before," Anika confirmed, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Amber jumped in, emphasizing their point. "The important thing is, we were with other people throughout the entire night," she stated firmly, making it clear they had alibis.
Anika couldn't help but wear a fake smirk. "So, our roommate's dad just happens to be assigned to our case?" she questioned, her tone laced with skepticism.
Wayne responded, his smile betraying a hint of amusement. "Such a crazy coincidence," he remarked, acknowledging the unlikely circumstance. "I can always drop the case, if you're uncomfortable."
"It's fine," Anika replied calmly, reassuring Detective Bailey.
"Well, how long have you known your friends? We found your ID at the scene of the Jason Carvey and Greg Brunkner crime. It's possible that someone close to you might be involved," Detective Bailey questioned, his tone filled with concern.
"We moved here with Mindy, Chad, Sam, and Tara, so that's Quinn, Ethan, and Breann," Amber answered, glancing at Anika for confirmation.
Wayne chimed in, offering some reassurance. "I can vouch for Quinn, so that's one less person to worry about," he asserted, trying to alleviate their anxieties.
Detective Bailey continued his line of inquiry, searching for any leads. "Do either of you know anyone who would have a reason to target you?" he probed, hoping for any potential clues.
Amber's response sent a shiver down their spines. "Not anyone who's alive," she replied matter-of-factly, her words hanging in the air like a chilling breeze.
The door swung open, revealing another officer. "Detective, the FBI is here. She says she needs to speak with you," the officer relayed, casting a look of confusion towards Wayne. He rose from his seat, exiting the room to meet with the agent, leaving Anika and Amber alone.
Anika let out a weary sigh, leaning her head back against the chair, feeling the weight of the situation. Meanwhile, Amber couldn't help but groan, her frustration evident, as they were left to contemplate the unfolding events in the room.
➩➩➩➩➩
Anika and Amber were leaving the room, their minds still preoccupied with the investigation when they suddenly gasped in surprise. Standing before them was an old friend they hadn't seen in years.
"Kirby?" Anika gasped, her voice filled with disbelief. Kirby broke into a smile and approached Anika, embracing her gently.
"Hey, Anika," Kirby greeted warmly, before pulling away from the hug.
Confusion flickered across Wayne's face as he observed the interaction. "You guys know each other?" he asked, seeking clarity.
"Yeah, she used to help Sam babysit us back in middle school," Anika explained, recalling the shared history.
Kirby chimed in, acknowledging their connection. "We share a certain history," she added. Turning to Amber, she greeted her with a nod and a wave.
"I don't want to get into a jurisdictional pissing contest. I'll show you mine, etc.," Kirby said, alluding to her involvement in past Ghostface killings. Wayne retrieved some paperwork and mentioned the names Charlie Walker and Jill Roberts.
"The Ghostface Killers of 2011," Kirby confirmed. She then lifted her shirt to reveal a healed cut wound. "Charlie Walker gave me this. I have a special interest in Ghostface killings."
"Whoever attacked you is leaving them on purpose?" Wayne asked.
"Which means whoever's doing this is a student of the killer's who came before. Maybe he believes Anika is the latest in the long line." Kirby explained.
"Yeah, good luck with that. We're getting out of town, come on, Amber," Anika declared, determined to remove themselves from the dangerous situation. They began to walk away, but Wayne intervened, blocking their path.
"I'm afraid you can't do that. You are persons of interest in a double homicide. You're not going anywhere," Wayne stated firmly, his tone indicating the seriousness of the situation.
Amber couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Are you serious?" she exclaimed, incredulous at the turn of events.
Kirby attempted to interject, suggesting that they could work together to resolve the situation, but her words were cut off, drowned out by Anika's scoff. Anika took a firm grip on Amber's hand and walked out of the station, pushing the doors open. As they stepped outside, they were met with a swarm of people, cameras flashing, and the realization that their predicament had attracted significant attention.
"Oh, great," Amber groaned, fully aware of the challenges that awaited them amidst the chaotic scene.