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APRIL 16, 2003
THE MALL
T-MINUS TEN MINUTES UNTIL ALEXIS' MURDERED

Alexis strolled into the donut shop, her cheeks still pink from soccer practice and her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. She looked around the small, cozy place, spotting her boyfriend, Quinn, behind the counter. He was focused on icing a fresh tray of donuts, his brows knitted in concentration as he added sprinkles in a neat, colorful pattern. When he finally glanced up and saw her, his face lit up, and he flashed her a quick smile.

"Hey, superstar," he called, his voice carrying a hint of teasing. "You want your usual?"

"Duh," Alexis replied, hopping up on one of the stools at the counter and leaning forward, resting her elbows on the polished surface. "You know me too well."

Quinn chuckled as he grabbed a chocolate-glazed donut and started adding an extra drizzle of caramel-just the way she liked it. He looked over at her, noticing the frown tugging at her lips and the way her fingers tapped anxiously on the counter. "Alright, spill. I can tell something's on your mind."

Alexis let out a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, it's just... the girls on my team are the worst sometimes. Like, they're so rude and preppy. It's like they think they're better than everyone else just because they have matching scrunchies and wear perfectly coordinated outfits. They act like they're untouchable or something."

Quinn raised an eyebrow, biting back a grin as he handed her the donut. "I mean, babe... you're kinda the most popular girl on the team."

Alexis looked at him, caught off guard for a moment. "Yeah, but I'm nice to people, Quinn. I don't act like I'm better than anyone. I talk to people outside of my little group, you know? And I don't make people feel like they don't belong just because they're not wearing designer shoes or whatever."

Quinn smirked, leaning on the counter and watching her as she took an aggressive bite of her donut. "So, you're saying... you're like, the 'good' kind of popular?"

She glared at him playfully, swallowing her bite. "Yes, exactly! There's a difference, Quinn. It's like, they're all about appearances and status, and it drives me insane. I mean, come on-there's more to life than keeping up some perfect, preppy image."

Quinn let out a soft laugh, crossing his arms. "Says the girl who coordinates her scrunchie with her cleats."

"Okay, first of all, that's different," Alexis shot back, rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself. "Just because I like looking cute doesn't mean I look down on people who don't. I'm actually nice to everyone. I want people to like me because of who I am, not because they're afraid of me or whatever."

Quinn chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I know. You wouldn't be sitting here with me if you were that type of 'popular,' right?" He gave her a lopsided grin, his gaze softening.

"Exactly!" Alexis said, her voice rising with enthusiasm. She took another big bite, licking a bit of caramel off her finger. "I'm like... the friendly popular. The one who actually cares about people. Is that so hard to understand?"

Quinn leaned closer, his face just inches from hers. "Nah, I get it. You're kinda like a unicorn-a rare breed," he teased, his voice dropping to a warm, affectionate tone.

She laughed, nudging his shoulder. "You're the worst. But that's why I like you." She leaned over the counter and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "You actually get me."

He blushed, glancing around to see if his manager was watching, then turned back to her with a grin. "Well, I kinda have to, don't I? I mean, I'm dating the nicest popular girl in school."

Alexis chuckled, rolling her eyes but clearly pleased. "Exactly. And don't forget it." She took another bite of her donut, savoring the sweetness. "But seriously, though... I don't know how you deal with me sometimes. Listening to me rant about the same people over and over."

Quinn shrugged, leaning his elbows on the counter. "What can I say? I find your rants kinda cute. Plus, I get free entertainment while I'm working."

"Oh, please," she scoffed, but her cheeks turned a little pink. "Like you're not secretly on my side. You know those girls are awful."

"Alright, alright," he admitted with a laugh. "Maybe I am. I mean, anyone who gives you a hard time deserves a little karma, right?"

She grinned, leaning closer to him again. "See, that's why I keep you around. My partner in crime."

He smirked, resting his forehead against hers for a second, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Always."

APRIL 16, 2003
THE MALL
T-MINUS 2 MINUTES

As the mall began to quiet down, its usual hum of activity fading into the late evening calm, Quinn locked up the donut shop, turning the "Open" sign to "Closed" with a heavy sigh. Alexis leaned casually against the wall just outside, her arms folded, her gaze darting around as she absentmindedly played with a lock of her hair, chatting about her day and the drama with the girls on her soccer team. Quinn couldn't help but smile, the sound of her voice a comforting background to the end of a long shift.

But their lighthearted moment was shattered when they spotted Lucy hurrying through the mall, her face tense, her eyes scanning her surroundings with a frantic urgency. She looked almost like a ghost, her figure darting in and out of the dim lighting of the deserted mall hallway.

"Lucy?" Quinn called out, his voice breaking the silence. Alexis straightened up, her curiosity piqued, as Lucy whipped her head around, her wide, alarmed eyes landing on them. She rushed over, her face pale and anxious.

"Quinn-Quinn, do not let Alexis go anywhere, okay? Keep her with you!" Lucy's voice was sharp, almost desperate, as she grabbed his arm. Her fingers dug into his sleeve with a fierce grip. She spoke so quickly that her words came out in a panicked rush. "But have you seen Val and Brian?"

Quinn and Alexis exchanged a bewildered glance. Alexis's eyebrow arched in confusion as she tilted her head, her voice uncertain. "Yeah... Brian was here earlier. Got himself a jelly donut." She tried to inject some humor, but it fell flat, her words hanging in the air.

Lucy's expression didn't change; if anything, her anxiety deepened. "Do you know where they are now?"

Quinn hesitated, wracking his memory. "I... I think I overheard Val mentioning something about wanting to go to Wetslide. She seemed really eager about it." He spoke slowly, trying to piece things together as he glanced between Lucy and Alexis, but Lucy's face turned from pale to ashen.

"Wetslide... Where is that?" Her voice was barely a whisper, her eyes darting around as if expecting something or someone to appear.

"Third floor," Alexis replied, her own confusion morphing into worry. Her heart began to beat a little faster, the unease in Lucy's demeanor infectious.

Without warning, Lucy reached out, clutching Quinn's shoulder with a fierce intensity. Her nails dug into his skin through his shirt, her urgency palpable. "Listen to me, Quinn. Get a knife and keep Alexis safe. Do not let her out of your sight!" Her voice held an edge of desperation, and before Quinn or Alexis could ask anything else, she spun around and sprinted down the hall, disappearing into the shadows.

"What?" Alexis's voice was a high-pitched mixture of shock and confusion, her eyes wide as she turned to Quinn. "Why would she say that? Quinn... what's going on?"

Quinn's brow furrowed, trying to keep his composure despite the rapid thudding of his heart. He swallowed, his throat dry. "I-I don't know," he stammered, his voice betraying his own nervousness. "All she told me earlier was that she came here to stop something bad that starts tonight."

The words hung heavily in the air, dread settling in. Alexis hugged herself, a chill creeping up her spine despite the warmth of the mall's lights. Quinn could see the fear in her eyes, and without a second thought, he took her hand, his grip firm.

"Come on," he murmured, pulling her gently back into the donut shop. He closed the metal gate door behind them, securing it with a click. The donut shop, once a warm, welcoming spot filled with the sweet scent of pastries, now felt like a cage. Every shadow seemed sharper, every noise more ominous. Quinn grabbed a small paring knife from the counter, gripping it tightly as he led Alexis to the back of the shop, positioning her behind him protectively.

The silence was thick, stretching out as they both held their breath, listening intently for any hint of movement outside. Minutes felt like hours. Alexis's pulse pounded in her ears, and she glanced up at Quinn, searching his face for reassurance. But he, too, looked tense, his jaw clenched, his knuckles white around the handle of the knife.

Then, from somewhere in the mall, a scream tore through the stillness, a shrill, terrified sound that echoed off the walls and sent a jolt of adrenaline through Alexis. She instinctively moved toward the door, her heart hammering.

"Lexi, what are you doing?" Quinn's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with fear as he reached out, trying to pull her back.

"That might be Val or Lucy! We can't just stand here and do nothing," Alexis argued, her voice shaking but her resolve clear. She was afraid, yes, but the thought of her friends in danger pushed her forward.

Quinn shook his head, desperation and protectiveness mingling in his gaze. "No, no. Lucy told me to keep you safe, Lexi. I don't want you to get hurt."

"But we can't just hide in here!" Alexis's voice was insistent, her hands shaking as she took a deep breath, summoning her courage. She stepped closer, reaching for the knife in his hand. With a determined look, she gently took it from him, her eyes meeting his as she swallowed hard.

Before he could protest, she unlocked the gate and pushed it open, slipping out into the empty mall. Quinn followed immediately, his heart in his throat as he hurried after her, whispering her name urgently.

They turned the corner near the escalators, and Alexis froze, horror washing over her as she took in the sight before her. A masked figure stood over Val, pinning her down, his hands gripping her head as he slammed it repeatedly against the metal steps. Blood smeared the escalator, and Val's body lay limp, her eyes half-open but unfocused, a haunting emptiness in her gaze.

Nearby, a security guard lay crumpled, blood seeping from a wound in his side. Alexis stifled a gasp, a mix of fear and fury building in her chest. She stepped forward, raising the knife with trembling hands, her voice raw with emotion. "Don't you dare!"

The masked man's head snapped up, his cold, calculating eyes locking onto hers. He tilted his head, almost mocking her bravery, before lunging forward. In one swift, brutal movement, he slapped the knife from her hand, sending it clattering across the floor. Before she could react, he shoved her backward, knocking the breath out of her as she stumbled and fell, hitting the floor hard.

Alexis looked up, dazed, her vision swimming as she saw him standing over her, his imposing silhouette blocking out the light. Her heart pounded as she braced herself, waiting for him to strike.

But instead, he hesitated, his gaze shifting from her to Quinn, who was standing a few feet away, his fists clenched, terror and fury etched across his face. The killer let out a huff, his shoulders rising and falling before he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows as if he'd lost interest.

Alexis lay on the floor, her breaths coming in short, panicked gasps as the realization of what had just happened crashed over her. Her whole body shook, the adrenaline wearing off to leave a cold, numbing fear in its place.

In an instant, Quinn was at her side, dropping to his knees as he gathered her into his arms. His hold was fierce, protective, his heartbeat loud against her ear as he held her close, grounding her in the midst of the chaos.

"Lexi... it's okay, I've got you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he gently stroked her hair. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

The floodgates opened, and Alexis clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt as silent sobs wracked her body. She buried her face in his shoulder, the weight of the terror and helplessness overwhelming her. She had almost died-almost lost everything in a split second.

Quinn held her tightly, his own breathing shaky as he tried to steady both of them. He whispered soothing words, his hand rubbing circles on her back as he reassured her over and over that she was safe, that he was here, that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

But they both knew that safety, for now, was just an illusion, hanging by a thread in the dark, silent halls of the mall.

ASH SPEAKS!

alexis cruz lives!!!

since quinn wasnt there originally in the original timeline, alexis died, but quinn was there this time so future quinn didnt kill alexis

we're not gonna talk about how i thought quinn worked at a donut shop because of his uniform but watching back it was a video store... oh well.

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)