CHAPTER SEVEN.

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"IF U SEEK AMY"

PARANOIA WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS ILLNESS THAT EVER EXISTED. It would break you apart, moving in your veins like poison. You would be dead inside, rotten. But, it would keep you alive. (Like a ghost; still breathing but not living.)

Was her father scared as she was when the Nightwing killer ran towards him? Did he freeze like her? Did he scream? Did he fight back? It was his friend once, Uncle Reg had told Amy. The killer was her father's friend.

Did he not notice it until he had an ax on his head? Did he call his friend's name in confusion? Did he die thinking his friend hated him so much that he killed him?

Amy knew the truth now. The truth, perhaps her father wasn't lucky enough to find out. (But perhaps that made him the lucky one, and Amy hoped he at least died with some peace.)

The killer didn't just snap, he didn't hate her father. He was possessed. He was as innocent as they were.

What would her mother think? Would Teresa Love forgive the boy, once their friend, for being compelled to kill the love of her life?

Amy didn't have answers. Her thoughts were chaos, and she was swimming around them. They were trying to reach her and engage her in the cruel cold water. They wanted to drown her.

Amy knew one thing: Teresa Love would stop the curse no matter what happened. Thus, that was what she was going to do.

"That was the Camp Nightwing Killer!" John stated, carefully looking at Amy whose gaze was on the back. She was waiting for the killer to reach them, considering how fast he was.

"That was a bust!" Kate yelled, slightly turning her head from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, maybe because it's not like the movies, OK?" Deena rose, getting a clear fabric to give Sam. "It's not as easy as putting bones to rest!"

"Oh, forgive us, smart-ass Deena!" Crystal shouted, her voice mocker. "Because we are being chased to death every single day in our lives by some possessed dead bitches!"

Deena pressed her lips, forming a straight line, looking at Crystal. Deena's gaze was hurt, while Crystal's carried the rage inside that black eyes.

"It should've worked. It always works!" Simon defended loudly. His hand caressed Amy's bare arm to soothe the girl.

"Maybe it's her missing hand." Josh sighed.

"That's smart." Amy commented, the Johnson boy sent a small smile to the brunette.

"Who gives a shit? It doesn't matter. Hey, how do I not die?" Kate shouted from front.

"We! How do we not die?" Simon corrected. "And I'm looking at you, witch nerd!"

He pointed his free hand to Josh, who seemed as confused as they were. "I... I don't know." The boy admitted.

"They're not coming for us!" Sam raised her voice, speaking for the first time. Everyone turned to her. "They are coming for me."

"What?" Deena scoffed.

"You saw the witch." Matthew realized, his intense gaze on the blonde.

Sam agreed with a nod. "I saw her again. The witch. She... I disturbed her grave. She wants me."

"What did you see?" Matthew asked, tilting his head.

Crystal sent a weird look to him. "Who cares?"

"Yeah, yeah." Josh nodded as his gaze flickered on the floor. Amy realized he was focused. "The Nightwing Killer ran past me and Amy." He glanced at Amy. "Once we were out of his way, it's like..."

"Like he didn't see us." Amy completed.

"No," Matthew shook his head. "He ran straight to Amy."

"Because she was standing in front of me." Sam sighed heavily.

"Yeah," Josh concurred, shaking his head swiftly. "He went for Sam."

"Okay," Matthew took a deep breath. "So we can go back to our normal lives?"

"Will they be coming for us?" Amy asked.

"I don't think so." Josh answered tentatively.

Crystal patted the scared girl. "Cool. Nice knowing you Sam, have a good death."

"What?" Deena asked in disbelief.

"If we aren't in danger," Crystal spoke cautiously. "We don't want to get involved."

"If Sam dies," Amy asked, guilt crushing her chest. "Do killers stop too?"

"Probably."

"Guys, no!" Deena interjected. "Ruby attacked Simon."

"And she looked good doing it." Matthew commented, earning a slap from Crystal. "Ow, okay, sorry."

"Skull mask came after us at home. And while you guys were babysitting."

The ambulance stopped abruptly, Amy holding on to Simon not to fly out of the window. "Kate, what the hell?"

"No, he didn't." She said, ignoring Amy. She came to the back, approaching them. "Skull Mask didn't care about us. He wanted this. Sam's blood."

She zipped Simon's sweatshirt, revealing his not-so-white anymore t-shirt. Amy remembered the crash night when Sam puked out her blood to Simon. His t-shirt was torn apart a little, and Amy felt guilty for not giving him fresh clothes.

Deena leaned forward. "What the fu-"

"Oh." Josh sighed with disgust.

"Yeah! From the crash when Sam puked period!" Simon agreed, turning to Josh. "It's Jaws, dude! A shark smelling blood!" He was panting. "Kate's right. When we found Skeletor, he was all sniffy and weird with my shirt like a perv in a pantie shop!"

"And you thought that was Peter?" Matthew rolled his eyes, sighing.

"Yeah, but he came to our house and Crystal's too!" Deena said as she helplessly looked at the group.

"Deena." Kate softly spoke as her gaze was on Deena's shoes.

The white shoes had blood on the edges, Sam's blood.

"How in the hell did you not notice the blood on your white shoes?" Crystal asked with disgust.

"What about Crystal?" Matthew asked, spinning his friend to see any blood.

Crystal took out her black jacket, revealing the blood on the edge of her long sleeve. "When I tried to punch Deena, I accidentally hit Sam."

Amy blinked a few times, looking at the group to know if she had heard right. "What?"

Deena drew a sigh. "I wouldn't really say accidentally."

Crystal gave an innocent smile as a response.

"Sam bled on her bones, now the witch wants more of her blood!" Simon expressed, intensely.

"OK, so what do they do in Jaws?" Sam questioned, Amy could see the blonde panic.

"They didn't go skinny-dipping with the goddamn bait." Kate expressed.

"She's not bait!" Deena's voice was loud.

"Yeah, she is!" Josh and Crystal spoke at the same time. Deena glanced at her brother. Josh continued. "Seriously, if we're right and they're after her... let's give these assholes what they want."

THEY ENDED UP AT THE SHADYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL. The last place Amy thought she would die. The school lacked the safe aura that would usually give off at the night. It felt like the lockers that they had put their books actually were hiding the monsters inside of them. The walls of the halls were inked to darkness like they wanted to engulf them.

Simon checked their surroundings and walked with a 'lost & found' box. "Alright, we have to decontaminate." Josh instructed. "You can't have any of Sam's blood on you."

"That clothes look more dangerous than dead killers after us." Matthew commented, looking disgusted.

"Guys." Kate sighed, raising her brows.

"Fine." Crystal huffed, getting a black t-shirt along with grey sweat pants. No matter what they said, Amy knew that Crystal would never take off her black leather jacket.

Amy hesitantly looked at the bright blue sweater and black shorts. That was a better combination than Matthew's pink t-shirt, green jacket, and red pants.

"Well, not much I can do about that." Sam commented, walking away. Deena rose immediately, following her.

"Deena, you have to clean, too!" Her brother yelled after her. "Not a single drop, OK?"

"Come on," Matthew grunted, getting into a room, Crystal following.

"Kate shouldn't be alone." Amy commented as she stayed behind.

"Rub-a-dub-dub-time!" Simon said, making Amy roll her eyes.

Kate opened the door, Amy on her heels. Simon entered the other room, Kate stopped abruptly. Amy's chest crashed with the raven-haired girl's back. "Ow, Kate."

"Can Josh come?" Kate whispered hesitantly.

Amy made a face, awkward. "With us?"

"Can you switch places?" She asked, glancing at Josh who was about to enter the other room.

"I can but-" Kate didn't listen to her other words as she called for Josh. "But I don't want to." Amy's whisper went unheard.

"Amy wants to go with Simon." Kate stated, making the brunette hit her. "Ow. She is just too shy."

"Kate, what the fuck?" Amy said between her teeth, eyes wide.

"Oh," Josh looked at the girls. "Sure."

"Thanks, she appreciates it." Kate smoothly smiled.

"If we survive this tonight, I'm killing you myself." Amy threatened, involuntarily approaching the other room.

She knocked because unlike certain someone, she had manners. "Josh?"

"It's me, Amy." She said as she hesitantly opened the door.

She didn't know what to expect but she felt lucky that what she saw wasn't going to be another trauma. Simon looked at her curiously. "Kate." She expressed shortly as she closed the door.

He nodded in agreement, continuing to wash his face. Amy entered a cabin, she was fond of her privacy. She changed as quickly as possible, checking herself for any blood. She was far away from Sam on the crash night and she didn't expect anything. Yet, she obeyed Josh and changed. The sweatshirt was too big for her, it covered her knees. She didn't mind it, considering the shorts were mini.

"Uh," She cleared her throat. "Are you done? Can I come out?"

"Sure, I support you." He chuckled and it took a minute for Amy to understand.

"Simon, you have already traumatized me before the crash, and if you-"

"Jeez, woman. I'm fully clothed." He interjected, huffing.

Amy raised her brows, even though he couldn't see her. "Are you sure?"

"Would you prefer if I took them out?"

"No." Her answer was immediate. "Please, god, no."

Amy hit the door with her elbow, it slowly opened, revealing Simon. He met with her gaze from the mirror, rolling his eyes. "You are mean to me."

Amy took a deep breath, standing next to him while folding her long-sleeves. "Isn't it understandable after you put me in a hospital and made a curse hunt me down?"

Simon narrowed his eyes slightly. "First of all, it was Deena who put you in a hospital, not me." He stated, his eyes still fixed on her even though she started washing her hands and therefore, looking at them. "Second of all, Sam saw the witch, not me."

Okay, she had to admit that he was right.

Amy splashed the water on her hands everywhere to dry them. "You and your little friend group, I don't see a difference."

"Well, I do." He deadpanned, turning his body fully to her. "It is like you're searching for an excuse to hate me."

"Excuse me?" She asked between her teeth, the words crushing under them.

"Apology declined."

"I didn't apoligize," She corrected with furrowed brows. "There is nothing to apoligize for, okay? I don't know you, like we met just yesterday. So, don't take things personal."

Simon was taken aback by her words as if she just punched him in the face. "God, you really don't remember, do you?"

The frown on her face deepened. "Remember what?"

He slightly shook his head. "Forget it," His tone was distant, lacked his usual tenderness. "It doesn't matter."

"Simon," Her voice was soft as if the words were fragile. "Just tell me."

He took a deep breath, his blue eyes boring into her candlelit ones. "We used to be friends, Amy. We sat next to each other at middle school. We ate our dinners together. You used to help me with my homeworks, and I would bring you comic books so that you could read."

Amy was paralyzed as she looked at him, lips parted in shock. "Everything was great for 4 years until you changed schools. You transferred to Sunnyvale and you forgot about me."

Amy blinked repeatedly as if the memories that were buried in a mist on her head would come to the surface. But honestly, she couldn't just remember. "Then you came back at our third year in highschool. And whenever I tried to talk to you, you.. you were so distant."

The guilt was sitting on Amy's shoulder, lowering them.

"You befriended Crystal immediately, and I even tried to talk to her but," He swallowed loudly. "When I realized you didn't even remember me, I just stopped trying."

Silence filled the room, this time it carried no serenity in its pillars, instead, there was a monster that was watching them with hungry eyes, ready to feed on their feelings; that monster was called truth.

"Simon, I-" Amy took a deep breath, demanding all the courage she had to gather in her mouth before she chickened out. "I don't know what to say, I'm so sorry."

"Well, yeah." He nodded, averting her gaze. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"No." Her tone was stern just like her gaze. "It does matter, god, I'm such an awful friend. I honestly didn't even remember you, or else I would never ignore you."

Simon shrugged lazily, giving a tight smile. A sorry wouldn't fix all those years, she knew that.

"I always felt like I didn't belong in Shadyside, or Sunnyvale. Like I was the left out. I was always so distant because I was trying to protect myself." She explained, biting her lip. "Many people approached me because I was half- Sunnyvaler, to get advantage of me. I know it's a weak excuse but-"

"Amy," He cut her off with a gentle smile. "It's okay."

"It isn't okay! Nothing is!" Her loud voice hit the walls, echoing and carrying her fragile sentences back to her. "And I am so tired of pretending like it is."

Tears pricked her eyes, she wanted to stop herself. She hadn't been that vulnerable in front of someone for years. Suddenly, breathing was heavy, overwhelming. She put a hand to her neck, rubbing her skin as if it could have helped her.

"And I have this...this feeling, it wants to drown me, and devour me." Her breaths were unsteady as she choked on her words.

"Hey, Amy, calm down. You are having a panic attack." Simon stated, holding her arms.

Dread moved in her body as if a needle was pricked to her skin, slowly yet poisonously. It burnt her bones, her flesh, her blood, everything that made her herself.

"Ok, I'm so hesitant. If I kiss you, it would be out of consent, I don't like that." Simon mumbled, lightly biting his lip, hesitancy written on his face. "And if I don't, I'm leaving you here to die, which is equally bad."

"Simon," Amy managed to call out, hitting her chest to breathe. The world was spinning, her vision was getting blurry.

"Oh, this is bad, like very very bad." He rambled, shaking his head. He seemed more panicked than her as if he was the one who couldn't breathe.

"Simon," She mumbled, trying to give a warning so that he could shut up.

"Would you hate me if I do? You would right?" He drew a sigh, shaking her body little as if it could help.

"Simon," She choked on the words. "Kiss me already."

Those were the golden words he was waiting to hear. He was dumbfounded for a second but recovered fast. He grabbed her chin, slowly leaning forward. His lips were soft against her bruised ones, they radiated warmth to her cold body. His one hand caressed her cheek, his rings cold on her skin while the other one was drawing circles on her wrist.

And Amy's world carried on again, the faded colors she was used to seeing for years turned into vivid ones. Her abdomen burnt with a strange feeling, was it the excitement? Amy wasn't sure.

All she knew was that Amy felt alive again, or for the very first time.

💀 🩸 🦴 😈 🔪

𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆:

edited: 26.08.2021

this chapter took me forever to write, sorry

finally amy & simon <33 (yes i did pull a stydia moment for them)

thanks for reading!