The flight from Sidney was delayed, as a result of the terrible weather. It was scheduled to land a quarter before 11 p.m. and had been delayed by two hours. Luckily she had already warned Gale that she was going to delay. She also notified Mark of her arrival.

New York seemed strange to her as soon as she set a foot in it. A powerful aura of strong energies. Next to her travel suitcase and a handbag, Sidney waited in the seats near the doors of the airport parking lots. She was tense and nervous. She didn't want to be alone for so long. She wrote back to Gale that she was waiting for her. The message was delivered to her but it was not opened. Sidney assumed Gale would be on her way.

The airport was almost deserted. Some people walked waiting for their transfers or families. Others dozed in the other seats nearby, clutching their bags to their bodies. Sidney, when she saw them, was infected with sleep. She was unlucky not to be able to sleep on the planes because of the discomfort of the seats. The pain in her neck and body killed her. Her eyelids were heavy and her head was already spinning.

However, she did everything she could not to fall asleep there at the airport and be vulnerable prey for a psychopath who wants to finish her off. On the one hand, she thought that was being extremely paranoid and on the other, the survival instinct allowed her to stay awake. She could sleep safely in Gale's car.

Even so, little by little she lost the battle against and fell asleep in the chair. She woke up from time to time scared and cursed that she had fallen asleep. As fatigue threatened to overcome her, she chose to go through her travel suitcase and extract the only thing with which she could defend himself and was allowed to carry: a pair of sewing scissors that she had stolen from her home.

She placed them under her handbag on her lap and wondered one last time if that was the right decision. Seeing that there were still people walking around the airport corridors, she decided to close her eyes for a moment.

Each subject who crossed near her made her startle. She even earned an insult from an older man by scaring him. Sidney wanted to be able to get some rest. It was a relief to hear the noise of the notification on her cell phone.

Come out. I'm in parking lot B. I don't know what door you're at.

Sidney breathed a sigh of relief. Gale is always as efficient as usual. She shouldered her handbag and texted in response.

Gate 5. Domestic outings. I'm already out so you can see me.

With one hand holding the scissors and her cell phone hidden and the other dragging her suitcase, Sidney went out to the parking lots. The cold of New York's winter atmosphere hit her hard, making her adjust her jacket.

She scanned the place, dimly lit by the hour and without a soul present, looking for Gale's car or something to help her locate it.

Gale, I'm here at the door. Where are you?

Sidney then called her phone and did not ring. There was quite a bit of interference in the place. She probably couldn't call her too. However, at the end of the parking lot, she saw the letter B in dark green. She chose to send him another message.

I know where you are. I'm going there. Don't move. Turn on your lights to find out which car is yours.

Sidney strode forward dragging her things, stuffing her phone into her pocket, and with the scissors now in her grip. She watched from every possible angle and was attentive to any sound, shadow, or silhouette she could hear or spot.

It took about three minutes to cross the parking lot and they felt eternal. With her heart incrusted on her neck and the bitter flavor in her mouth, Sidney arrived at parking lot B. There, she reviewed Gale's message that had reached her at that moment.

Lights on. Hurry.

Sidney searched for the light in the darkness and saw nothing. However, checking a second time, she saw a glow of light very close to her. She followed it quickly, she wanted to be safe in the car and be able to rest a little.

Finding the car, Sidney put down the scissors and was finally able to breathe.

She walked there and could see Gale's silhouette at the wheel, but not her face because the incandescent headlights did not allow it.

Her decision was made. She wanted to rest and she let Gale know as she approached the car:

"You don't know how much sleep I need, Gale. So, you update me everything tomorrow after I can...

She stopped her words when she reached the window of the gray car and realized that the person behind the wheel was not Gale. She was an unknown woman. What made her recoil was that the woman had a deep cut in her throat and blood bathing the driver's seat and the console of the car.

Horrified, Sidney immediately turned around, only to find Ghostface raising his bloody knife above her head, threatening to stab her. She dodged the cut and, using her suitcase as a shield, pushed Ghostface onto the driveway so she could flee among the rest of the cars.

"Damn it... what a nice way New Yorkers have to receive tourists...

Ghostface chased after her by slashing her with his knife. Sidney was no longer as agile as before, so when she tried to shield himself with a car, she received a cut on her forearm. She tried to dig the scissors into Ghostface's arm, but it was impossible. Attacking would be of no use to her, it was not convenient. Ghostface nearly hit her side, missing by a few inches. The knife against the car's paint caused a horrible squeak that left Sidney's ears squeaking with tinnitus.

Trying to hide behind the maze of parked cars, she reached the car drop-off ramp. Sidney dropped to the ground and rolled under a pickup truck so she could throw herself to the lower level. She fell sharply and injured her ankle, but she was further away from Ghostface. Limping, she grabbed her phone to call Gale for emergency and got no answer. When she raised her head again, she saw the black figure watching her from the other side of the parking lot, knife in hand and turning her head slightly.

"You damn psycho," Sidney muttered, without taking her eyes off him, to know the right moment when she should start running.

Sidney was scared. She knew that this time Ghostface had the upper hand over her. Ghostface took one step and she responded with a step back. Another one and another one. The silence was disturbing. Ghostface took up the chase again and Sidney ran away ignoring the horrible pain in her ankle.

The chase was chaotic but short. A car was speeding up the ramp and Sidney was dazzled by its headlights. There was a sound of tires and Sidney came to a screeching halt, her body on the hood. When the effect of the lights in her eyes was deterred, Sidney could see the black-haired reporter at the wheel, her face totally surprised to see her bloodied and agitated.

She wanted to get out of the car, but Sidney screamed right away.

"Don't you dare going out!" He's here! " she exclaimed, settling into the passenger seat, putting pressure on the wound in her arm.

"What the fuck, Sidney?!" Gale replied, handing her some paper towels to place on the wound. "What happened? "

"A bastard, with the mask!" Sidney shouted and complained of pain as she moved her injured foot slightly. "He was hunting me. He ambushed me as I went out into the parking lot. He must have cloned your phone number, or I don't know how I was talking to him. He has also killed an innocent woman upstairs".

Gale then pulled a gun out of the glove compartment and bragged it in Sidney's face.

"Then let's hunt him too."

She sped up and climbed the ramp to the upper floor. However, they did not find any trace of the masked man. It seemed to have vanished in the wind. Gale grumbled angrily and cursed under her breath.

"They always have to leave when you want to face them! Always so cowardly! "

Sidney was losing blood, and her head was already starting to hurt. The cut had been deeper than she had expected. But she had the strength to ask her friend for another favor. "Before you take me to the hospital, I need you to take my suitcases, please".

The black-haired woman looked at her laughably.

"I could have easily lent you some clothes".

Sidney made a gesture of displeasure and mockery.

"Your style doesn't suit me...

Gale just rolled her eyes and went out to see Sidney's suitcase and things, her gun raised ready to attack anyone who came near her. As she approached, she saw the body of the murdered woman and was disgusted to see the exposed wound on her neck. She did not have the courage to continue to see this, for the vague memory of Dewey's death still haunted her. It used to mourn his absence sometimes at night. The experience had made her stoic and strong. However, sometimes she felt so vulnerable, on the verge of breaking.

She placed the suitcases in the trunk and called the police to go for the body and look for clues. Unfortunately, that time Kirby did not answer, she was probably busy with other things.

"I'll take you to the hospital to have that cut stitched up and see your foot," Gale said, putting on his belt.

Sidney kept her eyes closed and breathed softly to get her adrenaline pumping.

"When will the day be when we can see each other without blood, death and psychopaths in between? " Sidney looked tired, and her face was shrunk in pain.

Gale, setting the car in motion, snorted sarcastically, asking himself the same question.

"We don't have the luxury of a normal life, Sid".

The brunette glanced sideways at her companion of so many years, whose age was leaving a mark on her face. Instinctively, she lowered the mirror of her seat and saw the grooves of time also imprinted on her skin. So many years fighting against that threat and they had not been able to get rid of it. She thought that one day neither she nor Gale might be able to protect themselves from the constant threat of Ghostface. She also worried about the new generation of victims of the mask killer's shadow. Gale had told her what had happened a year ago. Like one of them, including herself, they had escaped death by a short distance, clinging to life with their fingernails. She felt slightly guilty that she had passed the curse on to a new generation, yet she knew the Core Four and knew what they were capable of.

Still, Tara Carpenter being kidnapped was unusual. During the flight, Sidney wondered why this Ghostface had chosen that path. Even so, she had the slight suspicion that the youngest of the Carpenters is probably dead. Ghostface wouldn't miss out on the pleasure of stabbing a victim.

Gale was driving over the speed limit. The hospital was far away. The streets were totally desolate by the hour. Sidney looked at the signs out the window to stay conscious.

"Hold on, Sid. We're almost there".

Indeed, they did not take long. Sidney immediately went to the emergency room to be helped with her injuries and Gale was left waiting biting her nails.

A familiar voice surprised her from behind. It was Chad, Randy Meeks' nephew. He came from buying candy at a vending machine.

"Gale! I didn't expect to find you here. What's wrong? You're a little pale," Chad asked, seeing Gale's face.

"I just brought Sidney from the airport. She was attacked by Ghostface in its parking lot. He pretended to be me by phone and misled Sid.

Chad was shocked by the brutality of this new Ghostface.

"Wow, another one appeared".

"It seems so. There must be a network or something".

"Or an army of Ghostfaces," Chad added, proud of his words.

"Don't even think that in jest," Gale threatened, hugging her own body, looking for comfort. "Just thinking about it gives me chills".

It was then that Chad returned to Gale's previous words, realizing what she had said.

"Wait, wait. Is Sidney here in New York?

"Yes, she's here. They are stitching up her wounds in the emergency room. She will probably have to wear a splint or cast because of her injured ankle.

The boy turned pale. Everything was fitting together perfectly, as if it were orchestrated. He entered into a moral dilemma. Should he tell Sam about Sidney's presence? Although she probably already knew that Sidney would be in New York... Although, maybe not so close...

Chad rubbed his head and grimaced with concern. Gale, noticing his stress, asked how he was doing with his injuries, as well as his sister's. Chad just asserted and walked away from her. Before he left, Gale asked:

"How's Sam?"

Chad swallowed the lump in his throat when he heard the question.

"Overwhelmed, like everyone else," Chad said, leaving the waiting room. "We want to know where Tara is".

The boy walked away with what Sam had told him a few hours ago. She had the impulse to say to Gale, but she remembered Mindy's words:

"In this game, you never trust the rest"

But then, why did he trust Sam?

She wouldn't kidnap Tara just because of her madness.

Or maybe she would?

She might not be able to trade her life for Sidney's.

Neither does he.

Or maybe he does?