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ONE
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⎯⎯⎯"RUE, THEY'VE FOUND ALISON'S BODY," Hanna Marin's voice was shaky as she told her cousin the day's events through the phone, stood trembling beside Spencer Hastings, Emily Fields and Aria Montgomery.

"They've—they've what?"

"We're outside the DiLaurentis house now, Rue," she explained, and Prudence could hear her fighting back tears, "It's a murder investigation now, not a missing person investigation... I wanted to call you before the police do... because... well... that night. You were here too, obviously. They're going to want to speak to you. And I need you right now. We need you."

Prudence couldn't comprehend what Hanna was telling her, her heart racing at the thought.

Alison was dead? She was really gone?

"I'm—I don't know what to say," she shook her head, biting her lip, "I'll be in Rosewood by tonight, Han. I promise. I love you."

"I love you too. See you later."

Prudence was about to hang up, until Hanna cut in, "Oh— and Rue?"

"Yeah?"

"Jason just got back."

As she hung up the phone, Prudence felt her heartbeat quicken only further. Jason.

She heard her older brother enter the room before she could even begin to unpack the phone call, "Who was that on the phone?"

She gulped, pocketing her phone as a tear spilled from her eyes. She paced towards him, pulling him into a hug, "They've found Ali's body... She's—She's dead, Sammy."

She heard Sam's sharp inhalation of breath as he quickly hugged her tighter, kissing the top of her head, "Oh, Rue... I'm so sorry. Do you need me to drive you to Rosewood? I'm guessing you'll want to be with the girls. And I suppose the police will want to talk to you, too?"

Prudence pulled away, wiping her tears and nodding slightly, "If that's no problem... I can get the bus, otherwise..."

"I'm not letting you get the bus, Prudey," Sam scoffed, "Besides, I haven't seen Jason in a year and he probably needs the support. Go throw a few things in a bag, we'll leave in a hour, okay? We can stay in my apartment, if you don't mind me staying too? I want to be there for you... You're my baby sister."

"Of course, Sammy. Thank you," Prudence nodded, hugging him quickly again before turning on her heel to head to her room. She paused for a moment, "I can't believe she's really gone."

Sam sent her a warm, sympathetic smile, "I'm sorry, sis. I'm so sorry."

"I—I know she could be cruel sometimes, but I'd never wish death on her," liar, "And now she's... gone."

"I know, I know," Sam frowned, watching his sister skulk up the stairs crying, "Fuck."

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"Rosewood never changes, does it?"

Prudence swallowed thickly at her brother's words, terrified by just how totally the same everything seemed, when Alison DiLaurentis had just been found dead.

Of course, she hadn't seen anyone yet, but she was fucking terrified.

All the secrets she'd kept this past year away from them seemed to be creeping at the forefront of her brain, her heart aching and her mind whirring with fear at what was to come.

They pulled up outside the Marin residence, parking up and immediately heading inside with their spare key, where they found Hanna curled up alone watching a news report about Alison's death.

"Hanna," Prudence called out, pulling her cousin to her chest as she began to cry too, "Oh Hanna."

Sam stood behind the girls, frowning. He hated seeing his family hurt this way, especially over a girl who didn't deserve it.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, girls," he cooed, pulling both of them into a hug and pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads, "I know it hurts, I promise I'm here... It's okay, I've got you."

"My—my mum isn't home," Hanna sobbed, "I think she's on a date... I don't know when she'll be back. I just... I want all of this to go away."

"I can't believe she's really gone," Prudence choked out as Sam busied himself with making hot chocolates in the kitchen for the girls, "It's been so much easier to cope with her missing when I don't even live in Rosewood, because I never see you guys either. But now she's dead?"

"I know, P. I know," Hanna and Prudence clutched onto eachother for dear life, afraid to let go in case they'd break without the support.

"How are the other girls?" Prudence queried. She'd not seen them since she left Rosewood, even though she lived less than an hour away and her brother owned a second house here, because it had all been too much when Ali went missing.

Prudence went from spending every weekend in Rosewood, to being scared to even contemplate returning.

And now here she was.

"They're struggling too," Hanna told her, "You know, they're already sorting the funeral, but it hasn't sunk in yet. Ali's gone."

"It doesn't feel real, does it?" Prudence's voice was barely a whisper as Sam returned to hand them their hot drinks and press a kiss to both of their foreheads.

"We should get to our place soon, Prudey," Sam rubbed her arm, "You can stay with us if you'd like, Han? While your mum isn't home I don't want you stuck alone..."

"Home? You're going back already?"

Sam shook his head, "No, my Rosewood apartment. I've been renting it out but they moved out last month anyway so we're going to stay there if you'd like to join tonight?"

Hanna looked unsure for a moment, but wiped a stray tear and nodded slowly, "Is that okay? I don't want to be a burden..."

Prudence scoffed, but only softly, "Han, you could never be a burden. We need each other right now, you're always welcome with us."

"I love you guys," Hanna pouted, "I'll go and get some stuff together for the night. Thank you."

Hanna rose to her feet, scurrying upstairs without another word as Sam looked sadly across at his younger sister, "I hate seeing you girls hurt like this."

Prudence beckoned him to the sofa, curling up in his arms as he held her, "I love you, Sammy. You're the best big brother I could ever ask for."

Sam's phone suddenly began to buzz in his pocket, and he pulled it out to check the contact. Prudence felt her heart drop as she saw the name Jason flash across the screen.

"Sorry Prudey, is it okay if I take this?" he kissed the top of her head and released her from their hug.

Prudence nodded, her breathing shaky, "Of course, he needs you too. Go ahead."

And so Sam stood up, heading for the kitchen and leaving Rue's heart racing thinking about everything that had happened that day.

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authors note — there's chapter one
for you guys :-) they'll probably get
longer as i start to follow the plot
more but i hope this was okay. still
not massively happy with this chapter
but i always hate my intro chapters
hehe so hope you enjoyed anyway x

please let me know what you think !