Chapter seventeen, 

life is a bitch, death is simply knocking

( don't get mad at me but it's five survivors, so it's the core five. Cringe, but Chad said it not me. )

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   Amaya had gasped awake in pure horror.

   Her sudden gasping immediately startled Chad who had suddenly awaken as well, and had noticed how Amaya was heavily breathing, and slowly sitting himself up with the blankets immediately dropping down to his waist, and revealing his shirtless body.

"Maya!" Chad had slowly placed his hand over her own hand, just as Amaya was slowly coming back down to her senses.

"Just a nightmare," Amaya calmly stated, turning her head to glance at her boyfriend, gently turning his hand around to intertwine their hands together, "A Ghostface nightmare."

   Chad nodded his head, 'cause he also had one as well, "Honestly, same. This is just all hitting from home," He had softly murmured, "What if this one followed us here?" He retorted.

   Amaya had let that information sink in her head, and her first thought was how she remembers how hearing about how Ghostface had followed her Aunt Sidney, Randy Meeks and her own father to college around 1997. It's just not a damn coincidence that this fucker is recreating past history, but in his own twisted way.

   Rather it's recreating the Stab movies, or real events. There's always something related to the Original.

   "I think you may be right," Amaya whispered back, "This motherfucker is recreating his own sequel in a fucked up way." She had simply glanced at her boyfriend, swallowing down her saliva thickly, fucking nervousness kicking in.

Chad leaned in to kiss her forehead before speaking, lowly, "Everything's going to be okay. We're going to be okay. All of us." He reassured her.

Amaya had simply nodded her head at his reassuring words until they had both heard laughter, and Paloma screeching in excitement, that had left the two raise their eyebrows, and both quickly getting up from the bed, Chad searching for a shirt to ultimately put on, as well with Amaya putting on her sweatpants, 'cause she has a habit of sleeping in just her underwear and an extreme long shirt that reaches her thighs.

The two head entered the kitchen only to quickly see Anika and Mindy setting up the kitchen table with her father who was also in the kitchen, and cooking Chilaquiles, as well as making Café De Olla.

"About time you dinguses wake up," Mindy had called out, "I brought Paloma here, 'cause she woke up. I hope you two didn't mind." She smiled cheekily at her friend and brother.

"It's all good." Both said at the same time who stood beside Paloma on her high-chair who was eating some beans despite some of it falling down on the floor.

   Amaya decided to tease the both, "Decided to do some bonding with my dad today?" She question her friends with Anika who let out a snort.

   "Your dad is the coolest person ever, and it's welcoming here. Never really had this back home." She had sadly smiled, glancing at her girlfriend before staring at her two friends, "A family." She retorted.

Amaya smiled back, "Well, you're always welcomed here, 'cause it's settled every Sunday all six of us have breakfast together." She had glanced at everyone who nodded their head in agreement.

   Lorenzo quickly spoke up, "Well, I'm not cooking next week, y'all four better rock- paper scissors on who cooks next week."

   Everyone had just simply let out a laugh at his response, and simply enjoying a peaceful morning together.

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The friend group were all sitting in a bench from outside of their College, people were seen walking past, or others surrounding the area hanging around with their fiends.

    Mindy who was standing up adjusting her shirt, easily spoke, "Okay, nerds. Listen up." Earning all of their attentions, "As terrifying as all this is , I'm actually glad I get a chance to redeem myself for not calling the killers last time." She lightly sighed. Chad who had softly mumbling a yup with Mindy adding to her sentence, "It's fine, okay." She simply sighed.

   Mindy decided to continue speaking with everyone clearly focused on her, "The way I see it someone's out to make a sequel to the requel." She hand gestured while glancing at everyone.

Anika who raised her hand, "Uhm, what's a requel?" She asked confusingly, lowering her hand back down.

"You're beautiful, sweetie, but let's hold questions till the end."

Anika tilted her head with a smile plastered on her face.

Sam who began to slowly answer, "Stab One took places in Woodsboro. Stab Two took place in college." She had slowly informed.

   Amaya placed her hand Chad's leg who was simply writing in his notepad, glancing at his girlfriend. He softly smiled at her after they both had this discussion in the morning, and knew his girlfriend was right about this.

Amaya slowly exhaled her breath.

  "Do we think the killer is trying to copy the movies?" Tara asked after connecting the dots.

   "That is a possibility." Mindy slowly began speaking, "Everyone's now in college. Check. Suspicious new characters brought in to round up the suspect list, and or body count. Check, check, and check." She pointed her finger at each check she had said.

   Ethan shaking his head, "I don't like this."

   Mindy had slowly began, "I can't trust a thing about Stab Two." She ultimately furrowed her eyebrows.

   "Why not?"

   "It would make sense if this were just a sequel , but we're not in a sequel because nobody just makes sequels anymore." Mindy dropped her hands on her legs, "We're in a franchise, and there are certain rules to a continuing a franchise!" She opened her arms out, a smile on her face.

   "Saw that coming." Amaya muttered

   "I had a feeling." Sam agreed with Amaya.

   Mindy began, "Rule one. . . everything is bigger than last time bigger budget, bigger cast, and bigger body count. Longer chases, shoot-outs, beheadings —" She had kept pointing her finger on each thing she was describing before she was slightly interrupted.

   Chad raised his head upwards, "Be-headings?" He pointed his finger at his sister that also held a pencil in his hand.

   Mindy nodded her head before continuing where she left off, "Mhm, Be-headings. . . rule number two —" That had ultimately left Chad to instantly drop his head down.

   "Here we go," He silently muttered that part to himself, yet his girlfriend managed to hear him, and lightly pinching his skin, "Ow." He silently hissed, glancing at his girlfriend.

   Ignoring the rant that Mindy was discussing Amaya had given her boyfriend a look, "Be nice to your sister, she's just discussing the rules." Softly murmuring that to him.

   Chad has just given her a small smile, "You know I am, Maya." He cheekily retorted, as he had quickly kissed her forehead before leaning away. Amaya felt her cheeks tint a light pink at his actions before a small cough was heard.

   "Amaya focus — Anyways, and Rule Three. . . no one's safe." Mindy had informed them with pure honesty, "Legacy characters can die as well, usually in some cheap bit fit for nostalgia. It's not looking to good for Kirby, Lorenzo or Gale." She simply crossed her arms.

Amaya quickly got offended, "Okay, uhm What the fuck? Don't be jinxing my Dad, Madrina or Kirby." She had simply glared at Mindy.

   She was just establishing a good father and daughter relationship with her dad that just the thought of losing him will drive her completely insane. And, also despite hardly not visiting her Madrina in awhile, she still received text messages, or simple calls from her to just do a quick check up. Though, the last time that they had spoken with on the phone was last week, it's been awhile since she's talked with her Madrina. Though, now hearing Kirby was back, and is also an FBI Agent it had made her feel more safe, 'cause a part of her couldn't trust any other person from the Law Enforcement. 'Cause the only one who will understand this is, Kirby Reeds. She's been through it in 2011, I mean not only did Kirby Reeds had trust Jill Roberts, but so did Amaya trust her, but again never trust anyone in this fucking franchise.

Mindy had given Amaya an apologetic look before continuing, "Oh, and this isn't even the worst part — " She slowly began only for Chad to cut in, "Oh, this is the part where she tells us the worst part." He simply pointed out.

"The worst part is. . . Franchise's are just continuing episodic elements designed to boost an IP — " She had mildly paused before continuing, "Which means main characters are completely expandable now, that means it's not just the friend-group. . . any of us can go at any time. Especially, Sam, Tara and Amaya." She had sadly said.

"Fuck, Mindy!" Chad glared at his sister. What kind of reassurance is that even, that his girlfriend can die. He couldn't loose her.

Everything was silent until Ethan Landry had suddenly spoken up.

"Wait a minute — Any of us?"

"Yeah. . ." Mindy retorted back.

He stuttered a bit, "Does that – Am I in the friend group?" Confusion written all over his face, "Am I like one of the targets?"

"Mhm."

It was then that Ethan had strangely confessed to the friend group, "Am I gonna die a virgin?" He retorted, eyebrows furrowed.

Everyone had given him strange looks.

Mindy who scrunched up her face, "That was a weird over share, but it brings us to our first suspects." She had informed him, and slowly approaching him, "Ethan. The shy and dorky guy who no one's suspects because he's so shy and dorky." She glanced back at everyone.

"Okay — wait, why am I on the suspect list?" He spread his arms in confusion, "Cause I'm randomly Chad's roommate. Which he's hardly even there." He confessed in frustration.

"That's very true." Chad responded quickly, he spends his nights mostly at Amaya's house to spend time with her and their daughter.

Mindy ignored her brothers response, clearly focusing her attention on Ethan, "Roommate lotteries can be juked. You could've fixed it to get next to us!" She bitterly said to him.

Ethan scoffed glancing away, all while Mindy walked away approaching the redhead.

"Quinn," Mindy smiled down at her, "The slutty roommate, the horror movie classic." She had kissed her fingertips, airing out her kiss.

"Sex positive, but thank you." Quinn retorted.

"Mhm. . . How'd you come to live with Sam and Tara," She simply eyed the redhead, tilting her head.

"By answering their add online," She slowly admitted glancing at Samantha who nodded her head.

"Okay, say no more. You already implicated yourself enough." She loudly informed to Quinn who was confused.

"It was an anonymous add, Mindy." Tara reminded, "Plus her dads a cop." Defending her friend.

Mindy who instantly shook her head, "And that makes it more likely that she's the killer because having a cop dad is great coverage!" She informed quickly, "Do you not know how all these movies work, Tara?" Mindy scowled.

Amaya simply agreed.

Quinn who just eyed Samantha, "Is she always like this?" A worried look on her face.

Sam just nodded her head.

Mindy had slowly approached her girlfriend who had a smile on her face, "And, finally Anika." Smiling, and kissing her hand, as she sent Mindy a quick air kiss who did exact same thing.

"Never trust the love interest."

The smile on Anika's face has vanished at that comment.

Samantha who intervened the awkward silence, "Okay, so we have our rules, and we have our suspects." She had glanced at the three.

"Wait, wait — What about you guys?" Pointing his finger at the five who weren't written as suspects.

Mindy who had just casually spoke up, "I mean. . . I think we can say it's pretty safe to rule out the five of us who went through this last year in Woodsboro." She simply crossed her arms.

Chad who had a smile on his face had pointed his finger, "Agreed."

Quinn who had instantly shook her own head, "Uhm. . . not agreed. What if the trauma you all went through 'caused one or more of you to snap." Her eyes glancing specifically at Samantha and Amaya.

Though, before one of the two can make a comment about that Ethan had spoken up.

"Yeah, or the things you got from the killings made you thirsty for more," Ethan informed before continuing, "I mean let's be honest some of the theories about Sam and Amaya are —" he paused when someone interrupted him.

"What the fuck!?"

   "Don't you fucking dare!"

   Ethan simply held back just as Anika spoke up, "Okay, she's right though. I mean face facts if we're all suspects, you're all suspects." She had pointed out.

It had simply remained quiet until Ethan just quickly stood up from the bench he was sitting at, "Well, I've got to get going. . . meeting up with some friends." He retorted, disappearing from their view.

"I guess we should all get going, but see you all later at my apartment?"

Everyone had instantly nodded their heads, and all parting their own ways.

Amaya simply had her hand intertwined with Chad's hand, walking side by side with him as they were headed to his car, "Let's pick Paloma up, and we can spend the afternoon with her at the Aquarium?" She had smiled at him.

"That sounds like really fun to do today, and we can go out to eat afterwards!"

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   Amaya was simply helping Tara out in the kitchen only to feel the worried glances of her until Tara had quickly spoken up to her.

   "I think you alongside Paloma, and Chad should all get out the city tonight safely," Tara informed her friend, "Considering what happened to you last year and everything else, I just don't want you getting hurt, again." Tara retorted.

   Amaya paused her stirring, glancing at her friend, "It's very thoughtful of you, but we're in this shit together," Amaya softly glanced at her friend, "I don't want to abandon either one of you, and we've got this." She had reassured her friend.

   Tara who softly smiled at her friends words, "You're so hard to attempt to convince into getting into her very own safety, but we can most definitely survive this." She retorted.

Though, can they survive this one?

A loud gag was heard that made them turn their head, and Mindy casually standing over there fixing up the table, "Watch out, Chad. Someone's about to steal your girlfriend!" She had teased her brother who instantly glared at her.

Chad had just easily walked into the kitchen, wrapping his arm around his girlfriends waist, "Shut-up, Mindy." He had given her the middle finger only for her to instantly raise her arms up defensively, and walking towards the kitchen.

   Just as Samantha had quickly handed some blanket sheet and a pillow for Anika who was going to be crashing in Samantha and Tara's couch tonight.

   Sam who had appeared in the kitchen with Mindy who quickly replied, "We do not have to be staying here." She reassured her friend.

   A part of her didn't really mind staying at Amaya's home, and also considering she had a guest room there she didn't mind going back over there, it felt more safe over there for her.

   "Well, too bad. Safety in numbers."

  Chad who had a smile on his face with his arms still wrapped around Amaya's waist had quickly spoke up, "This should be fun a little slumber party with the core five." He smiled cheekily with Amaya who had laughed at that.

While, they were at the aquarium and had some ice cream afterwards this was something he had said to her, and she found it cute, but a little bit cringe. Though, she'd let it slide 'cause they were all in fact survivors.

"The core five?"

"Yeah!"

"Did you just give us a nickname? Amaya why didn't you — just no." Tara had scrunch her nose up.

"I sure did. I mean we've been through a lot together, and it's a pretty cool nickname, and Amaya liked it too!" He exposed his girlfriend who's eyes widened.

"Chad!" Amaya whined for being called out by him.

"That's debatable." Sam retorted

"Of course she would agree —" Mindy had playfully narrowed her eyes at Amaya, "And, you can't just give yourself a nickname, dingus." Mindy had scowled at her brother.

"Well of course I can dingus because I just did." He quickly raised his hand for his sister to high-five him, "Core five up top!" A smile on his face.

"No. . ."

He attempted to also get a high five from Tara who shook her head in amusement.

"Get that away from me."

Attempting to get a high five from Samantha, "Please for the love of God." He practically begged from Samantha who only smiled as Mindy spoke up.

"Don't do it!" Mindy laughed.

Dropping his hand down, and wrapping it back around Amaya, he had easily spoken to all of them, "You know I would actually like a little more respect and support from my fellow core five members — " He had argued back only to simply be interrupted from Anika calling them.

"Guys! What the hell!"

It had instantly captured all of their attention just as Chad released his arms from Amaya's waist, and all of them slowly approaching the living room with Anika who was turning up the TV volume.

"We're hearing sources from the inside homicide devision that the prime suspect is none other than Samantha Carpenter. One of the survivors of the Woodsboro killings in 2022 — seen here is attacking a woman on the street last night. In the wait of the Woodsboro tragedy last year, rumors sprout up here online that Carpenter was actually responsible for the killings, blaming her crimes on her boyfriend, Richard Kirsch and Amber Free—"

It had only lasted for so long until Samantha had ultimately turned the television off, and heading towards the dining room, and pulling the chair to quietly sit there with tears of hers beginning to fall down her eyes, Tara had simply followed after her sister, and leaving the rest to remain in the living room to just let them speak.

Amaya had just remained silent and tensed up after hearing that name, Richard. Richie, or whatever he fucking calls himself. It had just immediately brought back all the memories from the rape two years ago, and last years killing.

   Immediately un-tensing her body, Chad carefully approached her, "You okay?" He had slowly asked her.

   "Kinda and kinda not."

   "Can I hug you?" He had slowly asked her, just as she quickly nodded her head. She could use one of his hugs.

   He immediately wrapped his arms around her, and allowing Amaya to just close her eyes for a quick minute. A peaceful moment, yet they had all heard what Samantha just said.

   "It just sucks being this hated." Wiping her own tears away, and allowing Chad, Amaya and Mindy to step into the dining room.

   "Hey, just a reminder not a single person in this room hates you," He calmly stated, sitting across from the sister with Mindy sat on the other side, and Amaya sat on the chair that had stood in the middle, "We have all been through some fucked up stuff, and we're coping with it differently." He defended.

   Amaya nodded her head, "It's very true, and none of those stranger's on the Internet know the entire truth," She argued, "They say things out of their own fucking ass, or what's posted on the internet that isn't even true."

   She gets called a liar on the internet, or people rant about her boyfriend who deserves someone better than just some whore. The internet was just all bullshit, people making up shit just to humor others, and half the time they don't realize that this is actual trauma that people have experienced, and people dismiss it.

   Chad nodded his head at his girlfriends response, "We all moved here together for one specific reason. . ." He slowly began, "We're a team." He smiled at all of them, and instantly grabbing Amaya's hand.

   Sam felt tears about to sprung up her eyes at this reassurance.

   "We're the core fucking five!" She had a smile appearing on her face just as Chad turned his head to look at his sister with a smile on his face.

   "Thank you very much!"

   He had used his other hand to high-five his sister who instantly high-fived him back, "I hate you!" Mindy had laughed at her brother.

   "That's what I'm talking about the core five!"

"Say it, right now!"

Tara who shook her head with amusement, "I mean yes we're a team, but I'm not going to say it right now." She retorted.

Everything got silent until Samantha suddenly spoken up, "I've been sleeping with cute boy from across the hall." She confessed.

Everyone got deadly silent leaving Samantha nervous just as everyone began to cheer, 'cause they had a feeling.

"I fucking knew it!" Amaya laughed at Samantha's facial expression.

"Boom!" Mindy slapped her hand on the table.

"I knew it!" Tara laughed, clapping her hand in shock, "I knew it!" She laughed, again.

"Called it from the moment you had that hickey on your neck!" Mindy easily pointed out.

"Oh my god!" Amaya laughed, but she had quickly felt her phone beginning to buzz, and quickly pulling it out her pocket, and noticing that it was her Aunt Sidney calling her.

   "Uh — give me a moment. . ."

   Everyone had simply glanced at her as she had simply walked out of the dining room.

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Amaya had entered the kitchen, and slowly placing the phone into her ear already speaking to her on the other line.

   "Aunt Sidney?" Amaya had slowly said as she was confused, and not understanding why she was calling her, "What's going on?"

   "Amaya what's going on in New York?" Sidney had slowly spoke to her, "Why did I just turn my television on, and see that Samantha is a main prime suspect?" She had retorted.

   "My dad didn't tell you?"

   "Tell me what, Amaya what's going on over there?"

   Amaya had anxiously bit her bottom lip before speaking, "Ghostface is back, again." She had slowly retorted, "I don't know what he wants, but he's back, again." She bit her bottom lip anxiously.

   "You haven't received any calls from him, or anything? Has anyone in your friend group been attacked?" Sidney began questioning her niece, "Forget that, fuck that's it I'm going to New York."

   "No, don't come. You finally have some peace in your life, so please just stay where you're at, and be safe," Amaya slowly pleaded for her Aunt to stay over there, "I can't loose any other adult figures in my life, and there's already a chance that some are in danger." Amaya had softly said.

   Her Madrina, Father, and Kirby.

   Sidney sighed in defeat through the phone, "Okay, just please keep me updated that you're safe," She slowly said, sighing one last time, "I love you." She had whispered to her niece.

   Amaya nodded her head, "I love you too, Aunt Sid—" A loud crashing was heard that made her freeze.

   "Amaya wh—"

Amaya slowly panicked, hanging up the phone and just as she was close to approaching the noise that was happening in Quinn's room, she had instantly felt Chad pulling her closer to him, and away from the door.

Simply ignoring her phone that was just buzzing, she felt her heart thumping rapidly when she had just suddenly heard the noice getting louder, Quinn's screams were suddenly no where to be heard, and just then the noice stopped, until a loud thud that had pushed a bloody body out the room, and there laying on top of Anika's body was Quinn's dead body into which she had just quickly shoved it away from her, and screaming loudly.

   Everyone's eyes planted on the figure. Ghostface.

   Chad who's first instinct was to grab Amaya's hand allowing Amaya to pull Tara with her, but there was this sudden instinct in her that made her let go of Chad's hand, and pushing Tara out the apartment door, and just before she can close it she had quickly yelled out to Tara.

   "Tell them that I love them." She called out, Tara's eyes widened attempting to reach out for her friend, but it was too late, 'cause she had already slammed and locked the apartment door.

   "Open the door, Amaya!"

"I'm sorry."

Amaya simply pressed her body against the door, and her eyes had simply landed straight on Ghostface. Not really knowing what her ending would be at this given moment, but her main concern was strictly focused on Mindy and Anika to get them to safety as well.

Except only three would survive this escape.

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𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞, I couldn't write Anika's death
💔💔, but It'll be explained with how Amaya witnessed it.

A slight argument with Chad and Amaya 'cause her ass playing with her own life rn.

Idk she might hallucinate Jill Roberts, 'Cause they did meet at some point.