PSYCHO KILLER - SCREAM [FINAL]
Summary: in which Iris Morris has to navigate her personal relationships while surviving a psycho.
Warnings: Fem!reader, angst, violence, swearing, death, stabbing, mention of blood, Tara Carpenter x Fem reader, multiple parts.
Word count: +8k
A/n: this part will follow the events of Scream 6 but it will take place two years later from Scream 5. English is not my first language, so I apologize for any grammatical mistake. Thank you to everyone that read this story, I hope you all liked it as much as I did โฃ๏ธ
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20.
"Tara!" Iris screamed, her heart racing as panic surged through her. She bolted toward her, but Ghostface was quicker. With a swift motion, he swung a knife toward Iris, the blade glinting ominously in the dim light of the room.
Iris barely managed to dodge, her instincts kicking in as adrenaline flooded her veins. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears, drowning out everything else. Tara lay stunned on the ground, fear etched across her face, and the other girl knew she had to act fast to protect them both.
Iris slammed him against one of the walls with all her strength, the force of the impact causing the glass that covered it to shatter into a thousand glinting pieces. As he staggered back, disoriented by the blow, he recovered quickly and lunged toward her once more, his movements blazing with fury as he tried to stab her once again. But Iris was quicker this time. With a swift, calculated move, she sidestepped his attack and managed to shove him again, forcing Ghostface to the ground as she kicked him in the stomach.
"Tara! We have to move!" Iris urged, glancing over her shoulder. She reached down and pulled Tara up by the arm, her heart racing as the urgency and fear pressed heavily on her. With Tara stumbling to her feet, Iris turned and dashed to the door, flinging it open. She was relieved to see Sam and Chad waiting, their expressions laced with desperation.
"Let's go!" Chad shouted. Without a second thought, the group sprang into action, their feet pounding against the floor as they began to run.
"It's Kirby! She's the killer!" Sam exclaimed as they hurried down the dimly lit corridor toward the main hall of the theater.
"No shit!" Chad replied sarcastically. He cast a frantic glance toward the exit, his mind racing with ideas, but his hopes were dashed when Sam shook her head.
"It's locked," she said, her voice filled with frustation.
"Are we trapped?" Chad gasped, panic creeping into his tone.
"Yeah, she made this whole theater into a kill box," Sam continued, her breath coming in quick bursts. "For us."
"Hey, what about that?" Tara interrupted, her eyes darting upwards as she pointed at a small exit door in the second floor. She was still leaning on Iris for support. "Maybe it leads to the roof or something?"
Iris squinted at the opening, weighing their options. "There's only one way to find out," she said, already starting to move. "Let's go!"
"Bailey's on the way, butโ" Sam started, her voice laced with anxiety, knowing they didn't have much time.
Sam barely had a moment to finish her thoughts when, without warning, Ghostface lunged out from behind the stage. The masked figure charged at them with a menacing intensity, and in an instant, he shoved Tara roughly to the ground, slicing her shoulder painfully. Tara gasped, the shock of the fall knocking the breath out of her.
"Get down!" Sam shouted, but before she could react further, Ghostface turned his attention to her. He pushed Sam hard, and she tumbled to the floor, her knife slipping from her grasp and skidding across the wooden surface.
In a blur, Ghostface swung his knife toward Iris, the blade tore through her clothing, narrowly missing her skin. Adrenaline surged through Iris as she instinctively lunged forward, her fist connecting with Ghostface's head in a desperate attempt to defend herself.
Just then, Chad spotted a video camera sitting on one of the nearby tables. Without thinking, he grabbed it. He rushed toward Ghostface and, with all his strength, brought the camera crashing down onto the masked figure's head.
"Smile for the camera, motherfucker!" Chad muttered angrily. Ghostface collapsed to the ground, motionless for a moment.
They all bolted down the hallway, urgency propelling them forward. Chad clutched the camera tightly in his grip, as he ran behind them. They could feel Ghostface's footsteps behind them as he charged after them.
The hallway was so narrow that they barely fit side by side, their shoulders brushing against the walls as they pushed forward. In a moment of desperation, Chad turned around and hurled the camera at Ghostface, hoping to hit him with it. But the masked figure was quick; he ducked just in time, the camera whizzing past him and crashing against the wall with a dull thud.
"Keep moving!" Iris shouted, urging the group onward as they could hear Ghostface's footsteps growing louder behind them, his knife poised menacingly in front of him.
Thinking quickly, Iris spotted the popcorn machine and, without hesitation, shoved it over. The machine toppled to the ground with a loud crash, glass scattering everywhere and popcorn spilling out. The mess created a momentary barrier, but it did little to slow down Ghostface.
Fueled by anger, he charged directly at Chad. With a forceful shove, he pushed Chad against the wall, the impact sending a shiver down his spine. Just as he was about to deliver a blow, both Tara and Sam sprang into action, each grabbing one of his arms and pulling him backward with all their strength. Their quick thinking gave Iris the opening she needed.
She stepped forward, summoning all her strength, and landed a solid punch to Ghostface's stomach. He doubled over, but Iris wasn't finished. In a swift motion, she delivered another blow, this time targeting his private parts. The killer groaned in agony, crumpling to the floor.
Without missing a beat, Tara rushed in and kicked him squarely in the head, her fury propelling her forward.
"Tara, come on!" Sam exclaimed, grabbing her arm firmly to pull her away. The urgency in her voice was clear as she glanced back at the unmoving figure. Tara, still fueled by fury , reached out and grabbed Iris's hand as well, drawing them both toward the door.
"Go, go!" Chad shouted, clutching a mini popcorn machine, ready to slam it in Ghostface's head. Just as he swung it, another Ghostface suddenly appeared and stabbed him in the side, making him scream in agony.
Iris spun around at the sound of Chad's shout, panic rising as she screamed his name. She tried to rush toward him, but Sam gripped her shoulder tightly, forcing her back.
Both Ghostfaces were stabbing Chad making the man fall to his knees as blood started pouring out of his mouth.
"Run," He said weakly. "Go."
Chad's body fell to the ground as the two of them turned to face Sam, Tara, and Iris wiping the blood off of their blades at the same time.
They turned and sprinted towards the main hall, but their escape was cut short. The two Ghostfaces loomed ominously on either side of the room, blocking any chance of escaping. Panic surged through them as they realized they were cornered.
"We have to fight!" Sam muttered to them, scanning the ground for anything they could use. Spotting a pile of bricks, she quickly snatched up two and handed one to them before grabbing one for herself. The three women formed a tight circle, their backs pressed together, a united front against the threat.
"Sam!" Tara cried, fear evident in her voice.
"Are you ready?" Sam asked, her tone fierce but steady. "I need you guys to be ready"
Iris clenched her jaw, her expression hardening. "This is for Chad" she growled, glaring at the masked figures.
"Look at me," Iris said, turning to Tara. "Are you ready?"
Tara nodded, her eyes darting toward the nearest Ghostface. "Come on Motherfucker!" she shouted.
But before any of them could make a move to attack, a loud gunshot echoed through the room. They all dropped to the floor, hearts racing as they scanned the place trying to find out where it came from.
"It's okay!" Kirby shouted, emerging from the shadows with her gun raised. Blood trickled down the side of her face, staining part of her shirt too.
"Stay the fuck back!" Sam snapped, positioning herself protectively in front of Iris and Tara.
"We know it's you, Kirby!" Tara yelled, distrust evident in her voice.
"How could you do this? I trusted you!" Iris shouted, her voice trembling with betrayal. This was the same woman with who she bonded over her sister.
"Listen, one of them knocked me out," Kirby pleaded, her eyes wide with desperation.
"And you expect us to believe that?" Iris shot back, her anger boiling.
"Iris, you have to trust me! I would never hurt you. I just want to help!" Kirby insisted, her voice cracking.
"Kirby, stop!" Wayne shouted, rushing onto the scene, his presence adding to the tension. "Get away from the girls!"
The blonde woman aimed her gun at him, her hands shaking. "What are you doing?!"
"Did you kill Quinn?" Wayne's voice was a mix of accusation and fear, his hand trembling as he held a gun. "Did you kill my daughter?"
"You're crazy!" Kirby exclaimed, horror etched on her face. "Whatever he's been telling you, don't listen! He's probably the killer!"
Wayne's gaze was fixed on her, his eyes showing a weird emptiness. Just then, one of the Ghostfaces slipped silently behind him.
"Behind you!" Kirby shouted, her voice piercing through the fear.
The man didn't even flinch at Kirby's word, almost like he knew exactly what was going to happen. Before any of them had a chance to react, he placed his finger on the trigger and fired the gun, sending two gunshots in Kirby's direction.
"Kirby!" Iris shouted in horror, her voice trembling as she lunged forward to chase after the woman. But just as she took a step, a shadow loomed over her; one of the Ghostface figures raised a knife threateningly, forcing her to stumble back, heart racing with fear.
Tara, sensing Iris's panic, quickly wrapped her arm around her shoulder, yanking her backwards towards their group for safety. "Dont move!" she urged.
A tiny smirk crept onto Wayne's face, his eyes glinting with cruelty as the other Ghostface emerged from the shadows behind him, brandishing his weapon like a trophy.
"Great job," Bailey praised, nodding with approval as he lowered his gun, only to have everyone gasp in surprise when another Ghostface appeared right beside him, a grin plastered across his face. "Both of you,".
"You?" Tara exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and fury as she stared at Wayne, struggling to process the betrayal.
"Yeah, of course me," Wayne replied with a feigned seriousness, shrugging his shoulders as he met her gaze with a simmering intensity. "Honestly, I expected more from the three of you after what you did to us." His tone was laced with a bitterness that hung in the air.
"We didn't do shit to you," Iris answered angrily. "We don't even know you, you piece of shit"
One of the Ghostfaces standing beside Bailey reached up for the top of his mask, fingers trembling slightly with anticipation as he slowly peeled it away from his face. When the mask finally came off, it was Ethan, his expression bright and triumphant, looking like it was the best day of his life.
"I fucking knew it. Of course it was you," Iris muttered, her voice barely audible, disbelief washing over her like a cold wave.
"You almost ruined it for me, Iris," Ethan snarled, his grip tightening around the weapon he held, the knife appearing more threatening than ever. "But it turns out it was so easy to lie to all of you. I lied so many times and none of you discovered me." His tone was dripping with mockery, a smirk dancing on his lips as he reveled in his own actions.
"Well, you certainly didn't lie about being a virgin, did you?"
Ethan's eyes flashed with fury, and he turned to her, ready to lash out at the woman. But just as he tried to walk towards her, Bailey stepped in, grabbing him by the cloak and yanking him back with surprising force. "Calm down" Bailey urged.
Ethan let out a deep, exasperated sigh, visibly frustrated, but he chose to ignore Iris. With a bright smile creeping back onto his face, he resumed speaking, clearly enjoying the spotlight. "You know, Mindy was right; it was easy to juke the roommate lottery. I mean, all I had to do to meet you guys was room with a conceited, condescending alpha, literally named Chad. Fuck, it felt good to kill him."
"I'm going to fucking kill you" Iris started walking towards him before both Sam and Tara harshly grabbed her by the arms pulling her towards them while Sam pinched her in the arm.
"You need to hold it, we will have time to end them" Sam whispered to her as they let the young boy talk.
Ethan held up the Ghostface mask he had been wearing, the fabric slightly tattered but still scary. "This was your grandmother's Sam, Nancy Loomis," he declared, his voice dripping with disdain as he scowled at her. "Really runs in the fucking family, doesn't it?"
"Speaking of family," he continued without missing a beat, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he pointed to himself. "My name's not Ethan Landry, is it, Dad?" His gaze flicked toward Bailey, a triumphant glint in his eyes. Bailey erupted into maniacal laughter, ruffling Ethan's hair affectionately as if they were sharing an inside joke.
"Dad?" Tara asked, confusion etched on her features as she tried to make sense of this twisted family reunion.
"Wait, if it's you two, that just leaves..." Sam finally found her voice again, dread creeping into her mind as she realized not a lot of options stood for the third Ghostaface. She really hoped it wasn't the name she was about to say. "Mindy?"
At that moment, the next Ghostface stepped forward, pulling down her hood with excitement. She removed her mask and shook her head a few times. "Hey, roomies!" Quinn greeted proudly, a mocking smile spreading across her lips. "Didn't see that one coming, did you?"
"Yeah, because you died!" Tara exclaimed, disbelief and anger swirling in her narrowed eyes. The shock of Quinn's reappearance struck her like a punch to the gut.
"I kind of didn't," Quinn replied dryly, tucking the mask under her arm with a casual nonchalance that felt jarringly out of place. She glanced over at the others, her expression unrecognizable to the girls that shared an apartment with her "Though it was a pretty good way to get off the suspect list. Stabbed Gale Weathers, stabbed Mindy on the train, it was a pity I wasn't the one to stab Anika but hey you can't have everything"
Iris's jaw clenched, her fingers dug down into the brick she was holding and she was about a few seconds away from launching it over at the girl's head. "We mourned you, fuck I even cried for your death".
"Truly a pity Iris" Quinn whispered, tilting her head to the side as she looked over at the girl. "You and I could've had a lot of fun if you weren't so keen on being Tara's bitch". Quinn gave the brunette a teasing smile, twirling the knife around her index finger.
"Don't fucking talk to her" Tara growled.
"Uhh feisty, I like it" Quinn said mockingly.
"I just had to make sure I was the first one on the scene," Wayne explained after a few tense seconds of silence. "That way, I could switch her body out with a fresh one. A little fake blood, a prosthetic here and there. You'd be amazed at what a grieving father can get away with." His voice dripped with a mix of pride and arrogance, as if he were sharing a clever trick rather than a heinous act.
Quinn's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I got Stu Macher's mask," she chimed in, a grin spreading across her face. "He was my favorite."
Ethan carefully placed the mask he had been wearing onto a nearby mannequin dressed in white clothing. "That's number three," Bailey said, holding up three fingers as he moved slowly down the narrow aisle towards the girls, his demeanor both casual and predatory. He glanced over at his daughter, who placed her mask on the mannequin across from Ethan's. "That's two," he added, a sense of satisfaction in his voice.
"Which leaves..." Bailey reached inside his jacket, pulling out another mask "Your father's," Wayne extended the mask towards Sam, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling expectation. "This is what we've been counting down to, Sam," he said, his voice low and insistent. "I'm going to need you to put it on."
"Fuck you!" Sam shouted, her voice echoing through the room as she smacked the mask away with the brick in her hand, sending it clattering to the floor.
Ethan, unable to resist the chaos, lunged forward with an excited grin, slashing Sam's arm with the knife he held, his laughter ringing out. Sam hissed in pain as she took a look to the wound that started bleeding down her arm.
"Stay the fuck away from her!" Tara hissed, stepping protectively in front of Sam.
"What is this?" Sam asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion as she scanned the faces of the family, each one a mask of anger and betrayal. "You did this as a family?"
"Oh yeah bitch, you should know better than anyone," Quinn shot back, her voice laced with bitterness as she took a few hurried steps closer, her brother Ethan right beside her, smirking in a way that sent shivers down Sam's spine.
"They're still not getting it," Ethan chuckled.
"Well then start explaining," Iris growled, her voice low and threatening, the urgency palpable in her tone.
"I don't know what you believe, but I didn't commit those murders in Woodsboro!" Sam pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. "It wasn't me!"
"We know that. Of course you didn't," Wayne interjected, speaking as if that were obvious. "You think this is based on some bullshit conspiracy theory? Come on. Who do you think started the rumors about you in the first place?"
Quinn raised her hand, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Do you know how easy it was to turn Sam from the hero of Woodsboro into the villain? How easy it is to convince the world to believe the worst in people rather than the best?"
"Because it's not enough to just kill someone these days," Ethan said. "You have to assassinate their character first. So when Dad here discovers your horribly mutilated bodies.. posed with Sam wearing her father's mask, he'll say some poor dumb bastard read on the internet that you're the real Ghostface and took matters into their own deluded hands."
"Exactly, that's why it's the perfect alibi," Bailey said with a smirk, his laughter low and taunting as he locked eyes with Sam. "And all the best lies are based on the truth."
Sam spun around, her heart racing as Bailey leveled a finger at her. "You're a killer," he accused, his expression hardening into a grim line. "Just like your father."
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are! You motherfucker! You killed our brother!" Quinn shouted, her voice cracking with rage and pain.
"What are you talking about?" Sam stammered, confusion etched across her face, her breath coming in shallow gasps as horror began to dawn on her.
"You said your brother died in a car accident," Tara pressed, her eyes flashing with confusion.
"No, no, no, you sweet dumb thing," Ethan interrupted, his voice laced with mockery as he pointed his knife toward them. "He died in Woodsboro, at the hands of your bitch sister".
A cold wave of realization washed over Sam. "You're Richie's family," she gasped, her heart sinking as she turned back to Bailey.
"Yeah," Bailey replied, a twisted smile creeping onto his lips as he thought of his oldest son.
Just as Sam was about to talk, Ethan lunged forward, thrusting his knife into her collarbone with a swift, brutal motion. "Ding, ding, ding!" he shouted with unsettling enthusiasm as he pulled the knife away, leaving behind a raw bloody mark on her skin. The pain shot through her, but before she could react, Iris yanked her backward, pulling her out of Ethan's reach.
"Now! It wasn't until I saw that photograph of what you'd actually done to him that I knew!" Wayne suddenly shouted, his voice ringing with fury, "That I knew you had to fucking die! You had to be punished! Along with anyone else who stands in our way."
Quinn stepped forward, gripping the knife tightly and pressing it menacingly against Sam's throat.
"There's the killer," Quinn whispered, her voice a chilling rasp as she studied Sam's expression. The girl remained still, her dark chocolate eyes showing no fear, only a growing coldness that seemed to mirror Quinn's own rage.
"Great parenting job, by the way" Tara interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she cast a disdainful glance at Wayne.
"Shut your whore fucking mouth!" Quinn shrieked, her rage boiling over as she shoved Tara violently, sending her towards the floor. Iris reacted instantly, grabbing onto her shoulder to prevent her from crashing to the ground. With a firm grip, Iris pulled Tara close, turning her body to face Bailey, who stood watching the chaos unfold.
"Have I been a perfect dad? No," Wayne admitted, shaking his head as if acknowledging a painful truth. "Have I maybe overindulged Richie's love of these little movies? Yeah, maybe. For me, they're just a little dark. But, Richie really loved them. He loved them and even made a few of his own."
Suddenly, a video began to play on the screen, and a younger Richie appeared, his innocent face juxtaposed with the madness that lay ahead. Iris felt a surge of disgust; even as a child, Richie was already showing signs of being a psychopath.
Wayne turned away from the screen, his gaze drifting upward as tears filled his eyes. "There's a very special bond between a father and his first son," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Which is why I helped him build this collection."
"This was all his?" Sam muttered in disbelief, her mind racing to comprehend the situation.
"Yes, he is a very passionate collector, and he inspired others. We had to kill those two wannabe film students because, well, we had to kill you first, Sam. I put the theater in their name, then good old Detective Bailey would've just stumbled on it, but I didn't have to because, by golly, that Gale Weathers is one hell of a journalist. I built a tribute to my son. Which is why this is where you have to die, surrounded by all of the things he loved the most."
"What happens next?" Sam demanded. "After you're done with us, you just disappear?"
"No!" Wayne started stepping down from the stairs. "We got to hurry over to the hospital and make sure Mindy and Gale don't pull through. Because everybody dies, Sam! Everyone who had anything to do with the death of my son suffers and dies."
Ethan moved towards Tara eager to use his knife as the girl tightened her grip on her brick but Iris moved in front of her.
"Don't touch her" Iris shouted, her jaw tensing as she pulled Tara behind her.
Ethan moved even closer, now pressing just the tip of his blade against her chest as he rolled his eyes at Iris's comment "You have no idea how much I want to put this knife on you Iris, and once I'm finished with you, I'm going to do to Tara the same thing I did to Anika but this time I'll finish the job" Iris growled in fury but before she could lunge at him, he jumped forward and slashed Iris on her side, making her hiss in pain as blood started pouring out. "always the hero, aren't you?"
"Iris" Tara yelled moving towards her but stopped once she saw Iris making a stop sign to her.
"I've got a plan, they are angry" Iris whispered to Sam.
Suddenly, Iris burst into maniacal laughter, clutching her side as if the absurdity of the situation overwhelmed her. The three Ghostfaces exchanged bewildered glances, momentarily thrown off by her unpredictable reaction.
"So you're telling me you did all of this for Richie?" she taunted, her laughter escalating. "He was such a pussy; it was honestly embarrassing just to look at him!"
Tara watched in horror, her heart pounding as she observed the killer's anger growing with each passing moment. But that was the plan, to infuriate them enough that they'd slip up, making it easier for them to fight back. Sam seemed to grasp this strategy quickly.
"He was... so pathetic," Sam declared, her tone utterly flat, as if she were discussing something mundane and boring.
"That's not true!" Wayne protested, his voice rising in indignation, unable to accept her words.
"Yeah, your son, he was a man-baby who made his accomplice do all of the killing,"
"Isn't it embarrasing? He couldn't even do it himself, the one time he had to do the killing, he died like a fucking loser"
"He was a strong, virile young man!" Bailey's body shook with rage.
"He was a limp dick little fuck who cried before I slit his throat," Sam said coldy, as a tiny smirk spread across her face.
"Shut the fuck up!" Quinn charged forward without warning. Tara spun around, slamming the brick into the redhead's face. She collapsed into the floor, choking out a few bloody teeth from her mouth. Detective Bailey, clearly irritated, raised his gun, preparing to shot at the girls. But just then, gunshots rang out from the other end of the room.
Kirby, surprisingly still alive, fired at the three Ghostfaces. Tara and Sam quickly stepped back as Bailey fell to the ground, hit, while Ethan ducked to the side and charged at Kirby, tackling her down.
"Recognize this?" he grinned maniacally, showing the woman the same knife she had been stabbed with in 2011 by Charlie Walker as he stabbed her once again.
"Fuck you!" she spat through clenched teeth
Iris rushed forward, bringing her brick up and slammed it into Ethan's head, knocking the boy to the side. "Leave her alone you fucker" The boy stumbled to the wall, groaning in pain.
"I'm sorry I doubted you," Iris told Kirby, dropping to the woman's side. "But I'm gonna need to borrow this." She took the knife from her body, and Kirby let out a pained gasp. But her eyes showed nothing but understanding.
"Fuck him up." She told the girl, her voice ringing with determination. Iris nodded.
"What are you going to do with that bitch?" Ethan growled, leaning against a pillar as he clutched his head.
Iris shouted in anger and lunged at the boy, stabbing him right in the chest. She twisted the knife, digging even further into his skin. His eyes widened in shock as he let out a cry of pain. "You wanted to be like your big brother? Well now you get to die just like him too".
"Fuck you!" He shouted at her. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Iris!"
"You don't have what it takes". She pulled it out, only to stab him once again. "This is what happens when you threaten my girl, you fucking die."
"IRIS" Tara shouted at her to get her to move away from him. She made her move to leave but not before dragging the knife upwards, causing the boy to scream in agony.
"I'll come back for you, I promise!" She said to Kirby in apology as she passed the woman. Sam and Tara were climbing up the ladder, and Iris quickly followed them.
Iris spotted Tara climbing up the pipes. As the girl reached the top, she pushed aside the plastic sheeting that covered the first floor entrance and stepped onto the balcony, her heart racing. Tara turned around just in time to see Iris and Sam climbing up behind her, a wave of relief washing over her as she took in their presence.
Shortly after, Sam got into the first floor too and she lead the way across a row of empty seats that creaked underfoot. The dim light cast shadows around them as they navigated the abandoned floor. However, they soon encountered a section of the balcony they couldn't reach as it was blocked by a jumble of old furniture stacked high, creating an impassable barrier.
With no clear path ahead, they were forced to edge near the balcony's precipice. One misstep could send them plummeting down. Sam took the lead, her focus intense as she approached the edge. She carefully placed one foot on the inner railing and another on the outer one, her body tense with concentration as she maneuvered across the narrow ledge.
"Careful," Sam warned, her voice steady despite the danger, as she steadied her breathing before hopping off the railing.
Iris held onto the railing tightly, her heart pounding in her chest as she inched along the ledge. When she was close enough, Sam reached out, her grip firm and reassuring, helping Iris down with deliberate care. The adrenaline coursed through them as they exchanged glances, knowing they had to keep moving to stay safe. Now they turned around to help Tara.
A gunshot echoed through the building, and Tara let out a scream as she lost her balance and stumbled toward the edge. In a desperate move, she managed to grasp the railing for a brief moment, giving Iris just enough time to reach over and grasp Tara's hand tightly, preventing her from falling.
"I've got you," Iris panted, straining as she fought to pull Tara back to safety. She bit down on her bottom lip to stifle a groan, the pain from her open wound flaring sharply as blood trickled down her side.
Sam leaned over the edge, desperately placing her hands above Iris's to lend support, she refused to let her sister fall.
Blood smeared Sam's hands from the wound on her arm, making it increasingly difficult for Tara to maintain her grip as the slickness threatened to make her slip away.
"I can't. I can't hold on!" Tara cried, tears streaming down her face as she raised her left hand to grasp her sister's arms more firmly. But just as she did, her hand slipped, eliciting another desperate cry.
"We won't let you fall," Iris reassured her, panic tightening in her chest as she felt Tara's hand slip lower.
Bailey and Ethan's maniacal laughter could be heard from everywhere as they drew closer to Tara. Ethan clutched his chest in pain, Iris couldn't understand how he was still alive. He started swinging his knife mockingly as he taunted the shorter girl.
"I always wanted to stick something in you, Tara." Ethan screamed as he tried to stab her.
"Fuck you." Tara hissed.
"Fuck you." Ethan retorted as he jumped in an attempt to grab the girl.
Out of the corner of their eyes, Quinn showed up to their floor, her face covered in blood. Sam, Iris, and Tara all glanced at her silently.
"You guys are so fucked now!" Ethan screamed excitedly.
"Sam!" Tara shouted, her voice filled with desperation.
The two women looked down at her in horror as Quinn approached. "Let me go," Tara insisted.
"No!" Sam gasped, her eyes wide with fear.
"Are you crazy, Tara?" Iris shook her head, gripping Tara's hand tightly as her heart raced in her chest.
"Yeah, let her go, guys," Ethan urged, his voice dripping with mockery. "Come on!"
"Trust me," Tara pleaded, her gaze flickering to the knife tucked into Sam's pants, trying to convey her urgency. "You have to let me go."
Iris glanced at the knife tucked into Sam's pants and quickly understood Tara's plan, though she hesitated to let her go. Sensing her uncertainty, Tara locked eyes with the brunette, her expression pleading as she whispered, "Let me go baby."
Quinn advanced toward them, looking more unhinged than ever.
Sam passed her sister the knife and both of them let go of her at the same time, watching how Tara got stabbed by Ethan the minute she touched the ground. Iris let out a desperate shout as she turned around just in time to see Quinn running towards them.
She spotted a gun laying on the floor, she quickly grabbed it and aimed it at Quinn. Both Sam and Iris turned towards Tara to make sure she was okay.
Tara took the knife Sam gave to her and quickly plunged it into Ethan's mouth. She moved it down his throat as he choked on his own blood. Quinn looked down at her brother in horror, her hand trembling as she gripped the knife.
"Now die a fucking virgin." Tara said to Ethan darkly as she smirked.
"Looks like you're down another brother," Sam said innocently once Ethan stopped moving.
Quinn let out another scream and charged at her, but Iris was faster. She pulled the trigger, the bullet landing in her chest. Quinn hit the ground, shouting in pain. Sam and Iris moved towards her and stared the woman down.
Iris passed the gun to Sam "Wanna do the honors?"
"Please no no no... I don't wanna die" Quinn pleaded with desperate tears.
"Gladly" Sam grabbed the gun.
"Say hi to your brother" Iris muttered with a sick smile on her face as Sam pulled the trigger that ended with Quinn's life.
Detective Bailey stood shocked, his face a mixture of grief and rage as he stared down at the dead body of his daughter.
"I guess you're the last Ghostface left," Iris told him.
"Always gotta shoot them in the head," Sam added.
Pure rage crossed the detective's face, but he stood there waiting for their next move. Sam aimed the gun at him and pulled the trigger, but it clicked, they had no more bullets.
"You've got to be kidding me," Iris muttered as they watched Bailey running toward them as he also aimed his gun at them.
Sam effortlessly knocked the weapon aside while Iris punched the man in the face, causing him to stumble backward. Sam then pulled him close and, with a swift motion, threw him over the railing, sending them both crashing to the floor below.
Iris rushed down from the balcony to the theater floor. She saw Tara, with Ethan's blood all over her clothes, shaking Sam to wake her up, with Bailey unconscious on the ground next to her.
"Sam thank god" Tara muttered when she saw her sister starting to wake up.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked, glancing down at her.
"No," Tara replied, her mascara smudged beneath her eyes. "Is he dead?"
"Not yet, always go for the head" Iris raised her knife ready to plunge it into Bailey's head before Sam stopped her.
"I have a better idea," Sam said as she pulled her cellphone from the back pocket of her jeans. She turned to her younger sister and offered her the phone.
"You want us to call him?" Tara asked, confusion in her voice as Iris took the phone.
Iris examined the device, gradually understanding Sam's plan. "A little bit of payback, it's time we are the ones to fuck them up"
"Sam, make sure he suffers," was the last thing her sister said before Sam grabbed her father's cloak and mask and dashed down the stairs.
"Are you sure about this?" Tara turned to Iris as they both stared at the phone once they were left alone and they finally had a small moment of quietness.
"Absolutely, I mean the worst thing that could happen is that we die".
"You're such a fucking idiot, I can't believe I'm in love with you" Tara shook her head in amusement, even at the worst moment, Iris still found ways to be annoying.
"I love you too darling, now ready to slice one more motherfucker?"
"Fuck yeah"
When Detective Bailey finally regained consciousness, he found himself sprawled on the splintered remains of a shattered wooden table. He struggled to sit up, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him as his ears rang with a dull, persistent thrum.
As he blinked away the haze, the faint sounds of a movie played in the background, the projection flickering against the walls. It was the film Richie had made, its dialogue a distant murmur that barely registered in his mind. He glanced around the room, disoriented, and tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Wincing at the pain that shot through him, he pushed himself to his feet. He stumbled forward, limping slightly, with his gun still secured in his hand. Just then, the sudden sound of his phone ringing jolted him back to reality, the beeping and buzzing coming from his pocket.
With a heavy huff, he reached into his pocket, wincing at the effort, and finally pulled out his phone. He pressed it to his ear, uncertainty creeping into his mind as he answered the call.
"Hello, Detective Bailey," the familiar voice of Ghostface sneered from the other end. "I have a question for you."
"Oh, really?" the detective scoffed, walking toward the stage. "And what's that?"
"What's your favorite scary movie?"
Bailey let out a chuckle, incredulous at the audacity of the call. "Favorite scary movie...?"
"I'm asking because you're in one right now. You're in our movie."
The detective fired his gun, but his shots struck nothing but the mannequins scattered around the room. As he scanned the area, his eyes landed on one particular mannequin, Billy Loomis's, stripped of its cloak and mask.
He let out a laugh. "Ah, I see you've put on your true face, huh? Your birthright. Poetic, that you're gonna die in it."
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"
The detective fired again, thinking that he finally got to Sam but instead he only shot at another mannequin. "Now you know the truth, huh? Murder's in your blood." He scanned the room, growing increasingly furious. "Now stop fucking around and show yourself!"
"Be careful what you wish for,".
"I'm a fucking police officer." He shouted. "How do you think this is gonna go? Who do you think they're gonna believe, huh?"
He could hear a sick laughter. "Probably the one who's still alive."
The detective screamed in anger, as now he was the one being taunted. He turned around as the new Ghostface appeared and his eyes widened in fear.
"No, no!" The detective screamed, as he was attacked. Sam relentlessly stabbed him in every inch of skin she could have access to. Not even his cries of mercy were enough to stop her.
Finally, the man drop to the floor, where he choked on his own blood, hands pressed against the wound on his neck.
Ghostface pulled off the mask, revealing Sam, who glared down at the detective, her head tilted as she raised her hand ready to kill him off. But before she could act, the curtains behind her rustled open, and Tara and Iris stepped onto the theater floor.
Tara looked at her sister in disbelief, while Iris stood with her phone in hand, whistling in awe at what Sam had just done.
"Damn girl"
"My father was a murderer. No matter what you think, I'm better then that." Sam stated.
The detective gasped, desperation in his voice as he could feel the blood pouring from his body. "Thank you," he choked in relief. "Thank you."
Tara stared at Sam in disbelief, while Iris tilted her head, as if questioning, *Does this bitch really think?* The three shared a knowing glance.
A smirk danced across Sam's lips as she redirected her attention to the detective.
"But you did fuck with our family, so..." She grabbed the detective by the back of his neck, and she stab him right in the eye. Not soon after he fell into the floor unmoving forever.
Tara glanced at his body and nodded impressed at her sister's work "...Nice."
Sam returned the nod, her breath coming in heavy puffs. "Thanks."
Iris patted Sam's shoulder as she softly chuckled. "Can you believe this bitch truly thought you would let him live? Man that's hilarious"
Sam glanced at the two girls. "You guys okay?"
"No"
"Fuck no"
"Fair enough"
Tara and Iris made their way down the creaky staircase, then settled onto the steps to rest as they waited for Sam to join them.
"I can't believe we dodged death twice by now" Iris exhaled "we are like cockroaches"
Tara laughed silently "Finally it's over"
"If you look at it, it wasn't that bad"
Tara looked at her like she was insane "I mean yeah they tried to kill us but because of that now I have a girlfriend, and also they are dead so if you ask me it's a win win"
"Girlfriend?" Tara asked, a smirk on her face. "I assume you're not talking about me."
"What...?" Iris stammered.
"Because for me to be your girlfriend, you'd actually have to ask me."
"Well then..."
Tara cut her off. "And you definitely can't ask me now. It has to be romantic."
"Why? Don't you think being in a murder theater is romantic enough?" Iris teased.
"Keep joking like that, and you'll be single for the rest of your life."
"Geez, so bossy," Iris shot back with a grin. "I wonder where elseโ"
Just then, Sam appeared and slapped Iris on the head. "That's my sister you perv!"
"Ow! I can't believe you just punched me!"
"I feel like you don't get punched enough," Sam replied as she settled down beside them. "So, you two are finally a thing?"
The two girls exchanged soft smiles, intertwining their fingers. "Yes."
"So I take it it was Tara who confessed first?"
"Wh... I mean, yeah, but why would you assume that?" Iris feigned offense.
"No offense, Iris, but you're a pussy when it comes to this stuff."
"Hey!"
"She's kind of right, though."
"Well, now you're just being a traitor, love."
"Honestly, I'm really happy for both of you," Sam said warmly.
"Does this mean I have your approval?" Iris joked, knowing Sam couldn't imagine anyone better for Tara.
"Of course," Sam replied with a smile, looking at her sister and at the girl she was sure she would call her sister too one day. "But it also means I want the door open at all times."
"We're not twelve!"
"Absolutely not," they both protested in unison, leading to a shared laugh among the three of them.
After some moment of silence Tara spoke again. "Thank you guys for letting me go."
"I knew you could take care of yourself," Sam said fairly and then in a more softer tone added. "I want to be in your life, but only as much as you want me to be.
The youngest Carpenter let out a tiny grin. "I want you to be. I promise you both I'm gonna get so much therapy after this,"
They laughed as Iris wrapped an arm around her girl. "Finally"
Tara nudged her playfully as she intertwined their fingers, staring at both Iris and Sam. "We're gonna get through this, together".
Out of nowhere, Ethan came out from the darkness, charging at them with a fierce scream. Their eyes widened in shock and fear as he closed in with his knife raised ready to attack.
An old television crashed down on top of him, ensuring he would never rise again. Ethan let out choked sounds from beneath the weight before finally going limp.
Sam, Tara, and Iris stared in horror before their eyes shifted to Kirby, who was limping towards them, wearing a smirk. "I saw that in a scary movie once."
Suddenly, the theater doors burst open as police flooded in. Danny led the way, his expression softening with immense relief when he spotted Sam. He stumbled forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek as he caught his breath.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched across his face as he scanned her features.
Sam smiled gently at him. "Yeah, I'm okay."
"I thought you might need some reinforcements. I called the hospital and Mindy and Gale are gonna be okay. Mindy's on her way here right now; they couldn't stop her."
Tara gave the man a soft smile. "Not bad, cute boy."
He smiled back. "Thanks."
"I approve" Iris mouthed to Sam as she smiled at them.
Iris approached Kirby slowly, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her as they made their way outside for help.
"I'm sorry," Iris said, feeling ashamed for not trusting the blonde woman.
Kirby smiled at her. "It's okay, Iris. You did the right thing."
"Still, I'm sorry. I promise I won't accuse you of murder again."
Kirby laughed, wincing in pain. "God, you're just like your sister, you owe me a coffee." They exchanged warm smiles before they carefully helped Kirby onto a stretcher.
Outside, a crowd had gathered around the police's bright yellow caution tape. Various doctors tended to the injured girls, and thankfully, none had severe wounds that required extensive treatment; they only needed stitches and bandages.
As Kirby was wheeled toward the ambulance, the paramedics paused in front of the vehicle, allowing her a moment to say goodbye to the three girls.
"If you ever need me, call. We're all part of the same fucked up family now. And legacy doesn't always have to be a bad thing. Okay?"
They all smiled weakly at her but Iris looked down for a moment and sniffled lightly. Kirby turned to her with a soft look.
"Hey."
"It's just-" her voice broke, "Chad. We couldn't save him".
"Hey, we've got another one here!"
The girls turned to see medics carrying a familiar figure out of the theater on a stretcher as they wheeled him toward an ambulance.
"Chad!"
The girls rushed to his side. "You're alive!" Tara exclaimed, her eyes filling with tears as she gently touched his shoulder.
"How the fuck are you not dead?" Iris said, her voice laced with happiness as she grabbed tightly his hand.
The boy put up his hand weakly, five fingers splayed out.
"Core fucking five". Iris laughed before she took the boy's mask off, it seemed like he wanted to talk.
"Don't tell me you guys were crying for me" Chad spoke really quietly as he had trouble doing so.
"Absolutely not," he laughed at the comment, though the sound quickly shifted to a faint groan of pain.
Iris quickly put his mask on with a sheepish smile. "Sorry dude you probably need that".
"Oh my god! Oh my god, are you guys okay?" They turned as a familiar voice approached them, and Mindy skidded to a stop in front of the girls. She clutched her side, where a series of white bandages wrapped around her waist. "I know who the killer is. It's Ethan and Bailey."
Sam smiled fondly at the girl's worried expression. "And Quinn."
"Quinn too? Fuck!" Mindy exclaimed. "Did I miss the monologue again?"
Her eyes fell to her brother's injured figure. "Are you okay?" She asked her brother, before her eyes turned to the other three girls. "Are you okay? You guys don't look okay." She rambled as she followed the workers who wheeled Chad up to the ambulance. "Omg, we all survived. It's a twist and a twist; they gave me a lot of drugs, by the way."
Before she could leave with her brother, she turned to Iris. "I saw Anika" she smiled softly at them. "She's asking for you, you better go visit her"
"I will, I promise," Iris said with a fond smile as she watched her best friend get into the ambulance on their way to the hospital. Meanwhile, Sam headed over to Danny, who was waiting for her at the corner. As she turned around, she noticed Tara already watching her.
"What"
"Nothing, I just... I can't believe we're okay," Tara said, stepping closer as she wrapped her uninjured arm around Iris's neck. "We can finally live our lives in peace again."
"A peaceful life with you sounds like a dream come true," Iris replied, pressing her lips to Tara's forehead while wrapping her arms around her waist, pulling her even closer.
"You're my dream come true," Tara said, but immediately made a face after realizing how sappy it sounded. "Disgusting that was way too cheesy".
"Says the girl who wrote me a letter confessing how much she loves me,"
"Shut up! I take it back," Tara shot back, her cheeks flushing.
"You can't! I'm sorry, I don't make the rules," Iris laughed, enjoying Tara's mock annoyance.
Before Tara could respond, Iris leaned in, pressing their lips together in a sweet kiss that silenced all the teasing and wrapped them both in a moment of warmth and relief.
"How do you think Mindy and Chad are going to react when they find out we're together?" Iris asked, a playful grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, they're going to go absolutely insane," Tara replied, bursting into laughter at the thought.
"Did you know they have a bet going on with Sam?"
"Jesus even Sam?"
"Yeah"
"I fucking hate them"
The two shared a moment of laughter, imagining their friends' over-the-top reactions.
"I love you, Tara," Iris said softly, her tone sincere as she looked into Tara's eyes.
"I love you too, Iris," Tara replied, her heart swelling with affection. She pulled Iris closer, savoring the moment.
They walked side by side toward a group of police officers ready to take their statements when Iris's phone suddenly began to ring. Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, she pulled it from her pocket. Upon seeing the caller ID, her eyes widened in horror.
"What happened?" Tara asked, glancing at her with concern.
"My mother," Iris whispered, a note of panic creeping into her voice.
"Oh," Tara squeezed her hand for support. "Good luck, you're fucked".
Iris took a deep breath and answered the call. "Hey, Mom!" she said, forcing a cheerfulness she didn't feel.
"Iris, baby, I saw the news!" her mother exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.
"What news?" Iris feigned ignorance, stealing a glance at Tara, who raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"They caught two Ghostfaces in some abandoned theater in New York!" her mother continued, clearly distressed.
"Well, actually, there were three," Iris replied, trying to inject some humor into the situation. "They're innovating, you know."
A heavy silence hung on the line as it sank in that she had just made things worse.
โIris, please tell me you werenโt there,โ
โWell, Mom, let me hold your hand when I tell you thisโฆโ
โIRIS!
