October 31st, 2007
October 31st, 1:02 AM
Technically, she wasn't supposed to die.
He was meant to stick to a list, one that they had agreed on, but they kept fucking running- and she had been right there. How was he meant to just let her go? It was late, she was walking alone, it was too fucking easy.
He watched her leave that girl's house, she wasn't on the list either, but he wasn't really fond of her. He had only ever really heard of Mary Macdonald, she was quite popular. He could see why, beauty and brains, she was kind too. It was almost enough to make him feel bad, as he watched her kiss the other girl goodbye. Would she realise this is the last time she would ever kiss her?
He stayed behind her, in the darkness for a few blocks. She was wearing headphones, even if he wasn't being quiet she would've never heard him coming. She didn't have much with her, a backpack and a flashlight, both easy enough to get rid of. He didn't know what he would do with her after, the body was always such a mess.
He had thought it would be fun at first, disposing or posing the bodies, but after three (three!) failed murders, and two successful ones.. he was starting to change his mind.
Maybe he could leave her outside of the police station? That would surely make the media crazy.
He had time to figure it out, but first…
Emmeline Vance had stopped under a lamp, digging in her backpack looking for something she would never find.
In the end, he left her in the woods, deciding that it would just be too much trouble to drag her around. It would take them a while longer to find her sure, but that wasn't his problem.
*
October 31st, 10:42 AM
Remus had left the hospital with strict instructions to go easy on his arm and to not over-exert himself. Which, is easier said than done, ok? You try getting chased by a psycho.
They had all been quick to leave the hospital, they had places to be after all.
Peter’s funeral wasn't long. The pews of the tiny church filled with teenagers and their parents. It was hard to be there in general, especially with the knowledge that they were not burying Peter, but they were burying an empty coffin. It was hard to sit and watch Mrs Pettigrew weep, holding her youngest daughter to her side, no one mentioned how late the funeral was. No one mentioned the fact that Mrs Pettigrew had been insistent on finding Peter before they had a funeral. No one mentioned that they did not find him.
It was strange, watching the coffin lower into the ground. It very much was a funeral for Peter Pettigrew, the headstone said it right there, but it didn't really feel like it was. Peter wasn't there, and they hadn't really gotten to grieve him with the amount of murder attempts going on.
Remus didn't know what he was meant to feel at that moment. He was, of course, sad. He had been sad for so long, this wasn't new at all. Watching that empty casket be covered by dirt, he felt empty. He looked to their friends who seemed to be having a similar problem, all of them standing uncomfortably away from the adults.
He joined them not too soon after when everyone was saying their goodbyes. They stood on the edge of the cemetery, away from the commotion, watching it all go down.
“I have never been more uncomfortable in my life.” Marlene broke the silence, “I’ve never done well at funerals.”.
“I've only been to one before,” Lily said, her glance over at Remus let him which one that was, “I’m not sure how to act exactly.”
“Well I'm sure most funerals aren’t used to make a plan to catch a murderer, but here we are.” Marlene clapped her hands, “So, the party has been moved to Mary's house since.. last night’s events.” She eyed James and Lily, then Sirius and Remus, “Since you four can’t come, I got Dorcas and her friends to agree to help.”
“Who?” James asked.
“Uhm, Alice, Lily you know her, and her boyfriend Frank. And Dorcas of course.” Marlene counted, “Im basically just going to have everyone spread around the house, keeping count of who was here and who wasn't. If no one dies, that narrows the list of suspects down.”
“Please tell me you're not going to make an actual list.” Sirius raised his eyebrow, “Tell me you have not written people's names down.”
Marlene was still for a moment as if trying to think of an excuse, “Well how else was I meant to keep track?”.
“Oh, my god.” Sirius smiled the tiniest bit, “You're going to be walking around a party, notepad in hand, jotting people's names down?”
“Well, when you put it like that it sounds weird.” Marlene grumbled, “Whatever, I’m not changing it.”
“Have you already written a list of suspects?” Sirius teased, but Marlene tensed, “Oh my god , Marls . You have!”
“Shut up.” She said, turning on her heel to quickly walk away, but Sirius was right behind her.
“ Who have you written down, McKinnon?! ”
The little scene caused a few eyes to wander over to them, James gave an awkward wave while Lily smiled apologetically.
“Well I think that's our cue to leave,” Lily said solemnly nodding over to where Peter’s family was getting into their car, “Call you later, Mare?”.
Mary's head snapped up as if she was coming out of a daze. Her eyes flickered across the three before she quickly shook her head, “Mhm.” She smiled tightly, Remus noticed she was fiddling with her phone. She gave a small wave back to Lily as she and James retreated back to the Potter's car.
Mary started to walk forward a bit, no doubt to find her own car, Remus frowns as he watches her- still fiddling with her phone. “Hey, Mary, Wait up.”. She turns and looks at him, looking a bit surprised but she stops and waits for him to catch up. They turn and walk together toward the hoards of cars, “Are you ok?” He asks.
“What do you mean?” She asks.
“You've been just a bit.. distracted, messing with your phone.”
She sighed, looking at the phone in her hand, “It’s just.. Emmy hasn't texted me or anything, and she was supposed to come.” Mary shook her head, “It’s stupid, because I saw her last night, but I’m just worried her parents saw our messages or something.”
“Oh..” Remus didn't know what to say to that.
“I know, I know.” Mary shrugged, “I’m probably overthinking this, she might have overslept, or forgotten.”
“Im sure she’ll call you, she's coming to your party right?”
“She's meant to, but if she's arguing with her parents then I don't know.” Mary stopped, and nodded over to where Marlene and SIrius were standing, “I better go, I’m Marl’s ride.”
“Right, I’d say see you tonight but..”
She smiled at him, “Yeah, see you on Monday then?”
“Course, feel free to call us, I’m sure Sirius is going to go stir crazy being stuck in the house.”
“Oh how awful, being trapped in a mansion with his boyfriend.” She teased, “How ever will he keep himself entertained?”
“ Bye , Mary.”
“Bye, lover,” Mary said sweetly, laughing as she left.
He watched Mary join Marlene and Sirius, and talk for a few moments. Sirius rolled his eyes at her as she took Marlene's arm and drug her towards her car, Sirius waved at them both before turning to walk to Remus.
“Ready to go?” He asked, discreetly holding his hand.
“Yeah.”.
*
October 31st, 2:00 PM
“You can't just fucking pick people off!” They yelled, “This isn't what this is about! The people we kill, we do it for a reason!”
Listen, he knew they would be mad, but they hadn't expected this. He didn't get what the big deal is, the people they killed, why did it matter who it was?
“Listen, buddy-”
“Don't fucking talk to me like we're friends, you knew what you signed up for!”
“And so did you.” He raised his eyebrow, “You knew why I did this, I don't give a fuck about you getting your recognition or your weird little revenge. I did this for me.”
They were in his basement, it had basically become like a hideout. It made him giddy almost as if he were in a superhero movie. He had let them move into the basement to keep a low profile, no one would expect it, but he was starting to regret it, especially as he watched them brace their weight on a table, their hand hovering over a knife.
“Are you done with your temper tantrum?”
They plunged the knife down into the wood, turning to him in rage, “ Goddamit Evan, is this just a joke to you?”.
Evan watched them with uninterest, it was sort of a joke. How seriously everyone was taking it. It was funny. But he had to keep them on his good side, “No, of course not.”
“Then don't you see why you can't just kill people who aren't on the list? You're going to get us caught!” They yelled, dropping their hands as they turned back to the table, “Do you even remember who is on the li-”
“Black, Lupin, Evans. Those are the main ones you want gone. The ones that are optional are Potter, Meadows and Macdonald.”
“It isn't ‘optional’ it's only if you have to, I don't want them dead.. But if you have no other choice. Do it.”
“Planned on it.” Evan smiled, and they rolled their eyes. God, they really didn't mesh together well, but they got the job done.
*
October 31st, 7:12 PM
Marlene had been eyeing the cameras the entire time they were there, she hadn't noticed them the other times she had been to Mary's house and was trying to figure out if they were new or if she was unobservant.
“Hey, Mary?” She called up the stairs, “Do these cameras work?”.
“Uhm..” Mary's voice drew near and Marlene listened to her footsteps come closer to the stairs, Mary came down about halfway until she could see exactly which cameras Marlene was talking about, “Oh, last I checked yes.”.
“They aren't new, are they?” She asked.
“They are,” Mary nodded, leaning on the stairs bannister, “Dad installed them when he and Celeste booked that cruise. He wanted to make sure I wasn't getting ‘up’ to anything.”
“Is he going to be mad about the party?”
“Oh he won't find out,” Mary smiled, “I hooked it up to my computer I just loop the videos and change the dates. How do you think I’ve been having Em stay over?”
Marlene chuckled to herself, shaking her head, “Smart.”
“I know.” Mary winked, going back up the stairs to her room where she was putting on her costume. Marlene herself hadn't exactly wanted to dress up, but Mary was insistent. It had always been her favourite holiday, the previous year they had done a group costume and stayed at Peters-
Marlene shook the memory off, turning on her heel to Mary’s stereo system. She kneeled to look through the collection of CDs her parents kept down there. Disentigraction, Hounds Of Love, Grace..
She ended up plucking up two albums she recognised and liked, “Hey Dorcas?” She yelled, “Come help me pick.”
Dorcas came walking from the kitchen toward Marlene, “What am I picking?” She asked, crouching down next to her.
“Which one?” She asked, holding up the two albums.
Dorcas considered the both of them for a moment, it seemed she had made her choice when she gave a firm nod, hand coming up to grab one, “Oh hell no.” Mary's voice made both of their heads snap to her, “Neither of those!” she scolded, coming down the stairs to take the albums from Marlene's hand.
“And why not?” Marlene asked.
Mary gave her a flat look, “We are not playing Radiohead and Nirvana at a party. We want people to have fun, not kill themselves.”
“You like both of those bands, though.”
“When I'm in a mood to cry, maybe.”
“In Utero is not sad, Mary.”
Mary held the albums above her head, “No Nirvana. I’ll go get some CDs from my room, and you can pick from those .” She told the girls, turning back around to go up the stairs.
“Buzzkill!” Marlene shouted up the stairs.
“Oh, you poor thing.” Dorcas teased, “How ever will you live without your emo music?”.
“Oh my god, it's not emo.” Marlene groaned.
“Mhm.” Dorcas nodded, kissing the top of Marlene's head and standing up, “Right, Love.”.
“It isn't!”.
“I totally agree!”.
Mary came back not too soon after holding three albums, “So if you're feeling vintage,” She said holding up a purplish CD, “We have Kate Bush.” She threw the CD to Malrene, who scrambled to catch it, “Or Cydni Lauper.” Mary threw the other bright CD at her. “And if neither of those work, I have Madonna and Fergie.”.
Marlene considered all of the albums, flipping them over one by one and looking at the track lists, “Well, I do like Cydni Lauper.” she conceded, turning away from Mary to the CD player, sliding the CD in and listening as it booted up. As the opening notes of ‘I’ll Kiss You’ floated out of the speakers, she turned the dial up, letting the music fill the room.
Mary was smiling at her when she stood up, and reached her hand out to Marlene, spinning her around while the other girl laughed. Marlene pushed Mary away, smiling and walked from the room going to the kitchen, she still had to get ice from the garage and-
She walked past the glass patio door and there he was. Black robes, white mask, and suddenly she was at Peters and some guy wouldn't stop calling her and Peter was gone , and she couldn't breathe- why can't she breathe?
She was on the ground, fighting with herself to look up, to see if Peter was still out there, because she has to help- the question was stupid! It was a trick question, and it wasn't fair, and it was her fault. Why did she get it wrong? How could she do that to him?
When she can finally look there's nothing there, no one. There is no blood stain that should be there because she remembers it so clearly, how the blood seeped into the concrete, but it's gone. There is no man in black robes, and there is no Peter. There is nothing because she isn't home, she's at Marys. And today was Peter's funeral.
Dorcas finds her when she comes in from the garage, and Marlene knows she's there, sinking to the floor next to her but she can't really register what she's saying or doing. Dorcas just sits there patiently, every now and then she’ll say Marlene's name, but she doesn't push when it's met with silence.
“I thought I saw them.” Is all Marlene has to say and Dorcas understands. She has been there for almost all of the false calls. She simply grabs Marlene's hand and sits. Staring out the glass patio door with her until she has the strength to get up.
“Have you seen Mary’s costume?” Dorcas asks quietly, trying o move the subject to something happier.
“No, what is it?” Marlene asked.
“She dressed up as fucking Hannah Montana.”
“...Are you having a laugh?” She asked as Dorcas grinned, shaking her head.
“Nope. She has the worst blonde wig I’ve ever seen, without it she sort of looks like she's about to go to a club.”
“She told me she was going to be Britney Spears.”
It was silent for a few moments, and Dorcas’ grip on Marlene’s hand went a bit slack as she turned to face her fully.
“Wait, which one’s country?” She asked suddenly.
“Please tell me you know the difference between Hannah Montana and Britney Spears,” Marlene asked seriously.
“No, I do! I just want to make sure.. that... YOU know the difference.”
“Oh my god she's Britney Spears, isn’t she?” Marlene asked, “But you don't know the difference.”
The doorbell rang, signalling the arrival of the first guests, and Dorcas took her opportunity to scramble up and dust off her dress, “I don't know what you're talking about.” She shrugged, walking away to the door.
Marlene just smiled, shaking her head.
“Who the fuck invited you?” She can hear Dorcas spit out, “ Mary !”
The commotion has both Marlene and Mary making their way to the front door, Marlene can't help but smirk when she sees that Mary is in fact dressed up as Britney Spears and NOT Hannah Montana, but it falls flat from her face when she sees who Dorcas had been yelling at.
“Oh what the hell, Rita?” Mary groans, “I specifically told you not to come.”.
Rita smiles sweetly at them, “Oh come on, ladies. Surely we can put the past behind us and enjoy a Halloween party.”
“Not when you have that little notebook of yours out.” Marlene pointed out, “And why would we let you in anyway? You’ve spent the past two weeks harassing us.”
“harass is a strong word.”
“That's why I used it.” Marlene said condescendingly, “Just leave.”
“Fine.” Rita scoffs, rolling her eyes, “Can't wait to see what everyone thinks about this later on my blog.”.
They watch as she turns down the drive, gets into her car and drives away.
“Are we sure she has a licence?” Mary asked, eyeing Rita as she uncaringly pulled out of the driveway.
“She just hit your bins, so I don't know.”
*
October 31st, 8:20 PM
Mary had been the one to call and all but warn them that Rita was on her usual gossip spiral. Asking them to keep an eye on her blog after a vague remark.
Whoever said detective work was fun was a liar.
“Anything yet?”
“What did I say five minutes ago?”
“..So that's a no?”
They were in the Potter’s basement, where they had been watching movies, but now were all laid out on different couches bored out of their minds. Lily had her laptop on her lap, refreshing Rita's blog every few minutes to no avail.
“Yes, Sirius, that's a no- Oh.. I might have spoken too soon.” Lily said, clicking a few things on her computer before turning the screen around to face the boys so they could see the new link at the top of the page. A link to something.
“Click it,” Sirius said, sitting up from the couch to lean on the couch Lily was on, getting a better view of the screen.
They watched as Lily clicked the link, letting it load before putting her computer on the coffee table in front of her, everyone shuffling in to get a better view. The screen is blank for a moment, the only sign of life is a pop-song playing in the background. Rita eventually appears, her hand going over the camera as if removing the thing that had been obstructing the view.
Rita smiles as she sits down in the pink computer chair, throwing her curled hair behind her shoulder as she adjusts. It's clear she is in her bedroom, a cutely decorated space with movie posters and lace, it's so nicely organised Remus thinks it could be something straight out of a magazine.
“Hello, all!” Rita says, waving to the camera, her eyes flicking to read the chat as names pop up, “I see we’re all very excited to be here tonight.”
There are about a hundred people on the live stream, Remus had never known how popular Rita’s blog actually was, the number rising steadily.
“I think we have enough to get started,” Rita nodded, her hands going out of view to grab a notebook, “Let's get the obligatory introduction out of the way.”
Rita did her whole little intro thing, introducing herself and the case they were focusing on. They watched in anger and boredom as she went over the facts they already knew, about the horrors Peter and Marlene had been through, about the attacks towards Remus. It was almost enough to clock off the video, but then she started talking about the things they didn't know. That no one knew. And maybe she made them up, but it was still good to know.
“I think the most important thing we need to talk about tonight is what the police have been hiding from everyone.” RIat said, a serious look on her face as she addressed the camera, “These murders aren't random at all, they are calculated. Too cruel not to be.” She raised a hand, “Now you're probably saying to yourselves, ‘Yes Rita, that is obvious! No one could be so dense to not think they are planned!’, and right you are dearests. But..” She paused for dramatic effect, “I have cold hard proof that they are planned.”.
Rita pushed the pink-rolling chair away from the computer, grabbing something off-frame before sitting back in front of it. “What the police have been neglecting to report is that yesterday afternoon, the Headmaster,” She brought forward a photo of Dumbledore to the camera, “Of Hogwarts, was murdered in his office.”
“Holy shit.” James mumbled, “Dumbledores dead?”.
“Not only was he brutally attacked and slaughtered, but the killer left behind something very, very important.” Rita put the photo down, coming closer to the camera, “They left behind a list.” She crossed her hands in front of her, “A list of names, marked in order.” Rita cleared her throat, “Sadly I do not have a physical copy of said list, but I have a good suspicion about who is on it. And I, being the kind and caring person I am, attempted to protect these people tonight.”
“Bullshit.” Lily rolled her eyes.
“But I was asked to leave the premises.” Rita wiped away non-existent tears, “It just breaks my heart. I urge everyone who is at the Macdonald party to leave, you may all be in grave danger, as I tried to warn earlier.”
“..We’re going to have to go crash that party, aren't we?” Sirius asked hesitantly.
“What's the worst that can happen?”
“Oh I don't know, Remus.” Sirius considered sarcastically, “Maybe we’ll get attacked by a raging psycho murderer.”
“Oh please,” Remus said, sitting up from the couch, “that's been happening all week, old news.”
*
October 31st, 8:20 PM
“Baby Black and his posse are here,” Dorcas whispered into Marlene's ear as she passed her by, her hands skimming her hips as she gently nudged her in the direction of the three boys sitting around a plush chair in the corner of the room.
They were younger by only a year or two, and Dorcas didn't even know how they knew about the party, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Well, the Roiser and Crouch boy seemed to be, Regulus looked like he had bit into a lemon, but he so often looked like that that Dorcas couldn't tell if he was upset or indifferent.
She had found herself keeping an eye on the after she realised their arrival, eyes wandering to the younger Black when she was in the living room. It really was true what they said about them looking alike, it was almost eerie.
“Dorcas?” One of the boys-Evan- called, “Be a doll and get us a drink?”
She eyed the boy from where he lay on the ground, holding a bag in his hand that looked out of place. He smiled up at her with something akin to an animal. Yeah, the kid still seemed fucking insane. “If you aren't old enough to get up and get it yourself, you’re not old enough to drink, doll .” She said.
Evan huffed out a laugh, looking back at his friend and nudging them, “C'mon love, be nice.”
Dorcas sighed, rolling her eyes at the boy, “Fuck off, Roiser. Where are your manners?”
“Never was taught,” He shrugged, batting his eyelashes, “now, please? I’ll make it worth your while.”
Dorcas had half the mind to tell him to leave altogether, but once again her eyes flicked to the younger boy sitting in the plush chair stuffed into the corner looking as if he would rather be anywhere else and found herself relenting.
“Keep it in your pants.” She mumbled, turning on her heel back to the kitchen. She opened the cooler on the ground, only to find it empty, nothing put a few empty beer cans and melted ice. She swore as she stood up, wiping the water off her hands as she made her way to the garage.
She went to the fridge in the garage, rummaging through it until she found three lukewarm beers- it seemed someone else had the same idea as her when they found the cooler empty. With her hands full of the glass bottles, she turned back to the door, ready to leave but someone else was there.
She couldn't recognise the costume, a dark robe and a long white mask, akin to someone wailing, she guessed it must be from some movie she hadn't seen yet. She intended to walk right past them, but as she got closer to the door they didn't budge. Simply blocking the door as they watched her.
“Uhm.” She let out an uncomfortable laugh, “Hi? Could I just-” she tried to sidestep them, but they just got closer. She pressed her lips together as she looked them over again, they seemed somewhat familiar, and that's when it hit her. “Ohhh…” She laughed, “Alice told me you had a weird costume, but I was not expecting this.” She smiled at Frank, “Mask is kinda weird though, can't lie to you.”
Frank shrugged at her, and she just rolled her eyes. “Is this from the drama department? I thought you weren't meant to take these things home.” She said, reaching out to press the fabric between her fingers, “Never pegged you for a troublemaker, Frank.” She teased. Frank just shook his head at her, and she found herself growing increasingly weirded out by the costume, but also impressed by how committed to the bit he was for someone who disliked Halloween, “Well, this has been a riveting conversation, but I think I'm going to go inside and get your girlfriend drunk.” She patted his shoulder as she pushed past him, hand struggling to grip the handle of the door with the beers she was holding, but that became the least of her worries when Frank grabbed her arm. “What the fuck, Frank?”.
He pulled her arm back, and that's when she saw what his other hand gripped, a long hunting blade. She found herself kicking at him, and he pushed her into the wall, the garage door button pressing into her back as she tried desperately to free herself until she finally sent them both sprawling to the ground, the beer bottles shattering and tearing at her skin and clothes, making them both soaked with the liquid.
He had fallen on top of her, but she used his shock to her advantage, slipping out from under him and crawling away, spying a pile of wood and deciding that was better than nothing. She could hear him getting her foot at the same time she did, but she already had one of the wood panels in her hand, and when she turned she swung it hard right into the side of his neck and shoulder.
It sent him back a few paces, hand going to the side of his neck from where it must ache, he came at her again and she swung at him, the weight of the wood making where the swings would land unpredictable, this one hadn't hit, it gave him more than enough time to bring his knife to her, stabbing into her side as he hand went to cover her mouth. She could feel her heart speed up as the fear of dying set in as pain exploded and a scream ripped from her throat.
He tore the knife out of her stomach, and Dorcas felt lightheaded, everything in her screaming for her to get away, and she found herself digging her teeth into his hand. She heard him let out a yelp, but she didn't let go, not even as he tried to tear away his hand. She dug her teeth in until she could taste the blood seeping into the fabric of his glove.
He flung her away from him then, a yell of frustration as he cradled his hand, but Dorcas could give less of a fuck about his hand, she hoped it fell off. She crawled desperately toward the open garage door, if she just got out there, maybe someone would see, she could scream and they would hear her and-
She felt a spark of pain radiate in the back of her head, he had thrown something at her, she couldn't tell what. She couldn't tell if the liquid was blood or something else, her vision had gone black, but she still tried to crawl forward- she knew she was close.
Her arms gave out for a moment, and she couldn't hear anything over the frantic beat of her own heart, she was begging her body to cooperate with her, to just work a little bit longer and get her out of here.
She opened her eyes and she could see the outside, the driveway and all the parked cars, she could see the street lights, she was there, but then she looked up. The garage door was closing. It was then she realised she was not fully outside, only half of her torso hung out of the threshold, she was going to be fucking crushed .
Her eyes widened as they focused on the door, and her nails scrapped the concrete trying to find hold to pull herself farther out, but she never stood a chance. Her knee was pinned to the ground by someone's foot, and she could just barely turn her head to see him, standing there with his head cocked, a mocking wave followed by a blown kiss, then she couldn't see him at all, the door was down. Slowly crushing her.
She fought even then, breaking her long nails on the concrete and scrapping her hands to all hell as she struggled under the intense weight. She could feel the blood seeping out from the stab wound on her stomach, sticking to her clothes. She could feel the blood starting to come from her mouth as her back gave a sickening pop.
She couldn't feel much of anything after that, her eyes unfocusing as everything went black.
*
“Oh, here to get baby Black?” Mary asked when she opened the door to the group of four.
“Baby- Regulus? Is Regulus here?” Sirius asked, pushing in through the door.
Mary stepped aside, opening her arms in invitation, “By all means come in.” She said sarcastically.
Sirius was already in the living room when they all got in, searching the faces of the remaining few at the party.
“Where is he?”
“He just left, few minutes ago.” Mary said, “Thought you knew, sorry.”.
Sirius groaned, flopping down on one of the couches, “Why was he even here in the first place?”.
“To get drunk?” Mary supplied, “He was here with his little friends. Speaking of being here, why are you guys here?”
“Uhm..” Lily looked around at the dwindling group, “How about we get everyone out and then we tell you?”
They ushered the rest of the people out of the house, too many complaints and drunk belligerence, but they got it done. They ushered Mary into the living room after, they had a lot to discuss.
“Where are Marlene and Dorcas?” James asked.
“Right here.” Marlene said as she descended the stairs, “When did you guys get here?”
“Just now.” Sirius said, letting out a harsh breath, “Dumbledores dead.”
“What the fuck,” Marlene tripped a bit on the last stair, “let a girl breathe before you say shit like that, eh Black?”
“That's not even the bad part.”
Marlene crossed her arms, standing next to Mary and trading a concerned look, “Of course not.”
“There's a literal hit list.” Sirius says, “And we’re all probably on it.”
“Figured that out with careful consideration?”
“Yeah, I mean that and the fact there's a literal fucking murderer who keeps breaking into our houses.” Sirius shrugged, “Makes the most sense.”
“So, a murderer has a list with our names, and you come here?” Marlene asks, “No offence but im not seeing the correlation.”
“Safety in numbers?” Sirius says, “And if he ends up calling one of us, we’ll all be able to listen in.”
“Lovely,” Marlene mumbled, sitting down on the couch.
The room filled with silence, bordering on uncomfortable as they all took seats around the room.
“Does anyone else think it's strange that we're not freaking out?” James broke the silence.
“This is like the fifth time he’s threatened to murder us, he doesn't have a good track record with following through.” Sirius sighed, “Freaking out was like- two attempts ago.”
Marlene stood up suddenly, all eyes turning to her, she looked as if she'd rather be anywhere else, “I think I’m going to go get Dorcas.” She said, turning to the stairs and climbing them before anyone could even mumble an ‘ok’.
“I thought splitting up was bad in horror movies,” Remus mumbled.
“This isn't a horror movie.” Mary laughed.
“Tell that to the psycho in the cloak trying to murder me.”
“Id watch that movie,” James said.
“Our life is not a horror movie,” Mary said seriously.
“It definitely is.” Sirius defended.
“Oh shut up, I'm guessing you think you're the hero of it?” Mary said turning to him with a cocked eyebrow.
“Of course not, I'm the love interest.” Sirius rolled his eyes, “Moony’s the hero.”
“No, Moonys the final girl.” James butt in, and Sirius considered that for a moment before he nodded back at him in acceptance.
“Why do I have to be the final girl?” Remus asked.
“You're the one who keeps getting put in the hospital,” Lily said, shrugging.
“Don't encourage this, Lily.” Mary said, staying silent for a moment before she added “And Remus can't be a final girl, it goes against the movie rules.”
“That's not very progressive of you, Mary.” Sirius shook his head disapprovingly.
“I know what you two did at the last sleepover, so I’d be quiet if I were you, Black.” Mary shot at him.
That shut Sirius up and sent the room back into silence, of course for only a few moments.
“Wait so why exactly can't Moony be the final girl?” James asked.
“is this really the best use of our time?” Mary asked.
“I mean no one is dying right now, so I’d say yes.” Sirius defended, “Now why can’t Moony be the final girl?”
“Because there are rules in horror movies.” Mary said exasperated “Marlene knows more about this than I do, ask her.”
“She's busy. What are these so-called ‘rules’ then.” Sirius asked mockingly.
“Oh, my god.” Mary groaned, rubbing her forehead, “To have a successful horror movie, there are certain rules you have to follow. Most of them go to the final girl,” She points to Remus, “Almost always a teenager, almost always lusted after, almost always a virgin to appeal to the male audience.” Mary leans back, “So rule number one, for example, no sex.” She narrows her eyes at all of them, “All of you are out, slags.”.
“You said almost always.” Sirius defended, “Moony can still be a final girl.”
“I suddenly hate this conversation.” Remus breathed out, and Lily patted his arm consolingly.
“Fair enough. No drinking or drugs, that's how you die first- and I’ve been to your houses enough to know you aren't the most sober bunch.” Mary pointed out.
“You're on the talk, you're the one who brings weed to most of the parties.” Sirius shot back, “And we haven't done any drugs. Lately.”
“I didn't make the rules.” She holds up a third finger, “Rule number three, never leave a group. That's how you die. The second you say ‘I’ll be right back guys!’ you’ve basically signed your death certificate.”
“Now that one I can account for,” Remus admitted.
“You would be able to do that wouldn't you?” Lily mumbled.
“Hey, guys?” James asks, “Remember rule three?”
“Yeah?” Mary asked slowly.
“Mhm.. Mhm. Uhm, so where did Marlene say she was going?”
“Well, shit.”
and of course, a phone rings.
“That's never a good sign,” Remus said as he watch Sirius dig his phone out of his pocket and answer it. They all sat in silence watching Sirius, unhearing of what was being said to him. After a few moments, a look of realisation dawned on Sirius’s face and he hung up.
“What did they say?’ James asked, his voice quiet.
“Uhm.. Nothing.” Sirius looked troubled, hesitating before he asked, “Can you see if Rita is still live?”
“Why?” Lily asked.
“Just do it,” Sirius said, pushing off his chair and standing up.
“I have a computer in my room we can use,” Mary said quickly.
They made their way up the stairs, passing Marlene as she made her way down, when told of what they were doing she said she would join them after she found Dorcas, she just had to check the downstairs. They left Marlene to her own devices, and when they made it to Mary's room they wasted no time in pulling up RItas blog, the link to the Livestream still at the top of the page.
When they joined the live, it looked no different than the last time they had been there. It was still in Rita's bedroom, and she was still sitting in front of the computer talking about the murders. Specifically who she thought had done them.
“Why are we watching this?” Mary asked.
“Because she's the one who called.” Sirius said, “I recognised the number from Remus’ call log.”
“That's not creepy at all, Sirius.”
“Photographic memory, bite me.” Sirius smiled sarcastically, “I could also hear her voice in the background, which could mean she's been using a voice changer since none of us recognised the voice that calls.”
“So you're saying Rita Skeeter is the one who's been trying to kill us?” Remus asked sceptically.
“I’m saying it's not looking good for her.” Sirius defended.
They watched as Rita went on a long tangent about definitely knowing who the killer was, and that ‘for the safety of humanity, and out of the goodness of her heart’ that she was going to tell everyone who it was. They all thought what she would say would be bullshit, but her story gained more plausibility when a figure stepped out of her closet. Maybe Rita did know what she was talking about, it's too bad she never spit out the name.
Remus tuned out the mummers of horror and shock from his friends as he watched the figure get closer and closer, silently. Rita never stood a chance. He watched her smile at the camera one last time, pride in herself for doing her first and last ever bust.
They stood behind her tauntingly, and Rita threw her hair over her shoulder, it brushed the black robe, putting her neck on perfect display. For a moment her eyes flicked around the screen, as if she stared to read the chat, and horror filled her eyes, but it had been too late from the very moment she started investigating the murderers.
The knife was to her throat, and somewhere past the water filling his ears he could hear one of his friends breathe out ‘oh god’. He could feel them looking away, but found his own eyes stuck, watching as he came closer to her ear and whispered.
“Who is it, Rita?” The voice had asked, and Remus could see her intake of breath as if she was going to scream, but she never got the chance. He wishes he could say that her murder was swift, that it was clean, that it was fast and painless. But it wasn't.
None of his friends knew this, they had looked away, but Remus knew.
He watched as the serrated blade snagged at her skin, and how she flinched back so hard it sent the knife away for just a second. He watched how he brought the knife back, digging in deeper, scratching the bone. He watched the tears stream from Rita's eyes as her hand reached around blindly, trying to find any sense of help.
He felt a sick sense of relief when her eyes finally slipped shut, he didn't want her dead, but death had to be better than a live decapitation.
He could only watch as they tore their blade away from her collarbone, wiping the blood on her pale cheek, before stepping away from her body. They kicked at the pink rolling chair she was sitting in, sending both of them away so that he was the only thing in the camera frame.
The camera jostled when they picked it up, turning it to face in front of him. Remus watched as they walked through Rita's room, toward a window. He watched as they put it up to the window, and as Mary’s house filled the frame. He watched as Ghostface came back into the frame, a taunting wave before the camera was thrown to the ground and crushed under their shoe. Only then had the live stream ended.
He only took his eyes away from the black screen when a hand gripped his shoulder, he looked up to find a sickly-looking Sirius staring down at him, a question on his face, and suddenly Remus felt ashamed for not being able to look away like the rest of them.
“he's coming here,” Remus whispered to Sirius, and once again everyone shot into action. Running from room to room, locking everything. Doors, windows, any entry into the house someone could find.
Remus, though, just went downstairs. They would eventually find a way in, he would rather spend his possible last moments in peace, sitting on Mary’s sofa. He could hear his friends, their choked mumbles, and explanations to Marlene.
“She's fucking dead?” He heard Marlene ask, somewhere in the kitchen.
Someone hummed in confirmation, “Remus says they’re coming here, help us lock up?”, it was Mary.
“Of course, I just need to find Dorcas. I think she locked herself in the garage.”
“Be careful,” Mary said.
He listened as Marlene's footsteps retreated, and the sound of a lock being undone sounded. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach and prayed that he was wrong. That Dorcas really was just locked in the garage. The scream Marlene let out told him he wasn't.
He stayed sat, letting his eyes shut as he listened to everyone run toward the sound of Marlene’s pleading sobs. He could hear her arguing as she was dragged away from Dorcas, hurling insults at them all, at god and even Dorcas herself. Damning them all for it being her instead of one of them. Remus couldn't blame her.
He could hear Marlene fall to the ground in the kitchen, telling Mary to let her go as she whispered unheard comforts. No one else could really talk, no one had anything to say. She was dead. Someone was possibly in the house. Or maybe Marlene had been right about the party. Maybe they were safe. Maybe they would be dead by the end of the hour. Remus didn't know how he felt about that.
He opened his eyes when footsteps drew near- James, Lily, and Sirius- concerned voices whispering to one another.
“We have got to call the police.” Lily hurriedly whispered to the other two boys.
“What good would the police do if we can't open the fucking doors?” Sirius asked, “I'm not trying to be a dick but we don't have a lot of people we can trust here, Lily.”
“What would you suggest then?” She shot back, “Leave Dorcas out there and tie Marlene up? Find a gun of our own and shoot whoever it is that's done this? We are sixteen! We are not capable of doing this.”
“Too bad, because we are.” Sirius said with finality, “I don't like it any more than you do- I especially don't.”
“ Sirius -”
“Marlene you can't fucking do anything, please just sit back down-”
“Fuck you!”
“We should probably go check on that?” James asked, he looked extremely stressed.
“Probably,” Remus said, standing up.
“I'm calling the police,” Lily mumbled, pulling out her phone.
Marlene was standing on her own when they got into the kitchen, tears dried to her cheeks, glaring daggers at Mary who was standing in front of the garage door with a pained look. Marlene's harsh glare turned o them when they walked in, her eyes searching for something as they flicked past everyone before she gave a sigh and cradled her head in her hands.
James quietly put a hand on her arm, whispering something to her as the others walked to Mary.
“Ok, you might not like this,” Mary says,
“Oh god.” Lily looks pained, awaiting whatever it is Mary is going to suggest.
“I was going to say we have to lock her in my bedroom because she's not giving up. She wants to go out there- I- but the fucking.. The garage door is open a crack and I don't want someone to..” Mary made a vague ‘stabby’ gesture with her hand, cringing. “I saw, Dorcas- I.. There's no way she's..” Mary just shook her head.
Lily sighed, “We can't just.. lock her up. She just lost-”
“I know, it's not like I want to do it.” Mary said sadly, “What else can we do?”
“What if she breaks a window?” Remus asked, “A bedroom isn't exactly a prison cell.”
“Well, what do you suggest? Putting her in the closet?”
Remus considered it for a moment, even if purely for irony, but he didn't think anyone else would really appreciate it, “I’m just saying. If I was locked in a bedroom first thing I would do is break the window.”
The four of them stood contemplating what to do as James’ voice gradually got louder, drawing their attention to the scene. It was obvious Marlene was getting more agitated by every passing second, her hands clenching into fists as she pushed James away from her. When she started to move everyone stood still, waiting to see what was going to happen, not one of them expected her to grab a knife.
Marlene turned to the group, looking at them with an emotion Remus couldn't pin. For a moment he wondered if this is the part where she tells them she had orchestrated this all, but a part of him couldn't believe that. She looked so unlike the Marlene he knew- he grew up with. Disturbed and haunted, clutching a knife as if it would fix all of her problems.
“Marlene?” Mary asked softly, “What do you think you're doing?”
“She was warm.” Marlene said, “It happened under our noses. It just happened.” They were silent, watching as Marlene pointed the knife at them accusingly, “Whoever did it is here.”
“Marlene that doesn't make sense.” Mary tried, “None of us would.. None of us would ever do that.”
“Bullshit! One of us has been doing it from the start.” Marlene said, and Remus had to admit she had a point, “It was always one of us. No one else would know so much shit about us- would be able to get under our skin.. So it had to be one of us.”
“Well, the only person it makes sense to do it would be me, then? Right?” Mary said, taking a step forward.
“Mary, what the fuck are you doing?” Lily grabbed her arm, but Mary raised her eyebrows at her, urging her to trust her. Lily let go.
Marlene stayed quiet, knife held in front of her even as Mary got closer.
“They all just got here,” Mary said, “It's my house, You wouldn't have killed Dorcas. Dorcas couldn't of very well killed herself like that. So it must have been me, right?” Mary was right in front of Marlene, “It would be a good plan, get everyone here, trap them in my house, and I get off as the sole survivor, mhm?” For a moment Remus thought this might be where she admits to it being her idea, “Except for the fact I was never in the garage, that I was upstairs the entire party writing down names for you.”
Marlene hesitated, tears falling from her eyes, “..You... You could have gone when no one noticed.”
“I have cameras. Check them.” Mary said, and then the weight of her words dawned on her, “I have fucking cameras! We can check them, Marlene. You can see, it wasn't us.”.
“Me, Marlene and Mary can go check the camera, yes.” Lily stepped up behind Mary, “Then it’ll be fine, right Marls? The police are on their way anyways, yeah? We can Find out who went in and then we can tell them.”
Marlene let her eye close as her grip on the knife loosened, letting Mary take it from her hand as she weakly nodded. The boys watched as Mary and Lily led the other girl upstairs, Sharing looks of concern as they passed by.
Checking the cameras would've been a great plan, it would've probably solved all their problems. Except they didn't get the chance to even look, because the power went out- or rather someone cut the lines.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Sirius said, somewhere to the left of Remus.
“Well at least we know is not one of us.” James said, looking on the bright side, “It could be worse.”
And then there was a knocking on the door.
“Oh.” James said, “I think I jinxed it.”
Another knock.
“We aren't getting that,” Sirius said flat out, Remus wasn't about to disagree.
Another Knock, followed by a voice.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
“Well shit,” Sirius mumbled, going to the door.
“What the fuck are you doing, you just said not to open it?” James asked, following behind him.
“I recognise that voice, it's one of Reggie's little friends.” Sirius said, “He’s like 15, the worst he can do is bruise our egos.”
Sirius opened the door to the kid, he was leaning on the door frame and looked surprised when they answered it, eyes flicking to each boy. “You aren't Mary.” He said eventually.
“Well spotted.” Sirius said, “What do you want?”
“I came to grab Regulus’ phone,” Evan said, going to push into the house, but Sirius closed the door a bit, keeping him outside.
“Why can't he get it himself?” Sirius asked.
Evan sighed and rolled his eyes as if he couldn't believe what Sirius was suggesting, “Curfew? He asked me to come back and get it after I dropped him off at home. Your parents thought we were having a study session.”
Sirius stared at him for a few moments, hesitant to let him in, but he had always been weak when it came to Regulus and he opened the door, letting Evan slip inside. All three of them watched him carefully as his eyes adjusted to the dark.
“Wow. Dark in here.” He said casually, walking toward the living room, the boys following closely behind him.
“No shit, Sherlock,” Sirius said.
“Well you're just lovely to chat with,” Evan mumbled as he looked around a chair nestled into the corner of the room, finding the phone jammed in between the cushions. “Found it.” He said, waving it in the air like a trophy.
“Great. Get out.” Sirius smiled, gesturing to the door.
Evan made to leave, giving a sarcastic wave when he made it to the door.
“Tell his psychotic parents we said hi,” James said with a small laugh, trying to lessen the tension in the room.
Evan stopped for a moment, a smile on his face as his next words left his mouth, “They prefer the term creative.”
And Remus feels like ice water was just poured on him as realisation dawns on him. All of this too coincidental. Because he has heard someone say that before, in the exact same way. And then the kid looks at him, just for a moment, and his smile suddenly has a sick twist to it, a gleam in his eye that makes Remus sick. He has brown eyes. Remus knows he has seen them before.
When he pulled down that mask.
He doesn't get a chance to say anything, because Evan's eyes flick behind them and then he says something that starts the beginning of the end.
“Woah, your friend's costume is killer .”
“What?” James says as he turns to look behind them, but it had been too late, the knife slit through the soft skin of his stomach before he even had the chance to scream.
Remus doesn't really know what happens next, he feels almost as if he was floating in between states. That he is there and that he isn't. Every beg and scream changing his reality, because one moment Sirius is watching horror and the next they aren't even in the house, outside and running. Then all he can register is Sirius’ face in front of him, tears streaming down his face as he gasps for breath, and then that's gone and there's a knife that is begging to plunge into his chest as he fights it. And then there's James again, on the floor leaning against the wall, hand clutching his stomach, blood starting to pool under him. That's what really brings him back to reality, being back in the house, James in a pool of his own blood, and now Remus has a knife in his own hand. For a moment he doesn't know where Sirius is, he wonders if he's dead too. The thought taking away his ability to breathe before his eyes find him in front of him, alive but with a hunting knife to his throat, Evan holding it.
“Well?” Evans asks, “Did it?”
He must have asked Remus something, but even if he had heard it he probably wouldn't have responded. He just stares at the boy, in almost an uninterested way.
“Oh come on, don't look at me like that.” Evans says, “I did good. This plan? It was mostly genius. Don't tell me you aren't impressed.”
“Your fifteen,” Remus says instead, he can't really fathom how someone- let alone a kid - could do this.
“you say that like it means something, but I guess your right.” Evans laughs, something twisted that makes Remus sick, “How could I do it? Alone, so young? Well, not really alone..”
“Stop with the fucking dramatics,” Sirus says, gritting his teeth.
“Shut up!” The knife digs into the soft skin of his neck, “I’ll do whatever I’d like, I worked fucking hard for this! Do you even know how hard it is to get into your houses? To clean blood from my clothing? To not get asked fucking questions?” He mimicked a high voice, “‘Evan why weren't you in class?’, ‘Evan why do you need wire cutters?’, ‘Evan why is there bleach in your car?’. For fucks sake! Let me live, am I right?” He took the knife away from Sirius’ throat, dragging it across his cheek instead, “You know what I mean, Black.”.
“Fuck you.” Sirius spat.
“God, your annoying.” Evan rolled his eyes, “Should've stabbed you. That one wasn't even on the fucking list.” He nodded down to where James lay, “Wish I could be the one to do you.. but we made a deal.” Evan sighed, “Your lucky, Black. Wouldve made it terribly unbearable. Real torture. At least I get the boyfriend.”
“Who is we?” Remus asked, knowing what this moment meant. He knew that they were only showing themselves because they intended for no one to survive. This was the end, and before the sun rose, people were going to die.
The lights flickered back on, and he could hear as the footsteps drew near, a sinking feeling in his stomach as they stopped behind him. For a moment he thought he may just not turn around, let them do it. Let it all end- but he had to know. If he was going to die he was going to do it knowing, staring into the eyes of whoever it was that had betrayed them.
“Well then?” Evan said giddily, “Tell them. Who are we?”
Remus stared them dead in the eye as their hands came to their mask, slowly dragging it off of their head, revealing their features one by one. Remus knew instantly who it was, he could never have forgotten those eyes. Not when he had known them for nearly his entire life.
"Peter?"