Chapter 5- We Gotta Get Outta This Place

Emily's P.O.V.- Same Day

I slowly turn the handle to the door of room one of The Lost Woods Resort, and I'm instantly hit with a feeling of Déjà Vu. It's back to its former state, now—the way it looked the morning after the Masquerade Ball; when Spencer and the rest of us uncovered all those photos in the car. When we realized we were still being stalked.

Five creepy dolls are scattered on the porch of this big Victorian model doll house. Yet more pictures of my friends, my Ali, and I, line the walls. Aria and Ali straggle in behind me as I examine the images. There's one of Spencer sleeping, and one of Hanna in bed with Caleb. I'm slightly taken aback by that. No matter how close the friendship, there are still some things that should be kept private. I chuckle to myself, inwardly trying to lighten the mood, if only for a moment.

But then, I look closer, and so does Aria. There's a tiny date printed in the corner of the photo. 12-3-2011. Seven months after Mona was thrown into Radley. "How is this possible?" I turn to the short brunette. Aria shrugs. "She must've escaped the sanitarium around then." She reasons.

Ali just holds my hand, as Aria and I lead the way through the place. Hanna, Caleb, Spencer, and Mona have to be here somewhere. The three of us link arms as we walk to the opposite corner of the long, narrow, dimly lit room. As much as we don't like to admit it, Mona scares the hell out of us all.

Speaking of the Devil. "You bitches looking for me?" I hear the unmistakable voice call out from behind me, and I turn around. There, tied to a chair, with nothing but layer upon layer of duct tape covering her wrists and ankles, is Hanna—gagged as well. Right next to her is Mona, standing there with a smirk on her face. Luckily, though, the knife in the video that was sent to our phones earlier, is nowhere to be seen. We all know, however, that our genius stalker is just as deadly without a weapon. "What do you want from us?" My Alison screams to our tormenter, desperately.

Mona appears especially crazed, now, though a look of hurt also crosses her features."Hanna! I want Hanna to love me. I want my only friend to care. But she doesn't. She's having a friggin' baby with Caleb! We were supposed to be inseparable. We were supposed to be a family someday!"

After Mona finishes her rant, she removes the green bandana from Hanna's mouth, and loosens the duct tape on the blonde's arms just a bit. By now, Spencer and Caleb are on the floor, passed out cold.

With shakiness in her tone, Hanna finds her voice. "Mona, I am still your friend! A part of me will always love you, okay?" Pausing, she looks captor seriously in the eye. "But you have to calm down. You're in no state to make a quick decision right now."

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, Mona reaches into her back pocket and pulls out the knife from the video text. "If I can't be yours, then, well, Han.. nobody can. And this time, your friends won't be able to save you."

You'll be dead before your time is due.

What happens next is uncomprehendingly fast. Just before Hanna's ex- best friend moves in to slit her throat, I hurl myself at the shorter girl and thrust Mona's own blunt weapon into her chest. Instantly, Mona—better known as A for so long- falls to the floor, blood pouring from her wound. I burst into tears and run to my Ali, hugging her tightly as I cry.

When I glance back over at Mona, she utters a few muffled words, her eyes glassy. "It didn't have to be this way." And slowly, her eyelids close, her body going limp.

There's no denying it now, I killed her. I ended Mona Vanderwall's Life.

As I deal with this grim reality, Aria runs over to untie Hanna, and Ali dials 911. Soon, the four of us all come together for a frantic group hug. "It's over for good this time, Em." The shortest brunette proclaims. Hanna speaks through tears. "You did what you had to do."

We all just stay there, huddled together, waiting for the medics. And I'm absolutely terrified at what might be in store for me.

We gotta get outta this place, if it's the last thing we do... If it's the last thing we do.

That was chapter 5!(or lack thereof) Again, sorry for the horrible wait, guys. I'm a master procrastinator. Lol. I hope you guys liked this chapter more than I do, I know it's kind of crappy. I'm still grappling with major writer's block. With any luck, Chapter 6 will be better quality and posted sooner! PLEASE REVIEW! :)

~LittleLiarLovesEmily