001, it's alive
warning! mentions of sexual assault
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THE FIVE girls stand outside of the church with police cars surrounding them along with the crowd that's managed to circle around the church looking at the teenagers in disbelief and shock, some even with worry.

"He wasn't moving. Okay? And he was not breathing." Aria states standing with the others shocked at the recent discovery of Ian's body not being in the bell tower.

"Because he was dead." Emily mutters, "Is dead. Not was. Is!" Spencer states.

"So unless we're saying Ian's a zombie. Someone moved the body." Emily explains.

"It was probably stuffed in the trunk of A's car." Hanna suggests, "It's probably on its way to a meat grinder." Emily whispers.

"Oh. Em, come on. You gotta quit watching those horror films." Aspen grimaces with disgust.

"You guys. A's probably watching us right now." Spencer says, "Any one of these people could be A." Emily replies.

"Half the town is here." Hanna states shocked seeing the crowd of people surrounding them.

"They want to see you girls down at the station. I'm here to drive you." Garrett says getting out of his police car beside them.

"Uh... well, I saw my parents earlier. They're going to want to know where we're going." Aria says.

"They'll meet us there. Come on... let's go." Garrett urges the five girls towards the cars knowing one of them with have to go with another officer.

That being Aspen after agreeing with the others she should be the one due to being the oldest of the friend group.

Aspen frowns seeing the vehicle the others are in with Garrett pull into an alleyway, leading the officer driving Aspen to the police station to lean forwards.

"Officer Reynolds, what's your ETA?" the officer queries into the police radio, "Uh, yeah. We're en route." Garrett states talking into the said radio.

"Roger that." the officer states looking at the eldest teenager staring out the window waiting to arrive at the police station for questioning.

Once all five girls arrive at the police station Aspen hurries over to her cousin and the others silently asking if they're okay and suspicious of what Garret did earlier.

In which Hanna and Spencer both state they'll fill the blonde in at Spencer's house later on once the police allow them to leave.

After breaking away from the questions and non stop suspicious states of the officers the five girls agree to meet back at Spencer's and stay there for the night to go over what happened and also comfort Spencer who is still a little shaken from what happened earlier in the night with Ian and the whole bell tower incident.

Eventually the five girls fall asleep surrounding one another on the floor and Spencer's bed letting the nights issues go away for the time being.

✹

THE NEXT morning Aspen groans waking up with the dull ache in the back of her head hearing the others around the Hasting girls room groan as well.

"Ugh. My brain is numb from all those cop questions." Hanna breaks the silence after a while, "I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for A." Spencer mumbles tiredly with her head on Aspen's lap.

"A killed Ian to keep you here." Aria states looking at Spencer, "I'm sorry. But that is not a comforting thought." Hanna utters.

"A gives so she can take. We know that." Emily softly replies, "So what's the bitch gonna ask for?" Hanna verbalises.

"Whatever it is... I don't think we can afford it." Spencer states looking up at Aspen who looks down at the brunette running her fingers gently through her hair.

"Spence, you didn't... you didn't see anything?" Aria wonders, "I saw a black hoodie, black boots, and gloves." Spencer answers.

"Well, I think it's safe to say that A's not Jenna." Aspen shrugs, "Are we sure?" Hanna frowns.

"A sees everything, Hanna." Spencer murmurs, "I'm starting to think that we should tell someone about her, him, it. What's the worst thing that can happen?" Emily questions.

"A knows all of our secrets." Aspen states.

"If people find out. We'll always be 'those girls who blinded Jenna Marshall.'" Hanna vocalises.

"And now we're 'those girls who are afraid of A.'" Emily shrugs, "No. Em, I mean... you're right. But look... we have so much to lose." Aria comments looking around at the others.

"I feel like I have a hangover... and I never went to the party." Hanna states and Aspen nods agreeing with the other blonde.

"We need caffeine." Spencer explains getting up from Aspen's lap to go downstairs and make everyone some coffee.

"Oh. No offence... but can I make it?" Aria asks stopping the brunette from walking downstairs.

"Seriously?" Spencer asks offended, "I'm with Aria." Emily nods.

"Yeah. Sorry, Spence... but your coffee gives me the shakes." Hanna explains getting off the floor with the others beginning to walk down the stairs.

Aspen smirks at Spencer, "Amateurs." Spencer scoffs following behind Aspen who chuckles.

Aspen frowns seeing the parents sitting around Veronica's kitchen counter like they've just finished discussing something.

"What's going on?" Aria curiously asks confused, "Mom?" Hanna asks raising her brows, "Veronica. Since this is your idea." Ashley states looking at the woman.

"The accusations you made about Ian have cast a bright spotlight on all of you. Spencer is still a person of interest in Alison's murder investigation. And now the police seem to think that you three are also involved." Veronica explains looking at the girls standing on the staircase.

"Ian killed Alison, okay? And last night... he tried to kill me and mentioned something he also did to Aspen." Spencer states walking towards her mother.

"We were all there. We told you exactly what we saw." Aria states, "And we heard you." Ella nods.

"We don't need to rehash what we talked about last night. This is about moving forward." Byron explains.

"While the police sort through this. We want you girls to see a grief counsellor." Veronica states still looking at the five girls.

"She's a therapist who can help you deal with Alison's death." Ella explains.

"And what appears to the police to be an obsession with trying to pin her death on Ian and a story that doesn't have any proof." Veronica states looking at Aspen who gasps hearing that the police and these adults don't believe her about what Ian did to her.

"You think we're lying?" Aspen asks for the five girls also growing emotional.

"Emily... Aspen, I believe you. But it's the way it looks that concerns us." Pam replies looking at her nieces pale face at the thought of the police and the peers around her not believing her about her statement.

"This is a preemptive strike. And the goal is to garner both police and public sympathy." Veronica verbalises.

"Well, I'm not going to no shrink. That's what friends are for." Hanna snarls.

"You can't be the only one who doesn't go." Ashley shrugs, "I'm not going either. I'm also allowed to make my own decisions. Since you know none of you adults seem to believe me that Ian forced himself on me!" Aspen snarls running up the stairs teary eyed.

"Do you believe us?" Spencer asks looking directly at her mother while wanting to rush upstairs to comfort her older best friend.

"What I know is that one of my daughters is in the hospital... and the other one's in trouble. And it's my job to protect you both." Veronica states ignoring what Aspen previously shouted.

"You didn't answer the question." Spencer frowns, "You haven't heard from Ian for a reason. He's dead." Aria states.

"Dead men don't get up and walk away." Peter replies, "We told you. Someone moved the body." Emily utters.

"Who would do that? And why?" Veronica asks while a knock is heard coming from the side door.

"Is Spencer home?" Toby asks, "You shouldn't be here, Toby." Peter states, "Is she okay?" Toby wonders worried for his girlfriend's sake.

"No. She isn't. Spencer's in a lot of trouble. And you're not helping her. Look, whether you've earned it or not... you have a reputation. My daughter can't afford to be seen with you." Peter replies bluntly.

"I would never do anything to hurt Spencer." Toby mutters, "Good. If you mean that then you'll stay away from her." Peter snarls closing the door in the boys face leaving a shocked and hurt Spencer staring at her father.

"I'm sorry, Spencer." Peter says looking directly at Spencer, "If you'll excuse me. I have a scarred friend to go upstairs and care for. Since none of you believe her or us!" Spencer spits in disgust rushing up the staircase seeing Aspen on her bed sobbing.

"I'm sorry." Spencer whispers leaning down to lay beside Aspen's shaking figure.

Aspen sobs louder as everyone comes back into the bedroom shocked at the sudden news from their parents but also emotional for their best friend who's traumatised.

✹

ASPEN RETURNS to her apartment during the day knowing the others will be going to school due to having tests to study for and other stuff.

Aspen sighs looking around the apartment before getting changed out of her clothes and showering before leaving her apartment, Aspen gasps running into a hard chest.

"Shit. I'm so sorry." Aspen apologises looking up and meeting the eyes of Jason Dilaurentis, "It's all good Asp." Jason smiles looking at the girl he still loves up and down.

"Jace," Aspen whispers feeling the her mood brighten with the arrival of her ex boyfriend, "You're back?" Aspen asks.

"I'm back. Still moving into the house but I'm back. Just thought I'd pop by and get a coffee and a bite to eat." Jason explains seeing the bags underneath Aspen's eyes.

"You heard didn't you?" Aspen questions feeling stares coming from people in the cafe.

"Yeah I heard and I know what the truth is gorgeous. I know what happened. I'm sorry," Jason empathises still looking at the girl.

"You're still as beautiful as the day we broke up." Jason mumbles catching Aspen off guard, "Oh. Thanks." Aspen chuckles getting the cup of coffee from the barista.

"Anyways... I've got to get to school. I have a test and then I've got to go talk to my aunt about something." Aspen smiles, "Oh. Of course Asp." Jason nods wanting to hug the blonde girl who smiles at him.

Aspen walks closer stepping into the man's embrace before walking out of the cafe leaving Jason smiling to himself and getting his cup of coffee off the barista as well.

Walking into school Aspen frowns seeing Noel in the courtyard, "What the fuck?" Aspen mutters before seeing Spencer leaning against her locker.

"His back at school? What the hell happened to his suspension?" Aspen questions.

"Yep. He's back and more popular." Spencer mutters looking at Noel in the courtyard already looking at Aspen's figure seeing her back towards him.

"His looking this way. Go." Spencer nods, Aspen widens her eyes before taking off towards her classroom to start her test knowing she'll be able to go home and then to Pam's afterwards to talk to her.

Forty-five minutes later and Aspen walks out of the school towards her car looking around feeling paranoid of being watched before jumping into her car and driving towards Pam and Emily's house to visit them and also speak to Pam about letting Emily live with her for the next year.

Aspen frowns pulling into the Fields driveway seeing an unknown male leaving the house with Pam waving goodbye to the said male, "Aspen?" Pam asks tilting her head at her niece getting out of her car.

"Hi." Aspen whispers walking into the house hearing Emily slam her door shut upstairs.

"Okay. Aunty P... I was coming here to ask you about Em staying here while you go visit Wayne for a year. And I was thinking so Emily doesn't miss any school. She could come live with me for that time period?" Aspen asks smiling at her aunt.

"I would love for Em to come with me to Texas but I do agree with the whole missing school thing. So I'll think about it okay, sweetheart?" Pam suggests nodding seeing Aspen nod happy with the woman's answer before walking upstairs seeing her frustrated cousin on the other side of her bedroom door.

"I have to paint over this." Emily grunts running her fingers along the line marks stating how tall the girl was getting as she grew up.

"What?" Aspen asks confused and annoyed, "Um... we should probably go. The therapist is waiting." Aspen suggests since she agreed to take Emily and herself to the office for their group therapy session.

Arriving at the office, Aspen sighs seeing Hanna isn't here yet so the silence around the room feels like it's eating Aspen from the inside to the outside, after five minutes all that dead silence, the door opens.

"Sorry I'm late. But have you been downtown? The sales are huge." Hanna explains with shopping bags in her hands sitting beside Aspen.

"You must be Hanna. I'm Anne." Anne says introducing herself, "So, what'd I miss?" Hanna smiles.

"Not a thing." Aria shrugs, "We waited for you." Spencer mumbles, "Damn." Hanna whispers looking at an amused Aspen beside her before the group counselling session begins.

"It sounds like you credit Alison for the friendship." Anne suggests, "We became friends because of her." Emily nods.

"But she's gone. And the four of you still seem very close." Anne states confused, "We weren't always." Aspen explains, "We lost touch when Ali went missing." Aria shares.

"What brought you back together?" Anne wonders looking at all five girls looking at one another unsure they should mention anything.

"You don't all have to agree. There are no right or wrong answers here." Anne assures.

"Her death." Spencer shrugs, "She means when they found her." Aria explains further.

"When they found her body." Emily also adds, "Do you think you were looking for closure?" Anne curiously questions, "We were looking for answers." Spencer states.

"The answer to who murdered Alison. The five of you don't have to go through this alone. This is a safe place to talk. Nothing you say here goes beyond these walls." Anne states firmly.

"Do we? Do we want to talk about that thing?" Aria whispers looking at the other sitting beside her as Aria's cellphone goes off.

Aspen gulps as do the others, "Well... what is it?" Anne asks confused at the sudden tension in the room, "Um— I think our time is up." Spencer explains nodding at the woman.

Aspen and the other four excuse themselves out of the office so Aria can check her text message, "Oh. It's not A. It's just my mom." Aria sighs in relief.

"Yeah. Same here. She wants me to come home." Hanna explains as Spencer catches Toby leaning against his car down the street.

Toby smiles before dropping it immediately seeing Jenna departing the store she went into as the two of them get into the vehicle and drive off leaving and hurt Spencer.

"'What really happened?'" Emily states stepping a few steps in front of Aspen to the news paper stand in front of them, before all five girls lean down reading the article on display.

"They found Ian's car by the train station and $10,000 that he took from his bank account. They think he skipped town and we made up a story because we knew he left. And also the sexual assault was a cry for attention." Spencer snarls angry at the ending knowing Aspen's truth.

Suddenly all five of the girls phones ding in their bags and pockets,

I SPY
A LIAR.
— A

Everyone reads before looking at each other in shock and annoyance, before all five split up going home.

Emily getting a lift back home with Aspen before she arrives at her apartment once more seeing a note placed underneath her door.

Aspen frowns picking the envelope up from the doorstep up before entering her apartment putting her car keys and bag beside the front door.

Aspen munches on her order in from the Grille downstairs before hearing a frantic knock on her apartment door, frowning while groaning lowly answering the door seeing Hanna looking at her wide eyed and horrified.

"Mona is on a date with Noel. Downstairs." Hanna mumbles in disgust before seeing the display around Aspen's apartment.

"Mona dating Noel... never saw that one coming." Aspen grimaces motioning for the Marin girl to sit on her couch so they can talk about things.

Knowing Spencer and Emily are going to be together later on due to Emily organising a meet up for Spencer and Toby to see one another, Aria at her house with her family.

"You can stay if you want Han. I know you need someone right now. What's up?" Aspen asks tilting her head seeing the blonde girls red eyes from crying.

"I saw Caleb. He told me he left me a letter with Mona who of course got rid of it." Hanna explains sniffling through her emotions.

Aspen sighs bringing the girl in for an embrace running soothing circles on the blonde girls back.

✹

RECEIVING AN SOS message from Aria to meet at Emily's house.

Aspen and Hanna rush over to the said girls house seeing Aria, Emily and Spencer all waiting for them in the living room before quickly making the way upstairs.

"A had to have followed me to Ezra's. And he, she, 'shim'. Must've seen me get that key from under the doormat." Aria states looking at the photo of the key from Ezra's apartment.

"Let me see that." Hanna demands receiving the phone from Aria, "Okay. I see books, photographs, magazines." Hanna lists before looking at Aria smirking.

"What?" Aria asks, "Is that a Playboy?" Hanna questions smiling, "What?" Spencer states shocked leaning forward looking at the picture on Aria's phone.

"No. Right there. Under that black thing on the cabinet." Hanna explains and Aspen chuckles.

"That black thing is called a typewriter." Spencer states looking at the Marin girl, "Han, that's not a Playboy. That's a Playbill." Aria shrugs squinting at the girl.

"I don't think what's missing matters. A wants us to know that she can come and go through Ezra's apartment. When's it gonna stop? Remember where we were a few months ago?" Emily questions looking at the other four girls in the Fields girls bedroom.

"Visiting me in the hospital." Hanna mumbles remembering the not so fun memories of being in a cast.

"A hit Hanna and kept on going." Aspen states, "A didn't even hesitate before pushing Ian. It's almost like it was no big deal." Spencer explains.

"I don't want to be sitting next to you guys at another funeral." Emily says looking at the girls again, "You think we should tell the therapist?" Spencer quizzes shocked.

"We were really close to telling her yesterday. It felt so good." Aria nods also looking around at the girls.

"Telling Anne wouldn't be like telling our parents. I mean... she has to keep it a secret, right?" Emily shrugs.

"Look. Okay, I know we promised Garrett that we wouldn't show the video to the cops. But... I mean, if we want Anne to believe us." Aria proclaims, "A picture's worth a thousand words." Spencer states.

"You know, she was wearing a gorgeous pair of Khloe's." Hanna shrugs confusing the others, "Who?" Aria squints, "The shrink." Hanna states shrugging.

"And this is relevant to this conversation because?" Spencer asks almost scared for the answer, "You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes." Hanna explains.

"I really heard her when she said that we don't have to go through this alone." Emily states firmly.

"Do we all agree?" Spencer asks looking around at the others who nod silently leaving Aspen to quickly call the therapist for an emergency appointment.

All of the girls plus Anne now sit in the said woman's office, "Thank you for seeing us today." Aria says.

"It sounded like there was something you really wanted to tell me." Anne nods, "There's also something we wanted to show you." Aspen explains.

"Um... I just want to get one thing straight here. You're not allowed to tell anyone anything that we say in here, right?" Hanna asks double checking.

"Unless you tell me something that leads me to believe that you're a danger to yourself or to someone else." Anne states firmly.

Hanna then makes a comment about the shrinks shoes annoying all of the other girls before Hanna snaps back into the plan.

"Go ahead, Emily." Hanna nods, "I think we should tell her first... and then..." Emily suggests.

"Yeah, sure." Spencer nods, "Aria?" Hanna mumbles for the Montgomery girl to start them off, Aspen starts looking around the office.

"We did drift apart after Alison went missing and it's true that her death brought us back together. But I don't know if we'd be as close as we are now." Aria explains although Aspen snaps into place noticing the plague on the wall behind the shrink.

"This talk is premature!" Spencer interrupts also noticing what Aspen has.

"Um. I'm sorry we wasted your time." Aspen quickly apologises before rushing towards the door only grabbing the plague from the wall, "You girls called me. Remember?" Anne states.

Aria looks around confused, "Yeah. I— I'm really sorry about this." Aria mumbles before rushing out with the others meeting Aspen outside.

"Well, if she didn't think we were crazy before. She does now. What was that?" Aria wonders.

Aspen hands the plague to the girl who looks at her shocked, "Where did you get this?" Aria asks, "On the bookshelf behind the shrink." Hanna explains.

"This is what A took from Ezra's." Aria states, "A knows we're coming here." Spencer states.

"And that we were gonna tell." Emily mumbles, "How is A always one step ahead of us?" Aria questions.

"I'm starting to think that bitch has superpowers." Hanna mutters, "You've gotta tell Ezra to change his locks." Aspen states looking at the others before breaking away once more.

Unaware of the phone calls Dr Sullivan has done to all of the girls parents except Aspen's, who are dead.

Aspen receives the phone call from Emily about half an hour after arriving at her said apartment stating that they aren't allowed to see one another well any of the others anyways.

Aspen frowns, "But we're family? How's that suppose to work?" Aspen asks.

"We're allowed because I explained to my mom that you take me to school and help me study on some days so we are allowed just not with the others." Emily mumbles annoyed.

"Well, what the hell." Aspen grunts sitting on her couch once more, ending the phone call with her cousin and playing her tv series she's currently watching while drinking out of her water bottle.

✹

FALLING ASLEEP on the couch in her living room, Aspen is startled awake when her phone chimes from beside her with an 'SOS' message and location from Spencer.

Aspen immediately rushing grabbing her car keys and phone and begins driving to the destination Spencer's sent here seeing a old greenhouse away from the houses.

"Spence?" Aspen frowns and Spencer gasps seeing the blonde girl before the others arrive.

"Anyone could've sent that, Spence." Aria explains after Spencer shows them the anonymous text message on her sister's phone.

"Yeah. And it could just be some kook trying to mess with Melissa." Hanna states.

"Maybe. But it doesn't seem random. 'It's not safe. I can't tell you?'" Spencer reads unsure and suspicious of the text message.

"Can't tell you what?" Emily asks, "Where he is!" Spencer exclaims.

"Guys, Ian is dead. We all saw him." Aria says looking at Aspen beside her growing pale at the thought of her rapist being alive.

"There's only one way to know for sure. Send a reply." Hanna shrugs, Spencer nods and begins typing on Melissa's phone.

"How do I know this is you?" Spencer reads while typing and sending the text message.

The phone dings with a text message 'ask me anything'.

"Um. What's something that only Ian would be able to answer?" Aspen asks finally talking since the group got together.

"Hold on. I know. What are we naming our baby?" Spencer says reading the message once again before sending, "What is the name?" Aria wonders curiously.

"Taylor." Spencer states just as another text message comes through 'Taylor'.

The five of them gasp reading the text message and Aspen's heart drops.

"It's him." Hanna states shocked before comforting Aspen who gasps catching her breath.

"Ian's alive." Spencer whispers shocked before a bang on the roof of the greenhouse is heard startling the five teenagers.

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TO BE CONTINUED...