chapter seventy one — a dangerous game
[ season three, episode twenty-four ]
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The girls were currently downstairs at the Hastings house. Spencer was home and her mom had decided to have the girls over for Spencer. "She knows we're down here, right?" Hanna asked. "Maybe she's just as nervous about seeing us as we are about seeing her." Emily said, "Maybe she doesn't wanna see us." Josie muttered. "Guys, she's the exact same Spencer we saw last week." Aria said, trying to comfort them.

"No, the Spencer we saw in Radley was not the Spencer I know." Hanna remarked. "That was before." Emily said. "Em, we're here for you too, not just Spence." Josie responded, looking over at her. "Do we talk about him? Do we bring it up?" Aria asked. "I don't want to say anything that could put her back there." Emily answered and the girls sighed.

"I know the cops said they found Toby, but they sent that second body to the state coroner for a reason. I mean, maybe there's hope." Hanna said. "You know how I feel about hope." Spencer said, making them turn to see her on the stairs. "Breeds eternal mystery." she added before she walked down the stairs. "We lost Toby a long time ago. We just didn't know it." she said as she walked over to them.

"Oh, you've gotta love the Hastings. I just get released from a mental hospital, and they welcome my friends with tea and crumpets." Spencer said as she stood at the head of the kitchen island. "What's the difference between a crumpet and an English muffin?" Hanna asked. "Hanna, does it matter?" Aria asked.

"I'm just making conversation." Hanna defended herself. "An English muffin is a baked bread. It's made of dough, and a crumpet," she said, reaching for one. "Is a griddle cake. It's made of batter." she answered, putting the crumpet back. She sounds like the old Spencer but Josie noticed she seemed off. "How are you, Spence?" Emily asked.

"I'm all right." she answered. "You know, you don't have to pretend to be okay, for us Spence." Josie assured her. "Yeah, if this was the act you had to pull off to get out of there, then..." Hanna said. "Do you remember when you were in the light house, emily? And you had to make that choice? It was either him or you?" Spencer asked. "I wasn't as strong as you were. When I saw Toby in the woods, like that, I just gave up." she added.

"So what changed? You seem like you're back to yourself." Emily asked. "I decided I didn't want to be a victim anymore. That's not who I am." Spencer answered before she reached behind her and grabbed something. "Here." she said, handing them out to them. "What's this?" Josie asked as she opened the envelope. "My parents told all of their friends that I went to Radley for exhaustion so they want to throw a soiree to make sure that everybody knows that I'm all better now." Spencer said.

The girls looked at her after reading over the invitation. "Could really use some support, can you guys please come?" she asked softly, staring at her friends. "Of course." Hanna responded, smiling. "Sure." Emily answered. "Yeah." Josie added. "Yeah, you know we'd do anything for you." Aria said, smiling at her. "I'm counting on that." Spencer muttered and the girls shared a look.

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"Did Malcolm tell you what she looked like? Spencer asked as the girls looked at a 'BABYSITTER WANTED!' sign. "No, he just said she was a friend of mine, and her name was Alison, that's all I know." Aria answered. "Well, look– you have to talk to him, find out more." Hanna instructed. "Yeah, like did she have dark hair, horns and a tail?" Emily asked, staring at Mona through the window into the cafeteria.

"Guys, no, we are not using Malcolm to get to Mona." Aria denied. "You know, last time I saw Ezra, I could hardly face him." Aria continued. "All we have to do is show Mona's picture to the kid. He'll confirm that Mona took him and the cops will take her lulu head back to the nut farm." Hanna said and Josie gave Hanna a look. "Hanna." Emily whispered.

"Sorry, Spence, my bad." Hanna apologised. "I don't know, it seems like a really bold move for Mona. the risk of being seen like that?" Spencer said, staring at Mona. "What are you saying, Spence?" Josie asked. "It feels desperate, like maybe she's trying to get caught." she answered. "Okay, well, Malcolm is off limits, okay?" Aria asked and they nodded. "Gotta get to class." Aria said before she walked off.

As soon as she was gone, Hanna took the 'BABYSITTER WANTED!' sign down. "I can use some extra money." she shrugged before walking off. "Did you not just hear Aria?" Emily asked as they followed Hanna inside the school. "Em, kids love me. I'll make a game out of it." Hanna responded. "Hey, Emily." Shana said. "Hey," Emily responded.

"What-uh-what are you doing here?" Emily asked. "Our couch arranged for us to practice here this morning. But I say if it's water, it's wet, right?" Shana asked, laughing and Emily laughed as well. "A pool's a pool." she added before she looked at Spencer. "I don't think we've met." she said. "Uh, Shana, this is Spencer." Emily introduced them.

"Uh, you swim for oakwood?" Spencer asked. "Amongst other things." she answered. "Will you be at the meet?" she asked. "Yeah. Wouldn't miss it." Spencer answered. "I'll look for you." she said before looking at Emily. "Good luck, Emily." she said. "You too." Emily said before Shana left. Hanna sighed, "I hate her." she said. "Why?" Spencer asked. "Because she flirts with everyone but me." Hanna answered, making Josie laugh. "Shana's bad news. Wherever she goes, trouble follows." Emily warned them.

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"How's Spencer?" Richie asked as the two of them walked around town. "Good. I think." Josie answered. "You think?" Richie asked and Josie sighed, "There's something... off with Spence, I don't know what It Is." Josie answered. "Maybe she's grieving, you know, over Toby." Richie said and Josie sighed and nodded. "I know." she said before her phone went off, making her pull it out of her jacket pocket.

Hanna Marin
S.O.S.

"I'm so sorry." Josie said, looking at Richie, who just smiled at her. "It's okay. Come on, i'll drop you off." he said, and they began walking to his car.

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"That's Alison. I mean, he said she was the girl in the blue shirt." Hanna explained. Apparently Malcolm had pointed out whoever had taken him to the carnival, turns out it was Spencer. "This is crazy." Aria scoffed. "And you're saying that Shana knows Jenna and that the both of them are meeting up with Melissa?" she asked, turning to Emily, who nodded.

"This is crazier than crazy." Aria said and Josie shook her head. "My head is going to explode." She said. "I mean, Radley's looking better everyday. I'm actually ready to check in." Aria added. "Okay, we're gonna figure it out." Emily said, trying to comfort her.

"I've already got it figured out. Spencer's part of the 'A' team. Game over. Today it's me and Ezra, tomorrow It'll be you and Caleb, then Josie and Richie." Aria said, looking at Hanna and Josie before looking at Emily. "And then it's going to be your turn Emily. So get ready to say goodbye to Paige, 'cause I promise you, 'A's going to take her from you." she rambled.

"Why would Spencer do this to us?" she asked. "Guys, I don't believe for one second that Spencer's on the 'A' team. Okay, if she is working with Mona then there has to be more to the story." Emily said. "We don't know what happened in Radley but Spencer went in there at rock bottom and she came out like a shiny new penny." Aria responded.

"Are you thinking shock treatment?" Hanna asked and the girls gave her weird looks. "No. No, I'm saying that Mona spent a lot of time in Radley and maybe she made some friends and maybe Spencer talked to some of those friends." Aria said. "Mona asked Spencer to join the 'A' team the night of the masquerade ball. Did Spencer finally take her up on it?" Josie asked, crossing her arms. "Yeah, but why now?" Hanna asked. "There's a way to prove that Spencer's still with us, and if Mona's watching, it won't put Spencer at risk." Emily said.

And Hanna walked and put some dance music on. "Really, Hanna? You're in the mood for a dance party?" Aria asked. "Look, 'A' was everywhere before Spencer joined the 'A' team. Do you really think we're meeting in secret?" Hanna asked and Josie sighed and then they came up with a plan.

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Josie sighed, getting out of her car before putting the red coat on, the one they had gotten from Ali's claim ticket. She pulled the hood on before she began to walk towards the school and she noticed Spencer watching her, so she walked into the school, knowing Spencer was following her.

Josie led Spencer through the school hallway then she walked into the courtyard where Spencer lost her in the crowed, because there so many people in red supporting the 'red devils' so Josie slipped past and walked into the cafeteria, and waited a moment before she walked back through the hallway and into the girls bathroom.

It wasn't long before the door opened behind her, and Josie stood with her back facing the door when it opened. She felt Spencer's hand on her arm before she turned around, facing Spencer. "What is this?" Spencer asked, confused. "You followed me here, that means you don't know who she is, either." Josie said before Hanna, Aria and Emily walked out of the toilet stalls. "And if you don't know who she is, that means you're still one of us." Emily said.

"Look, Spence, whatever it is, no matter how deep you're into this, know that you can tell us the truth, right?" Aria said, assuring her. "We wanna help you." Hanna said and Spencer hesitated. "Mona came to see me at Radley. And when I found Toby in the woods, she'd planned the whole thing. She wanted to break me so that she could put me back together, like her own humpty dumpty." Spencer started.

"So, Mona made you an offer you couldn't refuse?" Josie asked. "She told me that Toby was alive." Spencer revealed and Emily audibly gasped. "Toby's alive?" she asked. "And it's true, he-he's been working with Mona because he found out about red coat and Mona's the only person who knows who she is." Spencer said. "And you've seen him?" Emily asked.

Spencer started to smile. "Yeah. Last night." she answered and the girls smiled. "He's on our side. You guys, he always was." she added. "But this party tomorrow, it's a set-up. Red coat just wants us all to be together." Spencer warned them. "Why? What's she gonna do to us?" Aria asked, concerned. "I don't know. But we're not gonna let it happen. Okay, whatever it is, we're one step ahead of her, finally, and there are two of us on the inside." Spencer answered.

"And when were you gonna clue us in on your double agent status Nikita?" Hanna asked. "I'm the one who sent you the picture of me and Ali and you did exactly what I needed you to do because Mona watches my every move. You've found a way to get to me without her knowing about it." Spencer explained. "So, instead of red coat waiting for us tomorrow, we'll be waiting for her." Josie said. "And if we're lucky, this will all be over with." Aria said. "Luck won't have anything to do with it." Spencer remarked.

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That Friday, Josie entered her English class and in front of Aria and behind Richie and as she opened her book she looked up, and she looked to see Ezra standing in front of the class. She looked behind her to Aria, who hadn't noticed yet. "All right, good morning." he said and Aria looked up. "My name is Mister Fitz and I'm back as your substitute teacher." he said, reintroducing himself. "Uh, if we open up to Chapter One, we'll find out why Hemingway said 'All things truly wicked start from innocence'." he said.

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That night, the girls were at Josie's getting ready. Aria was looking at the lodge on the website. "It's perfect timing, actually. I need a pick-me-up." Aria said, as the girls stood around, dressed in fancy dresses. "That place is really nice." Emily said, looking at the website. "It's the Hastings. Were you expecting 'Donuts and Dogs'?" Hanna asked. "How can you afford new Miu Miu's?" Aria asked, staring at Hanna's shoes.

"Oh, I borrowed them." Hanna said, and Josie laughed. "The store gives full refunds for returns." Hanna said, smiling. "That's if you don't wear them." Emily explained. "Doesn't say that on the receipt." Hanna shrugged before the girls headed out and when they were almost there they called Spencer to let her know, but she was gonna lie and say that they were late.

When they arrived, they changed out of their fancy clothes and into dark clothes they had brought with them. "Guys I'm serious about not taking back those shoes." Hanna said. "Hanna, quiet! We've gotta get inside before  red coat shows up." Emily said as they walked towards the lodge. 

"If she knows we're onto her, we'll never find out who she is." Josie added as they creeped around the side of the lodge. "Are we sure we trust Toby?" Aria asked. "Spencer does." Emily answered. "Do we have a choice?" Hanna asked before they snuck inside, and they walked softly upstairs before they leaned over the railing, seeing Toby, Mona and Spencer.

Mona was holding a large flashlight before Toby got up. "I'll take care of Spencer," he said. "Toby?" Spencer asked and Mona handed him the flashlight. "I know how you feel, Spencer, it sucks to be lied to." Mona said. "Get up." Toby demanded. "I believed you." Spencer said, staring at him. "I said get up!" Toby shouted and the girls shared a look before Toby pulled Spencer up by her arm.

"You won't get away with this." Spencer said to Mona. "I'd say 'watch me' but you won't be here to see it." Mona responded, smirking before Toby dragged Spencer out of the lodge. The girls went separate ways, Hanna was behind the wall that Mona was looking into and as Mona went to walk down the hall, Hanna spoke. "Going somewhere?" she asked, making Mona turn to her.

Mona tried going another way but Emily moved in front of her and Aria came down the stairs while Josie walked the way Mona had come, standing behind Mona. "Trapped now." Josie said, crossing her arms. "You're making a terrible mistake." Mona warned them. "That's not how we see it." Emily shrugged. "Because you don't see. You have no idea what's going on here." Mona exclaimed. "We know enough." Aria snapped before Mona and Josie noticed something.

"What have you done!" Mona asked, as she and the girls looked at the fire surrounding the lodge. They immediately looked for a way out as Emily tried calling nine-one-one but it wasn't working. "Mona, try your phone." Emily said. "Nothing." Mona responded, looking at her 'A' team phone. "How could you not have a signal? we saw you made a call." Aria asked, confused. "It's her. Don't you get it? She can do anything. She's everywhere and she's nowhere." Mona cried, panicked. 

"Come on, let's get out of here." Hanna said before they ran through the halls of the lodge, trying to find a door but the one they did fine, wouldn't open. "It's locked!" Hanna exclaimed before they ran to try another door but it opened to flames so they shut the door. "We're gonna die. We're all going to burn." Mona cried. "Shut up Mona!" Josie screamed. "I'm never going to know who she was." Mona cried, ignoring Josie's remark.

The girls turned to her, shocked. "What did you just say?" Aria asked. "Red coat. I don't know who she is either." Mona confessed. "Are you kidding? You better be kidding!" Josie exclaimed. "You guys, we have to get out of here." Hanna said.

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The girls had eventually passed out due to the smoke, but Josie felt herself being moved but she was weak, so it took awhile before she opened her eyes, and when she did, she noticed she was outside, but then she looked at who was above her. It was Alison, and she was looking at her worried. Josie closed her eyes and when opened them again, Ali was gone.

Josie sat up, breathing heavily and coughing as the other girls woke up coughing as well. They stared at the lodge that was on fire as Mona walked up and then kneeled in front of them. "Did anyone see her?" Mona asked. "See who?" Emily asked. "Alison." Mona said and Josie looked at Mona, knowing if Mona had seen her maybe Josie had too. "She pulled me out of there. She pulled us all out." Mona added.

"No, you're hallucinating." Aria responded. "She was here. I saw her. I swear it." Mona insisted. "Ali's dead." Emily said. "I saw her too." Josie and Hanna said and they looked at them. "So did I." Spencer said as she walked up to them. "Ali is red coat." Spencer said before they all looked back at the burning building.

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The girls were driving back into Rosewood. "So all of this started when you were at Radley." Spencer said to Mona. "I made a deal with the devil then she gave me a way in and out of that place. At first it was fun, having a partner, but then the game changed. She stole you from me." Mona explained. "So what happened that night? Were you there at the cemetery? Did you drug me? Did you take Ali's body?" Emily asked. "I don't know who drugged you. But I was at the cemetery and so was red coat." Mona answered.

"How could you not see who it was?" Josie asked. "She was wearing a mask. She looked just like Ali." Mona answered. "That's probably what happened tonight. It wasn't Ali. It was a mask." Aria said but no one spoke. "Guys?" Emily said as she drove near the church, there was a car parked out front.

"Wait, is that?" Hanna asked. "Somebody pulled it out of the lake." Aria said before Emily stopped the car and they all got out. They heard the sound of Wilden talking. "--threatening a child." They heard Hanna's mom talking. "He's not gonna hear. Think this through Ashley." Wilden's voice responded. "How did you live with yourself?" Ashley asked as the girls walked up to the car and looked through the passenger side window to see the video of Hanna's mom running Wilden over, playing.

"We're not done here." Wilden said as Ashley got back into her car. "Hey!" Wilden shouted. "We have to get this out of here." Hanna said as they watched Ashley run Wilden over but then the video continued. "Wait! There's more." Aria said and they saw people walking into frame. "It's Jenna." Mona said. "And Shana?" Emily questioned, confused as they watched as they helped Wilden up.

"They know Wilden?" Spencer asked before she and Mona moved and noticed the trunk wasn't shut properly. "Guys..." she trailed off and the others moved to join them. "Look at the trunk." Spencer said, staring at the trunk of the car just before all their phones rang, and they pulled them out of their pockets.

"You're mine now, kisses," Emily read out "'A'." Mona finished, having got the same message. For once she wasn't the one sending them. They all looked at her, shocked she had gotten one before Spencer slowly moved and opened the trunk before the girls moved back and gasped.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter <3 | season three is over !! and now were onto season four !!