Chapter Fifteen: A Guide To Murder And Resurrection

***

They parked at the Grab And Buy, the place where they could find what they need to kill Sam—and to bring her back to life after the killers were gone.

Simon opened the door and they flooded inside, making a beeline straight for the pharmaceutical side of the store near at the back, where Simon grabbed bottles of pills while Kate grabbed EpiPens before they headed to a counter the rest of them were crowded around, Alisha between Kate and Deena as she held her hand.

As Simon joined them and dropped the pills, he started  explaining, "A few months ago, my brother Timothy had an unfortunate experience in which he ingested too much of a certain substance. He was dead for two minutes."

He looked at them all as Sloane, Zack, Adam and Sam wore matching looks of shock as Leah looked at her boyfriend, the only one Alisha suspected knew how much Timothy's overdose had truly affected Simon but never said anything. Her friend drum-rolled the table before he pointed at Sam and finished, "But... we got him back!"

The Fier siblings and Adam still looked stunned at learning this, but it quickly wiped away as Alisha let go of Kate's hand, as Simon sharing what happened to his brother was the reason for this whole plan—to incur a similar situation in Sam and then bring her back.

"Kate," Deena said, looking at Kate. "It's time for your close-up."

Kate met Deena's gaze before reaching for the pills, her and Simon doing what they did best—drug dealing.

"You need to take these in order," Simon instructed Sam as Kate poured out the pills from two of the bottles and sorted them into a pile. He pointed to the pile. "Pile one takes the edge off. You're gonna feel like you're being fucked by a unicorn."

"What the hell?" Alisha muttered, confused by his analogy, but Simon was still talking, gesturing to the next two piles as Kate kept shaking out the pills and organising them into two more piles, still telling Sam how to overdose and not actually die. "Pile two is gonna bring your core temp way down. You may feel slightly sick. You need to take a five-minute interval between pile two and pile three. That's really important, okay? Pile three's what brings you down and out, so you gotta take that 'take five', or it's all gonna go to shit!"

Kate turned to the army's worth of EpiPens and grabbed them as she asked, "How many of these do we have?" 

"Tons. Like a thousand," Simon answered as he grabbed them.

"Normally I'd be wondering why these aren't in a hospital, but I'm relieved they aren't," Sloane commented as she looked at the EpiPens—the way they would save Sam.

"Wait. EpiPens?" Deena questioned.

"Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. This is what brings her back. This is Jesus!" Simon explained, gesturing the EpiPens empathetically.

"Okay, calm down a little, Simon," Alisha said, staring at her friend's over-exuberance.

Leah looked at them. "Are we really gonna do this? Drug Sam into an overdose and bring her back and hope that gets rid of the killers?"

"If it worked for C. Berman, it should work for Sam," Deena replied, determination in her face.

"If this is how we get rid of my psycho ancestor's minions, then I'm down for it," Zack declared, Sloane nodding in agreement—the siblings standing together.

"Me too," Adam agreed, looking at Zack.

"Then let's do it, then," Sam declared, looking at them all evenly, determination winning out over the fear in her face. Alisha admired her for that, Sam's bravery despite her fear of what they would do to her. "Let's kill me and end this."

With that, Simon gathered all the pills in their piles carefully onto a a tray as they moved to another part of the store and Deena cut Sam's hand again and poured her blood into a bucket—so that the rest of them could have her blood on them and distract the killers while Sam overdosed.

Alisha tried not to feel afraid as Deena marked her with Sam's blood across her chest in an X, after Kate and Sloane had their own X's. Simon, Zack, Adam and Leah got their own X's and Josh's was last, Deena saying, "Sam's blood marks the spot."

When she was done, Deena pulled them into a hug, a hug Alisha reciprocated, holding her twin and little brother tightly. Deena, her twin, the person she came into this world with, the one she couldn't imagine leaving this world without. Josh, her little brother, the doofus she loved even when he annoyed her. The siblings she'd give her life for to keep safe, would throw herself in front of a knife or axe if it meant ensuring they would live at the cost of her own life.

Deena and Josh, who she was terrified of losing tonight. Who she hoped she wouldn't lost tonight.

As they pulled apart, Alisha looked at Deena and Josh and said, "See you guys on the other side."

"On the other side," Deena replied, looking between them, face shining with fear—as terrified of losing each other as Alisha was.

Instead, Alisha pulled back and gave her twin a smile and patted Josh's head as they stood apart, bracing themselves for what would come. To hopefully survive tonight.

***

Across from the Johnson family hug and goodbye, Leah was holding Simon's hand in a death grip as Sam wrapped her hand and looked at them, snarking, "Remember half an hour ago when you wanted to murder me?"

The sarcasm dropped as she genuinely offered, "You don't have to do this. You can leave."

Leah, Kate, Simon, Sloane, Zack and Adam looked at each other before Kate looked at Sam and replied, "Remember when you decided to sacrifice yourself for us? We're ending this together."

Sloane grinned. "Yeah. We're gonna beat Sarah's curse and send her killers back to their graves. Together."

Simon put his hand on Sam's shoulder, and declared, "Die well, my friend."

Sam smiled as Sloane and Zack looked at each other before hugging, so tightly it looked like their last hug—like they were terrified that their family curse would claim one of them tonight, but willing to do this anyway—before they pulled back and Leah and Kate looked at each other, the twins sharing a look. No matter their differences, no matter the arguments and fights, they were sisters. They were twins. Born together and die together, and neither of them were dying tonight.

Leah was not going to let her sister die.

They broke eye contact as Sam moved to Deena, as Simon walked to Leah and hugged her tightly, whispering, "Be safe, Leah."

"You too, Simon," Leah whispered back, holding her boyfriend just as tightly, feeling like if she didn't let go, she wouldn't face the reality she might lose him—that she might see a killer murder him.

She could feel Simon smile against her. "Through hell and back and the goddamn apocalypse, huh?"

Leah smiled. "Through hell and back and the goddamn apocalypse."

They pulled apart, Simon taking her face in his hands and kissing Leah before pulling apart. Once they did, Simon walked away from her and toward Alisha and Josh, giving her one last look as he pointed at Josh and Alisha, taking Josh by the shoulders, and said, "We got back door patrol."

"Hey!" Kate exclaimed as the trio turned. Alisha looked back as her sister walked up to her, took her face in her hands and kissed her.

Leah's eyes widened but she smiled at seeing the physical confirmation that Kate and Alisha had admitted their feelings for each other, that her best friend and sister were finally together, before they broke the kiss and Kate offered, "I'll run interference up here with Leah."

Leah nodded, moving to stand with Kate as they left to head down the aisles, picking up baskets as they did, to check for killers. As they did, Kate looked at Leah and said, "I'm sorry."

Leah frowned. "For what."

"For... everything, I guess. For continuing to deal drugs. To keep picking fights with you about it. For what I said about your job and how you're working to get out of here. For not being the best sister to you," Kate apologised, looking at Leah.

Leah blinked, stunned, before apologising, "For the record, I'm sorry too. For what I said about the drugs. I know that's your way out. For not being the greatest sister to you either. If I'm being honest... I'm jealous of you, Kate."

Kate looked at her sister in surprise, in the middle of pulling something down off the shelf. "Jealous? Of me?"

"I know, I shouldn't be—we're sisters, twins. We shouldn't be jealous of each other. But... I am. I'm jealous of what you've achieved, how you're so involved in school clubs, how that you're definitely going to be valedictorian because you deserve it and have worked so hard for it. Even how you're so calm about dealing drugs, that you know what you're doing. And I always felt like I was just copying you, with what I've done," Leah explained, before she laughed. "Pretty insane, huh?"

"I never knew that," Kate murmured, before confessing, "I'm jealous of you too. Of how you decided to have a job instead of going down the quick route of dealing drugs, of how hard you work in it, of how people just instantly like you. Of how you're just so... you. I admire that, and I'm jealous of that."

Leah stared at Kate. "I never knew that."

"And I didn't know that either," Kate pointed out.

Leah smiled. "So I guess we can accept each other's apologies and try to be better sisters to each other after we send those killers back to their graves?"

Kate smiled back. "I'd like to try that."

The sisters smiled at each other as Leah put some stuff in her basket, before saying too casually, "So, you and Alisha..."

Her twin's face burned. "I guess you were right, after all. About us liking each other."

"I always am, Katie," Leah said, grinning as her sister glowered at her for the nickname. "But, I'm glad you guys finally admitted that you did. You two deserve happiness, especially after tonight. And I'll definitely be helping you plan your date."

"Are you saying I can't plan my own date?" Kate asked Leah.

"I'm saying you might want some sisterly advice," Leah returned, grinning.

Kate scoffed, before she smiled. "Thanks, Leah."

Leah gave her another smile before saying, "Come on. Let's keep an eye out for these killers."

Kate nodded, and they headed down the aisles, keeping one eye out for the killers, of any sign of them.

As Leah hoped they would end this tonight, that she and Kate could try to be better sisters to each other, that she could help Kate with her date with Alisha, that she and Simon could spend their lives with each other after this.

That they would just live through this.

***

Alisha, Simon and Josh walked down to the back of the store, where the stock room was. She lingered near her brother, eyes moving about for any sign of the killers, ready to shove her little brother behind her back and take any blows that would come for him. Her mouth tingled with the lingering remnants of Kate's kiss, of the promise in that kiss—that when this was over, they could keep seeing where this new thing between them would lead, what else it could mean for them both.

Of a date together.

As they approached the stock room, Simon turned to them and said, "Okay, I got stock room. You two take the emergency exit."

"Whoa! No, no, no! Splitting up is not a good idea at all," Josh argued, immediately against the idea.

And so was Alisha, staring at her best friend dubiously. "Dude, have you never seen a single horror movie? Splitting up is a terrible idea—it's the quickest way to guarantee that we get killed."

"I know. But, guys, listen to me," Simon replied, hands raised placatingly. The siblings looked at each other as Simon continued, "I know that this is all fucked, but... we gotta do this."

"I still think this is an insanely bad idea, Simon. We have to stick together," Alisha argued, not comfortable with the idea of leaving her friend—of finding his dead body later if they all split up.

Simon looked at her before resting his hand on her shoulder. "I know, Alisha. But we have to do this. It's the only way. And Kate... well, you know. She's a crusher. She doesn't have time for most people."

"I know. That's one of the reasons I was so scared to confess—because she's gonna leave Shadyside and I'm probably gonna stay stuck here. That we did it because we were scared of dying and regretting not saying anything," Alisha replied, understanding what Simon meant.

"No! Okay, well... maybe we're gonna die," Simon admitted.

"Wow, real calming, dude," Alisha snarked.

Simon brushed it off, looking straight at her. "Alisha, Kate? Have you been crushing on the same girl we've known for years? She doesn't do anything just out of fear, or regret. She's not nice, not like that. She sees something in you—she likes you. As much as you like her. So keep that in mind, Alisha. And know that I am really happy for you guys."

Simon then looked at her brother and encouraged, "And you, witch nerd. Your sisters see something in you, so see that in yourself, dude. We would not be this far if it weren't for you."

"We'd all be dead and have no clue what the fuck was going on if it weren't for you and your crazy conspiracy, doofus," Alisha admitted, smiling at her brother. Josh looked back at her before they turned to Simon, her friend looking at them seriously.

"Now, we have to keep those psychos away from Sam. So go, and check that exit," Simon finished, still giving them that serious look and Alisha knew, no matter how much she tried to argue, Simon was not budging—that they had to split up.

"Come on, doofus. Let's go and check it," Alisha said as they turned and headed toward the exit.

And Alisha tried to ignore the voice screaming in her head that decision had sealed their fates.

***

Sloane, Zack and Adam crept down an aisle, looking everywhere for any sign of a killer. As they did, Sloane's hand drifted to her pentacle, now more grateful she wore it than ever before, as her brother and Adam walked hand in hand. Sloane smiled—Zack deserved to be happy, and it looked like Adam made him happy, that despite tonight's events, he'd found happiness in this boy.

But as she looked at her brother, as the night's events replayed in her head, of all the times she nearly lost Zack to the killers, the curse desperately trying to claim one of them, Sloane's smile dropped and she frowned, looking at her pentacle, thinking of all the reasons she started practicing the Craft. Of the most important one.

"Hey, Adam, could you check that aisle quickly? I think I saw something back here," Sloane asked.

"Sure," Adam said, letting Zack's hand go and heading down the aisle, and leaving the siblings alone.

Zack turned to her, crossing his arms. "Okay, what is it?"

"What's what?" Sloane asked, looking at the items on the aisle—cleaning products. She fiddled with a bottle, feeling her brother's eyes bore into her.

"I know you didn't see anything back there, that you wanted to talk to me. So, tell me, Slo," Zack pressed.

Sloane looked over to him, her smile more tired than ever. "Yeah, I did."

A minute ticked before Sloane fiddled with the bottle again and said, "Tonight's been insane, huh?"

"Yeah. Not everyday you learn your ancestor's curses are real through being hunted down by her zombie killers," Zack snarked, letting out a humourless laugh.

Sloane tensed at the mention of the curses. "Right. Her curses."

Zack frowned. "Sloane. What is it? I may not have your weird emotion reading thing, but I do know when something is eating at my sister. So, tell me."

Sloane looked over to him, letting out a sigh. "You're right, there is. There's something I... I've been keeping back from you."

"Okay? What's the big secret?" Zack asked, crossing his arms.

Sloane touched her pentacle, the metal worn smooth by her constant fiddling. "Do you remember when I first started practicing the Craft?"

"Yeah, I do. I remember you bringing all those crystals and candles and books—and Aunt Sandy's tarot deck down from her stuff in the attic. I... I remember you and Dad fighting about it. That he didn't want you to do it—that I didn't want you to do it. That I didn't want to see you get hurt because of it," Zack replied, looking down as he held the back of his neck before looking at her again. "Why?"

"There were... many reasons I started practicing. The main reason was that when I heard about it, it just... felt right.Like it's always been waiting for me to know, to learn, of what I'm meant to be. And I love being a Wiccan, I love being a witch," Sloane revealed, smiling fondly now. "Another reason was to be closer with Aunt Sandy. She practiced this, too, and I wanted to be closer with her, to feel like she was passing down her knowledge to me every time I consult her cards, every time I look through her grimoire, soaking up every bit I can and adding my own spells, my own knowledge, to it. But the biggest reason..."

Now Sloane's hand dropped from her necklace, her face turning serious as she confessed, "The biggest reason was because I was trying to find a way to end our curse."

Zack blinked, shock passing over his face. "Stop our curse? I thought you didn't believe in it."

"I didn't. Not at first. But I don't know, I just... I started getting this feeling, this fear, that I was going to lose you, to the curse. And that had me looking through Aunt Sandy's grimoire, looking for anything about family curses, leading me to Wicca. I thought, if I studied enough, if I learned more about how it works, if I just prayed hard enough to my goddess... I could find a way to end our family curse once and for all. That I could find a way to save you, Zack," Sloane explained, walking up to her brother as she held him. "To save both of us."

Zack looked at her, taking in Sloane's confession, how much she was willing to go to save him from this curse that hunted their family for centuries, a curse Sloane had found nothing about, found nothing to stop it. her prayers and pleads and screams to the goddess to send her anything about how she could end their family's curse—a spell, a ritual, something—only for nothing to come from it, to try and try and try to change their fates, to change what was at once both the curse and prophecy dooming their lives.

But there was nothing. Sloane could find nothing.

"But I couldn't find anything," Sloane whispered. "There was nothing I could find, to end our curse. And now, after tonight, with the killers after us... I had to tell you. I had to tell you how sorry I am that I couldn't end our curse. That I could find nothing to change our fates."

She looked at her brother, her world, who she would do anything to protect, to make sure he got out of here alive, that the curse wouldn't claim him, as her brother stared at her before he asked, "You really spent years trying to end a family curse I didn't even think was real just to save me?"

Sloane smiled. "Yes. Because you're my brother, Zack. I would do anything to save you. Sorry that it took another of Sarah's curses for me to say that."

"No, don't say that," Zack shot down, before he smiled. "I kinda always had that feeling. Because you're my sister, Sloane, and I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say that enough, that I always got on your case about you practicing Wicca. But I love you, and I would do anything to save you, too."

Sloane's smile widened. "I know. And I know we're going to make it out of here alive."

"But I thought you said—" Zack started, and Sloane cut in, "I know. I know and I wanted to say that, to tell you the truth in case it came for us, that one or both of us dies. But I've been scared of Sarah's curse for so long and I'm not going to be scared of it anymore. And I'm not going to lay down quietly and let it get me or you. I will fight for you, for myself, for both of us, for our friends. I will not let Sarah take us down. Her curse will not get us. We'll beat it, and be the first of the Fiers to survive it. Together."

Now Zack's grin stretched across his face. "So I'm hearing is screw the curse?"

"Screw the goddamn curse," Sloane agreed, grinning. She held out her hand toward her brother. "Us against the world?"

Zack took it. "Us against the entire goddamn world."

Sloane smiled before pulling her brother into a tight hug, Zack hugging her back just as tightly. The brother she would do anything for, even beat a centuries-old curse to ensure they'd survive together. That there wasn't nothing she would do to keep Zack safe, to have him live, and she loved him so much, loved him more than anything else, ever since the moment he was born. The brother she was hugging so tightly because if she let go they would face the reality of tonight, the reality of what could happen when the killers finally arrived. That she still held fear, fear that somehow she would lose him, the prophecy of their lives coming true no matter how hard she tried to change it, to rewrite their fates and end their curse, that she was determined to not let it come true and lose Zack. That no matter what the world threw against them, they could defy it all as they stood together, to beat the odds. To survive.

That no matter what Sarah threw at them, they could screw her curse and make it out of here together.

Sloane and Zack pulled apart, looking at each other, matching looks of determination and love on their faces, before Adam's voice called out, "Zack?"

Her brother turned before looking back at her, and Sloane smiled. "Go. I'll catch up."

Zack smiled—he'd been smiling more lately—and turned to go after the boy he'd fallen for, the boy he might be dating now. Sloane watched him go, reaching for her pentacle again as she glared into space, like if she glared hard enough it would reach Sarah.

"You won't take him," she whispered. "You're not going to take us. It's not going to end like that. You won't have our blood. Your curse won't take us."

She looked away, heading down the aisle, looking around for any sign of the killers, hands clenched.

She will not lose her brother tonight—will not lose him, or any of the people that she never expected to interact with, the people that had started feeling like friends to her. That she will not lose them like she lost Heather and Ryan.

That if it came down to it, she will fight, and stand up for herself. To let her anger out on those who truly deserved it. To fight against Ryan if she had to. To not hesitate if it met making sure Zack and her friends got out of here alive.

Sloane smiled. Heather, if you're out there, you'd be proud of me. I'm finally standing up for myself.

So Sloane kept looking, as now she turned and headed into an aisle where kitchen supplies were, reminding her of the knife she still had in her bag from home, the knife she pulled out to confront Ryan when she thought he was just an intruder, that she now pulled out. Arming herself as she headed to where her brother and Adam were, steeling herself for a fight, to do anything it would take to protect herself, her brother and her friends, to not let the curse win.

Even if it meant fighting against the undead monster Ryan had become.

***

When Zack turned the corner, Adam smiled at seeing him. "Hey."

"Hey," Zack replied.

Adam frowned. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Well, as fine as I can be," Zack answered, smiling but it looked strained. Adam frowned deeper, but he decided not to push it, taking Zack's hand.

"Come on, we better patrol these aisles. Make sure none of the killers are hiding in them," Adam said as he lead Zack down the aisle. Ignoring the bloody X on Zack's chest, on his chest, marking them as targets to the killers. Ignoring the fear trembling through him that Adam could lose Zack after finding him, after their confession, their kiss. Before they could continue this, before they could go on a date.

They let go as they walked up to the end of the aisle, peering around it before Zack said, "Coast is clear. They're not here—yet."

"They will, soon. We're not that lucky they'll leave us alone for long," Adam pointed out.

"As long as we keep them away from Sam," Zack muttered as he looked down the corridor. Adam turned to him, and noticed how tight he was holding the rim of the shelf, that his hand was trembling.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay?" Adam asked, reaching for Zack.

He flinched away. "I'm fine, Adam. I'm completely fine with undead maniacs my ancestor cursed from beyond the grave after us. Of being chased and nearly killed all night. That if this doesn't work, then..."

"Hey, Zack, it will work. It has to," Adam assured, reaching for Zack. "I think we have a date in the cards for us, when this is over."

Zack smiled. "A date sounds really nice."

But the smile soon faltered as Zack looked at him, fear in his eyes. "Adam, if... if I die because of the curse..."

"You're not dying tonight, Zack," Adam interrupted firmly, not believing it for a second. That he would not lose Zack tonight, that whatever curse of death haunted the Fier family would not claim Zack. That he would not watch him die.

Zack took his hand, moving closer to Adam, confessing, "I'm glad I met you, behind the stage. My life... I told myself it was better being alone, to not talk to people. that I can go through life without friends, to hate the world as much as it hates me. But when I met you... it felt right. And I want you—I want this, I want an after. I want to go on dates with you, to hold your hand and kiss you and to wake up realising that holy shit, I'm dating you, and to be so lucky that I am. I want it all. To beat the odds and screw what everything says against this and be with you."

Adam looked at Zack, at this boy he had fallen so hard for, despite all those odds saying they shouldn't, and said, "Then let's beat the odds, together."

Their mouths collided with each other, kissing with the same ferocity and passion they had in the janitor's closet, but it was full of the fire of defiance, to screw curses, expectations, even death. Zack reciprocated the kiss, holding the back of his neck, the kiss turning deeper, Adam pushing Zack against the shelf, kissing with everything they had.

When they pulled apart, Zack and Adam stared at each other, as Zack murmured, "We should get back to checking."

"Yeah," Adam agreed.

They pulled apart, leaving the aisle to head down another, hands brushing close together, Adam looking at Zack every so often. This Shadyside boy, this boy cursed for death. Who now looked at him as he grinned morbidly. "You didn't listen."

"Didn't listen to what?" Adam asked.

"I told you. Don't get attached to me. Us Fiers are doomed to die," Zack elaborated in a sarcastic tone as they walked down the aisle.

Adam looked at Zack steadfastly. "And I told you I'm willing to take that risk. I always will for you."

Zack's smile shifted, trying for joking "I know. Sorry, bad time for sarcasm. We'll make it out."

He looked away, checking for killers as Adam walked with him, quiet, knowing what Zack meant. His family was doomed for death, Zack had said so himself back at the station. Had nearly watched him be killed numerous times this past night.

But Adam wasn't going to lose Zack. They would make it through this alive, beat the odds and go on that date. Everyone around them would, would survive this. They would all beat the odds, beat the curse of Sarah Fier.

They had to.

***

We're in the endgame...

I had so much fun writing Simon explain the plan of purposely overdosing Sam so they could kill her—and Sloane, Zack and Adam being weirded out by Simon's energy XD And I also had fun with everyone's moments, before the killers arrived, especially the sibling moments between Kate and Leah, the Johnson siblings, and Sloane and Zack (and yes, one of the reasons Sloane started practicing Wicca was so she could find a way to end the curse, but no matter how hard she tried, she could find nothing)

But Sloane is now determined to beat the curse, for her and Zack to survive together, and to finally fight and stand up for herself and those she cares about—to even go against Ryan á la Cindy against Tommy (and I won't confirm or deny if she will)

The Adam and Zack moment... God I love writing them, especially with them saying how meeting the other was the best thing to happen to them, that they were both loners who hated the world until they met each other and found some happiness even amongst everything, that they would beat the odds to survive the curses and be together (especially with Adam determined not to lose him or anyone else to the curse)

But now, we're at the endgame and the final showdown with the killers. Who will survive? And who will die?

Please read, comment and vote!

GhostWriterGirl out!