pairing: tara carpenter x reader

summary: you're in a franchise now

warnings: descriptions of violence, swearing, scream vi spoilers, bad writing

words: 4594

a/n: i didn't really know how to end this but i tried my best. i also added a few references to the older scream movies, so see if you can spot them :)

002. he's back (man behind the mask) - alice cooper

'he's back, the man behind the mask.'

You stood in shock. Eyes focused on the backdoor of the store, swinging backwards and forwards. Not quite believing ghostface was in there with you, Tara and Sam.

"It's happening again." Tara trembled against your side.

"Hey, hey, hey," you repeated, turning to face the younger Carpenter, "you're okay."

"But-"

"Don't do that. You're okay." You said softly, rubbing your hands up and down her arms.

You kept your gaze on Tara, watching as she processed what just happened. Pulling her against you, she rested her head on your chest.

You placed your chin on the top of her head, looking over at Sam, a tint of worry and fear glistening in your eyes.

The three of you were quickly ushered into a cop car, each of you sitting in the back with Tara in the middle, trying to get as close to you as she could.

The journey to the police station was quiet, the dull noise of the radio breaking the silence. You had your head resting against the window, a million thoughts running around in your head.

You couldn't help it but your mind kept going back to the call you had gotten from ghostface. What did they mean by they wanted to see you suffer? Was it you they wanted to kill? Or was it someone else?

And most important of all. How did they know your secret?

All whilst those thoughts were at the forefront of your mind, Tara leaned her head on your shoulder. Your fingers gently brushed over her knuckles before tracing the scar on her hand, only stopping when the car came to a halt at the station.

The three of you were let out of the back of the cop car and led into a room where pictures of the crime scene littered over the table. You sat to Tara's left whilst Sam sat to her right, each of you tired after the events in the store.

You were just about to start a conversation when Detective Bailey walked in the room. He sat on the chair in front of you three and looked at you intently.

"This was found next to the body at the apartment crime scene." Bailey said, throwing a ghostface mask on the table. "The dna said it belonged to someone called Richie Kirsch."

Sam snapped her head up at the name, a look of confusion written on her face.

"Does that ring a bell?" Bailey asked, making you look between Tara and Sam, the both of them shocked at the name drop.

"We're familiar with him." Sam replied, her face not showing any emotion.

"The one that attacked us had a different mask on." Tara said, turning to look at Bailey. "It's kinda more beat up, like it's older."

"I gotta ask, do you have alibis from earlier tonight?" Bailey questioned, nodding to what Tara had said.

"I was at a party with my friends." Tara said, leaning back in her chair.

"And you, y/n?" Bailey asked, looking at you with a smile, one that was far from friendly.

"I was at the party too." You shrugged, looking straight into his eyes.

"I was at my therapists," Sam cut in, "I can give you his information. You can call and check if you want. Then I met Tara and y/n at that party. Where I tased someone... Unrelated."

"Was that before or after this?" Bailey wondered, sounding a little irritated as he moved his gaze off you and onto the older Carpenter showing a video on his phone of Sam pushing the woman from earlier.

"Before." Sam said.

"The point is, we were with someone the whole night." You said, becoming very tired of the questioning.

"So, our roommate's dad just happened to pull our case." Sam stated, not believing that was entirely true.

"That would be a crazy coincidence right?" Bailey replied.

"Yeah."

"The detective who had the case, he offered it to me because it involves Quinn. But I can totally give it back if you're uncomfortable. It's up to you."

Sam looked at Tara, the younger girl didn't seem to mind so Sam took her judgement and replied.

"It's fine."

"So if the man who attacked you did steal your licence and planted it next to the body. Then it will probably be somebody close to you." Bailey said, causing Sam to look a little dejected. "How long have you known your friends?"

"Well we moved here with Mindy, Chad and y/n for summer semester like six months ago." Tara said, looking at you. "So Quinn, Ethan, Anika all since then."

"I think I can vouch for Quinn so that's one less we have to worry about." Bailey said. "Do the three of you have anyone that might wanna target you?"

You let out a huffed laugh as you saw Sam roll her eyes with an exasperated look on her face.

"Not anyone who's still alive." Tara said, shaking her head.

"Yikes." Bailey commented with raised eyebrows.

"Tell me about it." You mumbled, running a hand down your face.

Suddenly the door opened behind Bailey and an officer came in.

"The fbi is here, they need jurisdiction." The man said.

"Where are they?" Bailey questioned, shooting up from his seat to follow the police officer.

"Jesus christ." You muttered, leaning back on your chair, head tilting up to look at the ceiling.

"I've never known you to be so quiet." Tara teased, smacking you on the stomach.

"Hey!" You exclaimed, holding onto your stomach.

"Oh come on, I didn't hit you that hard." Tara chuckled.

"You did, I think you broke something." You joked, continuing your dramatics.

"Come on, you two. We're leaving." Sam said abruptly, getting up from her chair.

"Wait what?" You said, very confused as Tara dragged you out of your chair by your arm. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know, just follow my sister." Tara answered, pulling you along beside her.

As you walked side by side with Tara and Sam, you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. Slowly pulling out your phone, you made sure to check the number this time.

Stopping in your tracks, you immediately knew who was calling you. Due to your abrupt halt, Sam and Tara were looking at you with confused glances.

"You okay, y/n?" Tara questioned, eyes scanning your face for any signs of emotion however it was completely blank.

"Uh, yeah." You said, clearing your throat with a small cough. You looked up from your phone and at the younger Carpenter. "I've just got to take this call."

"We'll wait here for you." Sam smiled.

"It's no problem, you go on, I'll catch up."

With reluctant nods, Sam and Tara walked away from you. Your finger hovered over the answer button and just as it was about to go to voicemail you picked it up.

"Hello again, y/n."

"You know, you are starting to really piss me off." You answered, kicking the ground by your feet.

"Now, now, that's not a nice way to greet someone, is it?" They replied, causing you to practically hear their smirk.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Let me try that again. Hey, ghostface, how's it going?"

"That's better."

"Okay, cut the bullshit. What do you want?" You snapped, moving to lean your back against a nearby wall.

"How about a little trip down memory lane?"

"And what could you possibly know about my past?"

"Everything."

"Huh, funny." You scoffed, looking around you, making sure no one could hear your conversation.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Why should I?"

"One of your old friends is right around the corner." They said, ignoring your question.

"One of my old friends?"

"Yes. Now I'm sure you remember the night."

"What night?"

"Two-thousand and eleven was a wonderful year, wasn't it?" They asked rhetorically, ignoring you once again.

"For some." You shrugged.

"Not for you though, was it?"

"Depends."

"Poor nine year old y/n."

"Okay, I am sick of your shit. Stop fucking around and tell me what you know." You said loudly, pushing yourself off the wall and into the middle of the hallway.

"You miss her don't you? I mean she was your sister after all. Even if she did turn out to be a murderer."

"Fuck you." You said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, so vulgar." They exclaimed.

"Keep my sister's name out of your mouth."

"Well, I haven't even said her name yet, have I? What was it again? I can't seem to remember it." They teased, sending shivers up your spine. "Was it Jamie? No, that doesn't seem right. Jenny, still no. Oh I know."

"Oh do you now?" You asked sarcastically.

"Jill."

All of a sudden everything in your body went cold. Your heart was pounding out of your chest and your breath got caught in your throat.

You couldn't think of a reply, your brain replaying that night in your head.

"Ooh, I know everything about you y/n."

Before you could think of a response the line went dead and you were left standing in an empty police station hallway, your thoughts running over a million miles an hour.

You let out a shaky breath, placing your phone back in your pocket before making your way to where Sam and Tara walked off to.

As you rounded a corner, you saw Sam and Tara talking with Bailey as well as someone you thought you wouldn't see ever again.

"Kirby?" You muttered, stepping into view.

"Y/n?" She replied, shock evident on her face.

"You guys know each other?" Sam questioned, looking between you two.

"Yeah, we..." Kirby trailed off, still in a little shock.

"It's a long story." You said, sending Kirby a smile.

Kirby let out a small chuckle before walking towards you and engulfing you in a hug.

As you caught up with Kirby, a police officer came up to the five of you and handed Bailey some paperwork along with a second ghostface mask.

"He left this mask at the bodega, dna traces of two individuals; Charlie Walker, Jill Roberts. Both deceased."

As Jill's name was mentioned, Kirby felt your body go stiff in her arms. She rubbed a soothing hand along your arm before detaching herself from you.

"Ghostface killers of two-thousand and eleven. Charlie Walker gave me this." Kirby said as she lifted up her shirt to show a scar of where she had been stabbed in the abdomen. "Is this the mask he was wearing when he attacked you?"

"No." Tara replied, as she and her sister shook their heads together, you however were still stuck in a trance.

"So he's leaving them on purpose." Bailey stated.

"Which means whoever is doing this is a student of the killers who came before." Kirby added. "Maybe he believes Sam's the latest in the long line."

Once Kirby finished her sentence, she moved her gaze back onto you. Although Sam and Tara didn't know you were related to Jill, Kirby did.

If ghostface was going after Sam, then that meant they were also going to come for you.

Oh how you wished what Kirby said was wrong.

"Yeah, goodluck with that." Sam said, sarcasm present in her tone. "We're getting out of town."

Sam walked past Bailey and Kirby, Tara following behind. The younger Carpenter grabbed onto your hand and she pulled you along too.

"I'm sorry but that's not possible." Bailey said, causing the three of you to turn back around.

"And why is that?" You questioned, feeling your temper rise and your patience completely dissipate from your body.

"The three of you are each persons of interest to a double homicide so you're not allowed to leave town, sorry."

"Are you serious?" Tara asked, not believing what he said.

"How am I involved?" You wondered.

"He's right." Kirby nodded. "But, if we work together-"

"We're going." Sam cut her off pulling you and Tara along with her. With one last look at Kirby, you were pulled away from her and towards the exit of the station.

Sam led the three of you out of the police station with purpose and slammed open the doors to the outside. You were met with a hoard of news reporters bombarding you all with questions.

Sam walked ahead of you and Tara, pushing her way through the reporters while you wrapped a protective arm around Tara's shoulders, pulling her into you as the two of you stayed close behind Sam.

Each question, name drop and sentence thrown at the three of you were ignored apart from one voice that stuck out.

"Gale Weathers, Channel Four."

"Oh you've got to be shitting me." You muttered, turning around to face the woman.

"Do you three think you're the reason that the ghostface killer has come to the big apple?" Gale questioned, her gaze focusing on you for a moment longer, softening slightly.

Sam scoffed, pretending to turn around only for her to throw a punch at Gale. The older woman dodged the attempt as everyone gasped at what they just saw.

"Nice try sweety but I've done this dance before." Gale said smugly but her last word was cut off as another hand came swinging towards her face. This time she didn't have time to dodge and a right hook was sent to her cheek.

You looked at Tara in pure shock, a smile taking over your features.

"Stay away from us." Tara threatened as she walked away, you and Sam following her with proud glances.

"Are you really still mad at me?" Gale questioned, following after the three of you.

"You said you wouldn't write a book about what happened." Sam said, turning to face the woman with anger. "And then you wrote a book about what happened!"

"Oh come on." Gale sighed. "Somebody was gonna write about it. It's what I do."

"I heard you couldn't sell the movie rights." Tara cut in, a deadly look on her face.

"It's all about true crime limited series these days." Gale responded with an eye roll.

"After everything we went through together." Sam shook her head. "What would Dewey think?"

"That's a low blow." Gale said, and you let out a small whistle of agreement.

"Your book was a low blow." Sam rebutted. "You called me unstable and a born killer."

"That's taken out of context."

"That's literally a quote." You pointed out, sending a smile to Gale which turned out more like a grimace.

"You don't think what you wrote has something to do with what's happening to us?" Tara exclaimed.

"Come on." You said, pulling both Carpenters to a parked up taxi.

"I talked to Sidney." Gale said, causing the three of you to stop in your tracks once again.

You sighed to yourself, looking up at the sky, wondering what else this woman could possibly say.

"She's not coming here is she?" Tara asked, worry laced in her tone.

"No." Gale shook her head. "She sends her love but she's taking the kids and Mark someplace safe. She deserves to have her happy ending."

"And that much we agree." Sam said before opening the back door to the taxi and getting in.

You held the door open for Tara waiting for her to get in but Gale spoke up again.

"Hey I want to catch this fucker as much as you do." Gale said, raising her voice a little.

"Maybe." Tara shrugged. "Or maybe you're just afraid that without Ghostface in your life, you're gonna fade away."

Tara gave the woman one last look before getting into the taxi.

"Did you get all that on film?" You smirked, pointing to the multiple cameras behind Gale.

Gale looked at you with an irritated glint to her eye causing you to chuckle. Just as you were about to get in the taxi, Gale called out your name.

"Y/n, can I talk to you for a second?" She pleaded.

You let out a small sigh, looking back at Tara. She gave you a small nod and you promised to only be a few minutes.

"What's going on, Gale?" You questioned, a hand rubbing your forehead.

"H-how are you feeling?" Gale wondered.

"How am I feeling?" You repeated, sarcasm laced in your voice. "Since when did you care?"

"Sidney has been asking about you."

"Then why couldn't she just contact me?" You scoffed.

"She's trying to keep a low profile and-"

"And texting me will blow her cover? Bullshit, she's my cousin."

"Look, y/n. you've been through this twice-"

"So what? I was nine the first time! Nine!" You said, raising your voice. "That doesn't mean I'm used to it by now!"

"I know I just-"

"My own sister stabbed me! That will do something to a person. Especially a child."

"I want to be there for you, y/n." Gale said softly.

"Look, Gale." You started, a long sigh spilled from your lips. "I don't think I can go through this again."

"I know, this is my sixth time and it feels like the first."

"I'm scared, Gale. I'm so scared." You whispered, your bottom lip quivering.

"I'd think you were a psycho if you weren't." Gale said, letting out a wet chuckle as tears fell from her own eyes.

"They know." You said, wiping your eyes. "They know about Jill."

"Maybe it's time to tell your friends. Before Ghostface does."

"Maybe, I'll think about it. Just not yet."

"Okay."

"I uh- I have to go." You mumbled, looking back at Tara and Sam in the taxi, the younger girl giving you a worried glance as she spotted the tear marks on your face.

"Yeah, okay. You have my number so call me. I'll always pick up."

"Will do." You smiled, moving your hand to squeeze hers before backing away and into the taxi.

You closed the car door with one last look at Gale, the taxi driver drove off.

"Nice punch by the way." You teased Tara, using your elbow to nudge her side.

"Shut up." Tara mumbled, locking her arm with yours as she rested her head against your shoulder, her fingers intertwined with yours.

"Where are we going?" You questioned, looking down at the smaller girl leaning against your side.

"We're going to the park to meet up with everyone." Tara replied.

"No doubt it will entail one of Mindy's rants." You said, causing Tara and Sam to chuckle.

"Probably."

"Actually, I'll put a bet on that. Five dollars Mindy brings up us being in a sequel or something."

"No chance, I'd like to keep my money." Tara said, patting a hand on your thigh.

"You're no fun." You sighed.

The rest of the ride to the park was filled with jokes and laughter, despite what had happened the night before. Before you knew it, the taxi driver had stopped and the three of you were getting out.

It didn't take long for you to find your friends and after you greeted everybody, you sat down beside Tara, in between her and Ethan. The only person who wasn't sitting down was Mindy, who stood in front of you all.

"Okay nerds, listen up." Mindy said, clapping her hands above her head to gain everyone's attention. "As terrifying as this all is, I'm actually glad I get a chance to redeem myself for not calling the killers last time... it's fine, okay."

"Here we go." You muttered under your breath earning an elbow to the ribs from tara.

"The way I see it, someone is out to make a sequel to the requel." Mindy continued.

"Called it." You whispered in Tara's ear, the girl trying to keep the corners of her mouth from turning into a smile.

"Um- what's a requel?" Anika questioned, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked up at her girlfriend.

"You're beautiful sweetie." Mindy said, pointing to the girl with her hands. "Let's hold questions till the end."

"Stab took place in Woodsboro, Stab Two took place in college." Sam spoke up.

"So do you think that the killer is trying to copy the movies?" Tara asked, looking up at Mindy.

"That is one possibility." Mindy nodded. "Heroes now in college, check. Suspicious new characters brought in to round out the suspect list and/or the body count. Check, check and check."

"I don't like this." Ethan said, shaking his head before looking away.

"But it can't just be about Stab Two." Mindy said, ignoring Ethan as she continued to explain her point.

"Why not?" Tara wondered, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked up to Mindy once again.

"It makes sense if this were just a sequel." Mindy explained. "But we're not in a sequel because nobody just makes sequels anymore. We're in a franchise! And there are certain rules to a continuing franchise."

"I had a feeling." Sam sighed, looking to the ground.

"Is this making sense to you?" You questioned, leaning towards Ethan who shook his head. "Okay at least it's not just me."

"Rule one!" Mindy said loudly as she started to pace around. "Everything is bigger than last time! Bigger budget, bigger cast, bigger body count, longer chases, shootouts, beheadings. You gotta top what happened before to keep people coming back."

"Beheadings?" Chad asked, looking up from his notebook and at his sister.

"Beheadings." Mindy confirmed, nodding her head. "Rule two, whatever happened last time, expect the opposite. Franchises only survive by subverting expectations, if the killers last time were whiny, snowflake, film nerds with letterboxd accounts instead of personalities, you can bet the opposite will be true here."

"Has she breathed yet?" You mumbled to the two next to you, Ethan letting out a quiet snort of laughter whilst Tara shook her head with a small smile gracing her lips.

"And rule three, no one is safe." Mindy said, calming down a little. "Legacy characters are cannon fodder at this point. Usually brought back only to be killed off in some cheap bit for nostalgia. It's not looking too good for Gale and Kirby, oh and that isn't even the worst part!"

"This is the part where she tells us the worst part." Chad said, looking up from his notebook only for a second.

"The worst part is, franchises are just continuing episodic instalments designed to boost an ip. Which means, main characters are completely expendable now too, Laurie Strode, Nancy Thompson, Ellen Ripley, Sally Hardesty, Jigsaw, Tony Stark, James Bond, I mean even Luke Skywalker, all die so that their franchises can live on." Mindy ranted. "That means it's just not the friend group, any of us can go at any time. Especially Sam and Tara."

"Well that's just brilliant then, isn't it." You sighed, running a hand through your hair, glancing over to Tara who was already looking at you.

"W-wait, any of us?" Ethan asked as he looked up at Mindy who nodded. "Does- am I in the friend group?"

"Yeah".

"Am I like one of the targets of-"

"Mhm."

"Am I gonna die a virgin?"

You almost choked on your own spit, leaning forward as Tara patted your back, looking at the boy with a laugh.

Mindy looked away for a moment, a grimace on her face. "That was...a weird overshare. But it brings us to our current suspects, Ethan, the shy, dorky guy who no one suspects because he's so shy and dorky."

Ethan shook his head as Mindy took a step up to him. "Okay, wait, why am I on the suspect list? Because I'm randomly Chad's roommate?"

"Roommate lotteries can be juked, you could've fixed it to get in next to us." Mindy stated and Ethan just rolled his eyes before slumping back while Mindy turned to look at Quinn.

"Quinn, the slutty roommate, a horror movie classic."

"Sex positive, but thank you?" Quinn said, tilting her head.

Mindy just hummed before turning back to look at Tara and Sam. "How did you come to live with Sam and Tara?"

"I answered their ad online?"

"Okay! Say no more! You've already implicated yourself enough!" Mindy yelled.

"It was an anonymous ad, Mindy. And you know we vetted her plus her dad's a cop-" Tara said, looking at Mindy as she defended her roommate.

"And that makes it more likely that she's the killer because having a cop dad is a great cover, do you not remember how these movies work, Tara?"

"Is she always like this?" Quinn asked, leaning forward as she spoke to Sam, the older Carpenter shrugging as her response.

"Anika." Mindy smiled, walking over to her girlfriend who blew her a kiss, Mindy doing the same to her before looking at her more seriously. "Never trust the love interest."

"Okay, so...we have our rules. And we have our suspects." Sam said, wiping her hands on her jeans.

"Wait, wait." Ethan interrupted, looking up at Mindy. "What about you guys?"

"I mean, I think it's pretty safe to rule out the five of us who went through this last year in Woodsboro." Mindy said, crossing her arms as she looked at the boy.

"Agreed." Chad smiled, pointing his pencil at Mindy.

"Um, not agreed. What if the trauma you all went through caused one or more of you to snap?" Quinn remarked, shaking her head.

Ethan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I mean, or the thing you got from the killings made you thirsty for more? I mean, to be honest here, some of the theories online about Sam are-"

"Don't you fucking dare!" Tara snapped at the boy.

"Let's not go there, buddy." You said, patting him on the shoulder, a little too harshly making Ethan let out a small wince at the action.

"Okay." Anika nodded, sitting up straighter. "She's right, though. I mean, face facts, if we're all suspects, you're all suspects."

Mindy just crossed her arms as she thought about those words for a moment not knowing how to reply.

"Okay, I'm leaving now." You said, slapping your hands to your knees before standing up.

"Where are you going?" Tara questioned, looking up at you.

"Probably to kill someone." Ethan muttered under his breath.

"Funny." You replied sarcastically, staring the boy down. "I was going to get some food for later."

"I'll come with you." Tara said, standing up quickly.

"Yeah, okay." You smiled. "Anyone else want to come?"

"Might as well." Mindy shrugged.

"Anika, do you want to come?" You asked, looking at the girl still sitting down.

"No, it's all good, I'll meet you later." She replied with a smile.

"Anyone else?" You asked once more but everyone shook their heads and you gave them a nod of acknowledgement. "Guess it's just us three."

"Cool, we'll see you in a bit." Mindy said, giving her girlfriend a kiss before walking off with you and Tara.

"Be careful." The three of you heard Sam's voice come from behind you and you saw how Tara rolled her eyes at her sister.

"She's just looking out for you because she loves you, y'know." You chuckled, nudging Tara with your elbow.

"Clearly Chad doesn't care about me." Mindy said, seeing as Chad didn't say anything to her before she left.

"Alright, enough about siblings, last one to the store is a rotten egg." You said quickly before you ran off ahead of your two friends.

"Child. They are a literal child." Tara mumbled, shaking her head.

"You're still going to run though, aren't you." Mindy said, speeding up a little.

"Of course." Tara chuckled.