ke a physical shockwave. The cacophony of music, laughter, and chatter instantly died, replaced by a deafening silence. Then, a collective, terrified

of flailing limbs and desperate cries, a frantic surge of bodies trying to escape the house that had suddenly transformed int

ers. He pulled her through the surging crowd, pushing past frantic bodies,

anguished wails still echoed, a sound of unimaginable grief and rage. Her best friend. Tatum. Gone. Just l

r broken body, tears streaming down his face. "No... no, Tatum..." he sobled, his voice thick with agony. But then, a flash of the badge, the

hoarse, attempting to rise, but the shock held him r

spilling onto Stu's lawn and scattering into the night. Only a handful remained, either frozen in terror or too disoriente

s is where the body count gets serious! And the killer always saves a few for a grand finale!" He looked around, a

, could only stare at him, his fac

This is it! This is the live action, Kenny! Don't miss a thing!" She pushed past the fleeing teenagers, her microphone extended, her eyes alight with a terrify

bled as he tried to stabilize the camera. "Gale, this is... thi

se, where the screams were still echoing. "This is a breaking new

house. The only sounds were Dewey's ragged breaths, the distant wail of sirens, and the muffl

idney pulled away from Billy, her eyes narrowed. The call from the killer, Billy's sudden appearance right afte

voice laced with a raw tre

ing his features. "Sidney, I told you! I came s

voice rising. "When he called! You showed up j

Billy insisted, taking a step towards her.

room. It was followed by a series of smaller clatters, like something be

ce cut through the air, shrill with panic,

tive gasp, then a chorus of terrified shrieks, erupted from the scattered survivors. The blaring music from the l

with frantic fear, came from somewhere in

ge into darkness intensified her terror. She couldn't see, couldn't te

ning? Did we lose power?" She turned, her eyes strain

d been standing near the news van, trying to get a better angle on the house, when the

voice trembling. "I think..

istracted, trying to adjust her microphone. "

ith chilling fluidity, a dark form against the faint light from distant streetlamps.

ning. But it was too late. The knife plunged into him, swift and brutal, a sickening thud echoing in the night. Kenny convulsed, dropping the camera, which hit

nervous breaths should have been. "Kenny? Kenny!" she called out, a sudden prickle of fear creeping into her voice. She spun aro

e. This was personal. She was next. She turned and ran, adrenaline coursing through her veins

t pounded, a frantic drumbeat in her ears. She could hear frantic whispe

Randy's voice, thin with fear, echoed

ey called out,

spite his recent grief, bellowed from the back of the

ope. Dewey was in charge

e from somewhere close, too close. Sidney spun around blind

the hallway, then the distinct

Stu's voice, pan

le's cousin," Randy stammered

lar, but a landline, the shrill, mechanical sound cutting t

g to find the source of the ringing, trying to find the k

e moved cautiously, his senses heightened, his gun held out in front of him. He knew this

ut lighter, more agile. They were close. Too close. She instinctively ducked be

eeting second, outlined by the very faint ambient ligh

right

sappear. She heard the soft squeak of his shoes, the subtle rustle of his robes a

ound of a struggle. A grunt. And then, a gurgling gasp, abruptly cut short. The

rrifying, ago

ran cold. Dewey

Just the profound darkness. Her heart was a frantic hu

s felt along the wall, guiding her through the oppressive black. As she r

.. clothes. A body. And then, her fingers touch

it would work, desperate for illumination. Miraculously, a faint, flickering light came on. N

a dark, spreading stain on his uniform. His eyes were open, staring blankly, glazed over

him, tears blurring her vision, unable to comprehend the horror. He was gone

s of the living room. Tall. Dark. The Ghostface mask, its features contorted into a

scrambling backwards,

another figure emerged. Silhouetted in th

as B

by the shadows, but his presence undeniabl

phone. He had appeared just as Dewey went down. The puz

shing realization and ultimate betrayal. The doubt she had suppressed,

lips in the dim light. "Surprise, Sidney," he said, his voice no longer modulated

ady shattered, collapsed completely. The killer was not an unknown monster; he was the person she loved. The gam