Annora sat in her room, becoming startled, as she heard her parents yelling throughout the house. She contemplated going out for a while but it was a loud bang as if something was thrown that made her leave. Not wanting to draw any attention she slowly walked to her door, opening it swiftly to avoid noise.

Once the door was open she slowly stepped out and took time walking down the stairs. About midway down she stopped, peaking her head over the railing to see the commotion. Sam walked into the foyer with Annalise trailing behind him, shouting words about her mysterious new lover.

Sam suddenly turned around wrapping his hands around Annalise's neck and slamming her against the wall. "And I think of Lila every time I try to get off with you!" He hissed into her face squeezing his hands harder. "Stop! Get the hell off my mom!" Annora quickly ran down the steps placing her hands on Sam's bicep trying to pull him off.

Annalise had tears streaming down her face looking into Sam's eye. "I bet you did. Killing her, huh? You enjoyed it, didn't you? Strangling her? Feeling the life go out of her body? You still think about it, don't you?"

Annora looked between the broken couple tearfully her voice breaking as she spoke, "M-mom, please stop." The eldest Keating woman paid no mind to her daughter, still staring into the man's eyes who had his hands wrapped tightly around her throat.

"Your hand around her neck while you were still inside of her. It's exciting you right now, isn't it? Remembering it? You want to do it to me now, don't you? Go ahead. Kill me. Kill me. But don't you dare lay a finger on my daughter." Annora took a sharp breath in still tugging on Sam's arm as it wouldn't budge. She couldn't handle her mother egging him on, fearing he would actually kill her and she'd have to watch. "Mom, stop it!"

Sam's grip grew tighter on Annalise's neck while tears flew down from Annora's face while she watched the scene. "Kill me!" Her mother screamed out in strangled breaths. Slowly, Sam let go of her neck causing Annora to let go of him and pull her mother away.

She brought her mother to her side holding onto her tightly. Sam glared into Annalise's eyes as she struggled to catch her breath. "You're a monster." "'Monster,' huh? Is that all you got? You can do better than that." Even with her brave words and confident posture, the fear in Annalise's voice of evident.

"You want the truth?" Sam questioned, his gaze switching between the two woman, one showing fear more than the other. "You're nothing but a piece of ass. That's what I saw when I first talked to you in the office that day, 'cause I knew you'd put out. That's all you're really good for, dirty, rough sex. That I'm too ashamed to tell anyone about. That's how foul you are, you disgusting slut."

Annalise took in a shaky breath, moving her eyes to the floor for a moment then bringing them back to the man she called her husband. "Well... at least your were finally able to tell the truth." The hurt was clear in her voice. Annalise turned away, leaving her daughter's grip and making her way towards the door not turning back.

Her daughter watched with great confusion as the door closed behind her mother, leaving her with the man she just watched strangle her only present parent. "I-I'm leaving too just, g-give, give me a moment to go, uh, go get my things." She quickly turned her back running up the stairs.

Once she entered her room she slammed the door closed whilst locking her. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she thought back to the previous events. Breaths coming out uneven, heart beating faster than it ever has, blurry tear filled eyes.

She placed her heart on her chest scrambling around her room looking for the small plastic object. Once she found it she quickly brought it to her mouth, breathing in two pumps.

Her heart jumped as she heard commotion followed by banging outside her room. "Unlock the door Rebecca!" Annora took in a sharp breath running her fingers through her pulled up hair. "Where the hell is my phone?" She cried out before she opened the door. "Dad... what's going on now?"

Sam turned around glaring daggers into the young girls eyes. "Did you know about this?! Huh?! Calling your little friend and the drug dealer crack whore to team up on me?! Huh?!" His voice grew louder with each step he took to her. "Answer me?!"

Downstairs Michaela nervously held the phone to her ear. "R-Rebecca and Sam are fighting. I don't know what's going on! She ran up the stairs and said to call you. Somethings going on..." Michaela got closer the the steps answering Wes' question.

"Rebecca and Sam. I think he's drunk. No! And Rebecca's locked herself inside their bedroom. He's yelling at Annora, she looks scared of him Wes... something isn't right. What the hell is this?! Wait, wait, wait, what?! No. What did you just say?"

Annora took steps back until her back was against the wall. "I-I didn't call anyone, D-, Sam." He angrily turned around, slamming his fist on his bedroom door once more. "Come out, or I'm calling the police." Annora fell to the floor, her back against her bedroom door, her breathing out of control.

"You need to get here. This is bad. Really, really bad." Michaela's voice cracked as her eyes began to water staring at the scene on the second floor. "I said open the damn door!" Sam slammed his shoulder into the door causing it to burst open.

Annora seeing this quickly scrambled to her feet running after him. "Stop!" Michaela began to panic hearing the screams and pleads. "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God! You have to get here right now! Right now!"

Not even two minutes later Connor pulled into the driveway and Wes was the first one out, followed by the driver and Laurel. He hurriedly ran into the house hearing yells.

"Sam, please just stop! Just clam down... w-we can figure something out." Annora tried to plead with Michaela by her side. Sam didn't even turn around as he banged on the bathroom door. "Come out or I'm coming in!" The others then came up the stairs into the room seeing the situation. "Stop!" Wes yelled at the older man, an angry look in his eyes.

"Get out of my house." Sam growled out before he let his eyes flicker to Annora. "You call more of your friends?! Call your other boyfriend?! Huh, slut?! Just like your mother!" Sam spoke each word like he was spitting fire.

As he began to take a step forward Wes moved in front of the scared girl. "Stay. The. Hell. Away from her." Wes grounded his teeth together before staring at the bathroom door. "Let her go, then we'll leave."

Sam took two steps forward, pointing towards the door behind him. "She took my computer, what the hell is she trying to get?"

"I don't know. Just... calm down and we'll leave." Sam looked at the light eyed man before he began to pace the room.

Wes walked forward as he moved out of the way towards the bathroom door. "Rebecca? It's me. You can come out now." Her voice could be heard clearly through the door. "Give me a minute." After a few seconds she spoke again. "Okay, I'm coming."

As she came out of the bathroom she made intense eye contact with Wes before Sam stepped forward. "What did you do?" Rebecca shook her head placing the laptop down. "Nothing. I didn't find anything." Wes peered at the man carefully, "We'll leave now. Just let us go."

Sam moved his eyes between the two before walking backwards. "I'm not gonna do anything." Annora hearing his words released a small scoff as she had a flashback of his hands around her mother's neck.

Wes grabbed Rebecca's arm beginning to lead her out of the room. Sam then ran forward grabbing Rebecca, pushing the two down. Rebecca dropped the flash drive that Sam was trying to get off of her, clearly struggling causing Connor to go to her aid only for Sam to punch him across the face.

Annora dropped to Connor's side holding his face gently. "Laurel!" Wes looked up trying to get her to get the drive. Connor stared softly into Annora's eyes. "You're okay now, don't worry." His words caused her brows to furrow before she switched her gaze to the problem at hand. He was the one hurt, not her.

Laurel had the flash drive in her grasp causing Sam to get off of Rebecca while pushing Wes forcefully. Laurel ran out of the room with Michaela, Connor and Annora not far behind. Michaela let out a scram as Sam came to her, in the frightened state of mind she pushed him over the banister.

Sam hit the ground with a loud thud and a crack causing. Michaela to scream once more while the other stared in shock. Annora gasped loudly before running down the steps to check on him.

As if something in her clicked causing her to still care for the man who's been in her life for twenty years. She kneeled down beside him placing her hand on his back. "Oh, God. No, no, no, no, no..."

A single sob escaped her lips as blood began to puddle underneath his head. The others watched behind the railing in clear shock.

Connor was the first one who began to come down the stairs. He carefully stepped over to Annora crouching down behind her placing his his hands on her forearms. He shushed her as a small cry sounded from her. Her back was pulled to touch his chest while he stood them up leading her away from the foyer after hearing the others come down the steps.

Wes had a soft grip on Rebecca as he walker her to the sofa staring at the scene before hand. Michaela let out a cry as she walked by the body, "We should call an ambulance." Connor scoffed, rubbing Annora's arm for comfort. "Why? He's dead. You kill him, Michaela." His voice cracked towards the end breaking his strong carefree facade. "Me? H-He was coming at us." Michaela cried, her mouth open in a large frown.

The man scoffed, sitting Annora down before he took a seat beside her. "Yeah, and he was alive, until you shoved him over the railing." A small laugh accompanying his words which the girl in his arms paid no mind to. "I was protecting Laurel." Michaela pleaded as the girl mentioned came beside her. "She was." Her voice cracking with disbelief.

"Fine." Connor breathed out in a bothered manner. "Then you both killed him. All I know is that someone had to watch their dad die tonight and she's not okay." Laurel shook her head at him, glaring at the man. "So did you, then." He shook his head ridiculously, his grip tightening on the girl beside him.

"No, no, no. I didn't do anything." Laurel stepped up to him fuming, "It doesn't matter what any of us did. We were all here, which meshes we're all at fault." Her voice began to break towards the end, placing her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about?" Connor scoffed with a smirk on his lips.

"Rebecca was stealing private information off of Sam's computer. That's a felony. And because we were all helping her, we could be charged with felony murder." He stood abruptly from the sofa, keeping his hand in Annora's. "No prosecutor would do that. We were defending ourselves."

Laurel shook her head waving her hand around. "We broke into his house he was defending himself." Connor sighed deeply before Michaela who sat on the ottoman spoke before he could. "I was just trying to turn in the trophy." "What?" His lip turned in disbelief as he spat the word. "I wasn't part of your plan is all, so I..."

Connor turned letting go of the frightened girl's hand pointing at Rebecca. "There was no plan, okay? That was all her." Rebecca glared, speaking in a dark tone. "I didn't ask for anyone's help." Connor glared back at Rebecca, moving back over to the girl on the sofa. "Fine. Then we can thank your boyfriend for that."

Annora's head moved up giving the girl a glare of her own. "I didn't ask you to barge into my house. We had enough going on tonight before you came in." Her voice was like acid, burning a hole through the tension. Michaela looked around as Laurel got up to move. "Shouldn't we be calling the ambulance?"

Connor turned around to face her, his brows furrowed in anger. "I think you mean the police, idiot. He's dead!" "Fine. Then the police. But we can't just sit here and do nothing." Her voice wavered, tears streaming down her face. "No. Think. No one knows we were here." Wes' voice was calm as he spoke, trying diffuse the situation.

Laurel shook her head staring at him. "Annalise could be home any minute." "Which is why we should leave." Wes suggested. "You want tho run?" Michaela was shocked in disbelief. Wes looked back at her putting his hands up in surrender. "I'm just saying... he fell after drinking too much."

Connor shook his head looking out of the window. "My car is outside. Anyone could've seen it." Connor placed his hands on his hips as Wes tried to reason with him. "Your car is here all of the time."

Michaela stepped into the conversation still releasing stuffy cries, "No, we should call the police and tell them everything." Wes tried to get the idea out of her mind by saying Rebecca couldn't but Michaela didn't take kindly to it. "I don't care about Rebecca right now! I care about my future!"

Wes got closer to her, jabbing a finger in her direction. "But you did this! Just like we all did. He's dead because of all of us. And maybe that's okay. He killed Lila and was gonna let Rebecca go down for it." He went on to speak once more but Rebecca gasping and struggling interrupted him.

Sam was up and on top of Rebecca, strangling her. "Do something!" Laurel yelled holding Michaela. Annora stood from the sofa running over and trying to pull him off. "Sam, stop this! You're gonna kill her!" Sam didn't listen only turning making the back of his hand connect with her cheek, knocking her off of him.

Connor quickly came to her aid like she had done previously, placing her hand on her cheek rubbing it gently. "It's okay. You're okay." Wes grabbed the trophy off of the table before he brought it across Sam's head causing blood to splatter.

Sam let go of Rebecca in shock as he struggled to stay up before falling limply to her side. Annora let out a crying gasp knowing he was actually dead this time. Her hand gripped Connor's shirt tightly as he also stared at the dead body.

She didn't care that he called her names he shouldn't have, had his hands around her mother's neck, and almost killed her friend's girlfriend. She only saw flashes of moments from her growing up and caring for her.

The man she called dad was lying in a puddle of his blood. And maybe it was a bad thing to care about a murder who did many wrongs tonight but she didn't care at that moment. Everyone brought their eyes to Wes and the trophy he held in his hand, staring at him in shock.

*•*•*

Michaela slid her back down the wall, tears staining her cheeks. "He's dead. He's dead." Connor paced around, his eyes glancing to Annora every three seconds. "We have to go... right now."

"He's dead. He's dead. He's dead."

Wes looked down at Rebecca who was shaking as she was covered in the dead man's blood. "You okay? We need to clean you up and get out of here." Her eyes moved over to Sam lying dead in large puddle of blood. "Okay." Wes took off his jacket, placing it on the sofa. "Get ready to leave." Connor hummed in agreement as Wes picked Rebecca up, taking her up the stairs.

Connor's eyes glanced back over at the body before he started to gag. He quickly walked out of the room with Laurel trying to grab his arm. "Where are you going?" Annora had her hands on both sides of her head, her face covered in tears, "Oh God. Oh my God. No..."

She began to whimper the word, repeating it to what seemed to Laurel a hundred times. Laurel slowly helped move her to the sofa to help her in her emotional state. She fell over to her side, holding her legs close to her body as she clenched her eyes shut.

Wes brought a fleece blanket in the darkroom, wrapping it around Rebecca, pulling her into himself. Annora sat on the loveseat, her knees pulled to her chest, crying when Connor came into the study.

He saw Michaela sitting on the floor and hissed out, "Michaela, stand up. We need to leave. Do you understand? Michaela!" He roughly nudged her shoulder when she didn't answer causing Laurel to butt in. "Connor, stop!"

Annora wasn't listening to them. Her ears were full of buzzing as she started at her step-father's dead body on the ground. To her, it felt as if his eyes were staring back. She quickly got to her feet and hurried out of the room, her breathing out of control.

Wes sat up completely, looking at her wide-eyed. "Ann!" He went to go after her but Rebecca grabbed his wrist pulling him closer to her. "Stay with me." Wes wanted to go after Annora but he also wanted to stay with his girlfriend. In the end, he decided to stay with her.

Annora walked into the kitchen breathing heavily, roughly pulling open a drawer finding her inhaler. She quickly put the inhaler in her mouth slowly breathing in as she pressed down on it.

Laurel kneeled down in front of Michaela who gripped onto the bookcase for support. "Michaela, we need to leave now. Just need to stand up, okay?"Wes looked over his friends, besides Annora, before speaking, "Here's what we do. You guys take Michaela and Ann to the woods. I'll get Rebecca out of here."

Connor stared in him in disbelief as he glanced out of archway making sure Annora was all right. "Wait. What- you just- - you're just gonna leave?" Wes jerked his head forward pointing at Rebecca. "She can't be here. You know that." Connor slowly moved back into the room, turning his full attention on Wes.

He let out a wheeze of a laugh looking around the room. "We're so screwed." He did a few small jumps as Wes watched with unimpressed eyes. "It's gonna be fine." Laurel shook Michaela's arm while she cried to the side. "You're gonna have to trust me right now."

Annora walked back into the room holding her inhaler when she heard knocking on the door. "Hey! Hey, you guys in there?!" Annora looked scared as she walked closer to Connor who lightly rubbed her back. "Who is that?"

Wes whispered back at her staring at the window, "Asher." Connor left Annora's side walking forward as Asher yelled. "I see your car in the driveway, Connor! Annora! I know you're home! Are the others there too?! Open up the damn door!"

Annora's breathing started to get heavy again, Connor noticed and took her hands in his, feeling the inhaler in her palm. "A, breathe in with me. 1, 2, 3. Slow breaths okay." She followed his actions as he breathed with her. "1, 2, 3." Laurel nudged Connor so he'd pay attention, "Okay, what is he doing here?"

Michaela who was still sat in the corner whispered, "It's my fault." Connor forced out a laugh removing his hands from the trembling girl in front of him. "Of course it's her fault. I mean, who else's fault would it be, right." He sat down against the wall as Asher yelled out again.

"Is Michaela in there with you?! I want my freaking trophy back!" Annora went over to the corner folding herself up as she rocked back and forth. "I want my mom. I want my mom. I need Frank." Tears streamed down her face as she caught another glimpse of Sam's body. "I need Frank!" She whispered to herself, choking out a sob, causing her to place a hand over her mouth.

"Open up! I know you're in there!" Asher pounded on the door again after quiet moments causing the young girl on the floor to jump. Rebecca pulled Wes down as she also dropped to the floor. "Everyone, get down." Connor stood laughing covering his mouth as Asher went knocking on the window.

"Are you bitches seriously trying to ignore me right now?" Annora covered her ears continuously rocking, "Go away." Connor slowly laid on the floor right where Sam Keating laid staring into his eyes. "Let me in! And you guys call me immature?! I'm like the most grown-up grown-up ever compared to your dumb-asses!"

Laurel looked between the door and the others who laid on the ground. "We should just let him in. If he's been in the house he'll," Asher's yelling grew louder as he harshly banged on the windows. "He'll suddenly be part of it, you know? Six of us witnessed him here."

Connor seethed staring at the dead body next to him. "Then Daddy Millstone can help get us off." Rebecca nodded her eyes staring into Wes'. "We can get him to step in the blood. It's not a bad idea." Annora shook her head, lowering her hands from her ears. "No! We're not bringing him into this. It's not right."

Connor rolled his eyes glaring into the darkness. "Do you think I wanted to be a part of this?" His voice was harsh as he spoke, a tone he'd never used with her. The yells have stopped and Laurel stood glancing out of the window. "Wait. Listen."

She sighed as she turned back to the group. "He's gone." Michaela stood up coming into the small source of light. "I texted him. Told him I was at the library."

*•*•*

The loud cheers of the Middleton students filled their ears while they stood in the woods waiting for Wes's return.

They were nervous with many thoughts running through their minds. Michaela stared down at her feet wondering if he got caught as he was taking a long time.

"He should be here by now." Connor glanced at her trying to warm himself. "It's fine." She whipped her head around before hissing, "What if it's not?"

Connor closed his eyes briefly, "Michaela." His tone was very aggravated. "What if they got caught and went to the police or she convinced him to pin it on us?"

He looked through his hair glaring at her. "Wes wouldn't do that." He started to walk away but Michaela leaned closer when he got by her. "He wouldn't, but she would." He abruptly turned around lowering his head to line with hers.

"Stop, okay? It's going to be fine." Michaela's lip trembled glaring back at him. "No, think about it. How we got here- it's all her fault." Laurel sighed interrupting her, "It's not her fault. We're all to blame." Her voice was very sharp at the end showing her frustration.

She seemed done with Michaela 'whining'. "No, I'm gonna call Aiden." She began to get her phone out but Connor growled her name which caused her to start yelling. "No, I never agreed to this!"

Annora sprung her head up glaring daggers at Michaela, her voice a whisper-yell. "You think I did?! It's your DNA on his body so you're as much a part of this as we are!" She sharply sighed staring at her feet. "Don't act like you're not one to blame."

Connor nodded agreeing with the distraught girl. "You had a meltdown. You could barely form a sentence. So shut up, sit down, and stop acting like a little bitch baby." He looked her up and down before a few feet away.

Michaela scowled at him, grinding her teeth when she spat, "Do not tell me how to feel right now!"

Behind them, the one they were all waiting to arrive, Wes Gibbins, uttered a loud enough, 'Hey.' That made the four jump and the girls let out a small screech.

He bent over, a bag dangling in his hand trying to catch his breath. "Sorry, it took so long." He apologized letting the bag softly hit the tree. "I went back for this."

Bringing the bag to his abdomen, Wes opened it digging inside only to pull out the Lady Justice trophy.

Michaela immediately jabbed her finger at him, scared of how having the object would affect them. "Now, you- you take that back right now!"

Laurel Castillo who sat on the ground rocking back and forth with the last student there that night, Annora Keating, breathily assured her, breath visible in the cold.

"No. It's smart. Commonwealth v. Deloatche." Laurel patted the girl's back as she stood up brushing her dirtied hands on her jeans. "A case the prosecution should've won but lost because there was no murder weapon."

Connor brought his eyes up from the sticks which laid on the ground, shivering as he held his arms close to his body, he questioned the girl. "So, what are you saying?"

Laurel let her eyes travel around at the four people that looked to her for answers. "We clean it. And we put it back. Hide it in plain sight."

She rubbed her hands together hesitation pure when she went to speak her next words. "After we bury the body."

Michaela shook her head raising her lip in disgust, "No, absolutely not."

Connor who stood a couple of feet away from the others shook his head stuttering on his words. "Yeah, I-I-I-I'm with Michaela. I-"

Laurel with tearful eyes shook her head raising her hand out to him. "No, Connor, think."

He gestured his hand out to the trophy that was gripping in Wes' palm, "The trophy we need, yes. But the body stays where it is."

Her brows furrowed in disbelief, leaning her head more in his direction. "No, the body is what gets us caught." Michaela let her teeth grind as she hissed at Laurel, "You are not thinking straight."

Laurel shook her head at her going to speak but didn't have the chance to do so.

"Then what do you suggest?!" Annora's eyes peered at the girl with distinctive tear stains on her cheeks.

"Something that doesn't involve carrying a body across campus on the busiest night of the year!" Michaela's voice was angered as she spat out each and every word.

Annora shook her head at the girl, facing her lap when she heard the words that came from her mouth.

Connor looked at Laurel an undistinguishable glint in his eyes. "She's right, Laurel. Even if we get it out of the house, unseen, the ground is frozen!"

He stomped down onto the seeming rock-solid ground his hands in his pockets to provide some sort of warmth.

"We have all night to dig." Laurel tried to get him to agree.

He released a fake chuckle throwing his hands out in her direction. "You don't know what you're talking about!"

Laurel's eyes widened at the man before her letting her arms go up at her sides. "This is murder! None of us know what we're talking about!"

Michaela flung her own arm about stepping up to Laurel, hissing at her, "Just yell that a little louder!" Wes tried to gain their attention with a small, 'Hey.' But he was only ignored by the students.

"Honestly, you're all dumber than I thought if you think..." Connor leaned forward voicing over her. "Look, I'm agreeing with you-"

Laurel's eyes cast to the ground while Michaela yelled in the background before she spoke on her own. "You two need to man up and think because we're going to jail."

Connor and Michaela began shouting at either each other or to the other three that stood with them in the woods.

Wes finally having enough of the arguing, reached down picking up a coin then looked over yelling at them all. "Shut up! Shut up!"

They instantly stopped arguing letting the man talk. "It's two against two, leave Annora out of it. We have no other choice. We flip a coin."

His head turned back and forth as his eyes glanced over all of them when he spoke. Michaela threw her head back letting the tears take over her, "That's the dumbest thing you've ever said."

Connor walked forward lowly hissing at Wes. "I'm not letting a freaking coin decide whether or not I go to jail tonight!" Wes leaned his upper body forward arguing his own.

"We don't have time to fight! We need to make a decision and commit to it. So if someone has a better idea, say it now!"

The group stayed silent all letting their gaze rest on Wes. Holding a coin between his fingers he met his eyes travel to all fo the cold faces. "Heads, we get the body. Tails, we leave it where it is. Okay?"

Annora and Laurel were the only ones who gave him a nod, which made him flick the coin high into the air with each of their eyes following it.

The coin fell back down into Wes's hand. He flipped it over onto the top of his left hand before saying aloud. "Heads." Though it wasn't heads, it was tails.

"We go back for the body." He stared at each of their faces before taking the quarter and placing it back in his pocket.

He began grabbing his stuff off of the ground looking up seeing that none of them were moving. "Let's go!"

As they started to walk off Michaela yelled out with tears streaming down her cheeks. "No!" They all stopped turning back towards her. "No. This makes no sense at all. We go back for the body, and then what? We do what with it? Haven't any of you thought about that?"

Wes leaned forward practically growling at her as he talked, "We burn it." Michaela threw her hands in the air rolling her tear-stricken eyes. "Oh, please. A body doesn't just burn. You need an incinerator."

Wes was being smart on the occasion but Michaela was only thinking of herself at the moment not thinking of the thing that will lead back to them. "But at least we'll get rid of our DNA." Connor gave a nod agreeing with him and Michaela sighed. "And the bonfire will cover the smoke. It's, it's kind of a perfect plan."

Annora hadn't brought the thickest jacket that night unlike the others as she was in her own home and stuck by shock. Wes noticed her slight shivering, taking off his first jacket layer holding it out allowing her to put her arms through.

She quietly thanked him as Laurel spoke. "The bonfire." Though Michaela spoke over her, "There's nothing perfect about this plan." Laurel was trying to gain their attention but Michaela kept crying. "You guys..." Connor turned holding his jacket close to his body glaring at Michaela. "Cry all you want. I'm now on board with the plan." Laurel had enough of being spoken over so she whisper-yelled gaining the other four's attention. "Listen to me! The bonfire, that's our alibi."

Students stood throwing many things into the bonfire, while deep in the crowd the five students were spread jumping and cheering with 'smiles'. Annora stood with Wes and Laurel who were taking pictures of them. Laurel took a picture of them just as Wes kissed her forehead seeing her saddened eyes.

Michaela stood in the crowd sad as Connor came over cheering holding up his phone though she didn't smile. She pushed his arm off of her but he brought her back in his hold as she ground her teeth together. "Say "cheese"!" He took a picture but she wasn't smiling. He hissed into her ear, "Smile or go to jail!" Michaela gave a fake smile as Connor took more pictures of them.

*•*•*

It was very late at night and the five students had just reentered The Keating house. Connor sighed heavily as they walked back into the lounge. "So, what's the plan here? Are we gonna chop him up into BBQ-friendly pieces now, or, uh, are we gonna wait till he's broiled to a crisp?" We turned his head so it'd face him, barely being able to see anyone due to the darkness.

"We'll roll him in the rug, deal with it i the woods." Connor gave a sarcastic smile as he nodded, "Good Times." A phone then began to a vibrate and Michaela pulled it out of her pocket looking at it confused. "Little help?" Wes shot at Connor across the room.

The man moved quickly over to where Wes was with a smirk. "Happy to." Laurel came back with large pieces of paper to soak up some of the blood. Her head turned to Annora who stood in the archway staring. "Do you want to help? You don't have to, just something to keep you busy."

Annora thought for a second before she answered with a nod and dropped to her knees. Michaela then left the room with her phone in hand. Wes handed Laurel the trophy so she'd clean it.

She tapped Annora's arm letting her follow while the paper soaks up the blood. When they entered they saw Michaela on her phone. "You are not about to call Aiden!" Laurel said in a mother like tone, her voice starling Michaela causing her to swiftly put her phone in her pocket. "No."

Laurel stepped forward not believing her. "You sure about that?" She quickly stuffed her hand in Michaela's pocket pulling out her phone seeing all the missed calls from her fiancé. "If you call him, the cell tower will place you in this house. I know, okay? I'm not stupid. Look, I-I'm not gonna call him. Can I just please have my..."

Laurel sighed looking Michaela in the eyes. "This is scary. I know. And believe it or not, I know you- how much you like to be in control. But right now, you need to accept that Thai situation isn't one we can control. So we just need to switch off our brain and go along with the plan. Can you do that?"

Michaela gritted her teeth snatching the phone from Laurel, "Yeah. And don't talk to me like I'm a child." As she walked out of the room she slammed her shoulder into Laurel's sending her stumbling and giving Annora a hard glare. Laurel paid no mind it's moving over to the sink to watch off Lady Justice.

Michaela stood off to the side tears coming down her face while Connor and Wes rolled up a body in the rug is laid on, blood staining the rug.

Connor looked up at Michaela hissing out her name. "I never agreed to this! The coin did, so I'm gonna stand here and not see anything so when I'm called to testify, I can just say that." She turned her head to her shoulder sneering at him.

"I just want you to move your feet." She turned her head back at him confused. "What?"

Her voice was quiet as she walked away from the rug she stood on allowing them to roll it up completely.

Laurel came in quickly with the trophy, "Here. I wiped the sink down with bleach after I washed it. Now what?" Wes stood up peering at her. "We put it back." Connor shook his head his eyes shifting between them all.

"Let's just get the hell out of here. Now." Laurel offered her help to Wes and Connor trying to pick up the body.

"Where's Annora?" Wes suddenly asked looking over at Laurel.

"Uh, I left her in the kitchen." Laurel nodded back at the doorway grunting as they lifted the body only to drop it.

Their breaths were ragged with Wes looking to Michaela for help the rest doing the same. She shook her head before walking forward.

"Fine." Michaela walked around to the side of Wes lifting the body with them.

The four stumbled with the body accidentally hitting it on the doorway. "Come out here," Laurel instructed the guys, turning themselves so they could exit.

"Annora come on!" The girl appeared in the entrance of the kitchen gaping at the body they all held. She gulped walking past them, opening the door.

Outside an officer scared them when he spoke making them all jump. "This car one of yours?" He walked through the gate and up to the steps.

They all dropped the body with them all looking more scared than ever. Michaela and Laurel stoped out of the doorway as well, all five of them staring at the officer.

Connor was the one to inform him as it was his vehicle. "It's my car, sir." The officer let his hands rest on his belt pointing back to Connor's car.

"You're blocking the sidewalk." Connor immediately nodded his head glancing back at the car. "Oh. Uh, right. I can- I can move it right now."

He began reaching into his pocket for the keys when the officer suddenly questioned. "This that law professor's office?" Connor brushed his hair back from his face while Michaela looked at him wide-eyed.

She was the one who actually confirmed his question. "Yes. Professor Keating. We're her law students, that's her daughter." She pointed her finger back at Annora who gave a soft fake smile when the officer's eyes landed on her.

"But she's out of town and told us to take this old rug to the bonfire." The officer was quite confused with his brows furrowing at Michaela.

"She asked you to go into her house and burn a rug for her?" Michaela quickly thought of something that would seem believable.

"She actually asked her daughter to, but she needed help carrying the rug so we offered. It sounds weird, I know." Michaela nervously smiled at him seeing his face switch over.

"Why don't I give her a call so she can explain to you herself?" Laurel immediately chimed in, "Uh... it's a little late to call her, don't you think?"

Michaela huffed her lips curling into a fake smile. "The nice officer here thinks we're burgling our professor's house. Let's just clear this whole thing up. I mean, it is a little late." She pulled out her phone bringing it up and began to scroll through it.

"Oh, god, and she had to go to her mother's funeral today. But maybe she's not asleep yet."

In the distance, a loud male voice screamed, 'This'll burn good!' The officer took his hand from his belt wavering it out. "It's fine. Just-"

He was stopped as the sound of glass shattering came from across the street followed by cheering.

"Damn it. Be safe, okay? There's a ton of crazies out tonight." A bunch of frat boys began running down the street holding reindeer and snowman decorations.

As the officer left Connor looked back at Wes growling at him.

"Where the hell has that girl been all night?" The others stayed quiet three of them having no clue as to where she was.

The four holding the body quickly put in the car, laying him on the middle console. Connor, Wes, Laurel, and Michaela all got into the car before they saw there was no more room left for Annora. "Here. Just, just sit on my lap." Wes said in a reassuring tone and a small smile.

Annora slowly made her way into the car and sitting on Wes' lap. He looked over to Connor who was in the drivers seat of his car. "Just don't get pulled over." They drove for no more than four minutes before he stopped at a red light allowing people to walk across the street.

It was then Asher Millstone stopped in the middle of the crosswalk paying no mind to them. Though they still ducked quickly for safe measures. They all sighed once he left the crosswalk.

"It's funny, right? We're driving so far out of the city to buy some lighter fluid when... we're already screwed." Connor glanced at Wes who held Annora tightly in his arms. She could almost fall asleep if it wasn't for the feet of her dead father being so close to her.

"I mean, I hate to be all negative here, but Asher knew that we were in the house, and there's that, th-tha-tha-that eyewitness cop, our fingerprints, and hair and-and skin cells at the crime scene," He turned to Michaela and Laurel in the backseat, smiling at the women as if this was some big excitement. ", the fibers from this rug now embedded in my car, these street camera recording us this very minute. Everyone say hello to the police. Hi!"

Annora choked on a sob into Wes' chest. "Connor, stop. You're scaring her." Connor's face changed expressions in the blink of an eye. "She should be scared! We're all going to go to prison because of you and your girlfriend!"

Annora looked up at Connor through her teary eyes lowly speaking, "Enough, Connor." He shakes his head and chuckles, placing his hands on the steering wheel. "You're right. Why-why freak out about things out of our control?" He then turned on the radio which started to play Christmas hits. "Perfect!" He hoarsely laughed turning it up. "Don we now our gay apparel! Fa la la la la, la la, la la!"

*•*•*

Connor's car sat at a twenty-four-hour gas station waiting for Wes to come back out. The rugged body was placed in the middle of the whole car.

Connor tapped on the steering while whilst he sang Christmas hits. "Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh."

Michaela has her head pressed tightly against the seat's headrest hissing at the man. "Connor, please stop." Though he didn't but continued singing, "O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way."

He turned back at her with no emotion provided on his face. "No. I like it, especially that it annoys you." He glared at her singing again in a horrific manner. "What fun it is to ride and sing a slaying song tonight. Oh, jingle bells, jingle all the way."

Wes opened the door letting Annora out. He then placed the small convenience store bag on the side of him. Once he was seated he allowed her to sit back on his lap. Wes then threw a bag of chips back at Laurel who looked at him confused.

"What's all this for?" Wes wrapped his arms around the shocked Annora turning his head to make eye contact with her. "I figured I should buy other stuff in case I'm on the surveillance video."

Connor who was unusually excited smiled at him. "Why? We can just kill the store owner if we need to, right?" Annora closed her eyes tightly trying to shut out his words as he was gloating in convicting another murder.

"Hey! Jingle bells..." Wes looked at him shocked while Connor only shrugged his shoulders.

He turned his attention back to the girl in his arms pulling her closer to his chest, while she stared out the windshield not blinking for more than a minute.

", jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun to kill someone and end up in jail."

His words made the others stare wide-eyed at him. Some of their hands were shaking while others lips trembled.

*•*•*

Laurel, Wes, Michaela, and Connor walked through the woods carrying the rug-covered body while Annora walked behind them shining the flashlight.

"Remind me again why Nora isn't helping?" Michaela rolled her eyes her arm tiring out. Wes stopped walking glaring up at her. "Because she shouldn't have to."

Michaela didn't exactly mean to come off rude she was only tired especially after what she saw tonight.

Suddenly they heard a woman laughing with leaves crunching under her feet. "They're totally wondering where we went right now."

A deep male voice followed hers walking with the girl. "No way." The five silently hurried behind a thick tree that had a small drop behind it shielding them from the intoxicated students.

They dropped the body on the ground just as Wes whispered for Annora to turn off the flashlight, which she did. "Hey, hey. Jen cannot find out about this, okay?" The girl grabbed the man's coat bringing him closer to her.

"Deal." He shrugged the coat off of his arms with her doing the same. "Okay." The two had just started to kiss when Laurel's phone began to ring. The girl whipped her head around in their direction but was not able to see them. "What was that?"

Laurel tried to decline the call but her glove was stopping her from doing so, which allowed Michaela to see her screen. It was Frank which a picture of him shirtless taking a selfie.

She took her glove off with her mouth-ending call then throwing her head back in relief. The guy heard the noise stop which caused him to become curious.

"Hey! Who's there?" He began to put his coast back on when the girl grabbed his forearm getting scared. "Can we go?" He gripped her arm pulling her to follow him out of the woods.

Laurel let out a sigh when they were finally gone. Michaela glared down at Laurel questionably, "Why is Frank calling you?" At her words, Annora's head shot up her face contorting into confusion as to why he would call her... unless they're hooking up.

Laurel looked back up at her faking her confusion. "What?" Not falling for her act Michaela quickly hissed out, "I saw your phone, Laurel. What the hell's going on?" Everyone stared at Laurel who only looked off in the woods.

Wes looked at her with wide eyes not believing her confusion. "Laurel, please don't say you told Frank about this." She looked back at him when Michaela suddenly hissed at them, "You people tell me that I can't call Aiden, and you called Frank? I swear to god, Laurel, if you told him anything-"

Laurel then confessed something that made Annora's heart stop. "I slept with him. Okay? I didn't call him. He's calling me bec- It doesn't matter." She glared at Laurel, her eyes becoming glossy. "You what? You slept with Frank? You and Frank had sex?" Laurel nodded her head looking away from the now crying girl.

Annora rubbed the tears down her face kicking the dirt. "Fucking bullshit. Lying son of a bitch." She stood up weeping as she kicked more dirt, it flying around. Wes quickly rose to his feet as she started to hit her thighs in pain.

He grabbed her arms pulling her back to his chest. "Annora," Wes spoke her name in worry for her mental state. "He's a fucking liar, Wes. H-h-he, he, he-" Wes turned her around pulling her into his chest to quiet her heart aching sobs. Her voice muffled against his coat.

*•*•*

In the woods, they all unrolled the body in the rug. Wes bent down grabbing two bottles of lighter fluid while the Laurel and Annora gathered large sticks together dropping them on the body.

He flipped open both of the caps squeezing the fluid onto the deceased body. Wes picked up the box of matches as glanced at the rest of them. "Okay. Last chance. Either we all agree, or we stop right now."

Connor stared at the body spitting out, "Just do it." Laurel nodded adding to his words. "Before the bonfire ends." Wes's head turned to Michaela who only stared at the body covered by sticks not bothering to ask Annora who was still in some state of shock.

"Michaela?" She was distraught, "It's the only way to destroy the DNA." He opened the box taking a single match out striking it against the side which provided light.

With the light, it shined revealing the face of the one who was dead that night. Sam Keating.

He waited a few moments before he dropped the match onto the pile with them all stepping back. Annora leaned over covering her eyes with tears streaming down her face.

Wes took long strides over pulling her into his chest so she couldn't look at the now burning body.

The five of them stood around the burning body staring off into the night as Connor poked at the fire with a long stick. Suddenly Laurel's phone rang causing her to glance down at it as she pulled it out of her pocket.

The others looked to her after hearing the ringing sound. Connor rolled his eyes glaring at the back of her head. "That Frank again? Guy's whipped." He had a crazed look in his eyes staring at the woman.

"You should answer." Wes hurriedly intoned. Laurel shook her head while she turned into him. "He's the last person I want to talk to right now." Michaela scoffed glaring holes into her head. "It strengthens our alibi, Moron. He'll hear the bonfire in the background."

Laurel's eyes cast towards Annora who was stood near Wes. She held the same glare as Michaela but with hurt behind her's mixing with the horror. "He's not my problem anymore, so go ahead. Unless you want to go to prison."

Laurel sighed quickly answering the phone and pressing it to her ear. "What?" On the other line, Frank sighed in relief as he heard her voice, pacing in his apartment. "Where the hell are you?" She rolled her eyes, dryly sucking her teeth. "The bonfire. Stop calling me." She was just about to hang up though his words made her actions holt.

"Laurel, wait. Is Ann there? Don't tell her. Please, I can't lose her." His voice was desperate as he placed his hand on his desk leaning over it. "Why shouldn't I tell her? You used me because you were mad she wanted nothing to do with you. Because you left her at a bar with a bunch of drunk college men."

Frank sighed standing up from his position beginning to pace once more. "I messed up. I know that, real bad. I just... I'll do whatever I can to make this right. Just, just, don't tell her. I waited too long to have her and I can't lose her right now. Laurel, please."

Laurel's eyes slowly switched over to Wes and Annora, the male of the two holding her close to warm her up without the fire. "It's too late. She already knows." She then hung up the phone leaving no room for talk.

Frank slammed his phone down on the desk before throwing his across the room. "Damn it!" He shoved his desk causing a screeching noise to erupt from it. Frank dropped onto the floor holding his head in his hands as he roughly pulled at his hair.

*•*•*

Connor was violently hacking at the body while the others watched in fear. Annora couldn't handle it so Wes had taken her some feet away allowing her to sit on the ground.

She slowly rocked herself back and forth looking out at the trees. "The other night dear, as I lay sleeping. I dreamed I held you in my arms." Wes looked over tearfully at her as she sang softly, her voice cracking at moments due to her tears. "But when I awoke dear, I was mistaken. So I hung my head and I cried." A tear leaked from her eye as she sang the song her mom used to sing on scary nights.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." Wes was worried for her as he feared she was at her breaking point in the ordeal. He softly called out to her yet she didn't respond.

"I'll always love you and make you happy. If you will only say the same. But if you leave me and love another, you'll regret it all someday." On her previous words, when she sang she thought of Frank her mind picturing him.

*•*•*

Michaela grimaced as she dragged the last bag of bones to the car. Connor was squatting on the ground breathing into his palms. Wes placed the bag into the truck looking at the others. "That's the last one." Connor stared at the truck bouncing as he squatted, "Everyone get in the car." He had tears falling down his pale cheeks, looking distraught.

Wes closed the trunk getting into the passenger side. This time Annora sat in the middle of the backseat. Laurel on her left and a spot for Michaela on her right.

Connor stood going to the driver's seat when Michaela groaned in horror looking at her left hand. "Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait." Connor shivered walking away from the door. "Just get in the car, Michaela." She cried looking at her ring finger. "Oh, no, m-m-m-m-my ring." Laure turned in confusion, "What?" "My engagement ring is gone!"

She cried out, whimpering. "I lost it. I- oh, god. I lost my ring." They all exited the car looking as Michaela dropped to the ground moving the dirt on the floor. "I lost my ring. I lost my ring. I lost my ring. I lost my ring." Her voice got quieter with each sentence as her face contorted into sadness.

*•*•*

They drove to a road tunnel which held a large dumpster. Connor was throwing the bags away with the help of Laurel while Michaela tried to stop them. "I said wait! My ring might be in one of those!" She gripped onto a bag that was still in while Connor marched forward very angry. "Enough about the ring, Frodo!" Laurel sighed her eyes glancing to Wes who stood holding Annora, trying to distract her with a game of "I-Spy".

"We are not going through every bag." Wes took his attention off of Annora as he told her the I-Soy bringing it to the other three. "I'm tell you, this is a bad idea. You're not listening. We need to get to an incinerator and find-"

He was interrupted by Connor who stomped up angrily to him, shooting Michaela a glare as he did seeing she was going through another bag. "I heard you! All night. I'm sorry, but you've been outvoted on this one." Michaela screamed as she touched the burned skin and organs of Sam in the bag.

Connor huffed walking over grabbing the bag. "Oh! Grow up!" He slung the bag into the dumpster with ease, closing the lid while Laurel shut the trunk. "That's it. There's no more." Connor smiled walking back over to the car, "Same time next week?"

Michaela glared at the back of his head, crossing her arms. "Can we please just go?" She follow Laurel and Connor into the car with a nasty look on her face. Wes went over shaking Annora's shoulder lightly.

"Ann? We're gonna go okay? Wanna stay at my place tonight?" Annora nodded her head holding his hand in hers. "What about Rebecca?" Wes' face went blank at the mention of her name, seeming like he forgot about her for a moment. "She's somewhere else. I check on her and come back after we get dropped off. All right?" She gave him another nod before sitting herself on his lap once more and closing the door.

*•*•*

Wes lead Annora to the bed before he grabbed his bike that leaned on the wall. "I'll be back in an hour or two. Try to get some sleep. Ease you mind, okay?" She once again nodded, she had barely spoken all night compared to the others.

Wes hummed before he left his apartment with his bike, heading back to the motel. An hour or so after he was gone, Annora's mind started to shift, reviving flashes of the previous night. Standing up she thought of the only place she could go at the moment.

*•*•*

Annora stood banging on an apartment door at six am. With no answer, she banged harder whimpering. The door soon opened allowing her banging to halt. "Where have you been? I've been calling you all night. None of you are answering your phones." Annora pushed herself into him wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm scared."

He pulled her inside closing the door, putting his arm around her. "What's wrong?" Annora bit her lips silencing her cries. "I can't tell you, Frank. Please don't leave me." He pulled away from her holding her face in his hands. "It's okay. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." He inched his face down connecting their lips in a long kiss.

When they separated he pulled her back into his chest staring at the door. "I'm not going anywhere." He glared at the door cursing at the person or thing that made her shaken up. But he was more scared of what Laurel said earlier. Though the way she was acting made him wonder is Laurel lied to him about Annora knowing.

Annora suddenly became stiff remembering the call in the woods. She roughly pushed Frank off of her giving him a deadly glare. "I'm so stupid, why did I come here knowing that you slept with Laurel?! I know we aren't even dating but... I just thought we were taking our time." Frank struggled to speak looking towards the girl in disbelief. "Ann, Sunshine... I can explain I swear it not what it seems."

She shook her head letting out a clearly fake laugh. "No, Frank. I don't want your explanation. I-I asked you if there was anything going on between you two and you sat there and lied to my face!"

Annora sat in front of Frank as they ate the spaghetti he cooked the two for dinner. "Frank." The man looked up from his plate sending a smirk her way. "Yes, doll?" Annora smiled gently playing with her fingers. "I just have to ask, before we get into anything serious, is there anything going on between you and Laurel? I just see how she looks at you sometimes and how you look at her." Frank stared at her in disbelief taking her hand in his. "I swear there's nothing there between us. I just don't like her much is all." The younger girl smiled before taking a sip of her wine. "Oh, okay."

Annora bit her lip turning around to the door. He tried to grab her hand to stop her from leaving but she yanked it back as if his touch was poison. "No! F-Frank whatever the fuck we had going on is over. Long gone. Don't talk to me again unless it's about work."

Frank tried to speak but Annora shut him down. "Just stay the hell away from me." She glared at his sad face and the frown upon his lips before she quickly ran out for the door, slamming it shut.

*•*•*

Wes brought Annora over to her house after receiving a text from Bonnie saying they were needed. The others who were already there sat talking, worrying, that Annalise knew what took place last night.

Wes sighed, his hand in Annora's as he led her in the room. "We don't know that. It could be anything." Connor scoffed looking at their hands and Wes' calm face. "'Cause we can trust you about anything right now."

Asher then walked into the room standing behind Wes and Annora as they took a seat. "You guys are the worst liars." Everyone's eyes snapped to him, hearts beating fast. "Enjoy the bonfire? Yeah, that's right. I saw your stupid pictures."

Everyone calmed down, mentally releasing sighs. Wes ran his thumb over Annora's knuckles to help her cam down, staring deeply at the floor. "We went last minute." Asher turned his voice into a stud mocking one shaking his head at them. "Well, thanks fo the last minute call. And you, Pratt. I believe you have something of mine?"

Frank then came up behind him holding the trophy and avoiding even glancing at Annora. "You talking about this?" Asher looked at him confused, "Where'd you find that?" Frank shrugged with a twist of his lip. "It was on the porch when I got here. Point it, it's up for grabs now." He waved it around causing Asher to immediately protest.

"No. It's mine, and I haven't studied at all, so..." He reached for the trophy but Frank drew his hand holding it back. "Then you better start." Bonnie turned around looking at everyone across the room. "Good. Everyone's here now?" Michaela licked her lips, sitting up in her seat. "It's Saturday. Why are we here?"

Bonnie shook her head, glancing at the floor. "Something's happened that Annalise wants to talk to you all about." A knock on the door stopped her from speaking any further. Annalise walked in looking sad and empty, avoiding looking to her daughter. "That must be the police." The students glanced at each other, scared of what was about to happen.

Bonnie walked over to the door, "I'll go get them." Annalise looked around seeing her daughter now staring back at her. "The police are gonna ask you a lot of questions about my husband." Late-Husband. "He was having an affair with Lila Stangard. And I confronted him about it last night. Ann was there she knows. We had a terrible fight. And now..."

She began to cry, trying to wipe the tears away. Annora stood from her chair walking to her side and hugging her but she can't help the guilty feeling that burned inside of her. "Now he's not answering his phone. I-I think he might've fled. So... sorry to have to involve you all in this, but you're gonna be asked a lot of questions, especially since you worked on Rebecca's case, and I need you all to be as honest with the police as possible."

Wes stared at Annalise and could only think one think one thing, she's a good actress but an even better liar. "Will you promise me that you'll do that for me?" She stared directly at Wes as she spoke those words to which he responded, "Of course. Whatever you need." They stared at eachother for what seemed like minutes before he finally said, "Thank you."

- 10618 words-

*•*•*

ahhh finally they flashforwards all line up. ngl these type if chapters will always be my favorite to write because I get excited to make everything line up.

Q. how was the chapter?