"We're gonna get the fuck out of Woodsboro."

.

.

.

Sam's heart raced as she watched the doctors work diligently to bandage up the rest of Tara's wounds. The room was filled with an unsettling silence, broken only by the occasional beep of the monitoring equipment. There was an unsettling silence between them, both having heard about Dewey but still not having seen any sight of Layla.

Police were stationed throughout the entire hospital, with neighbouring counties having sent over reinforcements since the Woodsboro police were significantly down in numbers. Various officers had now been attacked, and with two dead, they were significantly under-prepared for another Ghostface attack it seemed.

Sam and Tara both looked towards the door as the doctor stepped out, the stationed officer immediately moving to the side so that she could exit the room. Tara wasn't sure if she felt any safer with the police there, since they'd failed to stop everything else that had happened so far. She wasn't sure who she could trust anymore - other than Sam and Layla, she hoped.

"Has anyone called Gale?" Tara asked, her eyes darting between Sam and the back of the officer that was standing in the doorway. Sam sighed, her brows furrowing with concern. 

"I don't know," Sam admitted, having not even stopped to think about the older woman that she'd met only a hour prior.

The room was bathed in an eerie silence as the sisters looked at each other for a moment, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning unit. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, a stark reminder of the horrors that had unfolded just moments ago. Tara's trembling hands clutched onto the edge of the hospital bed, her knuckles turning white as she fought to steady her nerves.

Sam's gaze flickered over to the officer who stood stoically in the doorway, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over the room. He tilted his head back towards them for a second, but other than that, he made no indication that he was actively listening to the sisters.

The older Carpenter's fingers instinctively curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her heart pounded in her chest, a relentless rhythm that echoed the turmoil within her. Sam nodded, her gaze never leaving the officer's back. Tara grabbed on to her hand, squeezing it tightly as she took in a deep breath.

Then, as if emerging from a nightmare, Layla appeared in the doorway. She stood there, her figure silhouetted by the dim light filtering in from the hallway. The Carpenter sisters sat up straighter, holding their breath as the police officer studied the girl for a moment before moving to the side and letting her enter Tara's hospital room. The sisters eyes widened as they took in the sight before them. 

Layla's body was covered in dried blood, an eerie tableau of violence etched upon her skin. A thick white bandage was wrapped around her upper arm, and it seemed like there was some gauze wrapped underneath her shirt too, around her abdomen. Her t-shirt was still coated in the thick, dried blood and it was apparent to the sisters that she was refusing any further treatment.

Tara's voice wavered as she broke the suffocating silence, her voice barely a whisper. "Layla... what happened?"

Layla's steps were slow and deliberate as she entered the room, her eyes fixed on a distant point in the horizon. The dried blood on her clothes cracked and crumbled, a sinister reminder of the horrors she had endured. A reminder of the horrific death that her adoptive father had endured. A haunting of the death that her biological father had faced a decade prior. She seemed detached, as if she had transcended the realm of ordinary pain and sorrow.

"He's dead." She uttered, although Sam and Tara already knew the fate of the late Sheriff. "I need to call Gale."

Tara had seen Layla in many situations over the years where she was upset and emotional - including their annual break-up before the start of Summer - but this was something that she'd never have imagined to witness. Seeing her now, covered in blood and in obvious pain, sent a shiver down her spine. The sight made her feel physically sick, knowing that it wasn't Layla's own blood staining her clothes.

"I'll call Gale right away," Sam said, reaching for her phone. She no longer doubted Layla for a second, and it was as if her old babysitting protective ways had been relaunched as soon as her eyes laid on the younger girl. "Layla, you need to sit down for a minute. You're in no condition to--"

"No!" Layla's voice cut through the air, filled with a mix of anguish and determination. She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "I can't just fucking sit here while some fucker that killed my second father, my friends, and sliced up Tara is out there."

Tara winced at the raw pain in Layla's voice. She had never seen her friend so vulnerable, so consumed by fury and grief. When Layla had her father taken from her, they'd been a lot younger and it wasn't a situation that really was understood in its full severity by the girls until they were a little older. This was different.

As Layla's words hung in the air, the weight of their shared loss settled heavily on them all. The room seemed to grow colder, the air thick with an unspoken understanding. Sam took a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling hands. She knew that convincing Layla to rest was futile at this point. Layla had always been fiercely independent, and her determination had only grown stronger since Sam had left Woodsboro without a goodbye. With a mix of empathy and apprehension, Sam approached Layla, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand your anger, Layla," Sam said softly. "But right now, you're injured, and Tara needs you here. We'll find whoever is parading around in that mask, I promise. But we need to take care of each other first."

Layla's shoulders slumped, and for a moment, it seemed as if she might give in to exhaustion and despair. But then, her eyes hardened, her resolve returning like a fiery spark.

"You're right," she whispered, her voice laced with determination. "We'll find them. And they will pay for what they've done."

Tara watched the interaction between her sister and girlfriend, a mix of gratitude and concern filling her heart. She knew that they were all broken, scarred by the unimaginable loss they had suffered. But in that moment, as Layla stood there, bloodied but unbroken, and Sam stood by her side, supporting her, Tara wasn't sure if she recognised the two girls in front of her.

There was an unspoken agreement in the air between them, and Tara was pretty sure it didn't involve her having any part of what was going to go down once they did find whoever was re-creating the murders that had haunted the town for so long. She wasn't sure Layla and Sam were going to come out of this the same. None of them would.

"You stay here," Sam ordered, as she rose to her feet once more and squeezed Tara's hand again. "I'm going to go downstairs, and call Gale. Then once I'm back, I'm never leaving you again."

Layla and Tara both nodded, knowing that the last part was directed at her sister. Layla took Sam's spot, slumping down in the chair with a small hiss as she felt the gauze rub against her wounds.

_____

Layla dragged her feet as she exited the elevator (which still had evidence of the blood that had leaked from her, Tara and Richie) into the brightly lit hospital waiting room. Her tear-streaked face was pale, her eyes now dulled with a mix of sorrow and grief. Her once vibrant dark curls were matted with dried blood, the crimson stains standing out starkly against her fair skin. Dewey's blood was still caked on her arms, a sign of the trauma that she had just endured within those very walls.

"Tara's asking for you," Layla told Sam, ignoring the two figures that jumped to their feet across the waiting room as they noticed who was talking to the victim that they had just been speaking with. "Go."

Sam took off without hesitation, heading straight towards the staircase. She had no intention of going back in that elevator for the time being. She just wanted to grab her sister and get the hell away from this place, even if she had to take Tara kicking and screaming.

Gale Weathers rushed forward with a cry of anguish, her heart breaking at the sight of her adoptive daughter in such a state. Tears streamed down her face as she gathered Layla into her trembling arms, holding her tight, desperate to shield her from the horrors of the world. She never had expected to be back in this hospital, clutching on to the Torres girl as she lost another parent, but here they were.

Sidney Prescott stood beside them, her expression etched with a mixture of grief and anger. She had heard the terrible news about Dewey already, but seeing Layla like this only intensified her anguish. She moved closer, a hand reaching out to touch Layla's non-bandaged arm gently, offering a silent gesture of support.

"Layla," Gale whispered, her voice choked with pain. "Thank god you're okay..." Her voice quivered with a mix of fear and grief. 

Layla trembled, her voice barely a whisper. "He...he... said he had to go for the head."

Gale's heart shattered into a million pieces, her grip on Layla tightening as the words struck a chord within her. Sidney's eyes narrowed at the thought of it, her hands clenching into fists at her side. Anguish mixed with an unyielding rage, a determination to find whoever was putting on that mask, and end this once and for all.

Sidney had seen too many people die at the hands of the Ghostface persona. Her mom, Tatum, Randy, Hallie, Derek, Kate, heck even Cotton... and now Dewey. She needed this to end now, before someone else she loved and cared for got added to that list.

"Layla, sweetheart," Sidney spoke gently, her voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos. "You're safe now. We won't let anyone hurt you again. We'll get through this together, I promise."

Sidney's voice held a steely resolve, her gaze unwavering. "We'll get justice for your father, for Dewey, for me and Gale and everyone we've all lost. This ends now."

Layla clung to Gale, finding solace in her aunt's words, in the unwavering love and determination that radiated from both Gale and Sidney. In that moment, she knew she wasn't alone. She had a family who would stand by her side, who would fight for her, even in the darkest of times.

As the three of them stood there, embracing each other amidst the wreckage of their lives, a silent vow passed between them. They would find the strength to heal, to seek justice, and to protect one another. In their shared grief, they discovered an unbreakable bond, a testament to the power of love and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Layla knew one thing the older women didn't: she wasn't going to let Gale and Sidney anywhere near Ghostface. It was clear that whoever was wearing the mask had an obsession with the originals and 'legacy' characters, and Gale and Sidney were Dewey-level when it came to legacy. She wouldn't lose anyone else.

She couldn't.

_____

"So what do we do now?" Tara's heart thudded in her chest, each beat a reminder of the choices they were about to make, choices that would determine the course of their lives.

Sam's voice quivered as she looked at Tara, her voice laced with a mix of fear and determination.

 "What nobody ever does in these situations. We're gonna get the fuck out of Woodsboro." 

_____

"I'm not coming, Tara," Layla said gently, her own heart clenching as she saw Tara's face drop immediately. She tightened her grip on her crutches as she readjusted herself, about to argue that she needed Layla to come with Sam and Richie and her.

Tara stared into Layla's eyes, her heart sinking at the words that spilled from her lips. The gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air, weighing down their once vibrant connection. They had spent countless nights entangled in each other's arms, whispering secrets and sharing dreams. This was supposed to be their last chance before they all went off to college, the last year that they'd get to truly live as teenagers with no responsibilities. 

Tara's voice trembled as she pleaded, "I don't want to leave you behind."

Layla's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her face etched with a profound sadness. She could see Sam arguing with Gale and Sidney as Layla opened the car door for Tara.

"I know, Tara," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "But I can't keep you safe here."

Tara's heart ached at Layla's words. She understood the logic, the need for self-preservation, but the thought of leaving Layla behind tore at her soul. They had built a sanctuary within their love, a shelter from the storms of the world. How could they survive apart? How did she know that Layla would survive Ghostface once again?

"Layla, I can't bear the thought of leaving you here," Tara murmured, her voice filled with anguish. "I've already lost Wes, and I can't bear to lose you too..."

Layla reached out, her gentle fingers tracing the contours of Tara's face. 

"I love you, Tara. More than anything. And that's why I'm asking you to go. To leave this place and find safety. Our love can withstand distance and time, but it can't withstand us both staying and getting killed by that fucker."

Tara's tears flowed freely now, her heart shattering with each passing moment. She wanted to protest, to fight against the cruel hand that fate had dealt them. But Layla's resolute gaze held her captive, a reminder of the strength that lay within them both. 

Richie coughed from the front of the car, trying to rush the moment and causing Layla to stick her finger up at him before returning her attention to Tara. The girl was glaring at Richie too, not happy that he was coming with her and Sam but Layla was getting left behind.

With a trembling voice, Tara whispered, "Promise me that you'll be safe. Promise me that you won't take unnecessary risks."

Layla nodded, her own tears mingling with Tara's. "I promise, Tar. I will do everything in my power to stay safe, and stop whoever is doing this."

Tara leaned in, capturing Layla's lips in a tender kiss, their love pouring into the moment, transcending the uncertainties that lay ahead. 

As they broke apart, Tara whispered one final plea, "Remember, Layla, that no matter the distance between us, my heart will always be yours."

Layla's voice quivered with unshed tears as she replied, "And mine will always belong to you, Tara."

With a heavy heart, Tara turned away, not sure that she could bear to look as they drove away from the girl. Layla shut the door, turning and hugging Sam as the older girl finally approached the car and stopped arguing with Sidney and Gale.

They didn't exchange any words, but shared a look of understanding. Layla was staying behind for one purpose, and Sam was hitting the road for the same purpose. 

To protect Tara Carpenter.

_______

Gale and Sidney sat inside the hospital, brainstorming how they were going to use the tracker that Sidney had put on Sam's car to follow the Carpenter siblings and Richie to make sure that they stayed safe. Layla had told them both that she needed fresh air, having been given a change of clothes and time to clean the dried blood off of her body.

She stepped outside, her fingers tapping away on her phone as she tried to ignore the guilt and unease that was filling her body at the choice she was about to make.

The night air outside the hospital hung heavy with the promise of danger as the car pulled up outside. The streetlights cast an eerie glow on the side of the road, adding to the unsettling atmosphere of police cars and news channel vans that littered the parking lot. Layla hesitated for a moment before climbing into the passenger seat, her eyes scanning the darkness beyond.

Mindy glanced at her friend, her forehead creased with concern. "Are you sure about this, Layla? You don't need to come if you're..."

Layla's gaze hardened as she met Mindy's worried expression. "That's exactly why I want to go. I can't just sit around waiting for someone else to die. I need to live my life."

There was an unspoken sentence that Layla wanted to say out loud, but a part of her was doubting all of her friends now. She wanted to tell Mindy that she was hoping that Ghostface was going to show, so that she could end this once and for all - but the nagging at the back of her head told her that it was best she kept her plan to herself.

Mindy's mouth gaped open at Layla's sudden announcement, but no words escaped. She knew Layla's determination could be relentless, but this time, she couldn't help but worry for her friend's safety. Under that, she was still a little weary of her sudden change in actions. Layla, who had been telling them all that they needed to watch out for Ghostface, was suddenly wanting to go to a party in the middle of nowhere after being attacked.

"Don't speak, just drive." Layla said before Mindy could make a comment about her giving off serial killer vibes. She didn't want to hear her friend speculating that she could be behind any of this when Dewey and Wes were now dead. Mindy's speculations had been harmless before but now Layla couldn't help but wonder if it was just a cover. If anyone had an obsession in their friend group with the previous killings, it was Mindy.

Everyone was a suspect to her, now that Dewey was dead. 

With that change of tone, Mindy put the car into gear, and they set off towards Amber's house, the tension thickening in the air with each passing mile. Layla couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for leaving without telling Gale and Sidney where she was going, especially as she knew they were going to be pissed as hell when they found out she was leaving the hospital to go to a party. 

She had to stop whoever was doing this - for Dewey.