I looked through Emily's bag to see if she left any clue to where she could have gone. It had been a week since the whole Jason thing with Spencer I just couldn't be bothered fighting anymore. However this wasn't about me, Emily had disappeared during the night and I was worried.

"Yeah we weren't sure we just thought....yeah thanks" Spencer ended the call "She's not a swim practice"

"No, I told you she's not allowed near the pool." Hanna retorted

"Guys all of her clothes are here. You think she did something crazy?" Aria asked

"Like what?" I questioned

"Like jump in her car and burn rubber till she hits Texas." Aria replied as I stood up like the others.

"She didn't take anything with her. She even left her phone."

"To be fair I wouldn't either, if I were her." I comment "I mean A had their hands around her neck and they keep reminding her."

"i mean she hasn't slept in weeks." Hanna stated

"Who has?" Aria wondered

"Well..." I trail off, the know what it meant but the words didn't need saying. With everything going on it made me want to sleep more not less. But again not about me, need to focus on finding Emily.

"Spencer pass me her phone." she did and I checked through her call logs and text messages. "Bingo. She got a message around 3 am from a blocked number." i opened the message  "Oh no."

"What?"

"Isn't this you and Ezra." I showed my twin the picture. She snatched the phone out of my hand and stared at it.

"Of course it's me."

"Unless your Aria's and Erica's Mom and just assume it's Spencer, you know slutting  it up." I took the phone back.

"Spencer you do have a track record. It wouldn't be that big of a leap. I'm surprised Mom went there though." I comment thoughtfully for a moment then look back with the text.

"It came with a text. 'Clue Ella in and I'll let you out -A'" Aria took the phone back off me

"Aria chill, Emily would never send that to your mother." Hanna reassures

"Well of course she can't because we have her phone and she left in the middle of the night. I mean where the hell is she?" Spencer snaps

"We don't know but what I do know is that she's taking this a lot harder than most of us. We need help." I state

"What do you suggest?" Aria asks

"That we do what would should have done in the first place when help was offered. Dr Sullivan ."

"Are you insane, do you remember what happened the last time we had the bright idea, to tell her." Hanna responds

"Yes but we don't wait this time, we agree and go right now, not wait over night for A to find out, come up with an plan, break in and intimidate us mid conversation. Besides if you checked her phone properly you would have seen that Dr Sullivan has called her a few times. It doesn't take a genius to figure what about. Do we all agree?" I ask. One by one they nodded and we left for Dr Sullivan's office.

"Girls please come in." we did and we took different positions, I sat as did Aria, Spencer stood. Hanna lead against something

"So how can I help" we looked at each other

"It was your idea" Aria nodded. I sighed

"We're worried about Emily. She ran off last night and we think that when her head is clear she'll come here." I told her. "You were right to assume that we were holding stuff back but the mater of the fact is, that it involves all of us and it needs all of us to agree and be here." I explained. She sat down.

"I see" About an hour later there was a knock on the door. Dr Sullivan stood up and answered the door.

"I'm Ready. To talk."

"Good, come in and join us." Emily entered seeing us "Your friends have been worried about you."

"Em." Hanna started "Why didn't you wake me, I was sleeping five feet away from you?"

"I can't ask my friends to take care of me." she replied

"Emily, if you were seriously thinking about going to Texas you..." Aria was cut off by our friend

"I didn't have any plans. I just knew the longer I stayed here, the worse it was gonna get. And i'm not gonna be used like a bowling bowl to knock down my best friends." she retorted

"Emily, we're sitting here because of you. None of us think that you-" Spencer spoke

"That I'm the weakest link. Yeah well somebody else does." she folded her arms

"Who? Who's using you to knock down your friends?" Dr Sullivan questioned. We shared looks with each other.

"Guys we agreed. Rip the band aid off." I say. Spencer sighs

"Somebody has being trying to hurt us." Spencer started "For a long time." Emily came to sit down.

"We have a lot of secrets, damaging secrets. And this person who calls themselves A has been threatening us with them. Mainly through texts" I admitted. Dr Sullivan nodded, she sat down and grabbed her note pad

"When did these threats begin. Did the text start after Alison's funeral?" Emily shook her head

"Before"

"At first we thought they were coming with Alison." Aria admitted

"But then they found...her body." Emily continued

"And you don't have any clue who this A person might be?" Dr Sullivan

"We do but..." Hanna trailed off

"We've been wrong before. A is an expert at making people look guilty?" I scoff and shake my head folding my arms

"Something to say Erica."

"A doesn't always need help. He/She/Bitch doesn't need to always start something they just love poking the fire. Isn't that right Spencer?" I glare at her

"Erica, not the point." Aria sighs

"It is the point. Because at some point it leads back to the bitch. A drip feeds clues 'fake clues' for the most part that Toby killed Ali. Then he was cleared then it was Ian but to be fair it wasn't that big of a leap like Toby and now it's Jason."

"Alison's brother?" I nodded

"Spencer seems to think he's the devil incarnate because of something, she found when its probably gonna be another A red herring."

"You seemed very invested that it's not." I shut up

"Oh don't stop there, Erica. You're clearly wanting to off load." Spencer snaps back

"Bite me, bitch." I sneered

"Guys stop fighting." Aria ordered "Erica make the point so we can continue." I click my tongue

"I'm dating Jason and A told my family and A was also behind my accident. There." I huffed

"Okay we'll save that for a private session. Do we think this person goes to your school?" She turned back to the main conversation.

"Maybe, but it's not like we go home and we're suddenly safe." Hanna answers

"A is everywhere, constantly on us...like a shadow." I lean my head on my sister's shoulder

"And I'm the first person you've told about this?" we nodded "Why have you waited this long to say something?" no one said anything

"We tried, but A got here first." I started "Left us a message that made us all clam up." she nodded

"Okay, thank you for trusting me with this. Why don't we pick this up at a later date. Okay." we nodded and left. Emily went home to shower and change before school and everything felt a little lighter. At lunch we saw Jenna sit down at another table to eat.

"Don't you think you we should've mentioned her?" Hanna asked

"How could we without spilling everything about that summer?" Spencer replied

"Yeah well it already look like we're making it all up." Aria added

"Sullivan probably think we're insane." Hanna muttered

"Guys after the fashion show, even our parents think there is someone out there messing with us." I comment

"My Dad still wants to sue." Hanna replies

"Sue who?" Aria and I wonder.

"Everyone." Han answered "Hey did you bring them?" she asked Spencer

"Bring what?"  Aria Inquired

"I'm gifting Kate at the rehearsal dinner so she'll forget I talked smack about her and Isabel." Hanna answered, ah ye, she and Mona joined them Horse riding and  Kate accidentally heard the whole thing via the speaker.

"You're giving her a book of horse pictures?" I was confused

"Yeah it's classier than a calendar." she looked over the books

"No, Classy would be buying something new. She's gonna know these are used." Spencer tells her

"No, she won't, and besides you have staff who dusts your books. Aww look a horse doing a wheelie. Kate's gonna love that."

"Hanna, your step sister wants to see you trampled by a horse. Why are you..." Hanna cuts my sister off

"It's not about her. It's about my Dad. We're finally getting along and I'm not about to blow it the week he's getting married."

"This isn't what we agreed." We heard Jenna and glanced over at her

"Do we think that she sent me that picture of Aria and Fitz?" Emily questioned

"We think that she had help from Garrett." Spencer replied

"Yeah, but why? It's not like torturing us is gonna give her back her sight. Plus the person she really wants to hurt, is dead?" Aria commented

"Yeah, well she probably had help with that too." Spencer whispered

"No wonder I didn't recognise you." I jumped at another voice

"Grandma!" Hanna jumped as well

"You have a salad in front of you. I've never seen you eat anything green before. Howdy girls." We all greeted her. I remember her from the few visits she had made she was such a cool Grandma

"What are you dong here?" Hanna wondered

"Don't we have a dinner to go to?"

"That's tomorrow night." Han stated

"Oh, yes, well, I guess I ran a couple of stop signs, got here early. I need your house keys." Hanna dug to get them

"They got a little girls room here?" Grandma Marin wondered

"Inside to the left." I told her

"Thank you. Hanny come with me. She'll be right back. I just need to wipe the dew from my lily" I pushed away from my food

"Okay, Grandma, walking now." Hanna puled her away

"What did she mean?" Emily wondered

"Doesn't matter. I'm now officially done eating forever." Spencer was grossed out. I started laughing.

"Oh this is going to be amazing. I remember her, she is as mad as a box of frogs. You think I'm bad with my retorts. i haven't got anything on her comments" I grinned clapping my hands

"oh, she just made my day." I grinned

"Guys" Aria pointed over to Jenna who was still on the phone. It didn't sound like a productive conversation.

"Maybe we should've just skipped Sullivan and gone straight to the police."

"Garrett is on the force Em. Jenna got there first." Spencer retorted

---------

When Aria and I arrived home our parents were arguing, and they stopped seeing that it was the two of us, trying to compose themselves.

"Hey, what's up?" Mum asked sighing.

"Nothing." we answered

"Dad, I thought you had a class?" Aria questioned

"What's going on? Is this about Mike?" I continued

"No." Dad replied bluntly gathering up his things "Gathering a few things before i head to campus."

"Byron, what is happening to their brother is not a secret. it affects them too. Your father and I have a difference of opinion on what to do about Mike."

"Yeah, and i'm not taking a poll. We'll talk about this later." he states and leaves. Aria pulls me away and we drop our things.

"Have you spoken to Mike?" she questioned

"Not properly since the whole, B&E arrest." I answered honestly "It's been awkward to get back into something normal with anyone not just him."

"Can one of you go and ask Mike to come and help with dinner." Mom called over

"Erica will do it." Aria nodded

"Why me?"

"Because, he needs you. We all know that Mike would walk on the moon for you asked. Just go on." I sighed and went upstairs. I knocked then open his door.

"Hey, Mom needs you to go downstairs and help with Dinner." I tell him he ignores me "Mike."

"Close the door." he snips at me. I look back at Aria who nods "I said get out."

"No. i'm not gonna get out. " I walk in further "You need to let somebody in and not some stranger online. Who are you even talking to?" I ask

"What's going on in here?" Mom asks

"Nobody invited her in." I look at Mom

"Let me try" I told her she nodded "Mike, please turn off your computer and join us downstairs."

"I'm not hungry."

"Have you eaten lunch?" I question

"Who cares? Close the door, I'm in the middle of something, okay?" I click my tongue

"No, that's it. You're done." I calm his laptops shut

"What are you doing? No!" he protests as I take it away he grabs a hold of it and we struggled before he pushed me hard into the wall. i hit my head and my wrist catches a table. I groaned. Mike ran into his bathroom.

"Erica are you okay?" Mom and Aria rushed over  taking either side of me.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." I try to reassure but my voice betrays me "Dad, Dad can't know about this, right Mom? It'll just make things worse."

"Erica." she breathed

"No, No. You're not fighting again because I pushed him to far. I tripped on the stairs."

"Erica, we don't have to." Mom started

"I pushed him to far, I did that. I know i should have handled it better,  but I got mad and bossy. Please Mom. You too Aria. I tripped, I was clumsy." I begged them "I'm gonna get some ice" I winced leaving my brothers room. I went downstairs and went to get some ice but cried out in pain.

"Here, let me." Mom guided me to a chair and sat me down

"We need to tell your father about this." she sighed

"We can't. I heard you this afternoon, comparing Mike to Uncle Scott. He's not that bad, not yet. If we tell him this he'll take it in the wrong way. I pushed his buttons." She brought over some ice packs.

"I think I've sprained my wrist, my back will be a bit bruised and you'll have to keep an eye on me for concussion." i listed off

"Erica. Stop." she told me taking my hand "I'm the parent, you don't have to do this, you don't have to think you need to fix everything."

"I need my painkillers as well it's the same arm that I broke." She sighed grabbing my pain killers and some water.

-------------

I sat with my friends the next day listening to Dr Sullivan give a talk. My arm was bothering, which was why I kept rubbing it.

"The pressure you're under at this point can be overwhelming. Choosing the right college, getting in, leaving home it can all be scary. A few weeks ago your principal asked me to come talk about some of the tough choices you're facing." she glanced at us.

"But how can you make good choices when you're not in a safe place?" I shuffled awkwardly. "Many of you don't feel safe. You feel like you can't make a move without someone judging you, or challenging you. Or worse threatening you. Bullies have ben around since the first cave man invented the club. When I was in school, the attitude was, kids are cruel but being roughed up a little built character. Today's bullies can be a lot more of a challenge. They have better weapons. They can keep hitting 'send' over and over and hide behind the anonymity of a text to an email which is as about as cowardly as it gets" I was beginning to feel physically sick. What the hell was she doing?"

"Would it be bad if we ran to the bathroom, right now?" Hanna whispered to me

"Way bad, but I don't care I'm trying to stop my self from throwing up right here, right now." I reply

"Why is she doing this?" Hanna asked and Em shushed us.

"These vicious attacks sent through electronic means may as well be carved in stone. if you think a college admissions board not to mention a jury won't examine the evidence. You're sadly mistaken. All it takes is for the victims to stop being afraid and decide to speak up and speak out."

"Right now, I'm regretting both." I mutter to my twin. She finished and we were let go, we made our way out to the front of the school/

"Am I the only one thinking she made things worse?" Hanna questioned

"Nope I'm with you." I respond

"Why would it be worse?" Emily questioned

"Because she just tore our clothes off basically in front of the whole school." Hanna retorted

"She wasn't betraying us, Han." Aria assured

"This is someone trying to help us take down the enemy." Emily added

"Is your phone back on?" Spencer wondered

"Yeah why?"

"Well its been 10 minutes since Sullivan finished and we haven't heard anything from the beast."

"bitch is trying to lure us into a false sense of security. She isn't gonna get payback with a simple text, Spencer. If A is apart of our peers she's gonna do it in a big way and we'll be wishing we kept our mouths shut."

"It was your idea." Spencer retorts

"Duh and now I'm saying I was wrong unlike some I can admit it." I retort wincing as my wrist hurt.

"Are you okay?" Aria questions and I nod "Look, Sullivan's right. It was time to speak up." we heard Jenna coming and everyone that was on the steps parted like the red sea.

"We'll talk to you guys later, Let's go Ri." Aria took my arm that wasn't in a support splint.

"Aria? Erica?" Jenna stopped and turned "Did you go to the assembly?"

"Yeah, we all did, Jenna. Why?" Spencer questioned

"Just curious. What did you think of the shrinks speech? Too little to late, huh."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I wondered

"A shame St Sullivan wasn't around when your friend Alison was ruling these halls."

"I guess it takes one bully to know another, Jenna. Could you please move your stick? There are people are trying to get past you."  Emily sassed and we left.

--------

Aria and I were doing our homework when Dad came home that evening. He dropped his stuff on the side.

"Hey there." He greeted

"Hey." we replied

"Where's your Mom?" Dad wondered

"In the shower." Aria answered

"So has everyone eaten already?"

"Define everyone." Aria replied. Dad tilted his head in disapproval.

"Mom, Aria and I did." I answered

"Girls, don't be so unforgiving with you brother. He may be doing the very best we can. There's a lot of stuff that you don't know."

"And some stuff we wish we didn't." Aria commented glancing at me

"Hey, you're home early. There's a plate for you in the fridge."

"No that's okay. I can wait. Erica, how's your wrist? Still swollen?" I cleared my throat.

"Not much."

"I think you should get it x-rayed to make sure it hasn't disrupted your healing with your previous injury."

"No, I'm fine. Really. I do have the munchies though, where are the big bag of cheato" I select getting up and going to rummage. I found them and headed upstairs. I heard sniffling. and I saw Mike in his room. I wondered over.

"Mike? What's the matter?" I enter his room and he looked up at me.

"Are you gonna be okay?" he asked brokenly. I smiled softly  and sat down

"Yeah. Nothing I can't handle." I assure him.

"Am I?" I brought him into a hug

"of course you are." i stroked his head "Of course you are." There was a knock on the door.

"Erica can I borrow you for a moment." I nod and look back at Mike.

"Get some rest okay." he laid down in bed and I pulled the cover up leaving him and closing the door. Aria took me downstairs.

"Mom? Dad?" Aria began "Look, if we're serious about helping Mike, we need to talk about everything."

"Aria." I warn

"No, we need to do this. Mike hasn't just broke into one house. and we've kept it to ourselves because we thought it would help him. But it hasn't and I'm tired of keeping secrets. We already did it before and It almost destroyed us. I don't want to do it anymore." Mike who I thought had gone to sleep came downstairs.

"There's something I need to tell you." he started "Erica didn't fall  down the stairs. She fought with me and I pushed her against my wall and bedside table." he admitted "She covered for me and so did Aria and Mom." he turned to me "I'm so sorry." I hugged him which he returned

"You don't need to, it was an accident."

"Girls can you leave us to talk with your brother." Dad asked of us. I kept my eyes on Mike who nodded. We went back upstairs.

I was watching tv when my phone got a message. Emily wanted us at Dr Sullivan's office. Aria and I left and the five of us made it there. But it was deserted

"Dr Sullivan?!" Aria called "Guys where is she?"

"Are you sure that she wanted us to meet here?" Hanna questioned

"Positive, she said meet in her office."

"So where is she?" I wondered

"She's not here." Aria breathed. All of our phones went off and i sighed taking it out of my pocket

The Doctor is out -A