-1 week earlier-

I knocked on my brothers door as he sat there doing his homework. He looked up and smiled as he saw me.

"Hey."

"Hi. Can I talk with you?" I asked, he nodded and moved so i could sit with him. "So i need to tell you something."

"What?"

"I won't be here for a while, I'll be staying with Jason."

"What? Why?"

"I had a huge bust up with the parents. I did some things I'm not proud of and I need to cool off." I explained vaguely

"What did you do?"

"Let's just say I was the Queen of Mean and stopped very low to get what I want." I answered "It's not forever, but I wanted to tell you in person."

"They ruin everything." he scowled

"Hey, listen to me. They did not get out of this scott free either. But I'm not putting you in the middle of a war zone. I will do many things but willingly hurt you or Aria is not one of them. You just keep on doing good, okay. We'll still see each other at school, and you can come over anytime. I just need some space."

"Is Aria doing the same?"

"I don't think so, but she didn't go far down the same road it did." I kissed his head

"I will be back soon okay?"

"Okay." I gave him a soft smile them left.

-1 week later -

The news chanel on the tv started to play a small tune for breaking news

"One week after his arrest Reynolds plead not guilty to the charge of Alison Dilaurentis' murder. However prosecutors remain confident with their case. Rosewood P.D's working theory is that Reynold became a police officer to destroy evidence that linked him to the murder scene. Investigators received a break in the case when that document was recovered. Garrett Reynolds grew up..."

"That must be page five of Ali's autopsy." Hanna stated as we all sat in Spencer's kitchen watching the news.

"Garrett took it, but somebody gave it back." Emily continued

"My Mom s friends with the prosecutor. That somebody was Jenna." Spencer informed us. I shook my head disbelievingly.

"Can we finally put Ali to rest now?" Aria asked

"Or is it two down two to go. Ian's dead, Garrett's in jail. Melissa and Jenna were in Alison's room that night as well." I comment

"Erica's right. They may not have killed Ali, but they're defiantly guilty of something." we heard footsteps and stopped talking. There stood Melissa

"Love gone wrong." she said

"What are you talking about?" Spencer asked

"I knew Ian didn't kill Alison. And you five can keep a secret, but you don't have the constitution for murder." she scoffed "Are you gonna eat that?" Melissa wondered looking at my sisters frozen yogurt. She slid it over to her.

"Thanks. I know how Jenna Marshall went blind, and so did Garrett. If he killed Alison it's because she deserved it." she took a mouthful of yogurt "Mm"

"Is this peanut butter?" She wonders

"Toffee."

"It's good." She smiles and then leaves

"She defiantly knows about the Jenna thing." Hanna states. Then all of  our phones go off. I sigh.

"You still have something that belongs to me. Bring it or one of you leaves in a body bag -a" Em read out. The doorbell rang and Spencer went t get it.

"A must be talking about their phone." Hanna breathed

"You still have it locked in your closet right? Em asked

"Yes."

"I don't know about you guys but A talking about body bags makes me very nervous, especially since we know what the bitch can do." Spencer came back.

"It was a messenger. there's something for the each of us." Spencer handed us envelopes. I opened mine.

You are cordially invited to

the

Rosewood

Junior Society

______________________

Masquerade Ball

_______________________

Eight o'clock to Two o'clock

-----Costume Required-----

Old Road Warehosuse ....

"A want's to play hide and seek" Emily stated

"Be there when the clock strikes midnight." Aria read out. Spencer walked off to look out the window.

"Spence?" I wondered

"Hide and seek was my favourite game with Melissa" she told us "You wanna know why? I always won."

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

Hanna, Aria, Emily and I were walking to school

"She was in that kitchen eating frozen yogurt basically just telling us that she was A." Hanna vented

"And now she wants to kill one of us." Aria added "Parties and body bags go together like drinking and driving."

"Weird Analogy but okay." I shook my head "I don't trust Melissa as far as i could throw her and Ian's spawn. But let's not forget Jenna, also knows about the Jenna thing."

"Spawn? Rica, that's disgusting" Aria turned er nose up.

"Look, A is all knowing, alright? A genius on steroids." Hanna stopped us outside school "The only person who is more genius than Spencer is her sister." I covered my mouth as Spencer just arrived

"Um, I take offence. Melissa did score higher on the wexler scale but when you take into account my scores and the Flynn effect combined with real life accomplishments the gap in our IQs is virtually non existent."

"Half of what you just said made no sense to me." I shrugged

"Why have you got Alison's bag?" Em questioned

"I'm giving A back her phone over my dead body. Which means we have until midnight tomorrow to unmask this bitch once and for all. This bag has brought us closer to the truth than ever before."

"You think there is something in there that we missed?" Em thought

"We need to go through this again, all of us with a fresh pair of eyes. But with Melissa at home, I...":

"No forget my place. My Mom is still hot on the A trail." Hanna denied

"Let's just meet after school. I have an Idea for..." I stomped on my sisters foot. "Ouch. Erica!"

"Sorry, Hi Mona."

"Hi what were you talking about?"

"Costume ideas." I smiled

"Oh, you're going to the masquerade mash? Me too." She beamed "Can you believe blind Jenna's going. A week ago that would've made me a no-show but since she dumped Noel con man for seeing eye Toby. Sorry Spencer..." She started doing touch ups "I love this vintage shop a few towns over, we should all go after school and get our costumes together."

"I would love to but I have to take my sister to an ultrasound." Spencer lied

"Yeah, sorry Mona, but I have physical therapy." I leave.

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

I opened the fridge door in Ezra's apartment. He had left last week after getting fired curtsy of dear old dad.

"Tristan and Isolde? Abelard and Heloise?" I heard Spencer

"This is too cute." I close the fridge and go to sit next to Emily who was looking at a photo album.

"Aww." I coo

"Fitz is a sucker for a tragic love story." Spencer commented, I started laughing.

"I so didn't mean that how it sounded." She added "Have you heard from him?" I calmed down.

"Yeah, he checks in. I mean everything he thought he wanted he's lost because of me ." Aria sighs pouring tea.

"I mean guys I think it might be over this time." I stood up and went over to my sister.

"That's nonsense. You'll be fine." I say to her and she give me a small smile. Hanna's phone beeps

"Great, now Mona knows I lied about where I am. And Caleb is with her so he's gonna asked why I ditched her." her phone rang and se ignored it. "I am lying to everyone I care about. I don't even know why I started lying."

"You're lying because you don't want the people you care about to end up like Dr Sullivan" I tell her

"Here one day and gone the next." Spencer added

"Hanna do you mind, it's kind of sacred ground." We snap our attention towards my sister

"It is?!"

"Man you sure can keep a secret." Spencer comments as she brings over the tea and sits down on the sofa.

"Hey, Ri, can you grab my computer?" Spencer asks me  "Look up doughterty landing"

"Sure." I grabbed her laptop rom her back and bring it over, sit down,  i open it up and type it in. as the others joined Aria and i on the sofa.

"It is a tiny airstrip of of highway 30." I inform her

"Is it close to anywhere?"

"No, middle of nowhere." She took the laptop off me and looked herself

"Wait, what did that postcard say?"

"Where meets 30." Hanna replied. Aria got up to retrieve the ripped postcard, Spencer stats typing and brings up an ad.

"The lost woods resort. 'Find us where Greenview meet's 30'" Hanna quoted

"Duncan said that he flew Ali out to an airfield the day she disappeared. This has to be where she went. Maybe room 1." Aria suggested

"Road trip?" I asked 

"Road trip." they replied and we left. A few hours later we arrived.

"are you sure this is right?" Emily questioned

"This is Greenview." Spencer confirmed as we looked out. Then out of know where something ran out in front of us then out of sight. Spencer slammed on the breaks

"What was that?" I asked holding my hand across my heart

"um, I don't know a deer I think."Spencer answered

"Maybe we should go back." Aria suggested

"No, we didn't come this far to give up."Emily denies. Aria put her hand on Spencer's shoulder.

"Careful Spence." she continued driving and we slowly began to see the 'resort'

"What would Ali be doing here?" Emily thought

"She wasn't bagging a deer that's for sure." Hanna replied. We pulled up and Spencer took out the ripped postcard hiding it up to compare. It looked nothing like the picture, it looked a lot more creepier. There was a knock on the window, a guy stood on Emily's side.

"Are you checking in?" He questioned. Emily nodded and we all slowly got out of the car then followed hi inside.

"I was surprised when you girls pulled up. People don't come here much anymore since they built the interstate." Harold Crane made his way around the desk and pulls out a book. "I like the quiet, sign here." He hands the pen to Spencer. She looks at me then hands it to me. I sigh and sign

Danielle Van Acker.

"Welcome to the resort Ms Danielle Van Acker." he repeated my name not believing but don't question.

"Is room 1 available?" Spencer asked

"How do you know about Room 1" I shared a glance with Spencer "It's got the hottest water on the property. It's perfect for a night like this."

"Oh our friend, the one who told us about this place, she stayed in room." Harold turned to get the key "Maybe you remember her? Vivian Darkbloom?"

"Name doesn't ring a bell. Besides, I learned a long time ago not to tell tales about folks who stay here. You check into the lost wood because you don't want to be found."  CREEPY AF. I took Hanna's arm and we left. We tried to get to the room but Hanna and I fell

"Hanna, Erica" We were helped up and towards the room. Spencer opened the door.

"I'm not sure what we're exactly looking for." Aria states.

"Ali left Ian to come up here for a reason. What was it?" We all entered. Em, Aria and Spencer looked around while hanna ad I went to check our selves in the bathroom. Hanna gave me one of the towels.  Hanna left the bathroom, I started drying myself off as the others talked. I then came out and sat by the radiator

"Was Ali here alone or did she come with somebody?"  Spence an Aria looked out of the window

"Is he still there?" Aria asked

"I think he's gone. I'm just dying to get a look at that registration book." Spencer folded her arms. Aria grabbed her coat and started to put it on as Emily joined me and Hanna

"Wait, really? You're gonna come with me?" Spencer questioned surprised. My sister looked to the three of us

"Do it look like those three are moving?" Aria commented

"I'm cold." Emily and I pout

"No, I'm colder than they are." Hanna retorted. I rolled my eyes.

"You're small but mighty." Spencer smiled at my sister and they left.

"I'm gonna take a shower." Hanna decided

"I will go after you, but I need to make a call to Jason, tell him I probably won't be back till tomorrow." I grabbed my phone and went out side to the car for privacy.

"Hello." He answered

"Hey it's just me. Checking in." I smiled slightly

"You okay? I thought you'd be back by now." I had moved into his apartment for the time being.

"Yeah, we found something in Ali's stuff, we stopped at a motel for the night."

"Do you want me to come and get you?"

"No, it's okay, really. We'll be back before the afternoon. I still need to get my dress for this Ball." i sighed

"You'll look beautiful whatever you wear."He replies and I smile.

"Ever the charmer, Jason Dilaurentis."

"Only for you Erica Montgomery."

"Look, I gotta go but I will text you when we're on our way back. Love you."

"Love you too, bye." we hung up. I got out of the car and head back inside. The door was open and Hanna was looking freaked

"Why is the door open and where is Emily?" I ask shutting it

"I don't know, i heard a phone ringing so I got out." she replied. I shrugged

"I desperately need that shower." I took my turn to wash the mud off myself then m clothes. Luckily i had doubled up today, because it was cold. So i after I dressed back in my t-shirt and underwear.

--------

The next morning I sat on the bed with Emily  drinking coffee

"Ali stayed her twice , and the first time was the day she was supposed to be meeting A in Brookhaven." Aria handed her some coffee. "Coincidence. I doubt it."

"Seriously?" Hanna sighs and walks out.. Aria joined us on the bed.

"She still hasn't called back?" I questioned, apparently she had gotten a call from Maya and thats why she left the room

"My Mom's not even home yet and I'm already lying to her. She thinks I'm at your house." she says to us.

"Oh that works because my mom thinks I stayed at yours." Aria smiled slightly "What did you tell Jason."

"That we were at a motel." they gave me a wtf look "What I didn't say much I just said we found something of Ali and that we were staying at a motel that could mean anything." they sigh.

"We're not stealing that are we?" Emily asking looking at the registration book

"No, we'll put it back." Spencer replied

"We? Spencer you are not gonna make me crawl through that window again." Aria huffs

"No I just need you to stand guard. Come on we're team Sparia."

"Wait since when did you have a ship name. I want a ship name." I whine

"You have one Jarica Jason and Erica. And I came up with it just now for both." She answers. Aria sighs, they leave and Hanna comes back in.

"What's wrong?" Emily and I ask

"Caleb can't take me to the Masquerade party anymore. His mom's flying into tonight. My costume needed a date."

"What your costume?" Emily wondered with a smile

"I wanted to be Juliet since Bridget Woo beat me out for the part in sixth grade." we chuckled

"Looking back I think I wanted to be Romeo."

"Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou romeo." I swoon holding Emily's hand

"What about you Ri?" Han asked

"I saw a dress, but I need to see if it's still there. Can you believe I found it in a thrift store. thirty dollars."

"Shut up, it's not some catch thing is it?"

"No just pre loved. It's amazing, I told Jason to dress up as prince charming just in case. I hope they still have it"

"Emily will you go with me?" Hanna pouts

"I will, but i'm not dressing up as a dude." We laugh

"Harold's back, let's go before he notices we touched his stuff." We scrambled to grab our things and left the room.

"Spencer. Can you drop me off. In town." I ask

"Sure." When we arrived a while later she puled up and I got out.

"Thanks, see ya." I I walked to the thrift shop hoping they still have the dress, I have tried it on and it fits. I just couldn't get it right at that point. tHANK GOD IT WAS still there. I bought it and some accessories.

"Erica Hi." I stopped seeing Mona.

"Hey Mona." she glanced at what I had.

"Is that your dress? Can i see?"

"Sorry Mona but you'll have to wait life everyone else." She shrugged

"Must be something special."

"I think so. I'll see you tonight, Mona." I waved goodbye and headed to Hanna's. She was going to help me get ready.

"Thank you for letting me borrow your room." I smile at my best friend "Team Hanica" she grinned

"You are so welcome." I dried my hair and got ready "Ok let's get started." we did each other hair and make up. then it was time for the dresses. I helped her into her's first.

"That's Spencer, ready to meet up." she sighed

"You go, could you ask your Mom to help. Then I'll catch you up."

"Are you sure."  she asked and I nod.

"Yeah. I want to make an entrance anyway." she smiled and left. I got into my dress and held it up. Mrs Marin came up with a small smile.

"Hanna said you needed help."

"Please could you button me up?"

"Of course." she came over and started fastening the buttons "You look beautiful, Erica."

"Thank you Mrs Marin." I turned around once she did the last button. I reached to grab my mask, i placed it gently on my face and looked back to her then curtsy, she smiled. I grabbed my coat and headed for my car. I drove to the Ball and got out. I presented my invite at the door them handed my coat in. I stood at the top of the stars just as the song change. I felt a lot of eyes on me. I smiled. I made my way down the steps and were met by my friends.

"Wow, that is a dress. And you certainly made an entrance." Hanna commented

"You look amazing Erica." Aria smiled

"Thank you. We still have the same plan right, where's Melissa, when you left?" I asked getting caught up.

"In her pyjama, curled up on the couch." she told me

"We have 3 hours to find A before A finds us." Emily continued

"We all still agree, right? No matter what happens at midnight we stick together, and we're not giving up that phone." Aria says.

"It's five against one. I like those odds." Hanna smiled slightly

"Should we split up and look around?" Spencer asks

"Might I have this dance, fair maiden." i smile as Jason in his costume holds out his hand for me. I turn to the others.

"I will totally do that after this dance."

"Let's meet back up in a hour, keep your phone close." I nod and take Jason's hand and he guided me to the middle of the dance floor.

"You look breath taking." He whispered in my ear then took of my mask.

"What are you doing?"

"Dancing with you." he took off his own mask. then took my hand in his and my waist in the other.

"I love you Erica Montgomery." he mumbled leaning his head against mine.

"I love you too Jason Dilaurentis." he kissed me wit so much love and affection.

-----------

"Hanna." I called, taking her hand. She stopped, both of us and finished dancing.

"Hey." my eyes drifted to the entrance and Hanna turned around.

"Who is that?" she wondered

"I don't know but there is something off" I watched her pass Jenna and this...Black swan, glanced at her before continuing on.

"I'll go find the others." I say and go to search. I found Emily talking with Paige.

"Hey." the looked at me as I slipped my mask back on "

"Hello Erica." Paige  greeted

"Paige." I nodded "I need to steal Emily, please. I think w might be having A problem:" Emily caught on and stood up

"Coming." she put on her mask and then we found my sister dancing with Ezra.  Just as the song finished I whispered in her ear.

"Possible A sighting." she looked back at me then at Ezra.

"I have to go." She followed me back to Hanna who took us to a bridge so we could spot her. We looked around

"There she is." Hanna pointed the Black Swan coming out onto the dance floor

"Who is that?" Emily wonders

"I can't tell from here." Aria replied

"Tall, size 2. i hate her already." Hanna comments. We see the black swan talking to Jenna and someone else joins them

"It's Lucas." Hanna breathed   "They're all together." The black swan goes to leave.

"Come on." I say, lifting my dress to head down the steps, my sister and friends followed

"Where's Spencer again?" I questioned

"With Mona at the Motel." Emily answered. We followed her into the maze. She was heading for a fire escape.

"She's leaving" Hanna stated, she went through the door and seconds later Aria and I try to follow

"It's locked." We grunt. Hanna walks back and picks something up. We look to see what she has. It's a feather.

"Let's go." I sigh and we make our way towards the exit.

"I'm calling Spencer." Hanna says pulling out her pone "ugh this phone is a piece of crap."

"I'll call her." I say lifting up my dress and malign out my phone from where i stopped it to my ankle.

"That weird." Hanna mumbles

"What?" Em asks

"Here" Han handed her phone to Emily.

"Your phone is set to record every time it's turned on." Em informs us.

"You almost killed Hanna and Erica, they're my friends." I heard Spencer. I looked down at my phone as did the others "I thought they were your friends too." I saw Mona in a black hoodie. No freaking way.

"It's easier to forgive an enemy that it is to forgive a friend" Mona replied

"Oh my god." Aria and breathed

"It's Mona." Em added

"How could you do it, how could you be everywhere. You were always one step ahead of us."

"You're not the only genius in this car, you Bitches underestimated me."

"We're never gonna make it to look out point if you don't slow down

"We know a shortcut to look out point. Come on." Aria says, we get into Hanna's car. Aria gives her directions. I call the police on our way there, And we arrive just As Spencer gets out of the car and Mona is running to catch her.

"Hanna Stop!" We shout at our best friend repeatedly till she slams on the breaks. a few feet from Mona. Mona screams and runs at Spencer. We all undo our seatbelt and get out of the car. Mona and Spencer fight till, Spencer pushed Mona off her. Mona grabs on to a tree Spencer try to help But Mona falls 

"Mona! Oh my god!" I hold onto each other barely peering over the edge

---------

"Police and Ambulance arrive, we were with  Spence in the ambulance. I lean my head on my sisters shoulder. More sirens.

"Dr Sullivan?" Aria wonders i look up and it is our missing therapist who rushes over to us

"Are you all okay?" she asks

"We tried to find you." Emily tells her 

"What did she do to you? Where have you been?" Spencer questions.

"She threatened my son, I didn't think I had a choice. I needed to leave." she explained

"I'm for happy you're okay." I told her and she gave my hand a gentle squeeze

"I'm so very sorry." she turned to hanna "Hanna, it's alright, you're safe now." Dr Sullivan comforts her.

"I can't believe this." Hanna sobs. I turn and hug my sister, letting the past few months really take over. "She was my friend."

"it's finally over Aria." I muttered We were finally free of A.

"She's alive!" someone shouted and I looked over and watched as the brought Mona up and to an ambulance. We were then taken to the station. I called Jason on the way there, Aria called our parents.

The five of us and Dr Sullivan watched Mona sit motionless in a holding room.

"She was living in a perpetual state of hyper reality. The adrenaline rush that accompanied her feelings of empowerment  and her high level of intelligence puled Mona's ability to be seemingly all knowing and omni present" Dr Sullivan explained 

"Will she always be like this?" Hanna questioned

"With therapy and the right medications people with these personality disorders can get better." Dr Sullivan answered. We left after giving our statements.

"I never thought I'd find the strength to come back here. But your friend showed up and he was very convincing." she told us as we left the station. "I help push people through their fears but he helped me push through mine."

"Wait, our friend?" Spencer questioned

"Toby." I breathed seeing him leaning against his truck. Him and Spencer met in the middle and they talked. Spencer even tried to hit him. but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Rica!" I turned seeing Jason. I grinned lifting up my dress slightly to run over to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he grabbed my list and lifted me up and spun me around. Once he put me down he checked me over.

"I think you have some explaining to do." he whispers

"Later. I'm just gonna enjoy this moment of where everything is right again." I leaned into his chest. A while later Aria came over.

"We're gonna walk home. Do you wanna come?" she wondered I looked up at Jason then back at my twin.

"Yeah." I said goodbye to Jason and walked over to Toby.

"I will kick your ass later. you frustrating little bastard." I pointed to my best friend he chuckled

"I have no doubt."

"You better not, just wait till I change into some jeans you won't be able to shit for a week after the stunt you pulled." I took Hanna's arm and we all started walking. We were almost home.

"You gonna be okay at home tonight?" I ask Hanna

"I know Mona's A, I just keep seeing that faceless person in a black hoodie." she replied

"Let's sleep at my place, my mom will be thrilled to have a reason to cook." Em offered,

"that sounds like old Times." Spencer agreed we heard more sirens and they sped past us. We were just about to turn the corner to Emily's. Em ran ahead and we followed pushing through the crowd Mrs Fields ran up to Emily.

"Honey, the found a body." Mrs Fields told her daughter "They think it's Maya" I covered my mouth in shock as they wheeled a body bag on a gurney past us. We held on to Emily as she began to sob.