chapter sixty
this is a dark ride
⎯⎯⎯⎯

"Happy Birthday Sweetie!" Jennifer exclaimed as Josie entered the kitchen on the morning of October 31st. "Oh mom," Josie said softly as she walked over to her mom, who was holding up a cupcake in her hand with a heart shaped candle in it. "I know you'll be out with your friends and Richie tonight, so I figured that we'd spend the morning together." Jennifer said and Josie smiled.

"That sounds great mom." Josie said softly as she took the cupcake from her mom and blew out the candle before taking it out and eating it, "Oh, did you make this?" she asked her mom. "Yeah, I've got more you can give one to each of your friends, so take them when you go." Jennifer said with a smile. "They'll love it mom," she said as the two of them sat down at the dinner table and ate breakfast together.

Soon enough it was time for Josie to meet the girls, Josie gave her mother a kiss on the cheek and took the cupcakes from her mom and went off to meet the girls. "Well, well, well, isn't it the birthday girl." Spencer said happily as Josie joined them on their walk. "Hi!" Josie said excitedly. Each of the girls hugged her, wishing her a happy birthday, handing her presents, which she kept in her bag and promised to open later, and she handed out the cupcakes her mom made. "Your mom is the best baker." Hanna said as they finished the cupcakes.

"She'd love to hear that." Josie laughed. Soon the conversation changed to the halloween costumes they were all planning on wearing for the 'Halloween Train' at The Brew. They had all planned to keep it all secret. "Give me a hint." Hanna demanded Spencer, wanting to know her Halloween costume. "I will not give you a hunt, we made a deal. You'll see my costume tonight at the party." Spencer responded. "But what if we end up wearing the same thing?" Hanna asked, making Josie laugh. "I doubt it." she said and Spencer nodded in agreement. "We are not going to be wearing the same thing, I promise you." Spencer responded.

"Look, I'll give you a hint if you give me a hint." Hanna tried again. "No hints, okay? We said we're gonna pick somebody from a movie and we're all gonna surprise each other." Aria intervened. "Yeah," Josie nodded. "Whose stupid Idea was that?" Hanna asked. "Yours." Spencer and Aria responded. It was quiet for a moment before Josie looked over at Emily. "Em, you sure you want to do this thing? We can just hang out at my place or something?" she offered as she slowed down to be beside Emily.

"I want to do this. I need to do it." Emily responded. "I want something big and splashy to mark the whole 'Before' and 'After' of everything." she added. "Symbols and Ceremonies?" Spencer asked as she joined them. "And plus there's mystery live entertainment." Aria added and Josie hummed. "I have to get to the dentist." Hanna said. "How is Caleb?" Emily asked. "He's getting better. He was easier when he was in the hospital, though, now he got out, and we have to go under the radar." she responded.

"You're sure you want to go on the ghost train?" Aria asked. "Yeah. otherwise i'm stuck with my mom and pastor Ted handing out candy to rugrats." Hanna said as they stopped walking. "Your mom and pastor Ted?" Spencer asked. "Yeah. They're getting pretty domestic." Hanna responded. "I'd tell her to go for it, my mom moved on." Aria shrugged. "Oh, my god." Emily remarked, making them follow her eye to where she was looking.

It was a hand-made coffin with 'R.I.P ALISON DILAURENTIS' on it in red paint. "Okay, who would do that?" Hanna asked. "It's Clifford Yerdley's house." Josie scoffed. "He's such an astonishing jerk." Aria scoffed. "Joke's over." Emily remarked before walking towards the hand-made coffin and as she reached it, it opened and someone jumped out, screaming, making Emily gasp and move backwards.

Clifford Yerdley's laugh sounded out as he wore a skeleton costume with a blue dress, a mask and a blonde wig. "You are such a tremendous loser!" Hanna called out as Emily picked something up from the ground and threw it at him as he ran away. "You know, this is why nobody will go out with you!" Spencer yelled out. "Let's get outta here." Emily said as she turned back to the girls and they continued on their walk.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

"Happy Birthday!" Richie said as he picked up Josie, and twirled her around, making her laugh before he put her down, and kissing her, making her smile and kiss back. "Can't believe you're already seventeen." he said and she nodded. "I know right." she said. "I got you something." he said as he pulled something from his pocket. It was a small ring box. "Open it." he said, handing it to her.

Josie opened it slowly and saw a silver ring with a purple gemstone in the middle of it. "Oh Rich," she muttered softly in awe of it. "It's sort of a promise ring," he said, making her look up at him. "Nothing big, just that I'll love you... forever." he added, her smile wide before putting it on and pulling him into another kiss. "So, what time is this Halloween Train?" he asked, "Not until later tonight, but i figured we could get ready early." she said and he nodded in agreement before they set off for Josie's house.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

"So, how do I look?" Richie said as he entered the kitchen as Josie was putting her necklace on, she turned around to see Riche dressed up as Danny Zuko from Grease. "Wow," she uttered, staring at her boyfriend. "You look great." she said as he walked towards her. "You do too." he said, staring at her. She was dressed up as Sandy from Grease, obviously. They had opted for a couple costumes this year. "We should get going," she said as she grabbed her purse from the kitchen island before they both headed off.

Soon enough they were at The Brew, which was decked out for Halloween. "You ready?" he asked and she nodded before the two of them entered The Brew. as they entered they were surrounded in fog, and as soon as it cleared, they could see Toby near the entryway. "Happy Birthday," Toby said, pulling her into a hug. "Thank you," she said as they separated before Josie went and joined the girls while Toby and Richie chatted.

"Oh, my god! You guys look fabulous." Hanna exclaimed as Josie joined them. "Sandy and Danny, form grease, right?" Hanna asked. "Yeah, it was my favourite movie as a kid," Josie responded with a smile. "Wait, Spencer, did Garrett ever come back?" She asked, remembering the call she had earlier with Spencer. "No." she responded. "Did you call his house?" Hanna asked. "His phone's been disconnected." Spencer informed them. "Well where is he?" Josie asked. "I don't know." Spencer said. "Not bad. You gotta admit, I put out a better spread." Noel said, gaining their attention.

"You should probably go into catering." Spencer responded, sarcastically before Noel threw a peanut in the air and caught it in his mouth but started coughing, as he was choking on it. "Serves you right." Spencer responded, not thinking it was serious. But then he actually started choking and gasping for breath. "Hey, Noel, what's wrong?" Richie asked, looking concerned, holding onto his arm. "Noel?" Spencer asked, walking closer to him. "Do something!" Jenna demanded, stepping closer to the scene as everyone around them watched.

Richie moved behind Noel, trying to help get him to cough it up but he fell to the floor. "Oh, my god." Josie muttered. "Noel, are you all right?" someone asked him as he laid on the floor, choking. "Please Breathe. Calm down." Spencer muttered as she kneeled on the floor next to him. "It's okay." she added. "Noel, it's okay, it's okay, calm down, calm down." Spencer repeated but something popped out from his shirt and he started laughing, along with everyone else.

Richie got up from where he was, moving next to Josie. "Must have been something I ate." Noel said to Spencer, smirking. "You're amazing." she scoffed and got up as Noel leaned back and laughed. "Wish he had choked," Josie scoffed before they all spotted Emily walking in with Paige, making them smile seeing their friend dressed up. "They look like a wedding cake from outer space." Hanna remarked, making Richie nod in agreement.

"Hey, nice." Spencer greeted Emily as they joined the girls and Richie. "Happy birthday." Paige to Josie, making her smile and nod in thanks. "You guys, look." Spencer said, looking over to see Jason walking in dressed as James Dean. "When did he get back?" Aria asked. "I don't know." Spencer answered before going to walk over to him but the announcement that they were to get on the ghost train stopped her. "All aboard the shuttle for the ghost train! All aboard!" The announcer said as the group moved with the crowd towards the shuttle. "The shuttle is now leaving for the ghost train." Another announcement went off as they all headed for the shuttle.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

"All aboard the halloween ghost train. Please keep moving forward to the performance car," The announcer said as everyone got onto the train and walked through the carriages to get the one where the mystery performer would be. "There are lockers available for your personal belongings." The announcer continued. "Okay, what's the point of dressing up if no one can see you?" Hanna asked as they were almost surrounded by darkness, but music began playing and soon enough the lights turned on, making them see a band playing with Adam Lambert standing there.

"You have got to be kidding me." Emily said as they all stared at him, before they all rushed onto the dance floor, dancing and laughing as Adam Lambert sang. "This is great." Josie said as she and Richie danced. This has been the most fun the girls have had in months, and the best birthday Josie has had in awhile. She felt a nudge to her left side, making her turn to see Hanna, who began doing the robot, making her laugh as she began doing it as well.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Richie and Toby had gone off to get a drink. They had a coffin shaped cooler with drinks, which Richie found pretty cool. They were standing around chatting when Jenna walked up to them. "Hey. Can I have one of those over there?" She asked and Toby reached over to grab it and handed it to her. "Thanks." she said, "So what do you think of my costume?" she asked, looking at Toby. "It's very nice." he responded as Richie grabbed a drink to bring back for Josie.

"But you know, I like you a lot better like this." Toby said, putting a hand over the eye that wasn't wearing the fake eye-patch, making Richie snicker. Jenna slapped his hand away, glaring at him and Toby raised an eyebrow before he and Richie walked away as Spencer and Josie walked into the car, wind blowing their hair. "Thank god," she uttered after the doors had shut as the two entered the refreshment carriage, Jason scared rhythm. "Are you following me?" he asked Spencer, making them turn to see Jason standing there. "I'll be with the guys," she told Spencer who nodded as Josie went and joined Richie and Toby.

A little bit later, Hanna and Aria had joined Josie and Richie in the refreshment carriage. "Wait, so Caleb's here?" Josie asked and Hanna nodded, pointing over to someone, making her and Richie look over to see someone with a phantom of the opera costume on, but as soon as the mask was lifted, they saw Caleb there, he waved as them and they waved back before he put the mask back on and the couple turned back to Hanna.

"Hey, have you seen Aria?" Spencer asked, walking up to them. "Guess what?" Hanna asked, smiling. "Look, I'm gonna guess later. Where's Aria?" Spencer asked, making Josie frown. "What's wrong Spence?" she asked. "I don't know. I think back there." Hanna said, pointing towards a part of the carriage with seats. Spencer moved towards the area, Hanna, Josie and Richie following her.

As they walked down towards the seats, they found Aria's purse, sitting on a chair. They all shared looks before Spencer went and picked it up, before they noticed an 'A' written in the condensation before a phone text alert went off on Aria's phone, making Spencer pull it out of Aria's bag. "Guess who won't make it to the end of the line?'" Spencer read out. "'A'" Hanna and Josie continued before they looked around the room.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

 "I couldn't find her anywhere." Emily said as she joined the girls in an empty train carriage. "She's gone?" Hanna asked. "No, Aria's not gone you guys, she has to be on the train." Spencer said, trying to be optimistic. "Unless she's not anymore." Josie responded. "No. No, okay she's still here. We just have to find her." Spencer said. "Okay, what about all that crazy stuff Garrett told you?" Hanna asked Spencer.

"What crazy stuff?" Email asked, confused, she hadn't been informed about Spencer and Garrett's conversation. "Garrett said that he saw Aria's dad with Ali the night that she was killed. We have to find her." Spencer explained. "Do we even believe Garrett?" Josie asked. "Why would he lie to us now?" Spencer asked. "To mess with us. Everyone is messing with us. You can get a varsity letter messing with us." Hanna exclaimed. "Okay. But he says he has to leave town, and this is what we needed to know." Spencer responded.

"Why does he have to get out of town?" Emily asked. "'Cause he's afraid of something." Spencer said. "Or someone," Joise added and Spencer nodded in agreement. "Look, nobody can get off the train while it's moving. We have to find Aria before we get to the end of the line." Emily, causing Josie to frown in worry. "You guys, 'A's on this train." Hanna pointed out. "We need to find Paige, Toby and Richie." Emily said. "Caleb's on board too. He surprised me." Hanna added. "Okay, you better warn him." Josie said to her and Hanna nodded. "I'm gonna keep on looking for Aria and work my way back to Garrett." Spencer said and the girls nodded as Emily, Hanna and Josie separated from Spencer.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

"Richie!" Josie exclaimed as she approved her boyfriend, who turned to her as he put the lid on the bottle of water he had been drinking. "Hey where–" he started but Josie cut him off, "Aria's missing. 'A's on board," she said, making him stand straighter and look at her, shocked. "What?" he asked, and she nodded. "Where are the others?" he asked. "Han's gone to talk to Caleb, Emily to find Paige and Toby, while Spencer went to look for Aria and Garrett." she explained before she let out a breath.

"Jo," he said, making her turn to where he was looking. Hanna was standing near the door to the refreshment carriage, panting, making her worried as the couple hurried over to her. "Han?" she asked, causing Hanna to look at her, "What happened?" Richie asked. "I don't– I don't know, but I thought I was talking to Caleb, but it wasn't." she said, making Josie frown. "Look, I'll stay with Caleb, and we'll go meet Toby and we'll search for Aria, okay? you two go find the girls, okay?" Richie asked and the girls nodded as Josie linked her arms with Hanna before they set off to find the others, only managing to run into Spencer.

The three of them hurried into a carriage of the train, quickly shutting the doors. "So you think it's a good idea Em telling Paige?" Hanna asked with a sigh. "She pretty much knows everything already." Spencer answered as they stopped and Spencer leaned against the wall, adjusting her gloves. "Where's Caleb now?" she asked. "He's at the front of the train with Toby and Richie." Hanna answered. "They're gonna work their way back as they look for Aria." Josie added, fiddling with her necklace. "Okay." Spencer whispered. "You okay?" Spencer asked, looking at her friend. "What do you think?" Hanna asked sarcastically. "You know the devil costume means, don't you?" Josie asked.

"Yeah. That we weren't fooling anyone." Hanna scoffed before she sighed. "Who knew Caleb and I were sneaking around the whole time." Hanna said. "What Garrett said, do you think it's true?" Josie and Spencer, but she looked down. "I don't–" She started before grabbing Hanna's hand. "Wait a minute." she said, placing a fake nail over one of Hanna's nails, "It's a big girl." Hanna remarked. "Maybe it's not a girl at all." Spencer said, realising something as a door opening, making them look to see Emily and Paige. "Are we good?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah, we're good." Emily answered. "Okay. so you go to the front of the train, meet up with Caleb, Richie and Toby. We're gonna go back to where I last saw Garrett and look from there." Spencer explained to Paige. "Okay." Paige said before walking off, heading to the front of the train while the others went the other way, but Spencer stopped. "Paige?" she called out, making her turn around. Josie stopped as well, "Thank you." she said. "It was a pleasure." Paige responded before she walked away, and Spencer and Josie joined the girls again.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Richie was with Paige looking for Aria while Caleb and Toby were together looking for Aria. "You lost your girlfriend?" Jenna asked Paige, making them look at her. "You oughta keep better track of people around here." she said. "We're looking for Aria. Have you seen her?" Richie asked, crossing his arms. "No. But she has a thing for authority figures, so she's probably up with the engineer." she said snidely, making Richie glare. "And what's your thing Jenna? Step-brothers?" Richie asked lowly as he and Paige passed her, he looked back at her to see her looking at him, shocked but he just shrugged and looked away.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

The girls were walking through empty carriage after another, still no sign of Aria or Garrett. As they approached the end of Carruge, Spencer tried opening the door, but it was shut, and it wouldn't open. "It's a dead end." Spencer said, turning back to the girls. "Well, then, we'll move forward to find Paige and the boys." Emily suggested. "Yeah," Spencer responded and they all went to go the other way but Josie noticed something on the floor, making her bend down and grab it. It was a necklace, one she recognized. "This is Aria's necklace." she said.

Spencer, Emily and Joise looked through the window of the door while Hanna went and grabbed the fire extinguisher. "Move," she demanded and they did, and smashed the glass so they could open the door and quickly made their way to the back of the train carriage, where they spotted a wooden box, hanging over the edge, about to fall off the train, "Aria?" they all yelled, running to the box, hearing Aria's frightened yells.

"No!" Josie screamed as she and the girls ran over and put the box down flat, so it wasn't almost falling anymore before they all moved it so it was off the edge of the train, "Help!" Aria screamed from inside. "Hold on Aria, we've got you!" Josie screamed as Emily shut the door to the train so it wasn't so windy anymore and they had space to open the box and get Aria out.

"Get a hammer." Emily demanded. "Hold on, Hold on!" Josie said as she quickly found one and began prying the lid off the box. All they could hear was Aria's cries as they all worked to get the lid off. Soon enough it was off, and they could see Aria, who they helped stand up and out of the box, Josie wrapped her in a hug as well as the others. "Come on, come on. It's okay, it's okay." Spencer whispered to her as they huddled around Aria. Spencer's gasp, making them turn around to see Garrett's dead body was also in the box. "Oh, my god." Spencer muttered as Josie hugged Aria tighter.

⎯⎯⎯⎯

After that, the Ghost Train had come to an end but the girls moved to the refreshment carriage as they stayed behind as Police questioned everyone. Josie and Richie stood together near Spencer as Hanna moved to sit near them as Toby moved to be with Spencer. "The trooper says they're calling parents. They wanna take statements before they let us go home." Toby informed them and Spencer scoffed. "When my mom gets here, nobody will be talking to anybody." she said, making Toby rub her shoulder. 

"Hey. You okay?" he asked. "Relatively." Spencer answered as Josie noticed Aria walking through the door to the carriage, immediately stepping out of Richie's arms to get to her as well as the other girls as Aria walked to them, wrist bandaged. "Are you alright?" Josie asked. "Yeah. They wanted to take me to the hospital but I wouldn't let them." she answered. "And look, I don't care what Garrett said about my dad, he had nothing to do with Ali." she added.

"Why would we believe Garrett for a minute." Emily said. "Okay, straight answer– 'A' killed Garrett, yes or no." Hanna said. "Yes." Spencer answered. "Yeah, but why?" Josie asked. "That was the whole point." Emily said. "Wh-what point?" Hanna asked. "That's why 'A' pushed us to do things to get Garrett cleared." Spencer answered. "Yeah, so he could get out of jail and 'A' could kill him?" Aria asked.

"Two members of the N.A.T. club, dead." Emily remarked. "Two people who were in that room the night Ali was killed." Aria added. "What should we tell the police?" Josie asked. "As little as possible." Spencer answered. "They've already figured something out." Hanna said, confusing the girls. "What do you mean?" Spencer asked, "Look at everyone in this train." Hanna pointed out and they all looked around. "They didn't just place us anywhere. Everyone in this car has something to do with Garrett Reynolds." she explained.

The sound of the door opening made them turn to see Ezra coming in, and Aria left the girls to go to him immediately and hugged him tightly. "You're okay. You're okay." he whispered as he held her tightly before Aria pulled back and looked at him. "Yeah," she said softly. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I-I-I went to the end of the line to meet the train, to surprise you and they said somebody was hurt, and there was trouble so I-I drove beside the tracks until I found you," Ezra said, which made Aria smile. "Yeah, you found me." she said before they hugged again. "Yeah, yeah, I found you." he said, holding her tightly.

As the group watched the couple, Noel walked up to them. "Why don't you tell the cops you did it so the rest of us can leave?" he asked, making Josie narrow her eyes at him. "You know what? can it, Noel." Hanna exclaimed. "Oh shut up Hanna." Jenna said. "No, you shut up." Emily said, defending Hanna. "Stop trying to pull everybody into every mess you bitches make for yourselves." Noel snapped. "Back off." Toby said, pushing Noel back.

"Or what?" he asked and Toby grabbed Noel by the collar of his shirt. "You don't wanna know Noel." he said, pushing him away and they started pushing each other until Noel tried to punch Toby, which he dodged and he tried to do it again but Toby dodged it again. Toby pushed Noel, who hit the cooler and fell to the floor, and him hitting it, made it tip and slip the contents all over the floor, but that wasn't what had people shocked.

It was the body shaped black bag that had been revealed to be under the ice. Josie leaned back into Richie while Noel moved back, terrified before Luas took a photo, which Josie found to be insensitive. The girls gasped a look as Jason stepped forwards, shocked as the words Charon & Sons, Funeral Directors on the bag showed

Alison's remains.

⎯ AUTHORS NOTE
new chapter <3 | happy new year everyone! it's 2025! | i love sassy richie