Fawn's POV

It was getting late as we walked towards mama's shop, and the sun was slowly setting behind the horizon.

Julie was between Al and I, one of our hands holding each of hers as we walked. She and Alastor were humming together, and even though she's only 8 it's already obvious she has a set of lungs on her.

She can sing just like her daddy, and if those skills are that good now I can only imagine how she'll sound when she's older.

The shop door was visible and it didn't take any time at all for us to reach it, the bell jingling softly as we entered. Al had called her apparently and planned all of this out, the sneaky man.

Edith came out from her spell room with a big smile on her face.

"Me-me!" Julie cried out and bounded away from me and Al to go and jump into Edith's waiting arms.

"Sugarplum! Hello, darlin, how's my favorite grandbaby?"

She giggled, "good," was her basic response, but it was evident on her face she was more than happy to be here.

The older woman looked up at us and smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the edges as she walked over.

"Hi, mama," I greeted her, and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. Al did the same.

"Hello, babies...now I'm already familiar with the plan and whatnot, so you two rascals go on and have lots a fun, now," she shooed us away with a teasing wink, "y'all can get Juliette up come sunrise, alright?"

I nodded, smiling wide as I looked over at Alastor. Tonight will be so amazing, I can hardly wait.

"Of course, mama...we'll be back to get her around 10am. Now we should get going, our reservations are in 30 minutes so we don't want to be late," Al said, and Edith once again nodded and shooed us.

"Yes, yes. Go on, git," she said as she waved.

We waved as well and I blew kisses to Juliette.

"Bye bye baby! Mommy loves you bunches, see you soon!" I called to her, and Al waved towards her as well before the door closed and then it was just us.

A content sigh passed through my lips and I looped my arm through Al's. He and I walked down the sidewalk, and at this point the night was young and the street lamps were lighting up to illuminate the now darkened path.

We were coming up on the station, the restaurant was just a bit further down the street from it, and the sight of it brought a memory from earlier today back to the front of my mind.

Niffty and Tom arguing...man, I wonder what that was about. Al and I bicker sometimes, but never what I witnessed between our friends. Though, I suppose everyone's relationship is different.

However, the closer we came to the station, I had to narrow my eyes when I spotted something that was sitting in the parking lot.

A car...? Who is at the station at this hour of the night...

Alastor seemed to be curious as well, and we were finally close enough that I could make out Tom's car, and I got a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Al, is that...Tom's car?" I asked, making sure I was seeing correctly.

Al ceased walking right by the car. He was observing it, and I was looking towards the building.

Then my eyes landed on something that made the funny feeling twist up even more inside me.

"I believe it is...I wonder what he's doing here..."

Al murmured, and I nudged him, gaining his attention. My finger pointed to the doors where the door was slightly ajar.

That's odd...I have the worst feeling.

Something is wrong.

I slipped away from Al, walking towards the door but he caught my elbow, gently holding me back.

"Darling, I'm sure he's fine, let's just go..." he said, sounding like he didn't want to get involved.

I looked up at him and then back to the station.

"Al...this is our station. Our building. I have the worst feeling in my gut right now, and I think we need to check it out..."

My answer was firm, though I didn't exactly want to check it out any more than he did. I just knew that if I ignored this, it would be worse for us in the long run.

Reluctantly, Al released me and we both headed into the dark office. No lights were on, giving the space an eerie feel. I shivered slightly and looked around, searching for anything out of place.

So far it seems alright...but why would Thomas's car be here?

"Thomas?" I called out, "are you in here?"

Al stayed by my side and we were quiet as we waited for an answer.

Silence.

My brows furrowed and I turned to Al, giving him a concerned look. He took my hand and squeezed it, smiling at me reassuringly.

I could see that he was hiding his concern behind that smile, and that was enough to kick my nerves up even more.

We went further into the office, entering Julie's room that was Al's old office. Nothing seemed out of place in here either, and the tension just kept getting tighter and tighter.

When I turned, I noticed the door that lead further into the office was ajar just like the front had been, and immediately headed over to it. It was still completely quiet, the kind of quiet that makes your stomach sink.

Once in the hallway, we began to search anywhere we could. He and I ended up splitting up to cover more space, hoping to find Thomas or literally anybody.

I went towards Al's office, and when I saw the door, I froze. The handle had been broken clean off, and was laying on the floor surrounded by smaller metal pieces that indicated it had definitely been hit really hard by something.

So, whoever entered this office did not have a key. Unsurprising, since Al is the only one with a key.

Slowly I went over, being cautious of my surroundings. Listening closely for anything to indicate danger, or movement, or anything at all.

My nerves were on fire as I pushed the door open. My heart was racing and I could feel it in my throat, the feeling in my stomach just growing more daunting by the second.

When the room was revealed to me, I felt my blood run ice cold. The office was dark, but in the floor was a little heap of what looked like a person laying in a pool of blood.

My hands started shaking and I had to blink and make sure I wasn't seeing things.

I didn't want to believe it...I didn't want to believe what I was seeing, my breaths were coming quicker and rougher with each one I took.

"Niffty!" I cried out, finally stumbling over to the body on the ground. That's her dress, her hair...oh my god, what the hell happened.

I hit my knees hard and grabbed her body. She was still warm, but completely limp as I tried to move her.

"Niffty, can you hear me?! C'mon, you're ok..." my voice was shaking as tears started to form in my eyes.

I finally got her turned over and gasped sharply, covering my mouth. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn't breathing. There were three visible gunshot wounds on her body, one in her chest, on in her hip, and one in her abdomen.

The blood was everywhere, all over me now too.

I shook my head, the tears gathered in my eyes pouring down my cheeks as a sob escaped me.

"Niffty...what happened..." I whispered, brushing some hair from her face and then checking her pulse. No heartbeat...she's dead.

There was a numb feeling in my fingers and I held onto her tightly as I shook with sobs. Loud footsteps got closer to me before the light in the office flickered to life and I heard Al.

"Jesus Christ!" He yelled, and he was by me in an instant, reaching towards Niffty and feeling her face, checking her pulse as well.

"Niffty, darling...oh...please, dear wake up..." he took her from me and held her carefully, the expression on his face heartbroken and in denial.

He shook his head, and I could see his eyes getting cloudy.

"Not you too, Niffty...I won't believe it's true..." his voice was soft, and shaky. He brushed her fallen bangs away from her blood smeared face, then placed his hand over her gunshot wounds, pressing down on them as if he could stop her from bleeding out.

I'd never seen such a horrified and broken look on his face before. I can only imagine I shared the same expression, my own cries being muffled by my hands as I looked away from the scene.

Alastor's body curled over hers as he hugged her to his chest, his shoulders shaking and knuckles turning white from the grip he held on her body.

"W-who would do something like this?" I whimpered, to which Al froze completely. The sudden lack of moment was a bit creepy and he slowly looked up at me.

His face was red and tear stained, but the smile he was wearing made me feel like I should definitely be running.

"The son of a bitch..." he said quietly, his pupils constricted and tiny. His voice was shaking and the room grew darker as shadows began to crawl from the corners.

I looked around, my head whipping in each direction that there was a shadow.

When I looked back to Al, I nearly screamed. His eyes were blood red, and I could already see the bloodlust behind them.

"It's been him the entire time...that rotten bastard, fucking piece of shit!" His voice rose in volume and I flinched away from him.

He laid Niffty to the side, and stood up, walking over to me slowly as I shook on the floor, tears still streaming from my eyes.

I couldn't look up at him I was so frightened, he looked so mad.

"Up, dear..."

His voice came softer than I thought it would, and I hesitantly looked up at him. There was no longer any red in his eyes. His hand was outstretched to me, and I sniffled before reaching out and taking it.

Once he'd helped me up, he brought me close to his chest and hugged me.

"I'm going to go kill that good for nothing liar who played the part of our friend for all these years..." he whispered in my ear, and I tensed up.

My hands clutched against his jacket, and I looked up at him.

"Y-you think Thomas could do this...?" I asked him in a whimper.

He caressed my face and tucked my hair back out of my face. There was so much pain in his eyes I felt like I'd cry for him.

"I don't think he could. I know he did."

His answer was firm, and he kissed me before turning and rushing out of the office. I blinked and glanced down at Niffty's body, my lip quivering before I shook my head and turned away.

"Bye, Niff..." I whispered, and took off after him.

I just have a feeling...I might be saying goodbye to this entire building.

He and I were running down the street, and he was far ahead of me. I stumbled a few times, and the world was a blur until we finally made it to the part of town Tom lives in.

I watched Al barrel through the gates and up the steps leading towards the front doors, and he didn't even hesitate before he kicked the doors in.

Finally, I coughed up and called out to him.

"Alastor, wait! Think about this, you're being reckless!"

My voice was desperate, but he wasn't listening. He's mourning. He's hurt. He feels betrayed.

"Where the hell are you!" He yelled out, and I realized that I won't be able to get through to him. My eyes darted around and I scurried to the stairs, running up them to try and find Thomas before he can.

This has to be a misunderstanding...his car was there for another reason, hell he might not even be home at all. Maybe he parked there and went on a night nighttime walk...

Maybe...

Please...

Downstairs I could hear Alastor tearing the house to pieces, flipping furniture and yelling out to Thomas.

My breaths were heavy and I looked for any indication of him being home. Then my heart sank when the light was on in a room with the door closed...

Walking over slowly, I carefully opened the door and stepped inside. This is the room he keeps all of his television junk...but it looks like all of it had been packed away. Boxes were everywhere, taped up or filled with metal items.

As I walked further into the room, I furrowed my brows and wondered why he was packing...

Then I heard a click.

My body went rigid, and I turned to see Tom looking disheveled and pointing a pistol at me.

His arm was shaking and I felt frozen. His dress shirt was covered in blood, as were his hands.

For a second, we just stared at each other. I couldn't move, or speak. I felt frozen.

He didn't say a word, just looked into my eyes.

The seconds ticked by, and I waited for him to pull the trigger and end my life. Lay me out the same way he did poor Niffty...

But it never came.

Finally, I felt like I could speak again, and I just shook my head, my lip trembling as I choked out a sentence.

"Was it you...all of those girls...was it you?"

He stayed silent...for a moment. Then he slowly nodded, and I felt tears fall down my cheeks as I blinked and let out a shaky breath.

I couldn't believe...our friend, our coworker was the other killer. The entire time, he killed...innocent, kind people. Young women with their whole lives ahead of them...

Lillian...Niffty...

"Why...?" I whispered.

He drew in a deep breath, and then gave me a weak smile, finally speaking.

"Because none of them were you."