The soft sounds of footsteps walking up the stairs made Corey push his headphones off his head. He rolled his eyes at the sound of giggling as he stood up off his bed and neared his door.

He pulled his door open a crack as he looked through it and the giggling got louder. "What if your brother tells your parents I was here" Corey recognized Stu Macher anywhere. He had just started dating his sister last month and the boy found him annoying.

"My brother won't care about you being here, he won't tell my parents anything if he doesn't want me telling them about his drug problem".

Corey pushed his door open more as he leaned against the frame and smiled at the two teens in front of him. "Case, don't go telling Stuart my issues. That's supposed to be our little secret, you know a twin thing". Casey rolled her eyes "you're an idiot, go back into your room and pretend you didn't see this".

Corey chuckled "you act like I'll tell mom and dad about this, I hear Stuart in your room all the time, you suck at sneaking him into the house. You're lucky mom and dad have a business meeting tonight and are out of town until Monday. I'm your favorite brother for a reason". Casey huffed "you're my only brother Corey, stop being a dork and go wallow in your room like a loner".

He rolled his eyes "alright whatever, just don't be loud I at least want my innocence still after this conversation". Casey flipped him off before she walked into her room with Stu, Corey sighed deeply before he went back into his room.

He hated the way his sister would date guys and then after she got bored she would dump them. Last he knew she was talking with some guy named Steven, yet here she was messing around with Stu Macher.

He was someone Corey didn't know well, he had seen him hanging around the hallway at school often. He was always eye stalking Tatum Riley, it annoyed Corey how the boy acted all the time.

Casey was someone who didn't see all the signs of trouble. It was right in front of her, all of the signs were written boldly on Stu's forehead and yet she kept ignoring them. He'd give it another week before the boy was replaced by someone else.

Corey would be happier with anyone else besides Stu Macher. He had a history of dating half the school out of boredom and Corey didn't like the idea of him only dating Casey due to boredom.

He didn't have the courage to tell Casey the truth, so he spent half the time keeping to himself. Sure he would stare at Stu in the hallways whenever he saw him, but he would think by now the boy would catch the hint and leave his sister alone already.

Casey was a good person, and Corey knew that Stu would break her heart. He was watching his sister slowly turn into someone else, he didn't even recognize her. It was like looking at a stranger every time he would see her.

Whoever she was, he didn't like it. He'd punch Stu in the face if he could, but he couldn't ruin his sister's life. So he kept his mouth shut, if only he knew Stu Macher would ruin his life too.

"Wakey wakey Corey, almost lost you there" Corey blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the bright lights around him. He groaned as a sharp pain ran through his body, he leaned back as he watched the person walk toward him. They were brave enough to not wear a mask for once, it threw him off.

Corey sneered angrily "you shot me" the man in front of him laughed as he circled him. He saw the gun hidden in the back of his pants as he smirked.

"You think you can just take away someone's life? A single bullet is all it takes to make someone suffer, to ruin everything they ever worked on! I lost my entire career because of you. My son died because of you".

Corey looked annoyed as he tugged at the ropes around his wrists. "Cry me a river asshole! You're the one who shot me first that night, I was standing right over there trying to pretend that I wasn't freaking the fuck out over my husband being a murderer! Then next thing I remember I'm on the ground!".

He winced when the gun was pressed against his face harshly "you shot Sidney first, don't act like you're innocent. I mean how she managed to marry you after that, and then you had this happy little family together, it makes me sick! I lost my family because of you! I spent four years in prison because of your sorry ass, it's only fair I get my revenge".

Corey chuckled slightly as he looked at the man "which one was your son? Did he try coming after me? Try to follow his fathers steps and avenge some stupid vendetta. That happened years ago!".

Corey's head flew to the side as he was smacked with the end of the gun. "You killed him with a gun! Didn't even show mercy! He went after your family, tried to help me get my life back by ruining yours".

Corey sat up more straight "he was the one who attacked Casey and Roman". He let out a shaky breath "your niece and nephew would've died if you hadn't shown up! You ruined everything, you killed my son, so I'm going to kill everyone you've ever cared about. Tatum and Randy were just the first of a long list. Maybe I'll have your son on the list, a son for a son".

Corey's eyes darkened "I'd kill you myself before I let you anywhere near my son. I mean hey, if you're so upset about me killing your kid. I could always give you a little family reunion, a little get together!".

Corey screamed when the gun went off and the bullet flew into his thigh. "Ah fuck!" his head was forced back as he groaned and bit down on his lips.

He breathed heavily as the gun was pushed under his chin "I told myself I'd save you for last, but you're really testing my patience Corey. Let's skip straight to act four, all this talk is getting boring!".

The man laughed as he dragged Corey along the stage, he winced as the chair he sat on scrapped on the ground. "Shame Sidney can't watch me kill you, I'd wake her but she'd only get in the way".

Corey's head slumped downwards the man smacked the gun against his cheek slightly as he taunted him "ah ah ah, stay awake now, you're not gonna get a pass here, not like your wife".

Corey inhaled sharply as he was forced outside, the air was freezing making him shiver. He thought about Sidney, alone inside that room and afraid. She'd wake up and he'd be gone, he could fight back but he could barely keep his eyes open.

He had no fight left inside of him, he felt the blood leaving his body. He couldn't just die, not after everything he's done, he fought for so many years. Year after year he was afraid of what lurked in the shadows, of who'd be the next person to betray him.

He didn't think of the consequences, his past self had made so many mistakes and it was finally catching up to him. He could barely lift his hand but he felt a rush of adrenaline pump through his chest.

His eyes widened in rage as he gritted his teeth, he wasn't going down this time. No way in hell was this douchebag gonna kill him because of some lame revenge story. He didn't want another stab movie or a book deal, he wanted a normal fucking life.

He screamed when he threw himself back, the chair snapped beneath his weight and he groaned at the impact of it. He ignored the sting of wood jabbing his hands as he pushed himself upwards.

His footing was slacky as he tackled the man towards the ground. The gun went off making his ears ring as the bullet flew into the air, it missed horribly.

Corey gripped the man's wrist and smacked it harshly into the pavement beneath them. It slid out of his hand and Corey pushed it away with his foot.

"You think you're the only person who wishes their life wasn't absolute shit! I can't have one normal fucking day without someone trying to kill my ass! My entire life is nothing but misery! And it's all because some two idiots decided they wanted to kill my sister and I just happened to be caught in the crossfire! I never asked for this! You think I wanted my life to turn out like this! I'm tired man! I'm forty seven years old and all I've ever known is being afraid. I was just a kid.... And you wanna blame me for something I did years ago? I didn't even know what I was doing half the time, I lost everything too, a lot more than you could ever understand".

Corey let out a heavy breath as he looked down at Mark "I'm not gonna kill you man, I'm exhausted and I don't want to do this anymore, no more killing assholes in a stupid costume, so if you're so smart Mark, you'd just give up for once".

Mark chuckled under him "you think just because you gave me some sob story I'll just stop! I don't give a fuck what you've lost. You're not some special person just because you lost people, you're nothing Corey! No one cares about you anymore, I mean shit! It's been months and you're still here! No one came for you, and I made it so simple... all they had to do was follow the clues, the little Easter eggs I left behind, yet they're not here and that just means you die".

Corey screamed when Mark shoved his fingers into the wound on his stomach. His entire body forced itself back as he cried out. Mark inhaled sharply as he stood up "you don't get mercy, I don't pity you Corey and I never have because you're nothing!".

Corey let out heavy pants as his head was forced back "I let you have your little monologue Corey, thought maybe it'd even be kinda sweet, but it was all excuses! I'm gonna make you suffer, everything you've ever done in your life will never compare to this moment".

Corey flinched when the blade of the knife was pressed against his throat. He shivered at the sensation of it and felt Mark's breath hit his skin. "Todays the day you're finally defeated, you knew this day would come eventually Corey, I mean did you really think you could be free of this? That you could have this big family and have a normal life?".

Corey let out a shaky breath "I won't beg if that's what you're hoping I do, because even if you kill me. I know someone will easily do the same to you when they figure out it was you! No prison this time Mark, you're gonna be underground with your son!".

Sidney had woken up alone, her entire body felt like it was on the verge of breaking as she forced herself to stand up. Her head kept spinning as she looked around the room in a daze, her skull was throbbing as she limped towards the open doorway.

The distant sound of sirens made his head pound as she kept walking down a long hallway. She winced as she pressed her hand against her forehead, she felt the dry blood beneath her fingers.

The sirens got louder as she pushed herself outside, the air made her shiver as she held onto herself. She grew tense when she heard someone laugh from a distance, she turned the corner slowly.

She could see Corey so clearly, it was like her mind had woken up. Her eyes widened in horror as she ran forward. She opened her mouth to scream but she felt frozen as her hand reached forward.

There was so much blood, Corey gagged as he gripped his throat with his hands. His eyes widened in fright as his body began to fall towards the ground. Mark let out a heavy breath as he pointed his knife at Corey "anyone can die, even you Corey! You're not special anymore, and you never were".

Corey leaned his head back as he dug his fingers into his throat. He coughed harshly as blood coated his flesh, it felt so warm as it seeped into his mouth.

Sidney screamed as she ran forward and tackled Mark towards the ground. The sirens felt so powerful as the bright lights emerged from the shadows of the streets. Sidney cried out when Mark stabbed her side making her lose her grip on him.

He inhaled angrily as he kicked her back, "you stupid bitch! You're ruining everything! He was supposed to die alone! To suffer!". He screamed angrily as he walked towards Sidney with harsh footsteps.

Sidney let out a shaky breath as she moved back "you're insane! The police are here! You really think you can get away with this Mark! It's over". Mark laughed "I don't care if I'm caught Sid, this is the final act of my movie.... The great hero dies and the villain finally wins! I fucking win!".

Corey inhaled sharply as he looked at Sidney, he could barely focus on his own thoughts, he was scared. He reached his shaky hands towards her as he watched Mark get closer to her. He could feel the darkness creeping into his skin as he tried to scream.

The world was spinning and all he could hear was Sidney screaming. He felt like that boy all those years ago, hearing his sister scream, he felt helpless. "Drop the weapon! Drop it or we will shoot!".

He heard Kirby's voice and he thought about Dewey, remembering felt so warm. Yet why did he feel so cold? His ears didn't ring when the gun went off, not like all the other times before.

He could taste blood, it stitched itself into his lungs and chest. It marked his heart with tiny spikes of agony as he blinked slowly. "Corey! There's some creep on the phone" he couldn't go back, not after everything he's done to make it this far.

Tears ran down his cheek as he reached his hand towards Sidney he tried to call for her but he could just taste blood. He saw her, she was so beautiful and even as she laid on the ground in a pile of blood.

He couldn't help but smile when she looked at him. He felt relieved when he heard the muffled words of Kirby saying Mark was dead. "Corey, do you think you'll ever fall in love one day? Like how mom and dad are? I want that one day so badly".

Corey looked at his sister with annoyance as she leaned back on his bed "you're ridiculous, just because that stu guy at lunch let you have the last slice of pizza doesn't mean he's into you. You just let these assholes walk all over you Case! And there's no way I'm ever letting myself fall in love if it means it could be like that for me, that's miserable".

Casey smiled as she looked at Corey "you're just scared you'll get your heart broken. And that's totally normal Corey! Do you think that I don't know how these guys treat me? It's highschool, none of this shit will matter in thirty years. I'll be more mature and I'll finally let myself be with someone who loves me. Why don't you want that in your life?".

Corey looked at Casey "because, I'd just end up dead and leave behind someone who loves me... if I don't have anyone who cares about me when I die at like eighty then that means I didn't hurt anyone".

Casey sat down beside Corey "but then you'd die alone? I don't want that for you Corey, no one deserves to die alone, especially not my twin! That would mean I'd be all alone here".

Corey smiled "stop with the twin thing, I hate when you use that against me.... Wait I... I shouldn't be here... this isn't... where's Sidney..." Casey smiled as she looked at him slightly and grabbed a hold of his shaking hand. "You're not alone Corey.... I'm here".

"We're all here Corey....".

—
authors notes:
uh..... I could've sworn I published this last night, I guess I got stuck on Tik Tok and forgot. Oops... anyways figured I'd get an update of this out before the new year! Also no comment about the ending there, it's a cliffhanger for a good reason, it makes it more suspenseful. Anyways happy new years! I'm gonna go wait till midnight and what not! Enjoy!