"Did it hurt when you were stabbed?" Zachary leaned into his pillow sighing as he looked at Ethan. "At first it burned, I honestly didn't even know I was stabbed until I felt the blade be ripped out".

He sat up pressing his finger into his stomach "he got me pretty good, stabbed me four times before he left me on the basement floor. Doctors said it was a miracle I survived. One more second and I would've bleed out and died".

Ethan had an unreadable expression in his eyes "you're not the killer right? I mean Quinn..." Zach looked offended by the boys words.

"No, I'd never hurt my own friends. When you go though trauma together you tend to bond over it. Why would I wanna kill them? I have nothing against them. Last year was intense and I failed to save the people I loved. This time I'll make sure I don't lose you or them".

"Who did you lose?" Zach looked at the taser on his desk "my boyfriend, his name was Wes". He smiled softly as he looked at Ethan.

"We were in his room when his mom came home, said she was gonna pick up sushi, I was practically like family to them. So I was gonna stay I mean I practically was gonna camp out at his house until the whole ghostface drama stopped. I wanted to keep him safe... but then when I walked down the steps and saw him.. when I saw the blood and the mask. I just froze and I couldn't move".

"Wes.... Please wake up" tears slipped out of his eyes as he held onto the boys body. Blood ran down Zachs forehead as he let out heavy sobs of agony. He pulled open the door hoping to find Wes's mother here but then he saw her body.

"No... not you too" he cried even harder as he grabbed his phone out of his pocket. He called the only person he could trust to help him, Sidney.

"It's not your fault, I mean I probably would've done the same thing if I saw someone attacking someone I love. I'd just freeze and panic".

Zach ran his finger along Ethan's face "I won't freeze this time, if the motherfucker tries attacking you. I promise I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't get hurt. I'll keep you safe from them".

Ethan smiled "I'll keep you safe too" Zach kissed him holding onto him tightly. His phone began buzzing making him move back and grab a hold of it off his desk.

"It's the girls, apparently we're gonna be all staying together at there dorm. We better get over there soon, I don't wanna leave them alone".

Zach went to stand up but Ethan grabbed his hand stopping him. "We can still leave, just drive until this shit is behind us, we don't have to die".

Zach smiled sadly "I'm not leaving, I don't want anyone getting hurt because I left like a coward". Ethan shock his head "you wouldn't be a coward if you left, they would understand".

"If I run, I'm giving the motherfucker what he wants, me out of the picture. They'd have Sam and Tara all to themselves, with me gone whose gonna protect them? I gotta stay and finish this".

"They can protect themselves" Zach stood up off the bed grabbing his clothes off the ground. "I'll think about it, but no promises I'll go with you".

Ethan stood up "I have Econ, so I won't be back till late, I'll meet you at the girls dorm". Zachary pushed his shoes on "I'll drop you off, it's not safe walking around by yourself".

—

The car ride was silent, Zach parked the car and looked at Ethan with a smile. "Let's leave, I'll pick you up after Econ, let's just get outta here and never look back. If anyone can stop this fucker, it's Sam.. they don't need me here, I'd just be in the way".

Ethan smiled "I'll call when I'm ready" he got out of the car waving and then he disappeared into the building. Zachary sighed deeply as he drove off towards the girls dorm.

His phone buzzed and he grabbed a hold of it. "Hey sorry for not picking up Kirby, I was busy with Mindy and them. we're all camping out together and the girls dorm, so if you need me".

"Did you really think I'd let you just leave? You're gonna miss all the fun Zachary. Poor little Quinn is gonna die and it'll be all your fault.. who will keep her safe? You really think you can beat me!".

Zachary drove faster "why do you have my sisters phone asshole! I will fucking kill you myself. If you laid a hand on her.. if she's hurt".

"Oh you're so paranoid Zachary, your sister isn't on my victim list for tonight. She's been working so hard, trying to prove you're not the killer. She thinks it's you.. that you've gone off the rails, that you finally snapped and gone mad.. maybe you are..".

Zach parked the car pulling the door open fast "you forget one thing asshole, I may be crazy, but I don't run around killing my friends. But I won't hesitate to cut you open like a fucking fish. I don't care if there's one of you or twenty, I'll kill every single one of you. Until all that's left is blood".

He hung up and ran into the building he sighed deeply as he reached into his pocket trying to grab his keys. He struggled to find the right one but when he did he unlocked the door and walked inside. Anika sat on the couch watching the news as she held onto herself.

She looked so scared and nervous as she watched, Zach looked at the dinning table. He could see Mindy and Chad, then as he walked closer he saw Tara and Sam. They were talking, likely trying to find a sense of normal in all of this.

He would've told them about the call but he was too worried about Quinn to care. He walked into the girls room closing the door behind him slowly.

"Quinn?" he didn't see her and he could hear the shower running. Then she walked out of the bathroom pushing the door shut "Jesus Zach! You scared me, what are you doing in here?".

He let out a breath of relief "you're okay, I thought..." he frowned deeply when he heard pounding and shouting "behind you!".

His eyes locked with the neighbor across from him and then he screamed when the knife stabbed his back. It burned just like he thought it would as he was thrown onto the bed.

Quinn screamed as the figure ran towards her and stabbed her. Zach groaned as he felt blood pouring out of his flesh, he couldn't focus on anything.

He used all his strength to stand up watching as Quinn fell towards the ground. He locked eyes with ghostface his breathing heavy "I'm gonna fucking kill you!" the figure ran towards him.