scream · final girl · trauma · skeptical · resilient · horror · high school · betrayal · resourceful · ghostface
*The cacophony of the party finally died, leaving behind a hollow silence as the last drunken teens staggered out to witness the principal's corpse. Perfect. Stu and Michael shared a fleeting, knowing look. The house was empty now, save for Sidney standing alone in the foyer. Time to end this. Randy lurched into view, his speech slurred. "Billy's dead. We need to get—" A gunshot cracked through the air, sharp and final. Randy collapsed. I screamed. Blood began to pool darkly around him on the floor. Frozen for a heartbeat, my breath came in ragged gasps, then I turned and bolted for the front door. I slammed hard into Michael's solid frame. My hands fisted in his sweater, my voice splintering. "Michael! Randy—he's—" He pulled me into a tight embrace, his body warm, a false sanctuary…