Chapter Text
Kelly always hated traffic, and this was no exception.
It was one of those instances where not only did she gave a shitty dead-end job but she also had to drive home in the worst possible traffic jam in Pine Grove. Traffic could be awful in Pine Grove. For all Dave Barry talked shit about Florida drivers, he’d never been to Pine Grove in his life.
If Kelly was to be honest, only her boyfriend, Leo, really made coming home more bearable. Even if they did live in the old Bowden house that had been sold after Jessica Bowden and Lucas Bowden’s deaths. Not to mention Sheldon Bowden, who was a shitbag anyway. Even listening to what he did to Jessica on the Pine Grove podcast What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie was enough to make Kelly horrified. Leo had been horrified too. Wondering how you could do such a thing to your wife.
Kelly didn’t know. She didn’t think she ever would. Living in the Bowden house wasn’t a good idea; it felt like living with ghosts, but with the housing market being crazy expensive nowadays, the Bowden house was the most within their price range. They managed, of course. Trying to say hello to Mrs. Evans, be friendly with her regardless of if she trusted them. Stuff like that. It had been a year since Anna and Noah’s rampage, and Kelly and Leo were trying.
***
What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie was already playing on the radio. Tonight’s topic was Roman Bridger. Even as Aaron and Wendy, the podcast hosts, spoke, Kelly couldn’t help but lean in, transfixed.
”…now if I’m correct, Roman Bridger was the only Ghostface that acted solo,” Aaron said.
”Exactly,” Wendy said. "Which is definitely unusual, all things considered. Usually Ghostface acts in pairs."
”Well, there were the Pine Grove slashers and the New York killers. Those acted in trios.”
”Even then,” Wendy said, “They had accomplices. They had company. Roman was the only Ghostface to act solo. According to old records he kept, he didn’t want anyone else stealing the spotlight when he was trying to frame Sidney for the Hollywood murders in the 2000s.”
”Sort of like Jill Roberts in certain ways.”
”Roman actually was a bit of an influence on Jill," Wendy said. “So it’s no coincidence…”
True crime podcasts weren’t the most calming thing to listen to in traffic, but it certainly passed the time.
***
The phone rang. It was Leo. Kelly took the call. “Hey, babe,” she said. “How’s it going?”
”Bad day at work.”
”Ugh. You too?”
”Yeah. We could start a club. The we-hate-our-jobs club."
Kelly found herself giggling despite herself. Then, “I’m on my way home right now, babe. I’m just a little bit backed up."
"I suggest you hurry home now, Kelly.” The voice on the other end of the line was more menacing now. The same voice from the Stab movies. “Leo can’t come to the phone right now; he’s about to die.”
Kelly froze. Then, “Leo, I swear if this is a joke…”
”Oh, I’m not Leo. You can be assured of that.” In the background, Kelly heard whimpering. Leo’s whimpering. This obviously wasn’t a joke. "I’ll give you one chance, Kelly. Tell me where Tatum Evans and her sisters are and I’ll leave you and your boyfriend alone.”
“I won’t betray them,” Kelly said. “I can’t."
Silence. “I’m afraid Leo has to die then.”
”No!” Kelly shouted. “Please…”
It was too late. The sounds of Leo being stabbed over the phone were the worst that Kelly had ever heard in her life.
***
She didn’t know what she was thinking, rushing home. Maybe she thought she would be able to save Leo, to at least try. It was too late, though. She found Leo, bloodied, battered, and even checking for a pulse, she found nothing.
She ran. Ran as fast as she could.
***
The rest was predictable. Kelly fought back. She truly did. Fought like a tigress. She liked to think she left some bruises and scars.
But it wasn’t enough.
The last thing she felt before everything went black was Ghostface’s knife — for it was Ghostface attacking her — sinking into her flesh.