_{‘    emma,   WAIT   —    ‘   cops   had   said   their   piece   &   as   usual,   audrey   was   pretty   damn   confident   that   they   officially   had   no   grasp   whatsoever   on   what   was   actually   going   on.   and   as   she   stood,   soaking   in   the   silence   as   she   watched   emma,   the   last   remaining   signs   of   life were   crawling   out   of   the   party   like   it   had   finally   dawned   upon   them   that   a   party   was   the   worst   possible   idea   ever.   and   it   took   a   heavy   swallow   of   courage   to   follow   after   her,   to   call   out   to   her   /   to   silently   plead   for   a   moment   of   her   time.   ’   look,   i   really   don’t   want   to   make   another  mistake so   —   can   i   at   least   walk   you   to   the   parking   lot?   ’  her   request   is   quiet,   anticipating   rejection   but   holding   onto   the   very   sliver   of   hope   that   finding   the   lakewood   slasher’s   dead   body   together   would   make   emma   more   open   to   talking.   (   we   both   killed   piper   and   now   he   wants   revenge   on   both   of   us   !   )   she   clears   her   throat,   shoves   hands   in   her   pockets   before   continuing   on.}

_{‘   —   we   don’t   have   to   talk,   you   don’t   even   have   to   look   at   me   if   you   don’t   want   to,   but   i’m   done   letting   this   psycho   control   what   happens   to   me   —   to   us.   ’   her   voice   is   lowered   as   she   speaks,   sweaty   palms   uncurling   at   her   sides.           //           for   @emdval}   !