Chapter 6

Third Person POV:

Callie walked through the mall, Hanna a step beside her, their bags rustling softly between them. The afternoon crowd buzzed around, but silence sat heavy between the two. It wasn’t uncomfortable just… loaded. Their friendship always was.

Callie stopped at a rack of jackets, brushing her fingers along the sleeves without really looking. She flinched slightly when someone nearby coughed, shoulders tightening before she relaxed again.

Hanna glanced over, then cleared her throat. “So… you and Spencer.”

Callie’s grip on the hanger tightened. She didn’t turn around. “What about me and Spencer?” Her voice was calm, but Hanna caught the twitch in her brow.

Speaking of weird relationships, Callie and Spencer was the most confusing. She and Spencer had spent so much time together they were attached to the hip, well before Alison went missing obviously. After Alison, Spencer was the closest to Callie. They would have sleepover that her dad insisted they’d have for some reason. He really liked when Spencer came over. Spencer and Callie actually met before Alison formed their posse. They just understood each other to a certain level, emotionally and spiritually. Anything Callie said Spencer agreed with and vise versa, there was nothing that could tear them apart. Except for Alison. It seemed like she always hated how close the two were and they didn’t understand why. Alison felt some type of deep bond with Callie but that’s a story for another day.

While Alison and Callie had their relationship thingy going on. Spencer was started to develop stronger feelings for her closest bestfriend. She didn’t know how to or even if she should tell her. But all her worries were washed away when Callie made the first move. Their first kiss. It was magical but it was sorta ruined the next day. Callie avoided her for almost an entire week. Once summer started she made Spencer swear to never tell anyone about what happened and to never bring it up again. That was until they kissed again in the forest. No matter how hard Callie tried she always found herself back to Spencer. Missing her touch, lips, the way she comforted her. She couldn’t get enough it was almost like she needed it to survive. Without Spencer, she never truly felt all the way comfortable. No one could make her feel the things Spencer did. Or make her feel as love as the brunette.

And then Alison went missing and she was a complete mess. She didn’t talk to anyone. Not Spencer or the other girls. She sat in her room crying for the whole summer. Although her and Alison were complicated what they had it was real. At least it was to Callie. Just a few days ago she found out Alison had been hooking up with some random guy behind her back which made her stomach churn. But Callie was no better she had been hooking up with Spencer behind Alison’s back. Pretty hypocritical. Spencer eventually got over her feelings for Callie over the summer finding new interests. Her and Spencer never had anything real so why did seeing her with Wren make the Anderson girl want to violently vomit.

“The argument last night was intense,” Hanna continued, eyes on a stack of jeans. Callie didn’t flinch. She expected as much. No one knew about her and Alison — which meant no one really understood things with Spencer, either. “You guys fighting or something?”

Callie shook her head, pretending to focus on a navy blue jacket. “No, we’re good. I just don’t support her relationship with Wren. I mean…” She glanced at Hanna. “It’s weird, no?”

Hanna shrugged. “It’s Spencer. Everything with her is weird.” Then, eyeing the jacket Callie held up, she scrunched her nose. “Too trashy.”

Callie gave a small sigh and slipped the jacket back onto the rack. Hanna stepped away from the jeans, shifting awkwardly. She chewed her lip for a second, then exhaled sharply.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted.

Callie stilled, confused by the sudden shift. “Why?”

“For pressuring you about Alison.”

“Oh. It’s fine, Han.”

“No, it’s not. You didn’t wanna talk about it and I pushed. I’m a really shitty friend, Cal. I’m so sorry. This whole A thing just has me super on edge lately.”

They stood face-to-face now. Callie blinked, a little taken aback. Not just by the apology — but by the fact Hanna clearly meant it. A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Wow. Han.”

Hanna frowned. “What?”

“I just never thought I’d live to see the day you actually take accountability.”

Hanna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.”

Callie grinned. “Oh, I won’t. Please don’t ever apologize again. It sounds weird coming out of your mouth.” Hanna smacked her on the arm. “Ow!”

“Why can’t you just take something and be happy?”

Callie turned back to the rack with a shrug. “You know I love to complain and be ungrateful.”

———–

Aria, Callie, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer were at the latter’s house. A sent Aria’s mom a letter basically outing her dad about cheating and how Aria kept it from her mother.

Aria sat on the couch, eyes glued to the paper in her hands. “A sent this letter to my mom.”

Emily turned toward her from a stool in the kitchen. “You know it’s not your fault, right?” Her voice was gentle. “It’s your dad’s mistake. Totally.”

Aria barely looked up. “No. It is my fault.”

“I actually agree with Aria,” Callie said from behind the fridge door.

“Callie!” Spencer snapped, turning sharply toward her.

She shut the fridge, poured herself a glass of orange juice, and shrugged. “What? If she’d just told her mom the second it happened, we wouldn’t be here.” She sat the carton down and took a long sip. “What do I always say? Honesty is the best policy.”

Spencer blinked. “Okay, first of all, you’ve never said that.” She snatched the glass from Callie, who yelped in protest. “Second of all,” Spencer glanced at Aria, “you didn’t hook up with someone and then ask your kid to cover it up.”

“But she did keep the secret,” Callie muttered. Spencer smacked her arm. “Ow!” Callie slapped her back.

They broke into a rapid-fire slap fest until Hanna stepped between them with a groan.

“Ali said I should’ve told my mom the second I found out,” Aria murmured, more to herself.

Callie stopped smacking Spencer. “I know you guys hate admitting it because you all think Alison was a bitch and whatever—but she was almost always right.” She moved to the couch and plucked the letter from Aria’s hands. “May she rest in peace.”

No one responded to Callie’s dramatic flair—because everyone froze.

“Ali?” Emily’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Alison knew?”

They all turned to Aria.

Aria nodded. “Yeah, she was with me.” She drank from her mug giving Callie a look.

“So Alison saw this Meredith person?” Spencer asked unwrapping a plate of fruits.

Hanna whipped her body around to look at Spencer. “Meredith? Her name is Meredith?” She scrunched her nose in disgusted. “Eww. That’s not even a cute girl name.” She pushed her elbows into the counter. “I’m seeing big pores and mousy roots.”

Callie shrugged from the couch. “I see Meredith Grey from Grey’s Anatomy.” She smirked to herself. “Now that’s a women.”

Spencer snapped her head up at Hanna. “Hanna, I think it’s a little too soon to joke.”

Aria looked away from them feeling uneasy.

She scoffed. “I’m sorry, but if you’re gonna cheat you might as well do it with somebody who deep conditions her hair occasionally.”

Spencer hands the blonde a bagel. “Here, put something in your mouth besides you foot.” Her eyes flicker over to Callie who is staring off into space. “You too Callie,” She motioned the girl to come in the kitchen.

Hanna rolled her eyes, exhaling. “I’m sorry. Okay?” She said towards Aria.

Callie now making her way next to Spencer said, “I’m not.” She was quickly met with a bagel shoved inside her mouth. Callie pulls it out, coughing lightly. “Okay. So you almost just killed me.”

“Look,” Hanna cut in, “when my dad left, laughing sometimes helped. So did crying.”

Aria stiffened. “My father hasn’t left, guys.”

Callie raised an eyebrow, voice flat. “He’s about to.” Smack. Another hit from Spencer. “Ow! Would you quit doing that?”

Instead, Spencer grabbed Callie by the ear. “Excuse us,” she muttered, dragging her out of the room.

The others stared, stunned.

Aria let out a shaky breath. “This happened over a year ago…” A nervous laugh escaped her. “You think he’s gonna leave? Maybe Callie’s right.”

Emily looked up. “Whatever happens, we’re here for you.”

“Yeah. And Callie’s never right,” Hanna added, making them all laugh softly.

A moment later, Spencer and Callie returned.

“Thanks for staying,” Spencer said, heading to her usual spot. “I didn’t want to be alone.”

Hanna nodded. “When’s your family getting back?”

“This afternoon.”

“Weren’t you gonna clean off the mirror before they get here?” Aria asked.

Spencer’s mouth opened—then shut. Crap. She hadn’t thought of that.

“You want help?” Emily offered.

Spencer nodded.

Aria stood too. “I’ll come.”

Hanna waved them off. “Okay, it doesn’t take five of us to clean a mirror. I’ll just wait down here.” She gave a tight smile.

“Fine,” Aria called over her shoulder. “You stay here alone. Just make sure you lock the door.” She smirked before disappearing upstairs.

Hanna pulled out her phone. “Great. You spray, I’ll wipe.” She turned to follow them—but paused. “Callie, come on.”

Callie stayed put. “Nah, I’m good. Spencer says I should keep my thoughts to myself. So that’s what I’m doing. From right here.”

Hanna frowned. “You sure? What about A? You wanna be alone right now?”

Callie scoffed. “I wish he would.”

Knowing better than to argue, Hanna turned and left.

Then Hanna’s phone rang.

She looked down. “Well. The creature’s back. We really should’ve kept our phones blocked.”

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩‘𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙?
– A
Attachment: 64397.mov

“Open it.”

They crowded around the screen.

“That’s us,” Aria whispered. It was a grainy video of them at the mirror. “Was that… shot from inside your closet?”

Callie’s head snapped up. She bolted for Spencer’s room.

“A was watching us…”

The others sprinted after her.

“Callie?” Spencer called.

But the room was empty.

“Callie!” Spencer frantically scanned the space.

“Spence,” Aria said softly, pointing to the window. It was open.

They all rushed to look, but saw nothing.

“Check the closet,” Aria said.

Emily hesitated, then opened the door. Nothing looked wrong.

Then—thud. Something fell from the top shelf.

They all jumped.

“Guys…” Aria crouched and picked it up. “Look.” It was a lipstick tube. Purple. She uncapped it and rubbed it on the back of her hand.

They leaned in.

The color matched.

A perfect match.

————

Callie’s POV:

I rushed to Spencer’s room looking around for any potential threat. But there was nothing. I was still skeptical so I continued to search the room. I heard a creak from behind me with no time to react there was a cloth brought to my mouth. I could feel the world start to spin, my breathing rapidly increased and my vision started to blur.

A small hush came from the person behind me, pushing the cloth tighter to my face. I tried to fight it. The feeling of drowsiness, it was no use. My attempt failed as I slipped into the darkness.

———-

Third Person POV:

The room Callie sat in was dark, not that she could see anyway. The door creaked open.

The girl stirred awake cuffed to a bed, blindfold over her eyes. “What.. What the hell?” She muttered out confused until all the memories came flooding back to her.

“Careful. Those cuffs, they’ll cut circulation.” A familiar voice echoed around her.

“Jenna?” she croaked, shaking her head trying to connect dots, “Why the hell am I cuffed? Wait- And why the hell did you kidnap me from Spencer’s?” Callie started to fiddle with the cuffs, wincing. “Ouch! Why are these so tight? It’s not like I can go anywhere.”

Jenna stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Callie. I am,” she said, pausing. “Believe it or not you’re actually my favorite.”

Callie laughed dryly. “Wow. How reassuring. And no I don’t believe you.” With a swift motion the blindfold was removed. She glanced up to the person. “Toby?”

He didn’t answer, just stepped back beside Jenna.

She let out a loud groan, inspecting the location she was in. “This is just brilliant.”

Toby rolled his eyes, stepping back by Jenna. “We had to do this.”

“There’s no universe where kidnapping someone is ever a valid plan,” she snapped.

“You know something about us.” Jenna seethed, her mood changing erratically.

Callie bore her eyes at them, waiting for them to continue. When she was met with silence she asked, “What? What do I supposedly know?”

“You know exactly what we’re talking about. The video. The documents.”

She arched her brows, genuinely confused. “Could you explain more? That was really vague.”

Jenna then shouted, “The kiss! The video of us kissing.”

“Us?”

Jenna said nothing more while Toby gaze was stuck on the ground in guilt. Or maybe embarrassment.

It clicked.

Callie blinked again, confused then froze. “You and Toby?” Her eyes widened. “Ew! Aren’t you guys like brother and sister?”

Jenna shook her head. “Adopted. Siblings.”

“Doesn’t make it any better.”

“Where is the video?”

“I seriously don’t know anything about a video! I didn’t even know you two were playing Romeo and Juliet behind everyone’s back until thirty seconds ago. Or whatever is going on here.” She motioned with her eyes, looking back and forth between them.

“That can’t be possible.. I thought you said—”

Jenna raised her hand up, silencing him. “Shut up. I need to think.” Pondering for a while she finally spoke up, “We’ll keep her here. Just until we know for sure.” Looking towards Toby. Well, not really looking.

It was clear Toby didn’t agree with this plan but he seemed to scared to speak up. Callie took note of that. Jenna and Toby began to leave the room.

“You can’t keep me in here!” They ignored her slamming the door shut followed by a lock clicking. The room was barely lit by a tiny lamp on her bedside. The walls were light grey. Plain. Nothing on them. The space was empty except for the bed she sat on and the table holding the lamp.

“Crap.”

——-

At school.

The girls were gathered around Spencer’s locker.

“You cannot seriously think that a blind girl broke into my house and kidnapped Callie, that would take a lot more than a talking GPS.” She stated finding Aria’s accusation to be ludacris.

“Well, I didn’t say that Jenna was alone.”

Emily sighs. “Let’s not go to the Toby place, okay?”

“Why not? You guys think her guide dog left behind his lipstick?” Aria asked.

“Yeah, do you wanna ask what your lab partner was doing last night?” Spencer smacked her lips. “If you know, maybe he took a break from sitting on his porch pulling the heads off of squirrels.”

“Okay. But why take Callie? It doesn’t make any sense.” Hanna mumbled.

“It makes perfect sense!” They all looked at Aria. “Callie threatened both of them. And personally wanted to kill Toby.” She expressed between the group. “To his face.”

“That’s our girl, huh?” Emily said quietly more to herself than anybody.

Hanna spoke up instantly. “The one that would do anything to protect us? Yeah. That’s definitely our Callie.”

“We have to find her. Save her.” Aria’s eyes grew bigger. “What if it was A?”

A loud adult voice called out, “Spencer!”

——–

“Sodium borate.” Emily said in her lab class, pouring a green liquid into a beaker.

“Easy.” Toby spoke up next to her watching her stir the chemicals together. “That glass beaker’s made of…” They met eyes. “Glass.” He said with a smirk.

“Maybe you should do it. I’ve had too much coffee.” The Fields girl sat the mixing stick down. “And not enough sleep.”

“Big party on a Thursday night?”

“No, I..” She looked down uneasy feeling a pit form in her stomach. “Slept at a friend’s.”

The boy nodded stirring.

Emily didn’t want to ask but she had to for her best friend’s wellbeing.

So, with a gulp she asked, “What did you do last night?”

Toby shrugged acting clueless. “Sat at The Grille doing homework.”

“That’s where you study?” Emily asked earning a hum in response. “Well, what about earlier this morning?”

Toby remained quiet hoping he wasn’t coming off as shady. Jenna would kill him if he told Emily where Callie was.

———-

Nothing interesting happened for the rest of the day. Classes went on the girls carried on with their day. Except Hanna had a pretty interesting encounter with the infamous blind girl, Jenna.

Spencer called everyone but no one else answered but Hanna. They decided to meet up at The Grille.

Spencer pulled at a ziplocked bag. “I saved it. Just in case.” The bag held the lipstick from earlier.

Hanna eyed it before speaking up. “I’m telling you, that’s the lipstick. Jenna was putting on in the elevator.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! That’s Alison’s color. Which means she kidnapped, Cal.”

Spencer leaned in closer with a hushed voice. “I think we should call the police.” She sighed, continuing. “I mean, there are fingerprints on this tube.”

Hanna rolled her eyes. “Well, yeah, ours.”

Spencer’s eyes dropped down to the tube. Had Jenna really kidnapped Callie? If so how? It had to be Toby.

“Look, if you want me to answer anymore questions just let me get in the office and see what I can find.” Hanna said, noticing Spencer’s unsureness.

The two girls shared more things to each other before stopping and seeing Emily walk in.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Emily looked over at Toby who sat alone next to the big window. “Uh, I was just-” She made her way over to them.

“Hanna had a run-in with Jenna Marshall today.” Spencer cut her off. “Sit down.” She motioned to the seat next to her.

Hours passed as the girls conversed.

“Where are you going?” Hanna asked Spencer, who, abruptly stood up, packing her things.

She swung her purse over her shoulder, “I have an early tennis day with my dad and I have no idea what I’m gonna wear.” She took a pause smiling at an incoming thought. “There, um, may be this boy-“

Hanna’s eyes widened. “Boy! What boy? Details! Also what about Callie?”

“What about Callie?” Her smile dropped. Hanna shook it off making Spencer’s smile return. “There’s nothing yet but I’ll keep you guys posted.”

————

Callie’s POV:

I was completely isolated. Hungry. Tired. My back ached from sitting upright so long, wrists sore from the cuffs. They could’ve at least fed me. I guessed they were at school now.

Dust floated in the stale air, and my throat was raw from sneezing. Allergies, great. I was starting to feel… off. Like my brain was slipping. A dark blur dashed across the room, and I tensed. Was that real?

How long does it take before someone goes crazy? Guess I’d find out.

Then—creak.

My head snapped toward the metal door as it slowly opened. My eyes squinted against the dim light, vision still blurry. A figure rushed toward me.

“Callie?”

The voice echoed, distorted. The figure wrapped their arms around me tightly, and my aching body protested.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

That voice… I knew it.

“Dad?” My voice came out dry and cracked, barely above a whisper.

⸻

Third Person POV:

“I’ve got you, honey,” Rick Anderson murmured, eyes filled with fear as he saw his daughter cuffed to the bed. He fumbled with a key he’d found in the house, finally unlocking her wrists.

Callie winced. “I know, baby. I’m sorry,” he whispered, tears slipping down his cheeks. She hadn’t come home after school. No calls. No texts. He knew something was wrong.

“How… how did you find me?” Callie croaked as Rick lifted her gently into his arms.

He didn’t answer, just cradled her tighter. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Outside, he placed her carefully into the passenger seat and climbed in. But as he started driving, Callie’s voice broke through the silence.

“No,” she rasped. “No. Daddy. I wanna go home.”

He glanced at her, confused. “What? No. We have to go to the police. They locked you up, Cal.”

She shook her head, frantic. “Please. Don’t. Promise me. Just take me home.”

Their eyes met—hers pleading, his full of hesitation.

————-