The Twisted Ones

by Scott Cawthon

Charlie had told Jen that she was going back to Hurricane, and Jen’s face turned stony, her skin paling. “Why would you want to do that?” she asked with a dangerous calm in her voice. Charlie’s heart beat faster. Because that’s where I lost him. Because I need him more than I need you. The thought of returning had been nagging at her for months, growing stronger with each passing week. One morning she awoke and the choice was made, final, sitting in her mind with a solid weight. “Jessica’s going to college at St. George,” she told her aunt. “She’s starting the summer semester so I can stay with her while I’m there. I want to see the house again. There’s still so much I don’t understand; it just feels … important,” she finished weakly, faltering as Jen’s eyes—dark blue, like marble—fixed on her. Jen didn’t answer for a long moment then she said simply, “No.” Why not? Charlie might once have said. You let me go before. But after what happened last year, when she and Jessica and the others went back to Freddy’s and discovered the horrifying truth behind the murders at her father’s old pizzeria, things had changed between them. Charlie had changed. Now she met Jen’s gaze, determined. “I’m going,” she said, trying to keep her own voice steady. Then everything exploded. Charlie didn’t know which of them started shouting first, but she screamed until her throat was fiery and sore, hurling at her aunt every pain she’d ever inflicted, every hurt she had failed to prevent. Jen shout...