Chapter Text
Allison Archer stared at the familiar sign, welcoming her back to Woodsboro, her heart thudding in her chest. She thought she had left this place behind for good. But here she was, five years later, back in the town that held more ghosts than memories. After her mother’s death, she and her father had moved to Boston, a clean slate he called it. Now, after five years, her father’s job had dragged them back to the very house they had left behind—the childhood home that had never been sold, untouched by time, waiting for her return.
As her father turned onto the narrow street leading to their old home, she felt a mix of anxiety and trepidation. The tree-lined streets, the quaint houses, all seemed to mock her, daring her to confront the life she left behind. But the thought of seeing her old friends again—Billy, Stu, Sidney, Tatum, Randy—made her stomach twist with guilt. She hadn’t even said goodbye. After her mom’s death, she had disappeared without a word, her father sweeping her off to Boston before she could process it all. Now, the idea of facing them made her nervous, more nervous than she wanted to admit.
Would they remember her? Did they care?
Allison shook the thoughts away as she pulled into the driveway of her childhood home. The house stood as it always had, with its white picket fence and well-tended garden. The memories flooded back in an overwhelming rush. She could picture herself sitting on the porch, legs swinging as Billy and Stu flanked her on either side, their laughter ringing in her ears. Back then, they had been inseparable, the three of them. But their friendship had always felt a little too intense, a little too consuming. Even now, she wondered how they would receive her return after so long.
She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to step out of the car. This was temporary, she reminded herself. Just until she figured out her next steps.
The house creaked as she walked inside, the old wood floors groaning beneath her feet. It smelled faintly of dust, the walls lined with pictures from a time that felt both familiar and distant. For a brief moment, she could picture herself as a child, filled with innocent joy and dreams. But lurking beneath that nostalgia was the gnawing realization that everything had changed.
The next day, she found herself wandering the grocery store, a mundane task that felt monumental. She hadn’t expected to see anyone, let alone her old friends. But as she rounded the corner of the cereal aisle, there they were—Sidney Prescott, Tatum Riley, Randy Meeks. And standing just behind them, unmistakable even from a distance, were Billy Loomis and Stu Macher.
Allison froze, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. She considered turning around, pretending she hadn’t seen them. But it was too late.
Tatum’s voice rang out, loud and clear. “Allison? Oh my God, is that you?”
Allison forced herself to smile as Tatum rushed over, her blonde hair bouncing as she hugged her tightly. It was as if no time had passed at all, like she hadn’t disappeared from their lives without a word.
“You’re back!” Tatum exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t know if I was staying long,” Allison admitted, her eyes drifting over to Billy and Stu. They were standing a few feet away, watching her. Billy’s dark eyes lingered on her, that same intense gaze she remembered from when they were kids. Stu grinned, his energy still chaotic, like he was holding onto some secret joke.
Sidney walked up slowly, a gentle smile on her face. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah,” Allison said softly. “It has.”
Randy waved from the checkout, balancing a stack of horror movies in his hands. “Allison Archer, back from the dead!” he called, his voice playful, but his eyes serious.
Tatum grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to the group. “You have to come with us tonight. We’re all going to Stu’s for a movie night. Just like old times.”
Allison hesitated, her heart beating faster. She hadn’t expected this. She wasn’t sure she was ready to be thrust back into the group, especially with Billy and Stu watching her so closely. There was something about their presence that unsettled her, a reminder of how possessive they had been, even as children.
“I don’t know if I—”
“Oh, come on,” Stu interrupted, his grin widening as he threw an arm around her shoulders, just like he used to. “Don’t be shy, Al. We’ve missed you.”
Billy stepped forward then, his gaze never leaving her face. “It’ll be good to catch up. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Allison felt a shiver run down her spine. The way he said it, the way his voice wrapped around those words—We’ve been waiting for you—it didn’t sound like a simple invitation. It sounded like a promise.
Tatum nudged her. “You have to come. You can’t leave us hanging again.”
The guilt hit her hard, and she found herself nodding before she could think it through. “Okay,” she said quietly. “I’ll come.”
Stu’s grin widened, and Billy’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile. As they turned to leave, Stu whispered something in Billy’s ear, but Allison couldn’t hear what he said. Billy’s eyes flicked back to her, sharp and unreadable, before they both disappeared out the door.
She stood there for a long moment, her mind racing. She had come back to Woodsboro with no expectations, but now, standing in the grocery store with her past looming over her, she felt the weight of something darker settling around her.
Allison Archer had returned.
But Woodsboro wasn’t the same.
And neither were they.