**Chapter 6: A Scream in the Dark**

The moment the lights went out, Roy was immediately on high alert. He discreetly hid the handcuff key that Sheriff Hughes had given him in his palm, ready to unlock the cuffs at any moment.

Even with the power out, the police station wasn't completely dark. A few emergency lights on the walls cast a dim glow, allowing Roy to barely make out his surroundings outside the cell.

But the Ghostface Killer was human too, meaning he could see just as much—or as little—as Roy could.

The only difference was that the killer knew Roy's general location, while Roy had no idea where the killer was.

Small station, only three holding cells.

"Hehehe... Roy, my dear little pet, I'm here!"

Roy heard the voice coming from the left, near the back door of the station, but he didn't let his guard down in other directions either.

"Oh, it's you again. This time, are you ready to be taken down by me?"

"Last time didn't count! I found you, not the other way around. I want to play a new game with you now. Do you dare?"

Roy scoffed. Was this guy trying to be Jigsaw or something? Always wanting to play games.

"Sorry, I don't play with cheaters."

"Oh? Are you sure? Don't you even want to hear what kind of game I have in mind?"

"Not interested."

Something felt off. The power had been out for a while now—why hadn't Sheriff Hughes reacted?

Had the sheriff already been taken out?

"Hehehe... I have someone with me right now. Want to guess who it is? Nidhi or Jennifer?"

Roy's expression darkened. So Hughes had really been captured by the Ghostface Killer.

As for the names Nidhi and Jennifer, they were probably just meant to mess with Roy's head.

Good thing he had a backup plan. For now, he just needed to buy time.

"How about we switch games? Let's play 'Guess Your True Identity.'"

"Oh? You think you know who I am?"

"Billy. I know it's you! You've always had a crush on Nidhi, and seeing me get close to her made you jealous, didn't it?"

This was a memory from the original Roy's mind. Billy had indeed liked Nidhi, but he expressed it in the classic elementary school boy way—by teasing her and pulling pranks.

He would play tricks on Nidhi, say mean things about her in a loud voice—stuff like that.

Of course, this kind of attention only backfired, making Nidhi dislike him even more.

Roy, on the other hand, had effortlessly earned her affection. Just last night, when he walked her home, they had even held hands.

That must have made Billy's jealousy boil over.

The guy who had been killed earlier—the unlucky bastard—was a prankster from the football team. Looking back, he had probably been hiding in Roy's house after the party, planning to pull a prank, but instead, he ran into Billy and got himself killed.

The Ghostface Killer went silent for a moment.

"I don't know who Billy is!"

Roy kept talking to distract him while using the key to unlock his handcuffs. Checking the time, he figured it was about right.

"Pretending not to know won't help you. I already told Sheriff Hughes who you are. He stayed here tonight specifically to catch you."

Just as he finished speaking, bright floodlights lit up outside the station. It was the officers Hughes had arranged in advance.

"Listen up, whoever's inside—drop your weapon immediately!"

Hughes had brought six officers for the ambush. Even if he had been unlucky enough to get caught, the remaining six officers should have been more than enough to handle the Ghostface Killer.

But Roy had underestimated just how incompetent American cops could be.

A figure in a classic Ghostface mask and black robe suddenly appeared in front of Roy's cell, gripping a kitchen knife.

Something wasn't right. If this guy had taken out Hughes, he should have a gun—why was he still using a knife?

And besides, a kitchen knife was useless through the bars of the cell.

Before Roy could think further, three officers kicked open the back door and stormed in. The moment they saw the robed figure in front of the cell, they prepared to shoot.

Don't ask why they didn't issue a warning first. American cops are legally allowed to fire the moment they feel threatened.

That's why they're so quick to empty their clips.

"Don't shoot!"

Roy had already realized that the masked figure was actually Sheriff Hughes, but his warning came too late. The three officers had already emptied their magazines.

The Ghostface figure collapsed. One officer stepped forward to check, confirming that it was Hughes, barely clinging to life.

"Wrong guy!"

At that moment, the real Ghostface Killer emerged from behind the door, shooting two officers in the head before riddling the third one's torso with bullets.

Clearly, his aim wasn't great. Aside from the two point-blank headshots, he had missed two out of his six shots.

That must have been Hughes' revolver.

Just then, three more officers entered through the front door, only to find their fallen comrades and the Ghostface Killer with an empty gun.

Limping, the killer bolted toward the back exit.

The three officers fired a few shots but missed, then ran after him.

"Wait! At least let me out of the cell first!"

The officers ignored Roy and dashed out the door.

Roy was speechless. But then he remembered Hughes was still on the ground right outside the cell—he should have the keys.

Sure enough, Roy found the keys on Hughes, who was miraculously still alive despite being riddled with bullets.

Two of the three officers, however, weren't so lucky.

"Sheriff Hughes, hang in there. I'll call an ambulance!"

Gunshots rang out again outside the station. By the time Roy got out of the cell, they had stopped.

To be safe, he picked up a fallen officer's revolver and extra bullets.

All the Falls Town police issued revolvers. It felt comfortable in Roy's hand.

What was the situation outside? Had the cops finally managed to take down the Ghostface Killer?

Given what he had just witnessed, Roy wasn't too hopeful.

When do cops ever win against killers in horror movies?

They always get played like fools.

Roy strapped on a gun holster from one of the fallen officers, slid the revolver in, and walked out of the police station empty-handed.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw three more officers lying on the ground.

Of course. They had failed.

Looked like he had to handle this himself.

"Billy, come out. I know you're still here. Look, I'm unarmed. You don't have to be scared."

The Ghostface Killer appeared in the driver's seat of a police car. He had been hiding there the whole time.

"Hehehe... Roy, you shouldn't have come out! If you had stayed inside the station, you might have been harder to deal with. But now... I'm going to run you over!"

With that, he slammed on the gas, and the police car roared toward Roy like an arrow released from a bow.

(End of Chapter)