new_it_girl | Rosewood, Pennsylvania - Saturday Night (Reply)

While Hanna was busy singing in the musical and attending the crush party last night, Aria, Emily, and Spencer found out about another place Alison had been mere hours before her death. She checked into a really creepy motel, so the others went to check it out. All they learned was when Alison had been there, not the why.

The girls were back to square one in that regard. The masquerade was where they hoped to unmask that bitch 'A' once and for all, with or without any clues from a motel in the middle of nowhere. None of the girls had dates. Emily's girlfriend Maya had basically run away, though they did exchange a few texts. As far as Emily knew, Maya was okay. Of course, there was the whole mess with Spencer and Toby, so that wasn't happening. Aria was without Ezra, who lost his job and was potentially leaving town. Then there was Caleb. Hanna didn't think it'd be fair to drag him into any of this 'A' stuff tonight.

At least the girls had each other. They even made a grand entrance together into the warehouse where the party was being held.

Aria	Aria was the first of the girls to speak. "This is the perfect place for 'A' to hide."
Emily	Emily glanced at the clock. Nine o'clock. "We have three hours to find 'A' before 'A' finds us."
Aria	"We still agree, right?" Aria said to her friends, a sense of urgency in her voice. "No matter what happens at midnight, we stick together."
Hanna	"Four against one," Hanna said confidently. "I like those odds."
Spencer	Spencer scanned the room, already looking for clues. "Should we split up and look around?"
Emily	"None of us have dates, so..." Emily trailed off. She wished Maya was here, but there was no time for romance tonight anyway as far as she was concerned.
Aria	"Let's meet back here in an hour," Aria suggested. "And keep your phones close, in case there's an emergency."

Hanna wandered the room, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Of course, being at a party where everyone was wearing a mask, she was paranoid about everything. Even the decorations were suspect. They lacked glitter, for one thing.

When she felt a hand on her shoulder, she nearly screamed. The voice whispering in her ear eased her fear considerably. "I know who you are."

She whirled around, grinning. "Caleb. I'm surprised you're here."

He smiled back at her. "I knew you'd be here. Thought I'd surprise you and score at least a dance."

"Surprise," Hanna replied, kissing his cheek.

"I can't take credit," Caleb admitted. "Mona helped me."

Hanna	Hanna spotted Mona, who stood off to the side of them almost shyly. "Wait, Mona, you did this?"
Mona	Mona shrugged as though it was no big deal at all. "Call me guilty."
Hanna	"You know, I'm sorry for not being around as much," Hanna told her. "After tonight, I promise, no more secrets."
Mona	"Oh, you'll tell me about it later." Mona just shrugged it off. "Now, go dance with your hot toddy before he melts the room."
Hanna	Hanna held her arms out, pulling her best friend from middle school into a hug. "I love you, Mona."
Mona	Mona beamed affectionately. "I love you, too."

****

Hanna	An hour later, after spending time dancing with Caleb, Hanna met with the other girls. "Where's Spencer?"
Emily	Emily explained that Spencer had gone back to the motel. Apparently, she figured out that Alison was there that night to spy on 'A' who she had discovered earlier. The girls hadn't thought of looking into the room next door to the one Alison had stayed at. Spencer learned that it had been rented out for the last two years. "Mona's with her."
Hanna	Hanna breathed a sigh of relief. She certainly did not want Spencer going out there alone. Though she had not been at the motel with them earlier, she still knew it wasn't any place to go alone. Thinking about it made her shudder. As did the woman who stepped onto the lobby floor dressed as The Black Swan. It wasn't the costume that made her shudder. She was meeting with Lucas and Jenna. "Who is that?"
Aria	Aria joined them on a balcony overlooking the entire room. "Who?"
Hanna	"The Black Swan," Hanna replied, nodding toward her. "There she is. Tall, size two. I hate her already." She was still hanging out with Lucas and Jenna. That seemed very suspicious. "They're all together."
The Liars	As the Black Swan was moving on the girls gave chase. The Swan was alarmed, running away from them before slipping out the back door. Aria tried pushing it open. "It's locked." Hanna noticed a black feather on the ground, kneeling down to inspect it.
Hanna	"I'm calling Spencer," Hanna announced, trying to get a signal. "Gah, this thing is a piece of crap!" Aria offered to call instead, dialing Spencer's number. That's when Hanna glanced down at her own phone. "That's weird."
Emily	Emily reached for Hanna's phone. "What?" She peered closer. "Your phone is set to record every time it's turned on."
Hanna	Hanna was very unnerved. She didn't set it that way. Maybe Mona forgot to turn it off before she gave the phone to Hanna after her old phone met a soapy end. Something didn't feel right about this whole thing, though. Those uneasy feelings seemed to confirm what Hanna was trying to deny. "You almost killed Hanna..." It was Spencer's voice coming from Aria's phone. She was using some sort of video conference device from her phone so they could see everything. There was Mona in the black 'A' hoody getup. She was behind the wheel of a car, Spencer an unwilling passenger. Hanna froze.
The Liars	"She's my friend," Spencer said, tension in her voice. "I thought she was your friend, too." Hanna felt a chill when she saw the contorted look of anger on Mona's face as she said, "It's easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend." "My god," Aria said, her voice filled with horror. "It's Mona," Emily said, equally horrified. Hanna continued to remain frozen as the voices on the other end continued.
Mona & Spencer	"How did you do it? You were everywhere! You were always one step ahead." "You're not the only genius in the car," Mona said with a smirk. "You're never going to make it to Look Out Point if you don't slow down," Spencer said pointedly, obviously wanting her friends to hear that bit of information.
Hanna	Hanna couldn't move when the others started heading for the exit. She felt numb. How could she not have seen this coming? Mona, her friend since middle school, was 'A' this whole time?
Aria	"Hanna?" Aria took her hand, knowing how hard this was for her.
Hanna	"Mona's 'A.' Hanna could feel tears burning behind her eyelids, but she didn't let them fall. Not yet. They had to save Spencer. Hanna got behind the wheel of her car, ready to break laws to get to where Spencer was.
Mona & Spencer	The entire drive over, they continued to listen as Spencer pleaded with Mona, trying to understand her motive. "Is this some king of payback? Because we let Ali treat you bad?" Mona scoffed. "I am so over Ali. I told you. She was never my friend, but Hanna was. And you bitches took her from me."
Hanna	Hanna couldn't believe she was hearing this. All of this because Hanna made friends with other people? Or perhaps because she ditched Mona all those years ago once Alison allowed her into the clique. This was all her fault. No matter how much she wanted to tell herself otherwise.
Mona & Spencer	"This is about betrayal?!" Spencer exclaimed. "It's not about betrayal!" Mona spat. "It's about revenge! You deserved everything you got. You stole my only friend." "She is still your friend!" Spencer said adamantly. Mona wasn't hearing any of it. "Okay. What's the plan? 'A' always has a plan, right?" "Yes. She does," Mona intensely stated. "What happens if I don't join the team?" Spencer asked. "Guess who has your dad's gun," Mona replied heartlessly. Hanna tensed when she heard that. She was certain Aria, Emily, and, especially Spencer, did the same.
Hanna	Hanna continued to rush through the streets of Southeastern, suburban Pennsylvania. She wasn't sure if she had ever driven this fast in her entire life.
Mona & Spencer	"When Ali left, it pulled you all apart," Mona blurted. "It'll be the same if you go away." "No it won't!" Spencer reached over and pulled the emergency brake, forcing the car to come to a complete, screeching halt.
Hanna	Hanna kept driving until she could see the stopped car up ahead, Spencer running away from it. She spotted Mona in the street and continued driving right toward her. She was so angry. She could take Mona out right now if she wanted to. She watched Mona's eyes grow wide in terror as the headlights inched closer. "Hanna stop!" Aria and Emily begged. "Stop!" Hanna stepped on the brakes, the tires screeching as they came to a stop just inches from Mona.
Spencer	Spencer tripped over a branch as she was looking over to see how close Hanna's car was to Mona. That could have been disastrous, and she knew it. She also knew how completely unhinged Mona was. She panicked as Mona screamed, lunging herself right at Spencer, pushing her up against a tree. There was a cliff right behind them, and Mona was trying to push her off. She could hear the others screaming for her, begging Mona to stop. Spencer thought she was a goner until Mona lost her own balance, toppling over. "Mona!" Spencer tried to grab her arm, but it was too late. She watched helplessly as Mona fell to her seeming death. "Oh god!"
The Liars	The others finally reached her, clinging at her for dear life. They knew how close they had come to losing her. "Are you okay?" Hanna asked, trying not to look down. Spencer nodded, though her face crumbled as she finally had the chance to break down in tears. The others cried with her as they glanced at Mona's lifeless body. Their lives would never be the same.

Within minutes, police cars surrounded the area. Spencer was sitting on the edge of an ambulance as an EMT patched up a cut on her hand. Hanna, Emily, and Aria were standing around her for support, still reeling from what happened earlier.

To make things even more convoluted, Dr. Sullivan, who had disappeared so many months ago, was walking toward them. Where had she been? Her disappearance made the girls extra paranoid. Thinking 'A' had harmed Dr. Sullivan because they told her everything prevented them from telling any of their loved ones. Hanna lied to so many people because of it. She had arguments with her mom because of this.

"She threatened my son," Dr. Sullivan explained. "I didn't think I could stay here. I'm so very sorry."

Hanna wanted to scream at her. How could she leave like that? How could she have known who 'A' was this whole time and not say anything? How could she let a tiny sixteen year old girl scare her like that?

But she didn't. She broke down instead.

"It's okay. You're safe now," Dr. Sullivan assured, letting Hanna cry on her shoulder.

"She was my friend," Hanna sobbed uncontrollably. It would be a wonder if her words were decipherable just then.

Hanna's tears were too much for the others. They eventually let it all out, too. It had been a long year and it was over.

Or so they thought.

"She's alive!" Detectives were standing on the edge of the cliff, their flashlights shining.

It seemed 'A' would continue to be in their lives.

[NFB, NFI, though comments welcome. Most dialog is from 2x25 "Unmasked," with a few adjustments; warning: there are some disturbing themes in this post; also, as the cut says, A is revealed in case anyone does not want to know, yet; there will be a final wrap up/aftermath post shortly.

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