Miss Mary's Sweet Shop

"S-Sorry," Jillian panted, grabbing Keri's arm as to not get separated from her again.

"No, it's my fault. I got a little paranoid, that's all." Keri shook her head.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Karina yelled, trying to catch up with Jillian and Keri.

Keri heard another shout from Karina, and turned around again, then turned back to Jillian. "I was afraid that Mom's killer was after me too." she said, almost ashamed of herself.

"It's okay, chillax," Jillian grinned, placing her hands behind her neck. "No harm, no foul."

"I'm sorry, I just... Mom's death has made me not trust a lot of people. For all I know, it could be an employee. It could be a competitor, it could be anyone in the world. I don't know who it was, and I'm scared. Mom had locked the doors that night. I watched her do it. I'm not safe, no one who works at the shop is. I'm afraid for myself, I'm afraid for you guys, I'm afraid for everyone." Keri said, shaking again.

"Shh, shh," Jillian soothed, patting her friend on the arm. "I'm sure everything will be okay..."

"It won't be okay until the killer is behind bars." Keri said, shaking her head.

Karina sighed. "Well, there's nothing to be afraid of. We'll all protect each other, we'll find out who killed your mom and make sure he gets what he deserves, kay?"

Jake had returned to the Sweetshop, using the spare key Miss Mary had been given him a long time ago. He was staring at the oven, near the same exact spot the woman had taught him how to cook.

This was the shop he had so many good times with everyone, but now...those days were over.

...And he'd never forgive the one who had taken it all away.

"What if he's already disappeared? He could be in New Jersey, or anywhere in the U.S., even the world. We won't be able to find him." Keri said.

"Then we'll try our best to track him down," Karina said, smiling. "You know me, I like doing the impossible. I don't care if he's in New York or in some village in Africa, I'll find him and make sure that he pays for what he did."

"We will ALL make him pay." Keri said angrilly.

Karina grinned. "That's the spirit!"

Keri looked at Karina like she was insane. "Okay then."

"Wha? Don't look at me like that!" Karina complained, pouting. "If you think I'm crazy, saying it makes it feel more like compliment."

Keri shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

Karina frowned and began poking Keri's cheek. "Come on, we should head back now. Who knows what kind of craziness has happened in the shop, and I'm not there to see it. Sad face."

"Nothing crazy happened in the shop. I had closed it for the funeral." Keri said sadly.

"Aw. Sad face," Karina said, frowning.

"Can I sleep there tonight?" Jillian asked, a small frown on her face.

"Um, yeah. And Karina, I closed the shop because we weren't going to be there in the first place." Keri sighed.

"Thanks," Jillian nodded, a smile on her face. She rubbed the side of her face, wincing as she did so. The bruise was already starting to form, and she'd had to cover it up with foundation for the funeral.

"Is it your parents again, Jillian?" Keri asked as she noticed Jillian rubbing her face.

"Yeah, dad got angry last night. It's fine," Jillian muttered, quiet for once.