A Mother’s Love

Summary: Mary Lane returns to Camp Nightwing, hoping to see her daughter and perhaps save Ruby Lane's soul. She doesn't know if her idea will work, but perhaps a mother's love is enough to break a witch's curse
Warning(s): Spanking; major spoilers for Fear Street Parts One and Two; minor spoilers for Fear Street Part Three; violence and scenes of murder; AU

###

"You always hurt the one you love. The one you shouldn't hurt at all...." The strains of Ruby Lane's song echoed through the deserted camp.

The eerie singing was the only thing Mary could hear...although it was the only thing she was truly listening for. Since she'd failed to stop Tommy from becoming a killer, the camp was doomed, but she hadn't seen as many bodies as she'd feared. Perhaps the witch's thirst for blood would be satiated without any more bloodshed, at least for this generation.

But even as that thought went through her mind, Mary knew it was a forlorn hope. If Ruby was back from whatever hell her soul had been dragged into, that meant the witch's vengeance was still strong. There were still victims her killer would claim.

But Mary wasn't here to save those victims. She wished she could, but now that it had been set in motion, there was nothing she could do. But while Sarah Fier's vengeance was focused on those who remained in Camp Nightwing, Mary hoped it would give her the chance to at least try to save her daughter's soul. She hadn't been able to save her daughter's life, but if she could only set her daughter’s soul free....

"You always take the sweetest rose. And crush it till the petals fall...."

Mary followed the haunting voice as what was left of Ruby's soul sang the same song she had when the witch had taken her soul and forced her to kill. There was some protection in being the grieving mother of one of the Shadyside killers. She'd been arrested for her attack on Tommy, but the police had decided she wasn't a threat and had let her go.

Unfortunately, it hadn't been in time to stop Sarah Fier's curse from striking again. However, Mary's research had indicated that the witch didn't loosen her hold on the souls she'd taken even after death. Mary would have never chosen to let the curse continue just so she could see her daughter again...but since she'd failed to stop Tommy, she knew that her daughter's soul would be brought back. And maybe, just maybe, she had the chance to save Ruby's soul.

"You always break the kindest heart. With a hasty word you can't recall...."

Hearing the song from the spirit of her daughter brought back memories. Ruby had always had the sweetest voice...and there was something heart-wrenching about hearing her continue to sing even in death. Every word of the song felt like a knife into Mary's heart, reminding her that she'd failed to save her daughter. She'd failed to save Tommy from the witch's curse. And she'd failed to save the campers from being brutally murdered.

"So if I broke your heart last night, it's because I love you most of all...."

The singing grew louder, indicating that Mary was close to her daughter's spirit. She could see Ruby, gliding along the ground, the razor in her hand glinting in the moonlight. She moved forward with purpose, not looking to either left or right. She was following the siren call of the witch.

Mary didn't know where Ruby was going. She didn't know if Sarah Fier had called any of the other souls she'd taken. If there were other killers brought back, there was nothing Mary could do to stop them. She wasn't even sure she could stop Ruby.

But she had to try.

"You always hurt the one you love...."

Mary moved in front of her daughter, stopping Ruby in her tracks. She stared sadly at the ghost of her daughter, taking in the marks on her body...the scars on her face and her wrists. "Ruby," she whispered, reaching a hand out to her daughter.

There wasn't even a glint of recognition as Ruby slashed forward with her razor, still singing her song.

Mary quickly moved to the side, but she still felt the sharpness of the razor blade as it brushed against her skin.

As Ruby turned to come after her, there wasn't even a hint of recognition in her eyes. She slashed with the razor, driven by the will of the witch who still held her in thrall.

But at least she was coming after Mary and not trying to attack anyone else.

Continuing to dodge and weave away from the attacks of her daughter's crazed spirit, Mary began to talk to Ruby...hoping that some part of her voice, if not the words themselves, would reach her daughter. "It's me, Ruby. Your Mom. I know this wasn't your fault. What she made you do. It wasn't you. It wasn't my sweet Ruby."

Eyes empty and blank, Ruby slashed again at Mary, still singing the same song that had graced her lips ever since the witch had enslaved her soul.

"You always hurt the one you love...."

It was heartbreaking, to see how what Ruby had enjoyed so much in life be twisted, deranged, evil. Mary knew she couldn't keep dodging the attacks forever. Eventually, she would tire and one of the strikes from the razor would catch her.

But Ruby's movements were slowing, becoming more jerky. Like she was a puppet whose strings were being cut. And then she stumbled, falling to her knees...the razor dropping from her hand. The song faltered on her lips.

"Ruby." Mary dropped to her knees in front of her daughter and reached out. She half-expected her fingers to go through Ruby's body. Instead, her fingers slipped through the strands of Ruby's hair...caressed the cold skin of her daughter's cheek.

"Mama?" Ruby lifted her head slowly, staring at Mary with eyes that were clear...sharp...her own.

"Ruby...my baby...!" Tears filling her eyes, Mary wrapped her arms around her daughter and held on tightly. It wasn't the same as it had been before, when she'd held her daughter. Ruby's body was cold. She wasn't breathing. But she'd stopped singing. She'd dropped the razor. And she knew her mother.

"Mama." Ruby's voice hitched and she began to sob, clinging to Mary. "Mama...I don't want to go into the dark again. Please don't let me go back there."

Mary's own eyes filled with tears and she closed her eyes, forcing them back. Her heart hurt at the pain and fear she could hear in Ruby's voice, and she brushed a kiss over her daughter's head. "I'll hold onto you for as long as I can," she whispered.

"He won't let me go...!" Ruby's voice broke.

"Who won't let you go?" Mary pulled back to look into Ruby's eyes, seeing them clear and focused. "The Devil? Satan?" How could she fight against the ruler of Hell himself? But for her daughter, she'd do anything.

"No. Not...not the Devil. Goode," Ruby whispered. "He won't let me go...! I can feel him, trying to pull me back under. Trying to make me...make me forget again." Another sob was torn from her throat as she begged, "Don't let me go."

"I won't. I won't, Ruby." But even as she said the words, Mary wondered how she could protect the spirit of her daughter...and just who she was protecting Ruby from. Wasn't it Sarah Fier who was responsible for all the horror that had befallen them? How did Goode fit into all of this?

Was there something more to the witch's curse?

Sounds reached Mary's ears; the sounds of weapons hitting flesh and people crying out. Two people. She recognised the voices. "Ziggy." Her grip loosened around Ruby. "I have to help her."

Ruby's body shuddered and she let out a quiet sound, then clasped her head in both hands. "No, please...!" Her eyes darted around frantically, beginning to glaze over. Her lips parted, but instead of words, the haunting refrain of her song escaped her lips.

"You always hurt the one you love...."

Mary stared at her daughter's spirit as Ruby reached out and picked up the razor. She climbed to her feet and began walking again...focused on whatever siren call now controlled her.

She was walking in the same direction Mary had heard Ziggy's voice come from.

Pushing aside the questions that now haunted her about how Goode was involved in all of this, Mary instead focused her attention on her daughter's spirit. As Ruby began to move forward, to join the other souls who had been forced back to some semblance of life, Mary moved towards her daughter again. She wrapped her arms around Ruby, hugging her tightly, and ordered, "Stop."

Ruby struggled mindlessly, lashing out with arms and feet. The razor blade narrowly missed Mary's cheek, but it sheared off a few locks of her hair.

Mary had no idea what drove her next actions. Perhaps it was desperation, or maybe it was because she was still Ruby's mother...even though her daughter had been cursed and was now dead. She'd managed to bring Ruby back once...and maybe there was a way to bring her back permanently. But she hadn't intended to carry out her next action. She hadn't intended to free one hand from Ruby and draw it back, letting it fly against her daughter's backside in a hard swat that echoed abnormally loud.

The gasp that escaped from Ruby sounded almost human. She froze, briefly, before she began struggling again. The struggles didn't seem to hold the same strength as before, though, and Mary could feel her body shaking.

It was impossible for Mary to say what it was about swatting Ruby's backside that had worked. Perhaps it was the act of maternal love. After all, Mary had used spanking on her daughter occasionally. Not often, but on occasions where Ruby hadn't responded to Mary's normal methods of discipline.

The struggles had weakened and the song had faltered. Both were temporary, but it was enough to make Mary wonder if this was the way to save her daughter's soul. Maybe love on its own wasn't enough.

As Ruby's struggles once more increased in force, Mary tightened her hold on her daughter. She didn't say anything. It was unlikely that Ruby would hear anything she had to say, at least until the witch's curse was broken.

Mary delivered another swat to Ruby's backside, making her daughter stiffen slightly. She didn't stop this time, instead continuing to deliver firm smacks, making sure every inch of Ruby's bottom was covered in the stinging swats. Her other arm wrapped around her daughter's waist, tugging Ruby in close...making sure that the razor couldn't be used to attack her.

As each smack connected with Ruby's bottom, her struggles grew even weaker...until finally, she was limp against Mary's arm, the razor having dropped to the ground. "Mama...." There were tears in her voice as she whimpered out, "I'm so sorry."

Mary wanted to stop. She wanted to hold onto Ruby...to keep her daughter in her arms. But she didn't know how long this could keep Ruby free of the witch's curse. She didn't know how long she had with her daughter...but her instincts, the same ones that had driven her to the wall with Tommy's name on it...warned her that they weren't there yet.

Ruby was still a slave.

Adjusting her grip slightly, Mary sat down on the ground and guided her daughter across her lap.

A tiny whimper escaped Ruby's lips, but she didn't fight or struggle or protest. She lay where she'd been positioned, head down, the sound of her soft sobs reaching Mary's ears.

"I'm here, Ruby. I know this wasn't your fault. You wouldn't have killed anyone if she hadn't forced you into it." Mary couldn't keep the note of loathing out of her voice as she proceeded to raise Ruby's skirt and lower her panties. Then, she began to steadily swat Ruby's bare bottom, falling into a pattern of smacks that went from the crest of her backside down to mid-thigh.

Almost immediately, Ruby began to squirm...although she was clearly making no attempt to get away from the painful swats, or from Mary's grip on her. The squirming was clearly in response to the sting of the smacks, her body reacting without conscious thought. She'd already been crying, but as the spanking continued, her sobs became louder and more intense.

Mary paused when Ruby's bottom was a bright pink in colour, bordering on red in spots. She rubbed her daughter's back, a stab of grief going through her as she felt her daughter's cold skin. The spanking was showing signs of working; of bringing Ruby back to her. But she wouldn't be able to keep her daughter with her. All she could hope to do was allow Ruby's soul to be freed from the curse. "I love you, Ruby," she whispered out loud. "I wish Sarah Fier hadn't cursed you. You should be alive and fulfilling all of your dreams." Tears filled her own eyes as she whispered, "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."

"Mama." Ruby's voice broke on the word and she let out a quiet sob. She reached back with one hand and Mary took hold of it, squeezing it gently. "I'm so sorry." Her body slumped over Mary's lap and she gripped Mary's hand, like it was the only thing tethering her to this world.

"It wasn't your fault," Mary whispered. "You had no way to defend yourself against her. I'm just glad that I can see you again...and I hope that I've succeeded in freeing you from the witch's curse," she added. Despite herself, a hopeless note crept into her voice. She couldn't hold onto her daughter. She couldn't hold onto Ruby's spirit. All she could do was hope that she'd done enough to break Ruby entirely free of Sarah Fier's curse.

"I don't feel it anymore. The siren call. The spell that made me lose my mind. Lose myself." Pushing herself up slowly, Ruby leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Mary, hugging her tightly. "I'm free. You set me free."

"I wish I could keep you with me." Mary stroked Ruby's hair from her face and kissed her forehead.

"So do I." Ruby closed her eyes, pressing into her mother's touch. Gradually, the scars that marred her body began to fade away, until she appeared the same way she had when she was alive.

Mary wasn't sure how, but she reaised gradually that her time with Ruby was coming to an end. Her daughter was finally ready to pass on peacefully...and maybe Mary could force her to stay, but then she'd be trapping her daughter as surely as the witch's curse had. "I love you," she whispered, unable to hide the note of sadness in her voice. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mama." Ruby was crying, her whole body shaking with the force of her sobs. "I don't want to go...." She clung to Mary, almost desperately.

"I know. My beautiful girl." Mary kissed her hair. "But it's time." She forced away her own feelings of guilt and grief. Ruby needed her to be strong right now, even if she felt like her heart was breaking. "You're free of the witch's curse. Sarah Fier no longer has her grip on you."

Ruby pulled back slightly, enough to look into Mary's eyes. Her body was becoming transparent...slowly fading from the world of the living. When she spoke, her voice seemed to come from very far away. "It wasn't Sarah Fier who turned me into a monster."

Mary's eyes widened, but before she could ask what Ruby meant, the last tether holding her daughter tied to the world of the living snapped. From one breath to the next, she was gone. All that was left was the lingering warmth where she and Mary had held each other.

She was gone...and she wouldn't be coming back. It was painful, but at least she knew that Ruby's soul was finally at peace. And eventually, they would be together again.

The End