The apartment debate ended faster than expected because Gwen eventually agreed to the building Ash and Heather preferred, though she refused to accept the five-thousand-dollar unit. After comparing the available listings, they found a simpler apartment on one of the lower floors of the same building for roughly three thousand dollars a month. It lacked some of the upgraded finishes and better views offered by the more expensive units, but the location, security, and transportation access were almost identical.
For Gwen, three thousand dollars was still expensive, but splitting the rent among three people made it reasonable enough to tolerate. Ash and Heather accepted the compromise without much argument, and the three immediately contacted a real-estate agent to schedule a viewing. With Gwen's job starting soon, there was no reason to delay the move any longer.
Their plans separated briefly after that. Ash and Gwen would travel to New York together to inspect the apartment and begin moving their belongings, while Heather had something far more personal to handle first. She intended to settle everything with Gavin and Arlene Miller before beginning her new life.
Heather could not forget that they had raised her, but she also could not ignore what they had done to Loretta Sawyer and the rest of her biological family. Rather than spend years trapped between gratitude and resentment, she intended to make the break clean. Heather would give them a generous one-time payment from Verna's inheritance as repayment for the years they supported her, formally sever their family relationship, and then return to New York.
Unless something important forced her back, she had little intention of returning to Texas afterward.
With only a few days remaining before Gwen reported for work, everyone moved quickly. Heather left to handle the situation with her adoptive parents, while Ash and Gwen waited until dinner that evening to tell Aunt Beverly about their own plans.
Beverly Marsh sat quietly for a moment after hearing that they intended to move to Manhattan. She had raised them for more than a decade and always knew this day would eventually come, but knowing something was inevitable did not make it feel any less sudden.
"If you've both decided, then go," Beverly said with a small smile. "New York will give you opportunities you'll never find around here. Just remember this is still your home, so come back whenever you have time."
Gwen smiled warmly. "We will."
"And don't worry about the house," Beverly continued. "I'm not planning on going anywhere."
At thirty-nine, Beverly had already lived through more than enough for several lifetimes. Her childhood had been dominated by Alvin Marsh, an abusive and deeply unstable father whose behavior toward his daughter often crossed frightening boundaries. He never sexually assaulted her, but his possessiveness, intimidation, invasive attention, and violent temper left scars that followed Beverly well into adulthood.
Eventually, she escaped him and built a new life far from home. Beverly became a talented fashion designer and later married Tom Rogan, believing she had finally escaped the controlling men who dominated her childhood.
Instead, she found herself trapped in another abusive relationship.
Tom was intelligent, ambitious, and talented enough that the two eventually built a successful fashion business together, but his charm concealed an obsessive need for control. Even ordinary conversations between Beverly and male coworkers could trigger accusations, jealousy, and violence behind closed doors.
Ash's parents had been among the people who encouraged her to stop accepting it.
With their support, Beverly finally filed for divorce and refused to take Tom back despite his apologies, promises, and repeated attempts to regain control over her life. She received a substantial settlement, separated from the business they had built together, and established herself as an independent designer.
Years later, another responsibility entered her life.
Beverly never had children of her own, but Ash's mother trusted her completely. After the demonic incident that killed Ash's parents, Beverly became the guardian of Ash and Gwen and raised them as family.
Ash had been only five when his parents died, so Beverly naturally became something close to a mother in his mind. Gwen's relationship with her developed differently.
Gwen had already lost one family before she ever met Beverly. Her biological parents died in a car accident when she was eight, after which Ash's parents adopted her and gave her a new home. Only a year later, the demonic attack claimed them as well, leaving nine-year-old Gwen facing the loss of a second set of parents.
For a while, Gwen genuinely wondered whether she somehow brought tragedy to the people who took her in.
When Beverly became their guardian, Gwen was already old enough to understand exactly what adoption meant. Calling another woman "Mom" felt impossible after losing two families in such a short period, so she followed Ash's habit and called Beverly "Aunt Beverly" instead. Over the years, their relationship gradually became closer to that of sisters separated by a large age gap.
Ash, on the other hand, never stopped treating Beverly like the woman who had raised him.
Beverly currently worked as an independent designer through a creative center in Woodsboro, where freelancers and small businesses shared offices and production resources. Her latest project involved designing employee uniforms for a local company, which explained why she had been leaving early and returning home late most days.
Halfway through dinner, Beverly suddenly remembered something.
"Have you already chosen an apartment? New York rent can get ridiculous. If the places near Gwen's office or Ash's college cost more than you expected, I can cover part of it."
Ash immediately shook his head.
"We already found one. We're meeting the agent tomorrow."
"How much?"
"Three thousand a month."
Beverly considered the number. "That isn't terrible for Manhattan. If you need help with the deposit or rent, tell me."
Ash and Gwen exchanged a glance.
Neither liked asking Beverly for money unless it was genuinely necessary. She had already taken them in, supported them through childhood, paid for food, school, clothes, medical bills, and everything else two growing kids needed. Now that they were adults, both wanted to become financially independent rather than continue relying on her.
Ash smiled.
"We're fine. Believe it or not, the road trip actually made us money."
Beverly raised an eyebrow.
"What exactly does that mean?"
Since the danger had already passed, Ash decided there was no reason to hide everything anymore. He told her about the West Virginia cannibals, the police reward, the recovered money, and the compensation from Crystal Lake. He deliberately softened the parts involving arrows, mutilated bodies, demon possession, and Jason Voorhees trying to kill them.
Even the heavily edited version was enough to make Beverly stare at him.
"Cannibals and a serial killer?"
She looked toward Gwen.
"You called me during the trip several times. Neither of you mentioned any of this."
"That was because we were calling to tell you we were safe," Ash replied. "Telling you about everything trying to kill us would have defeated the purpose."
Beverly gave him a look that made it clear she did not appreciate the logic.
Ash stood and spread his arms.
"Look at me. Completely fine."
He even turned around once for emphasis.
Beverly reluctantly admitted that he looked healthy. If anything, Ash seemed broader through the shoulders and more physically developed than when he left, although she could not explain how a road trip lasting only a few weeks could produce such a noticeable difference.
"As long as you came home safely, that's what matters." Beverly sighed before turning more serious. "But if you suddenly have a lot of money, learn how to manage it. Don't waste everything just because you can afford to."
She glanced toward Gwen.
"Fortunately, I trust at least one of you to maintain a budget."
Ash placed a hand over his chest.
"That hurt."
"You'll survive."
Gwen smiled into her drink.
Beverly continued, "If you eventually decide to settle permanently in New York, tell me before you buy anything. I know the city, and I still have contacts there. I can help you find a decent house or apartment instead of letting some broker talk you into something overpriced."
Ash understood what she was really offering. Even after they moved out, Beverly still intended to quietly protect them whenever possible.
His expression softened.
He stood behind her chair and began massaging her shoulders.
"My dear aunt, keep your money for yourself. Maybe you'll have kids someday and need it for them."
Beverly laughed.
"I would need a husband before worrying about children."
"That problem has an obvious solution."
She glanced back suspiciously. "What are you suggesting?"
"Gwen and I are adults now. We're moving out. Maybe you should think about dating again."
Gwen looked over with immediate interest.
Beverly stared at Ash as though he had suggested something absurd.
Ash refused to retreat.
"You're thirty-nine, not ninety. You're successful, independent, and you live alone most of the time already. There has to be at least one decent man in America who isn't controlling, abusive, possessed, or secretly carrying a machete."
"That is a remarkably low standard."
"After our family history, I think starting low is reasonable."
Beverly laughed despite herself.
She had not seriously considered marriage for years. Tom Rogan had done enough damage to make solitude feel far safer than romance, and raising Ash and Gwen gave her little reason to feel lonely.
Now both of them were leaving.
For the first time in more than a decade, the house would truly belong to Beverly alone.
Ash rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. "I'm not telling you to marry someone tomorrow. Just don't decide the rest of your life is already settled because we grew up."
Beverly turned enough to look at him.
"You've become awfully opinionated since turning eighteen."
"I've always been opinionated."
"That part is unfortunately true."
Gwen laughed, and the conversation gradually returned to ordinary things: packing, furniture, what they would take to New York, and which belongings could remain in Woodsboro. For once, there were no demons, killers, psychic teenagers, or cursed campsites demanding their attention.
There was only family preparing for a move.