“It’s not her,” Mom says again, looking only at me. She shakes her head slowly. Her fear-filled eyes drill into mine. “Honey, you have to remember what I told you—he can be anyone he wants. Anyone, anywhere, any time. You can’t trust your ears right now, only your eyes.”
“What is going on?” Lewis whispers, his voice trembling. “What happened to you?” He looks at me. “What is she talking about?”
“It’s EJ,” I tell him. “Not just tonight, chasing you. All of it has been EJ. He led Taylor away, pretended to be Mom and Greta. He’s…he’s using AI to mimic people’s voices. Taylor’s, Mom’s, Greta’s.”
He shakes his head. “No. That’s ridiculous. Why would he do that? He doesn’t know us.”
Mom’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a warning there that I don’t quite understand. As if she doesn’t want me to tell him everything. It’s as if I can hear her voice inside my head, saying he only needs to know the necessary parts.
But it’s ridiculous.
We can trust Lewis. He’d never hurt us.
My mind goes back to the divorce settlement, and all the ways we fought over money and the division of our assets. I would trust this man with my life, but can I trust him with this cabin? With the fortune it’s apparently worth?
I swallow, the truth buried so deep within my bones I don’t really have to contemplate the question.
It’s as if every one of my ancestors, every woman who has ever lived within these woods, whose blood and bones rest beneath the earth here, is screaming at me. Leading me.
“He’s not a good person,” I finally say. “We have to get everyone out of here. Can you help Mom to the car?”
“What? No. I’m not leaving you.”
“You’re not. I’m going with you.” I glance at Mom. “Did you call the police?”
She gives me a quick nod, eyes darting to Lewis and then back to me.She doesn’t want to mention the tunnels.“Service isn’t great with the storm, but they’re coming.”
I turn around, facing Lewis. “Do you have your keys?”
He pats his pocket. “Yes.”
“Good. You and Mom wait for me in the car. Keep her safe. I’ll find the others and meet you there.”
Reluctantly, he takes Mom’s arm and eases it around his shoulders to steady her as they head for the driveway.
I watch them disappear around the house.
“Psssst…”
I look up when I hear the sound, Mom’s warning haunting my thoughts. Just because the voice sounds like Greta doesn’t mean it?—
It is.
I catch sight of her peeking out from the woods, and it sends my heart into a spiral. “Oh, thank God.” I rush forward and into her outstretched arms.
“What is going on?” she asks, pulling me into a tight hug. “Why is your mom here? The power went out, and then it was chaos. Someone screamed, and then everyone screamed, and there was pushing and shoving and—Conrad got me out, but I didn’t want to leave you. I swear I saw someone in there with a gun.”
“I know.” I release her and step back. “You’re right, and I know.” I look behind her, to where Conrad and Benji are waiting. Conrad looks positively shell-shocked, while Benji appears hardened. Ready. “Are you guys okay?”
“The police are on their way,” Benji says. “I called them, but with the tree down…”
“I know. It’s okay. We called, too. We just need to get to the car and get as far away from here as we can. Can you help Greta?”
Benji gives a resolute nod and takes hold of her. “I’ve got her.”
After a quick check around, we head for Lewis’s car where he and Mom are waiting. A light flicks on inside the house, and I flinch.
“Power’s back,” Conrad mutters.
