Capri steps forward and reaches around for something. “I can hardly see a thing down here,” she whines while searching for the doorknob. The only light we have is coming from the door at the top of the stairs. “It’s locked,” Capri says before she knocks hard three times.
“I’ll head back upstairs and see if we somehow missed Lochlan and took a wrong turn,” Lee finally says once we realize nobody is going to answer. “Be right back.” He kisses Capri on the side of her head before he disappears. The door at the top of the stairs slams shut behind him as soon as he reaches the top, plunging us into complete darkness.
Teagan slips her arm through mine as we both scream into the pitch-black room.
“Lee?” Capri’s voice is full of fear. “Lee!” Capri shouts louder, stepping on my foot, then tripping over Teagan and me. “Sorry! Sorry! I’m freaking out here, guys,” Capri whispers into the deafening silence surrounding us as her small body clings tightly to us. “Lee! Can you hear me?”
A small, bright red light appears above us, illuminating the space in ominous hues of red. While I hated the darkness, I might hate how twisted and terrifying my best friends look right now even more. Their features take on strange, blood-red shadows as we all look around the room in panic.
“What’s going on here?” I ask. “This isn’t some sort of game!” I shout at the red light. “Let us out of here!”
The crackle of a speaker makes the three of us jump.
“Hello, ladies,” says a voice from the speaker. It’s distorted, almost like they are using one of those voice apps to change how they sound to cover up their true identity.
“Before we get started, I just wanted to tell you all what a huge fan I am of your little podcast. Listening toLive, Laugh, Murderis a guilty pleasure of mine. It seems like you ladies sure know your stuff.”
Teagan’s voice is small, but fierce as she yells up at the ceiling, “Who are you? Let us out of here!”
The mutated voice lets out an ugly, awful sound, which might be some twisted version of a laugh. “Why, I’m the person you’ve been dying to meet,” the voice answers. “But, to meet me, you have to prove you’re worthy.”
“What—,” Capri starts, her voice shaking like a leaf in the wind. “What does that mean? Is this a joke?”
“It means, Mrs. Kim,” the voice continues, “You must survive this first test if you ever want to see that handsome husband of yours alive again.”
A digital clock appears on the wall across from the red light. It’s counting down from 10:00. The three of us stare at each other, sharing the same horrified expression as we realize this isn’t a game. The author we’ve been dying to meet might just be the one responsible for this confusing and horrifying situation.
“Clock’s ticking, ladies.”
Chapter twelve
No, no, no.
We have to get out of here.
I have to get to Lee. I have to save him.
Rationally, I know this is probably just some prank, but what if it’s not?
What if it’s not?
My thriller girlie brain can’t help but immediately think the worst, though. I have to save him from whatever twisted form of torture our captors have planned for him.
My palms are sweating like crazy, and I hastily wipe them on my dress as I spin in circles to see if there’s another way out of this tiny, red prison.
My late father’s words come back to me as I feel myself start to spiral.
Stop. Breathe. Assess the situation.
I take a deep, shuddering breath to calm my nerves before I jump into action. Someone has to take charge here, and it might as well be me since I have the most to lose if this isn’t just some twisted game. “Teagan, go up the stairs and check to see if that door is locked,” I snap a bit more forcefully than I should. “Lexi, start feeling around the wall with the clock. Maybe there is an escape hatch somewhere.”
Lexi scoffs loudly while shaking her head at me. Teagan nods and takes off running up the stairs, disappearing out of sight just like Lee did only minutes ago.
“No, I’m not entertaining this,” Lexi spits back at me. “This is stupid. I didn’t come all the way to Scotland just to be accosted by a man who thinks he can use and abuse us for his own pleasure. I don’t care how famous he is.”
“Fine!” I shout at her. “Then get the hell out of my way so I can check. I don’t care if you think it’s a game. I willnotrisk my husband’s life over your stubbornness, Lexi.” My tone is as sharp as knives as I lecture my best friend. “Also, we don’t know that Pierce is a man. Now do we?”
“I assure you, ladies. I’m a man,” the voice coos from above.
