If you’ve found this, then you’ve exceeded my expectations.
You just might have the heart of a true final girl if you were able to escape your new friends, or should I say foes?
Now, do you have the guts to do whatever it takes to get back to the estate and rescue your fellow thriller queens before time runs out?
Inside this trunk are the supplies you desperately need. But you have to earn them. To get them, you’ll have to be willing to get your hands dirty.
Are you ready for your next task, Teagan?
You’ll find what you need in the pocket of Amber’s dress.
Good luck, my dear. And don’t forget to Live, Laugh, and Murder your little heart out.
A. M. Pierce
I already know he has something sinister planned for me. My nerves feel like they are flaying me alive from the inside as I force myself to walk over to where Amber’s body rests.
I don’t want to do whatever Pierce has planned for me. I can’t risk the lives of my friends, though.
Amber’s body is sprawled across the floor, sitting in a giant pool of her own blood. You wouldn’t think that a person would have this much blood in their body. I gag again as the coppery scent hits my nostrils.
I’m glad her eyes are closed so she can’t watch me dry heave over her corpse. I find myself strangely grateful to Travis for this one kind gesturebecause I don’t think I could go through with this if she were staring right up at me with her lifeless eyes. Eyes that were staring at me with such gratitude only an hour earlier. Tears pour down my cheeks as I whisper an apology to her, wishing I had gotten to know her better before her life was stolen away because of me.
I wish Pierce had killed me instead.
It takes me a moment to get control of my emotions. I’m pouring sweat, snot, and tears. I use the flannel sleeve to wipe my face.
I can do this, I can do this.
Reaching into the pocket of her dress, I rummage around for whatever Pierce has waiting for me. I expect it to be a key to the chest, but instead, my hand wraps around something hard and metal. When I pull my hand out, I see that it’s a pocket knife. I open it and look at the blade. The top part of the blade is sharp and smooth, while the bottom half is serrated.
The crackle of the speaker above makes me scream. I slam my hand over my mouth as the creepy voice floods back into the room.
“Good girl, Teagan. You found my gift. But you know that won’t get you into the chest.”
I gaze into the camera on the ceiling and cross my arms over my chest. “Then what do you want me to do?”
The voice lets out a shrill laugh. “I want you to find the key.”
“And where is this key at?” I ask. Surprising myself when my voice comes off strong and confident, even if my insides are quaking with fear. I know whatever he wants next won’t be pretty.
“The key is located inside one of your fallen comrades, of course.”
“Inside?” I look to Amber and then to David, both dead at my feet, and feel faint again. I grab the bars of Amber’s cage and gulp down deep breaths of air. It tastes like salt and iron.
“I’ll give you a hint,” the voice says. “It’s in the place that’s responsible for your unfortunate circumstances. Good luck.”
The hum of the speaker goes silent. I’m left with nothing but two dead bodies and a pocket knife to carve them up with.
What does he mean by the place that’s responsible for my circumstances?
My brain? For having my own thoughts and feelings about his novel?
My mouth? For speaking those thoughts aloud?
I’ve never been good at riddles, so I try a different route of thinking. If there is a key hidden inside of David or Amber, surely there’ll be an incision, right?
I shove the knife in my pocket and delicately lift Amber’s head to check for any evidence of a post-mortem surgery. It’s covered in blood, so I have to feel my way around her blonde locks. I don’t feel anything but matted up tangles. I check her hands next, which are just as bloody, but much easier to inspect. I find nothing except torn fingernails and more blood.
