I steeled myself and looked around the room. What could I do to stall him? A loud whistle rang through the room and all of us turned to the stove.
Tea.
My head swung back to the counter, where my assassin’s teapot sat, along with jars someone had pulled from my cabinet.
The hemlock.
"Okay, but I'm going to make some tea. It calms me down," I said to the room. I stared at my men, hoping they’d see my plan.
"Tea? Eisley, is it appropriate right now?" Kansas asked.
"Yes. Tea is always the appropriate response," I muttered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I told Rem as I hurried to turn the stove off and pour the hot water into the pot. “I’ll make a blend.”
"Did you know about them? The whole time?" He swung the gun in my direction and I threw my hands up.
“No!” I shook my head furiously. "I'm learning about all of this as you are," I lied. "I don't know what's going on."
“How long have you been off your medication?”
“What? Why does that matter?” I glanced at my men, who were both watching in a mix of horror and confusion. Cautiously, I stepped forward and reached for the teapot.
I poured water into the first hole, then the second, watching Rem to see if he noticed. My hands shook as I took a spoon and put tea leaves in one chamber, and hemlock in the other.
“Because we all know what happens when you’re off them, Eisley.” Rem cocked the gun and my insides twisted. Could I survive a gunshot?
“Eisley, what is he talking about?” Constantine asked.
Rem and I both turned to the men handcuffed on the other side of the room.
“Nothing. I don’t need them.” My voice came out shrill.
“No, you’re lying.” Rem was swinging the gun back and forth from them to me. “She does need them. She goes crazy when she’s not on them.”
I put my hands over my ears and closed my eyes. I didn’t know what to do.
“Tell them the truth!” Rem boomed. “Tell them you’re fucking crazy!”
“I don’t like that word!” I screamed.
Rem swung the gun to me. Now he was the one who looked scared.
“I’m not crazy.” I pressed my lips together tightly and turned to my husbands. “I have bi-polar disorder.” I confessed. The two of them shared a look. “and I’ve been off my medication since October first.”
Rem shook his head. “That’s when this all started Eisley. I’m starting to think it was you who did all this. Not them.” He stepped toward me and pressed the gun into my chest. “Are you Ghostface?”
“No!” My men screamed out and began fighting against their restraints.
Rem released me and turned on them again. “Shut the fuck up.” He reached for his phone and dialed 911 again, getting the busy tone.
"Micah's dead. They found him an hour ago. That leaves Therese and me, but she's not answering her phone. She never not answers her phone. She told me she was coming here, that’s why I came. Did you kill her?” he asked me.
“No.” I answered honestly.
“What am I supposed to do? All of my friends are dead, and just because some kids got molested ten years ago, I’m next? It’s not fair. There’s nothing we can do about it. We need to move on.”
“You can do that by leaving.” I tried to point out.
“And let you three get off scott-free? No one’s going anywhere.”
