“Had to make sure it would go up.”
Everest met us at the tree line, holding up his phone.
“Thirty seconds to spare, Starbright, well done.”
“Nixon helped,” I said, fidgeting to escape Alister’s arms.
He refused to let go.
The rain began to pick up again, and I worriedly watched as the flames grew. Would it be enough to meet the killer’s demands?
Nixon crept back to join us, the four of us watching the house burn in silence from the safety of the trees.
The fire continued to spread despite the rain.
Minutes passed and nothing happened, save for the flames beginning to lick up and out the kitchen windows.
Then it came.
BUZZ.
I pulled my phone out.
Raindrops fell on the screen, smudging every swipe I took, making it a struggle to unlock the device.
Finally, it accepted my passcode, and I opened up my messages to find an image attached.
Shiny auburn locks obscured the person’s face, and she was hunched over something, but I would know Autumn anywhere.
And in her hand, she held a small, glittery sticker.
A crackling snap sounded. The fire had reached the second floor.
“What is it, my darling?” Everest said, poking his head over my shoulder.
I didn’t bother to hide the screen from him.
Nixon snuck a look as well. “Is that fucking—”
“Autumn,” I whispered.
“She’s a fucking sheep,” Alister growled.
None of this made any sense.
Why make me burn down the house just to send me a photo of Autumn betraying me?
BUZZ.
I nearly pitched the phone into the flames.
BUZZ.
“What are they saying, love?”
I wasn’t sure that I cared now, but I turned the phone over regardless.
It was another photo. Autumn again.
Only this time, she was bound in a chair with her mouth gagged, her hair greasy and lank.
UNKNOWN: She’s in the basement.
