Page 75 of Everyone Is Lying to You

It’s me. But it’s not me. I’ve never said those words.

“You don’t talk that much in your videos, but you talk enough. Veronica and her sisters didn’t learn how to use AI all on their own. I’ve picked up some things here and there. Digital voice creation is almost too easy these days.”

I follow Marsden’s gaze as he looks up at the rafters in the barn. A shaft of moonlight comes through the door illuminating a noose resting on the edge of the ledge where we keep the hay.

He prods me up the ladder.

“Don’t make this hurt more than it has to. I don’t want there to be any marks on your body, but if there are, the police won’tinvestigate them. They won’t question much here. I’ve made sure of that. So climb on up, darling. Be a good girl. Do as Daddy says.”

I climb and I curse myself for letting this beast get the best of me. I curse the god I don’t believe in for trapping my children in this impossible situation. I also know that I will not go down without a fight. He’s climbing right behind me, but I reach the ledge first, and when I look out from that vantage point I can see something in the moonlight, a figure just outside the door.

Is it possible? Is someone truly coming to save me?

I stand up and allow Marsden to place the heavy rope around my neck.

“It will be easier if you take the first step,” he growls. “But I’ll push you if I have to.”

“You’ll burn in hell for this.” I want to believe in a fiery inferno in a way that I’ve never wanted to before.

“I’ve been chosen by God, Rebecca. Never forget that.” He leans over and I think he wants to kiss me on the mouth.

“You’re right, Marsden,” I spit, trying to buy some time. “You’ve been chosen.” I’m hoping whoever is out there beyond the barn door isn’t alone. I’m hoping they brought backup with them. I’m hoping they have a plan because I’m out of options. I take a step closer to the edge. Marsden is right there with me, watching me teeter.

“You’ve been chosen to die tonight.”

I pull in a deep breath, and as I step away from the edge I muster all the strength I have, all my rage, all the burning love for my kids, and I kick Marsden right in the gut and send him over the edge as I go flying through the air, the noose tightening around my neck.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lizzie

Olivia has a gun. I hope she knows how to use it. We parked at the front gate of the ranch and walked the half mile in on foot, not knowing what we’d find here, if we would find anything, but hoping that if we did, we weren’t too late.

She met me at the hotel, and we covered the distance to the ranch in an hour, speeding the whole way, slowing down only twice.

“I know where the speed traps are,” she told me. What else does she know?

When I saw the light on in Rebecca’s bathroom I nearly ran to the house. We weren’t too late. But Olivia stopped me.

“Wait a second. We have to assess.”

She pulled the handgun out from a holster beneath her crisp black blazer. She’d reached me so quickly, I wondered if she slept in a full suit. When I looked at the gun with disdain, she rolled her eyes and whispered, “Everyone is armed in this state, Lizzie.”

That’s when the front door to the house opens and we duck down behind the hedges. In the moonlight I can easily make them out, strolling casually arm in arm, like two lovers out to get some fresh air.

“She’s with Marsden.” I let out a strangled cry. “They look like they’re together. Like they’re romantic. Did they plan this whole thing? Did they kill Gray together?” Olivia shushes me by placing a finger over my lips. The two figures glow in the moonlight as they finish their stroll and disappear into the barn.

Olivia pulls me forward until we can peek in through a small dusty window on the side of the building. I don’t see them at first, but finally they come into focus. Two figures about to kiss in the hayloft. My stomach twists with disgust. Only then do I see the rope around her neck. It’s too late. She’s flying over the edge.

But so is he. She kicked him straight in the gut with enough force to send him tumbling down two stories. It isn’t that far to fall, but he was also caught off guard and he doesn’t have time to get his feet under him. Marsden lands directly on his spine with a shrill scream and then silence. Bex is hanging above us, her legs dangling, twitching as she gasps for air.

Olivia moves like lightning. She’s up in the loft, hacking at the rope with some kind of knife.

“Lizzie,” she screams. “You’ll have to break her fall.” I look up to see Rebecca wiggling. She has both hands slipped under the noose. A few fingers are the only thing that saved her from breaking her neck when she swung, but the noose is still suffocating her and she can’t hold on for much longer. I’ve never moved so fast without thinking in my entire life. I push two bales of hayunder her and I climb on top of them the best I can until I can nearly touch her toes.

“I’m cutting her down,” Olivia yells.

“Bex, I’m right here. I’m here. I’m going to catch you. I’ve got you.”

---