Page 119 of Make Me Scream

“How’d you find us?” he asks.

“Mail in your office,” Lane replies.

“Smart. And the police?”

“They’re on the way.”

I hold back a sigh of relief. No matter what happens to me, Mundell’s going to get what he deserves.

“How come they didn’t arrest you?” Mundell asks.

“Gwen’s roommates got to me first.”

Of course they did. I love them so much.

“So this is it, then,” Mundell says. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill her right in front of you.”

“Because what I’ll do to you will be much, much worse than life in prison.”

“Maybe I’ll kill you both. I’m not weak.”

“You could get protective custody if you tell us where the other girls are,” Lane says, unfazed by the threat. “Maybe they’ll even put you in a psych ward.”

“Chloe’s here,” I blurt. “She’s alive. He’s been keeping them this whole time!”

“Shut the fuck up,” Mundell hisses. “Lane, this is your last chance. Get down on the ground or I’ll cut her throat right now.”

“Don’t listen to him!” I shout. “You can’t let him escape!”

“I can’t let him hurt you either. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay. You win, Rush.”

So much happens at the same time, I don’t fully comprehend it at first.

The figure in front of us bolts to our left, sprinting away. I hear sudden, rapid footsteps, but they’re getting closer. Then the blade against my skin goes away, and an invisible force throws Mundell to the ground.

A massive man stands before me; dressed the same as the other figure, he wears the tragedy mask, its open mouth wailing in silent anguish.

“Hey Gwen,” Lane says, throwing off the mask and slipping Mundell’s knife into his belt. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” I reply, wishing I could leap into his arms.

“Gwen, this is Rory.”

“Hey,” the other man says, pulling off the comedy mask. “Sorry to be meeting you like this.”

I laugh.

“Don’t be. Thank you.”

Mundell tries to get up, but Lane kicks him hard in the face.

Specks of blue and red light sneak through the thick, distant treeline.

Lane reaches into Mundell’s pockets until he finds a ring of keys and tosses them to Rory, who runs back into the building.

Mundell howls, leaping at Lane and knocking them both over. They reach for the knife, wrestling and grasping. I struggle against my chains, needing to help, but I can’t get free; the best I can do is stand up.

“Gwen, stay back!” Lane shouts.

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