Page 43 of Twisted Liars

While she struggled to get the words out between choked sobs and heaving breaths, I soothingly stroked her back with one hand. At the same time, I felt around the bed for her phone with my free hand. After I found it, I lifted it up to my eye level and typed in the code Jensen got for me yesterday. Once I was in, I quickly went to her inbox and deleted the most recent message.

“It’s okay. I’m right here,” I murmured, dropping the phone behind her back. “It was just a nightmare.”

“No!” she choked out, soaking my sleeve with her tears. “They’re coming for me! You… you have to help me!”

Ali and Zara dashed into the room. “What’s going on in here?” Zara asked, eyes wide with alarm. “We heard screaming.”

“How did you get out of your room?” Ali asked at the same time, forehead creasing as he looked at me.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I broke the lock with a snow globe when I heard Piper screaming. I was so worried.”

Zara waved a hand. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. What happened?”

“Piper had a bad dream,” I said, still rubbing her back.

She sniffled and extricated herself from my embrace. “It wasn’t a dream,” she said. “Someone was in here.”

“What do you mean?” Ali asked, thick brows shooting up.

Piper pointed a shaky finger at the foot of her bed. “There… there was a… a man,” she said, struggling to get the words out. She took a deep breath and tried again. “There was a man in a mask, and he filmed me sleeping. He threatened to kill me!”

“What?” I clapped a hand over my mouth, feigning horror. “Are you serious?”

“Yes! They’re coming for me!” Piper leapt to her feet and stared at her parents, lower lip trembling. “I don’t understand! I didn’t do anything wrong! I did everything they told me to do!”

“Calm down, honey.” Ali strode over and patted her on the back. “You’re perfectly safe. It’s just us here.”

Zara looked at me, confusion flashing in her eyes. “Do you have any idea what she’s talking about?” she asked in a low voice.

I shook my head. “No. I only came in here a few seconds before you. I think she just had a really bad nightmare.”

“I told you, it wasn’t a nightmare!” Piper screeched. She pulled away from her father and stooped to pick up her phone. “Look! I’ll show you!”

I watched her with wide eyes, still feigning complete ignorance. Ali and Zara looked equally baffled.

“It’s right here. The psycho sent the video to me!” Piper babbled as her fingers flew over the screen. “Then he threw rocks at my window to wake me up. He wanted me to see the video as soon as possible so I’d know he’s still out there watching me!”

Ali sighed wearily and lifted his palms in a placating gesture. “It’s all right, honey. No one can hurt you in here. Just stay calm and show me the video.”

Piper’s face went ashen as she stared at her phone screen. “I don’t understand,” she muttered. “It was right here.”

I cocked my head. “You mean… it’s gone?”

“I don’t think it was ever there,” Zara murmured, stepping over to ruffle Piper’s hair. “Amerie’s right, honey. It was just a bad dream.”

“No,” she replied, eyes bulging as she shook a finger at the window. “I heard the rocks! And I saw the video! It was real!”

“Hold on. I’ll take a look.” Ali crossed the room and peered at the closest window. “Was it this one?”

“I think so,” Piper said, staring over at him with wide eyes.

“Hmm. I don’t see any cracks or marks in the glass. Just a bit of moisture,” Ali said, tapping the pane. “Maybe it rained earlier.”

“Maybe it even hailed,” I helpfully suggested. “That could’ve woken you. And it would’ve sounded like someone was throwing stones at the windows.”

Ali nodded sagely. “Ah, yes, that could be it.”

“But what about the video?” Piper shouted. Twin spots of color had appeared on her cheeks. “I’m telling you, it was real!”

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