He opened his mouth, but Alex burst in.
“Sam, Jenny’s awake!”
Sam ran out of the room without another
L
He yanked out my IV.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Alex looked at me.
“Riley, don’t cause trouble. Jenny needs
people to take care of her.”
Then, he left.
The door slammed shut, but I could still hear
them celebrating.
I lay in bed, feeling lost.
They put me in the nicest room.
I was out of the hospital a week later.
く
Jenny and Sam were planning their wedding.
They were getting married on the beach at
my family’s house.
The beach was packed with people.
Everyone was dressed up and smiling.
I stood on the rocks and jumped into the
ocean.
Jenny walked down the aisle, wearing a white
dress.
“Where’s Riley? She’s not still mad, is she?”
My parents frowned.
“Bilev’s being difficult Today’s Jenny’s bia
L
“Riley’s being difficult. Today’s Jenny’s big
day.”
Alex rolled his eyes.
“I’ll go find her.”
Then, someone yelled.
“Help! Someone jumped in the ocean!”
Sam and Alex turned pale and ran to the
beach.
There was a pearl hairpin on the rocks.
Sam picked it up and whispered, “Riley…It’s
Riley’s!”
We ran to the water
Riley’s!”
He ran to the water.
“Riley! Riley!”
Jenny came over, looking scared.
“Sam, what happened?”
He didn’t answer.
He just stared at the ocean, looking broken.
Alex stood there, white as a ghost.
“How…? How could this happen?”
<
Chapter 2
My parents were hugging each other, crying.
My mom was shaking.
“Riley… my Riley… How could she be so
stupid…?”
Jenny rushed over, trying to comfort her.
“Mom, don’t be too upset. She… she just
wasn’t thinking straight…‘
My mom shoved her away.
“This is all your fault! If you hadn’t ruined
Riley’s party and stolen her wedding, she
wouldn’t have done this! You killed her!”
Jenny fell down, crying.
Sam finally snapped out of it and helped her
- up.
“Jenny, don’t cry. It’s not your fault.”
Alex stopped my mom, trying to calm her
down.
“Mom, take it easy. It’s not just Jenny’s fault.
We’re all to blame.”
My mom wouldn’t listen.
She kept crying.
“My Riley… my baby girl!”
Jenny and my mom cried louder and louder.
My dad just stood there.
The whole family was falling apart.
Meanwhile, I had my scuba gear on,
swimming to shore.
It was all planned out.
My Jeep was waiting, gas tank full.
I ditched the gear and jumped in the driver’s
seat, taking a breath.
Then, someone came out of nowhere.
Before I could react, a rag covered in
something hit my face.
Г
I fought for a few seconds, then everything
went dark.
I woke up in the dark.
I tried to move, but my hands and feet were
tied.
Suddenly, a flashlight blinded me.
When my eyes got used to the light, I saw
Jenny.
She was smirking.
“Riley, you think you’re so smart, pulling that
disappearing act.”
“You know what? You messed things up for
- me. Now Mom and Dad hate me. I’m
く
screwed.”
I just smirked.
She’d done the same to me.
I was just giving her what she deserved.
That really got to her.
She got angry and slapped me.
“What are you laughing at? You ruined
everything! You deserve to die!”
My face stung, but I kept smirking.
She was shaking with rage.
“Boys! Teach her a lesson!”
く
The lights in the warehouse came on.
I couldn’t see for a second.
Then, I saw where I was.
A rundown factory.
And the “boys” she was talking about?
The people from the mountain where I was
when I was a kid.
They were grinning, looking at me like I was a
piece of meat.
I was terrified.
Without thinking, I grabbed a piece of metal
<
from the floor and sawed at the ropes on my
wrists.
Blood poured out, but the ropes came loose.
I got the ropes off my feet and ran for the
door.
Two of them were guarding it.
They grinned at me.
I turned and ran upstairs.
I heard them laughing.
I ran to a window and jumped.
They didn’t expect that.
They stared as I fell.
Luckily, it was into a dirty river.
The water stank, but I didn’t break anything.
I held my breath and swam.
They were yelling, but I didn’t look back.
I swam as fast as I could, but I was getting
tired.
My legs started cramping.
I was sinking.
