Beth arrives at the abandoned elementary school.
The swings are creaking back and forth,
But they’re empty. Beth looks at her watch.
It’s been forty-five minutes and she doesn’t want Carter to go to the police.
So she texts him quickly.
Beth
Just wanted to text you that I’m okay.
Beth
Don’t call the cops.
Her thumb hovers over the keyboard.
Beth
I’m at Green Hills Elementary School.
Beth
He told me to meet him here but…
Beth
It’s such creepy place in the summer.
Beth
Carter -- I’m scared.
But Carter doesn’t answer.
Beth feels a prickling on the back on her neck --
Like someone is watching her.
She takes a deep breath and texts the unknown number.
Somewhere behind her, a branch snaps
And Beth hears rustling leaves.
She texts frantically, picking her head up every second,
And spinning her body around in jerky movements
to try to keep her back protected.
Beth
Please -- you said you’d meet me here.
Beth
I just want my sister back.
Unknown
And I just wanted you to keep your mouth shut.
Unknown
Those boys you hang out with…they know, don’t they?
Beth
Why would you think that?
Unknown
Well, I always see you with Carter and Rhodes and Roy.
Unknown
The four of you are awfully close.
Unknown
Close enough to let a secret slip??
Unknown
Oh come on, Beth. I’m not stupid.
Unknown
You told them, didn’t you?
Unknown
Does your little brain process that I have Cindy in my home?
Suddenly, Beth’s tongue feels too big for her mouth.
She tries to swallow, but it’s covering the back of her throat.
Her thumb types three letters, and each one feels like a nail her in sister’s coffin.
Unknown
Good. Because I got a special treat for myself, look…
Unknown
And I’ve been sharpening it all day, right in front of your sister.
Unknown
Come on now, Beth.
Unknown
Don’t you think she’d look hauntingly beautiful…
Unknown
With a few tragic scars on that angelic face?
Beth
I said STOP! What do you want?
Beth
I went to the fountain to meet you, and now I’m here at this creepy elementary school.
Beth
But you never show up.
Beth
And you keep threatening her.
Unknown
Well, you keep breaking the rules.
Unknown
I’m not going to meet you at some stupid elementary school if you tell people about me.
Unknown
Now I already asked you once, Beth…
Unknown
Who did you tell?
The edges of Beth’s vision begin to blur,
And she no longer hears cracking branches or rustling leaves.
The only thing she hears is her beating heart,
Beth
I told Carter -- okay?
Unknown
Oh no, it most certainly is not okay.
Unknown
You’ve always been such a blabbermouth, Beth.
Unknown
I mean, look where you are.
Beth takes in the space in front of her.
This is where she became best friends with the guys in her gang.
She used to associate this place with laughter --
She and her friends would tell jokes,
Sitting on the tire swing with their legs in the middle, circling around and around…
Unknown
Have you found it yet?
Unknown
Ahh, you must not be looking closely.
Unknown
Go on. Yesterday, I planted a little note for you at your spot.
Beth edges toward the tire swing and tentatively,
Slips in hand into the gap in the rubber.
She runs it along the smooth material until it catches
On a small square of paper, taped inside.
Beth
Do you mean this note?
Beth
What? This note only has four lines. It’s so confusing.
Beth
What do those first two lines mean?
Beth
“Even your friends aren’t friends…
Beth
So look in your circle”
Beth
Are you…are you one of my friends?
Unknown
Oh, Beth. I know you’re smarter than this.
Unknown
Besides, it doesn’t matter who I am…
Unknown
It matters what you did.
Unknown
Yes. Read the other two lines.
Unknown
That’s where this story really gets good.
Unknown
“Think how you made your friends…
Unknown
How your words can be hurtful”
Unknown
Do you remember how all of us met?
Beth’s face flushes hot again, as she remembers what she did that day.
Beth
I told everyone that Roy had a crush on me.
Beth
And that I was going to ask him out at the tire swing.
Beth
But then I shut him down -- in front of the whole grade.
Unknown
Hmm…that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Unknown
Didn’t something similar to that happen at the fountain in the park?
Unknown
Didn’t you tell Alice that Roy liked her…
Unknown
And that she should meet him at the fountain if she liked him back?
Beth
Yes, but I didn’t know Alice would turn Roy down!
Beth
I honestly thought he had a chance with her!
Unknown
Tsk tsk, Beth. There goes your big mouth, always getting you into trouble.
Unknown
It’s not very nice.
Unknown
Now you’ll pay for it.
Unknown
And Cindy will too.
Beth
My friends thought it was hilarious -- both times. Even Roy was laughing.
Beth
We’ve been friends ever since that day in sixth grade.
Unknown
No, you THINK we’ve all been friends ever since that day.
Unknown
But I, personally, am getting sick of your romantic little pranks.
Beth
Look, just leave my sister out of this.
Unknown
No can do, dear Beth.
Beth
Stop it! I know where you live!
Beth starts to type a resounding YES, but then deletes it.
She realizes that, though she thinks it’s Roy who’s furious with her,
It could be any of the guys in her group --
Even Carter, who she trusted the most.
Unknown
That’s what I thought. You don’t know me.
Unknown
Oh, and I almost forgot…
Unknown
I’ve decided to invite another friend to my party…
