Beth
You’ve abducted Carter too?!
Unknown
Look, I’m not the one whose doing something wrong here.
Unknown
In fact, I’m making the world a better place by teaching you a lesson.
Beth
But I learned my lesson -- please, just stop.
Beth
Let them go and I won’t talk about anyone ever again.
Unknown
Now now, Beth. How do I know you’re not lying?
Unknown
I could let them go, even after all my hard work…
Unknown
But then you can go right back to gossiping.
Unknown
I can’t have that, so I’ve decided going to keep them here for a month.
Unknown
Do you think you can keep quiet for that long?
Unknown
Because if you do, your friend and your precious sister will be set free.
But Beth hasn’t looked at her phone because she’s sprinting to Roy’s house.
The unknown caller may have tried to get her off his scent,
But she knows in her heart that it’s Roy.
She’s offended him too many times, and now he’s striking back.
Suddenly, Beth feels her cell phone vibrate again. She opens her messages and reads.
Unknown
Oh, Beth. Tsk tsk tsk.
Unknown
I just opened our friend Carter’s phone.
Unknown
You seriously shouldn’t underestimate the things I can do.
Beth
I’m sorry -- I don’t.
Unknown
Shut up with your apologies!
Unknown
I can’t believe you had a plan to go to the police.
Unknown
Maybe you don’t understand that I’m honest about my threats.
Unknown
But I’m going to show you that I am.
Unknown
Take a look at this photo, Beth. And know that you caused it.
Beth
OMG that’s disgusting!
Beth
Is that Carter’s bloody hand? Did you cut it?
Beth
What the hell is wrong with you -- isn’t he supposed to be your friend??
But Beth doesn’t wait for an answer.
Instead, she approaches Roy’s house. She has to hurry to stop him.
She drops down to her stomach and slithers to the back door to his basement,
And all the while, she feels the vibrations of texts coming in.
Unknown
Nothing’s wrong with me.
Unknown
The real question you should be asking is, what is wrong with YOU, Beth?!
Unknown
Yes, that was Carter.
Unknown
Don’t you know how painful it was for me to do that to him?
Unknown
And yet you’re the bitch who put me in that position!
Beth takes a deep breath and sends the kidnapper a couple of texts to distract him.
Beth
You’re right. It’s not your fault. Let’s make it better. Together.
Beth
You already have -- because you taught me not to lie.
Beth
Now quick, can you wrap up Carter’s hand up with something?
As soon as she presses send, Beth jumps to her feet,
Cringing when a lose patio stone clinks underneath her sneakers.
She presses on the handle of the door and with a squeak, it slides open.
Roy never locks his basement.
Beth steps inside, scans the room, and checks her texts.
Unknown
I’m going to let Carter bleed for a while…
Unknown
To make him realize what a cancer you are.
Unknown
You did this to him, Beth.
Unknown
It’s about time he stopped taking your side.
Taking a breath, Beth starts to type another calming text.
But suddenly, a blur of color catapults into her peripheral vision,
And she gets tackled to the ground.
Beth thrusts forward, knocking her attacker back, but then he rolls back on top of her.
He sits back on his heels, and when he speaks, there’s confusion thickening his voice.
Roy
Beth? Why didn’t you come through the front door?
Beth
Because you have to let them go!
Beth
You can’t torture my sister -- and our FRIEND -- like this!
Roy
What are you talking about?
Beth
I know you’re mad at me for embarrassing you in sixth grade,
Beth
And that you blame me for what happened with Alice Parker,
Beth
But don’t take it out on Cindy and Carter.
Roy
Wait, you think I abducted your sister?
Beth
I mean, if it wasn’t you, how would you know about it anyway?
Roy
Because Carter told me, Beth.
Roy
When I was at his house, earlier today.
Beth
Oh. I guess that makes sense.
Roy
I’d never hurt Cindy, Beth. She’s like a sister to me.
Roy
But back up -- did you say Carter got ABDUCTED?
Beth
Yeah. And it’s worse -- the kidnapper sliced up Carter’s hand with a knife!
Roy
What?! That’s so gross.
Beth
I know. And it’s all my fault.
Roy scoots closer to Beth and puts his arm around her shoulder,
And speaks to her in a low, soothing voice.
Beth
Sure it is. I’m such an asshole.
Beth
Who do I think I am, walking around telling people’s secrets?
Roy
I’ve never once gotten mad at you for telling a couple silly secrets.
Roy
I mean, that stuff that happened in sixth grade and a couple weeks ago with Alice Parker…
Roy
It won’t really bother me in the long term.
Roy
It was actually…funny.
Roy
It’s definitely not a good reason to abduct your sister and Carter.
Beth
But it doesn’t stop me from being worried about them.
Roy
I’m worried too. So let’s fix this.
Roy
Carter said the guy was texting you?
Beth pulls out her phone and the two friends watch in horror as the texts roll in.
Unknown
Beth, are you ignoring me?
Unknown
Because if you are, there will be consequences…
