Abi
Do you think you got away with it?
Cora
Will you relax? No one knows it was us!
Abi
Us? I only said you should break Zoe’s leg as a *joke.*
Abi
I didn’t *do* anything…
Abi
You’re gonna be the first one they suspect if anyone finds out.
Cora
Someone had to take the lead role, and I’m the best ballerina in our company 😉
Abi
You really think she won’t figure it out?
Cora
Abi, we’ve been through this a million times.
Cora
If she were going to work it out, she’d have done it by now.
Abi
She’s smart, though. She must suspect something.
Cora
Who cares if she does?
Cora
It’s not like she can prove anyone rigged that set up, never mind that it was me.
Cora
All the other girls think it was an accident.
Cora
And so does Zoe, so stop stressing!
Abi
Happy accident for you, though.
Abi
Don’t you feel even a little bit bad about it?
Abi
I feel horrible and I didn’t even do it.
Abi
That noise it made when the sandbag hit her leg…
Cora
You’re too nice for your own good.
Cora
It was worth it to take her place and be where I am now. Star of the show 🌟
Cora
You’re not thinking about telling anyone, are you?
Abi
Sorry, I just got a weird message from someone else.
Abi
I don’t know…it says Unknown.
Abi
Hang on, I’ll copy and paste it so you can see what it says.
Abi
“I’m ready. Text her now and tell her to meet you here. All you have to do is convince her to come alone. I’ll do the rest.”
Abi
See what I mean? That sounds messed up.
Cora
Yeah…but it’s not your problem. Just delete it.
Abi
I can’t do that. It sounds like something awful is going to happen to some poor girl.
Cora
Better her than you.
Abi
I responded to the text.
Abi
I asked them if we were still meeting at the same place.
Abi
I have to find out where this is happening!
Cora
Well? Did they respond?
Abi
You’re not going to believe this.
Abi
They responded. They said to meet at the same place — the ballet studio.
Cora
WHAT?? That’s crazy. But it could be any ballet studio in the country…
Cora
It’s just a coincidence that we’re dancers, too.
Abi
No. They sent our logo. The one we all use…
Abi
This is coming from one of the girls at our studio.
Abi
And whoever it is has my number mixed up with someone else’s.
Cora
OMG, this is too good!
Abi
Cora, this is real. Someone could get hurt. Or worse.
Cora
Less competition for us 😈
Cora
Seriously though, you’re being too nice again! Don’t get involved.
Abi
Look, if you won’t help because it’s the right thing to do, then think about it as protecting yourself.
Abi
After what you did, do you want cops investigating “accidents” at the studio?
Cora
I didn’t think of that.
Cora
You’re right. What should we do?
Abi
We have to go down there and stop this from happening.
Cora
What if something happens to one of us?!
Abi
There’s two of us. Whoever is there is only expecting one girl.
Cora waits, but gets no response.
Cora grabs her cell and keys and hurries to the dance studio.
It’s dark inside the building.
There’s no sign of anyone around in the halls.
Cora hesitates outside the studio.
Cora
Abi? I’m here. Where are you?
She stares at the screen, but there’s no response.
Cora
I don’t see anyone. Maybe it was just a prank.
Cora
Maybe we should leave??
Cora sighs then goes to use her key, but the door is already unlocked.
Cora wants to walk away, but…
She really can’t have the police investigating if another “accident” happens at the studio.
She pushes the door open quietly and steps into the dark interior.
Cora
Check me out, doing the right thing!
Cora’s halfway across the studio floor when the lock clicks behind her.
She spins around but hears muffled noises ahead.
Cora whispers into the darkness…
Suddenly the lights flicker on and Cora blinks.
She looks through the glass wall, into the next studio…
She can see Abi, hog-tied and hanging upside down from the ballet barre.
There’s a dark stain on her blonde hair.
Another girl stands next to her, her left leg broken and in a boot.
Cora tries the door to the hallway, but she’s locked in.
She pulls out her cell to text Zoe.
Cora
Zoe? What are you doing?
Cora
What are you talking about?
Cora
Have you gone crazy? Let Abi go!
Zoe
Not until you admit what you did.
Cora
I still don’t know what you’re talking about!
Zoe
No? You didn’t rig the sandbag at rehearsal so it would fall on my leg?
Zoe
You didn’t ruin my life just so you could take my place and steal what should have been mine for yourself?
Cora
Why would I admit to any of that? Especially now that you’re guilty of kidnapping!!
Zoe
You’re going to send a text to our director, dropping out of the performance and giving up your place in the dance company.
Cora
WHY WOULD I DO THAT?
Zoe
Because I’ve got nothing left to lose, but Abi here does…
Zoe
And only you sending that text is going to save her.
Zoe lifts one of her crutches and raises it over Abi’s head.
Abi squirms and Cora can see her mouthing the word ‘please.’
Blood drips onto the floor from her matted hair.
Cora
This is crazy! You can’t expect me to do this!
Zoe raises the crutch and Abi’s face contorts.
Cora frantically texts Zoe.
Cora
Alright, alright, stop!!
She holds up her phone to the glass. Her hand is shaking.
Zoe starts untying Abi, who falls to the floor gasping.
Cora
What good is this going to do you anyway? You have a broken leg. You can’t get the part back.
Zoe
I know that. It’s going to someone who deserves it. Someone who isn’t you.
Cora
I’m glad I rigged that stage. I’m glad I broke your leg.
Cora
And that’s not even half of what I’ve done or what I’d do again if I ever got the chance.
Zoe looks down at her phone, reading Cora's latest text.
And slowly smiles without an ounce of humor.
Zoe
I’m glad you admitted that in writing.
Zoe
I don’t suppose you want me showing that to the police, so…
Zoe
Clear out your locker. I never want to see you again.
Cora slowly walks to the lockers lining the studio wall.
She stuffs her things into a bag then slams the locker shut.
She looks back over to see if Zoe is still watching her.
And sees that Abi is standing up now.
She rubs a towel over her hair…
And most of what Cora thought was blood transfers onto it.
Cora watches in horror as she sees Zoe’s lips form the words ‘thank you’ to Abi.
Then Zoe and Abi hug each other.
And the two of them leave the dance studio.
A few minutes later, Cora hears a click.
It’s unlocked, but there’s no one in sight.
Furious, Cora fires off a text.
Cora
You planned this whole thing to get the starring role??
Cora
It was *your* idea to break Zoe’s leg in the first place.
Cora
I never would have done it if it weren’t for you.
Abi
Oh, I know that, Cora.
Abi
Not so nice after all, am I? 😉
