Page 139 of Hide And Seek

“It’s not a joke.” He tilted the blade across the frame, sunlight flashing silver across it. “But I’m curious. Do you think killing little girls is a joke?”

Gen froze. “W-what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Carly Martin. I’m sure you remember her pretty well, seeing as you and the others killed her last summer.”

The color had completely drained from Gen’s face now, and for several long seconds, she didn’t say a word.

“Which one of them told you?” she finally asked, voice barely above a whisper. “Was it Zach?”

“Nobody told me anything,” Rhys said calmly. “It was a suspicion. One you just confirmed.”

Gen’s mouth parted soundlessly before snapping shut again. Both hands came up now, arms raised, the posture of someone suddenly and viscerally aware of exactly how close the drop was behind them.

“This can go one of two ways now,” Rhys went on. “You refuse to talk, and I shove you right off that edge. Everyone will think it was a tragic accident. Pretty ironic, considering what happened to Carly.”

The knife lifted slightly in frame, and Gen flinched so hard her foot scraped backward through loose gravel.

“Please, Rhys,” she said in a low, shaky voice. “Don’t do this.”

“Here’s the second option,” he said, sounding completely unfazed. “I’ll let you step away from the edge, and you can sit down and tell me everything that happened that night.”

Gen stared at him, breathing fast and shallow. “How do I know you won’t throw me off the cliff as soon as I’m done talking?”

“If you’re willing to tell me exactly what happened, I’m willing to be merciful,” Rhys said. “I’ll take you straight to the police afterwards, and I’ll let you confess properly, cooperate, and get ahead of this. I’ll even get you the best defense attorney in the state.”

She blinked slowly, like she genuinely couldn’t process what she was hearing. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I need your testimony to nail all the others,” he replied. “And that doesn't work if you're dead, does it?”

Gen swallowed hard. “I…” Her voice was shaking violently now. “No, I can’t.” Tears welled abruptly in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it. I justcan’t.”

“If you’re scared of prison, you really don’t need to be,” Rhys said. “The first person who flips always gets the bestdeal. You know that. Community service. Probation. A destroyed reputation, sure, but you’d still get your life.” His voice sharpened slightly. “Meanwhile the others rot.”

Gen shook her head harder now, tears spilling freely down her face. “You don’t understand,” she said. “Even if the others all go to prison, they’ll still find a way to hurt me for turning on them.”

“Listen to me, Gen,” Rhys said. His tone had turned slightly gentler now. “If you do this, I will personally ensure that none of the others ever touch a single hair on your head. That’s a promise. Help me and I help you.”

Gen’s breathing had turned ragged now, her chest rising and falling too fast as tears streaked down her blotchy red face. She kept darting glances around like she was still searching for a way out of the situation.

“Think fast,” Rhys said calmly. “The window for this offer is closing pretty fucking fast.”

The knife shifted slightly in frame again, just enough to remind Gen it was there.

She let out a broken sound and dragged both hands through her hair. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “Oh my god…”

Then, finally, she nodded. It was tiny at first. Barely visible. But Rhys obviously saw it.

“Okay,” he said. “Good choice.”

Gen squeezed her eyes shut for a second.

“Move over there,” Rhys said. As he spoke, the camera swung toward a huge flat-topped boulder near the center of the clearing. “Sit down.”

She obeyed immediately.

The camera jostled as Rhys followed her across the clearing, hiking boots grinding over stone and loose gravel. Gen lowered herself shakily onto the boulder, wiping her face with the sleeve of her athletic top.

Her eyes drifted toward the trail winding back into the trees.