It was like a scrapbook of old memories, most of which she’d successfully wiped from her mind. There were old class pictures from junior high that seemed more or less benign, but there were also photos of her parents, looking haggard and grim, which felt more ominous in tone.
Paul had been right all along—this was purely an act of revenge. The goal was to take away everything she’d worked so hard to build by exposing her numerous lies to the world.
So far, they were well ahead, having managed to outsmart her at every turn. If Madison were ever to find her way out of that room, she’d find that the fans who’d once lauded her had turned so vehemently against her she might never succeed in winning them back.
A soft, lilting tune drifted through the speakers, as a voice that had obviously been disguised warmly addressed her. “Hello, Madison. So happy you decided to join us.”
Madison turned toward the camera and stared back in defiance.
“In the interest of full disclosure, you’re being filmed. I’m sure your many fans will enjoy watching this footage of you. Why don’t you give a little wave and a quick hello? They’ve all been so worried about you.”
Madison continued to stare. They could kidnap her, put her in a box, destroy her reputation, and film her, but she wasn’t some performing monkey. She would not obey their every demand.
“I know who you are,” she said.
The voice laughed. “Indeed you do. Care to share it with the world?”
Madison started to put a voice to the name, then just as quickly decided against it. It was part of the trap, and if she had any hope of winning, she needed to play smarter than that. She’d underestimated them for too long, but no more. She assumed they were in possession of her gun, and there was nothing more dangerous than an armed person with nothing left to lose.
“Well then, let’s get started, shall we? Just so you know, the gang’s all here. At the moment you’re separated by the walls that surround you. Only these walls aren’t quite as permanent as they appear. If you’re willing to play a little game, you have the chance of reuniting with your friends. But the rules demand you tell the truth. If you choose to lie, I’m afraid you’ll be punished. Before we get started, let me introduce you to your host, Trena Moretti! Trena can see all of you, but you can only see the images I choose to share. So tell me, are you ready?”
Madison took a deep breath and nodded imperceptibly.
“Okay then. Trena Moretti—take it away!”
Madison watched as the picture on the wall shifted to an image of Trena sitting in some sort of control room, looking distressed. She stared into the camera, then consulted the paper propped before her and said, “Madison—I’m so sorry that—”
Her mic was cut as the disguised voice broke in and said, “It’s better for everyone if you stick to the script.”
Trena squared her shoulders, looked into the camera, and said, “Madison, do you know why you’re here?”
Madison nodded, then faced the camera. “I was abducted.”
Trena looked at someone off screen, then returned to Madison. “There’s a theory you planned your disappearance. Is that true?”
Madison stared at the camera, unsure how to answer. She had planned an elaborate disappearance, but then she got abducted before she could act on it. Still, it wouldn’t do to give in so early. At least for now, she needed to stay defiant.
“No,” she said. “I was abducted, and you know that because—”
Before she could finish, the voice shouted, “Wrong! Wrong answer, Madison.”
The next thing she knew, the whole room went dark, as an earsplitting shriek emanated from the walls.
FORTYRING OF FIRE
Aster was in full-blown panic mode. Her cell signal was dead, and as far as she could tell after relentlessly banging her fists against the walls, there was no way out of the space she was stuck in.
When the lights suddenly dimmed and Trena Moretti’s face was projected onto the wall, Aster screamed, “Please, help me! Get me out of here—now!”
“She can’t hear you.”
Aster spun in circles, trying to determine where the voice was coming from.
“She can only hear what I want her to hear. Also, just so you know, you’re being filmed. This is going out on a live feed. So you might want to pull yourself together and try to look a little more presentable. Your panicked face isn’t nearly as pretty as your usual face.”
For the first time since she’d entered the room, Aster noticed the camera in the upper right corner pointing at her.
“What do you want?”
She glanced between the wall and the camera.
“I want you to tell the truth.”
“About what?”
“About whatever we ask. If you do, you’ll be richly rewarded. If you don’t . . . what’s the opposite of richly rewarded? Poorly punished?”
“Where’s Ryan?”
“Somewhere. Hard to say where exactly.”
“What have you done with him?”
“All in good time. Now please, your attention on Trena. She has something to ask.”
Aster turned toward Trena, who looked tense. If nothing else, it was a relief to know she had not volunteered for this—whatever this was. Clearly, it wasn’t exactly the soft opening Trena had expected. Aster knew Ira would stop at nothing for free publicity, but this was way out of line, even for him.
“Trena, go ahead. Ask Aster the question on the script before you.”
Trena consulted the page, then looked at the screen and said, “Are you still a virgin?”
Aster stared incredulously. “What kind of junior-high bullshit is this?”
“Language! You’re being filmed, and there’s a good chance your parents are watching, so—let’s try that again. Answer the question, please.”
Aster dropped her head in her hands.
