Abby points her gun in Natalie’s direction. “And you fucked everything up. You were supposed to convince Lena that Logan was having an affair and you failed.”
Natalie sobs, squeezing her eyes shut as Abby draws closer. “Abby, please,” she begs. “I’m so sorry.”
Although I could feel myself falling apart, learning my best friend had been deceiving me our entire friendship, I could feel the puzzle pieces starting to click together. Everything from the note left at the apartment to Abby’s sudden reappearance in my life. Abby had hired Natalie to destroy my marriage and when it didn’t work, she grew angrier. I start to think back to all the time I’ve spent with Abby these past few months. Everything was a front, a ploy to bring me closer to her.
I’m so focused on Natalie that I didn’t even realize how Logan has inched closer to me. Abby’s broken her attention on us long enough for Logan to close the gap between us. Suddenly I feel my wrists loosen slightly against the rope. The rope isn’t completely untied but I definitely have more motion with my fingers. Enough to manipulate the end of the tie and undo the knot.
I turn my head and glance at Logan. He doesn’t move and keeps his focus on Abby. He must have loosened the rope quickly while Abby kept her full attention on Natalie.
I start working the end of the rope, blindly following it to push it back through the loop. To keep Abby preoccupied while I work the rest of the rope, I decide to keep her talking.
“Abby,” I say. “You were my best friend. How could you do this to me?”
“I didn’t want to be your best friend, Lena,” she screams. “Don’t you get it? I’m in love with you. Always have been. The only way I’ve been able to keep you close, is the nights you let me come over.” Her eyes swirl with darkness. “You sure love your wine, don’t you?”
I think back to the night Abby came over and shared a bottle of wine with me. I’d fallen asleep on the opposite side of the couch from her, but somehow woke up with my head in her lap, not remembering how I’d gotten there. Shocked, I look up at Abby. “You drugged me?”
“I did what I had to do. I love you and no one will ever love you like I do.” She points to her chest, her violet eyes engulfed in anger. She tightens her jaw and steels her gaze, walking backward. She stands behind Natalie. “And I’ll continue to do whatever it takes to make you mine.”
Abby lifts her gun and points it to the back of Natalie’s head, pressing it against her head.
“Abby, no!” My scream claws its way up my throat, burning from the inside out.
Natalie’s eyes squeeze shut, tears sliding from between her closed lids. I close my eyes, waiting for Abby to pull the trigger. My stomach turns, bile rising in my throat. I’ve never felt more helpless in my entire life than I do now. I open my eyes wide when I hear Logan’s footsteps move beside me. Then, in a rush, Logan lunges toward Abby.
They say when you experience an adrenaline rush, your body goes into survival mode. Fight or flight. Just as Logan’s instinct to save Natalie from Abby kicked in, mine came when the rope fell away from my wrists. I jerk my entire body to the right and fall to the floor. My shoulder lands against the carpet, pain shooting straight through the muscle. I hold my breath and look up.
Logan and Abby are now on the floor. Abby’s body is on top of Logan, her legs straddling him. From what I can tell, both of their hands are fighting over the gun.
My heart hammers away in my chest, afraid for Logan. This was bad and I needed to get out of this chair. But my ankles are still tied to the bottom. I scoot my shoulder across the floor, bending to reach my feet. I ignore the pain radiating all over my body. My head wound is still bleeding. Blood spills and pools on the carpet below my head. The carpet squishes as I press into it, reaching down to my feet. My fingers shake as I try to untangle the knots keeping my ankles tied.
Every few seconds, I glance up to see Logan and Abby and each time they’re in a different position. Natalie’s still tied to the chair, her sobs blending in with Logan and Abby’s groans.
The blood drains from my face as I catch a glimpse of the gun pointed at Logan’s chest. Logan rolls on top of Abby, then Abby rolls on top of Logan. Logan struggles to take the gun from Abby, their hands clenched around the barrel. I move my fingers faster, the knot finally starting to unravel. I look up again and this time Logan’s back on top of Abby.
“Logan,” I scream. “Abby, stop it.” My heart sinks into my stomach, wishing they weren’t fighting over a loaded gun. Dread seeps into my bones, knowing this most likely wasn’t going to end with the four of us alive.
I finally get the rope loose enough to pull my legs away from the chair. I’m crawling to a stand when I hear the loud pop of the gunshot. I gasp and look up. My ears ring with the shot. A piercing noise reverberates in my eardrum and I reach up, covering my ears. I open my eyes, terrified of what I’m going to see. Logan is lying on top of Abby and I can’t tell where the gun went off.
Natalie’s sobs continue to echo, and her shoulders shake. I leave her and crawl over to Logan and Abby.
My breaths are deep and weighted. Every part of my body aches but I shove the pain aside and hold my breath.
“Logan?” I reach out and touch his back. My fingers are covered in blood
