Page 17 of Secrets in the Deep

Laura stepped back and inspected. “Good. You can see a slight line if the wind catches, but that can be edited out.”

Emily nodded. “Thanks.”

The two of them stepped back.

Hushed arguing sounded from near the cameras. She glanced over to see Ryan in a heated discussion with Roscoe.

Were they arguing about her? About doing this scene?

Screw that. She didn’t need an ex from five years ago speaking on her behalf.

She straightened. “I’m ready.”

“See? She’s ready.” Roscoe turned away from Ryan.

Emily moved into position, then slipped on her mask. Nothing like the pale blue one that Faye wore. A less obvious one. The mask that transformed her into a terrified college student.

“Okay, everyone,” a voice shouted. “Quiet on set.”

The crew silenced.

“Roll sound.”

Wind ran over her skin, making the fine hairs on her arms stand on end.

“Sound speed,” someone else shouted.

From her peripheral vision, she saw someone adjust a tripod.

“Roll camera.”

“Camera speed.”

Deep breath, Emily.

“Scene twenty, take one.”

Clap.

“Action!”

Emily ran, chest heaving, scanning over her shoulder, searching for the threat, before she looked back at the river.

Her boots pounded against the dirt, a branch slapping against her cheek before she stopped at the riverbank.

Water whooshed over the rocks, making the small sliver of sun that remained in the sky reflect off the stones.

Don’t think, just move.

The words had no sooner whispered inside her head before she leaped onto the first rock. Then the second. Her knee groaned, an ache slipping up her thigh.

Third stone.

Water sloshed over her boots, cold seeping into her socks.

Rock four.

Rock five.