Page 81 of Secrets in the Deep

“I can’t. They all think I did it! They think I killed Adam. They’re going to send me away. I can’t go to prison. Iwon’t.”

“No.” Emily shook her head, taking another small step forward. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll tell them it wasn’t you.”

“No one believes me when I tell them I’m innocent!”

“Ibelieve you.” She held out her hand. “Just give me the knife.”

A crash sounded from a few feet away. Faye glanced over her shoulder.

Emily lunged, but before she could grip the hand with the knife, Faye turned back and swung, slicing at Emily’s midsection.

At first, Emily didn’t feel it. Then a sharp sting ripped through her stomach. Not a soft ache from being hit by a prop. This was real pain.

She stumbled back and looked down, hands intrinsically going to her abdomen. Warmth spread between her fingers, wetness coating her skin.

She looked up.

Faye’s jaw dropped, her face paling. “I…I didn’t… It was supposed to…”

Pounding footsteps sounded. There was a “Cut” called out by a familiar voice.

More shouts, someone calling for a medic.

Shock and pain caused Emily to sway. She almost fell, but strong arms were suddenly wrapping around her waist, easing her to the forest floor.

Ryan’s familiar warmth slipped into her side.

He cursed before whispering, “I’ve got you.” But there was fear in his voice.

She wanted to ask if it was bad, but she couldn’t seem to get the words out.

Zac appeared too, pressing something to her stomach. A cloth, maybe?

Her vision blurred, and she wasn’t sure if it was shock or something else.

“I didn’t know!” Faye gasped.

Butsomeonedid. Someone had swapped the prop knife out for a real one. Someone had wanted the scene to be real.

Black dots danced in her vision before finally the forest turned dark, and she passed out.

The distant voicesof various people played in the background. Footsteps. The sharp ding of machines. The only thing Ryan could concentrate on was Emily.

That moment played over in his mind again and again. The knife slashing across her midsection.

For a second, he’d thought she was acting. Then he’d seen the blood. The shock. The pain.

His muscles tightened, something between rage and fear coursing throughout his body.

His phone vibrated with a text.

Zac: How is she?

Ryan: Wound is stitched. Thankfully, it was superficial. But they gave her strong pain meds that have knocked her out. Anyone figured out how the fuck it happened?

Connor: The prop knife is missing. Prop assistant said they delivered the correct prop to set. They have no idea how it was swapped out. No one saw it happen. All cast and crew have been interviewed by Ward and his team. They don’t have any leads.

Of course they fucking didn’t.