She looked around for the knife. It was lying on the floor. The pool of Jared's blood had reached it, but she'd have to get over her revulsion and pick it up. No time to hesitate. She let out an anguished sob as she picked up the dripping weapon.

Vivian returned to the cage and reached inside with the knife. Three or four quick stabs in the center of the throat and Gertie would no longer be able to tell the truth about what happened.

Gertie's eyes flew open and she grabbed Vivian's arm.

* * *

Gertie had awakened to the sounds of screams. She didn't waste energy trying to get out of the cage, but she did flex her arms, trying to get the blood circulating. The pins and needles sensation was pure agony.

She'd popped at least one set of stitches in her leg when she kicked the kid, and possibly the other when the cage fell, so the legs of her pants were soaked with blood.

She'd listened to the sounds of Charlene and Vivian's fight, wishing she were out there to help break Vivian's arms and legs.

She'd heard what sounded like pounding. Was somebody trying to get into the basement?

Heard the gunshots.

When the door swung open, she'd prayed that it would be Charlene, there to rescue her. Upon seeing that it was Vivian, she'd immediately closed her eyes.

She forced herself to keep them closed as Vivian walked over to the cage.

Somehow, she didn't flinch at the sound of a click. Had Vivian tried to shoot her?

When she could tell that Vivian's arm was inside the cage, she moved.

Grabbed Vivian's arm.

Pulled it down.

It didn't hurt Vivian, but her long blonde hair spilled down into the cage.

Gertie grabbed Vivian's hair with her other hand. Twisted it hair around her fist. All of Gertie's fingers were raw and sore from the knife-under-the-fingernails treatment, but she gritted her teeth and fought through the excruciating pain.

Yanked as hard as she could.

Vivian's face bashed into the cage, chin-first. She dropped the knife.

Gertie yanked again.

Vivian smashed into the steel again. Her nose split open.

Vivian screamed something incoherent and tried to pull her head away, but Gertie was able to pull her hair one more time, bashing her right on the mouth. As Vivian screamed, a couple of her front teeth dropped into the cage.

The woman's face was a ghastly sight but she was still very much alive.

Gertie had no strength left to yank her hair again.

She did have enough strength—barely—to pick up the knife and jab it up through the bars.

Gertie was aiming for her neck, right where Charlene had stabbed Jared. But Vivian had moved. The blade plunged into her heart instead.