I looked up to see Noelle standing a few feet away from us, holding the ropes that Kyle had used previously to tie her up. I had no idea how the hell we had gotten to this point.

“Go on,” he impatiently said. “Start with the girl. Hands behind her back.”

Noelle swallowed hard, her gaze never leaving Evelyn as she went to kneel behind her. Her hands were gentle as she took Eve’s hands and guided them behind her back, meeting not even a little bit of resistance; even though she had taken months of self-defense lessons, she was helpless to Noelle.

“I’m so sorry,” Noelle whispered. Tears were shining in her eyes and she was shaking in her thin top and sweatpants, the wind tugging at her hair. “This is all my fault.”

Evelyn shook her head. “No, it’s not. None of it is.”

Noelle didn’t say anything and continued loosely wrapping the rope around her wrists. My eyes darted around the empty car park, but there was no one near, not a single soul to help us.

The only sounds were the wind in the trees and the distant hum of cars on the road, so quiet they might as well have been in my imagination.

“Tighter,” Kyle ordered.

After a moment of hesitation, Noelle tightened it a little.

“Tighter, Ashley,” Kyle said again. Jasper made a quiet choking noise as the blade dug in hard enough to constrict his breathing.

“We don’t have time for games.”

“I will never forgive you if you do this,” Noelle whispered.

“Never. Please, Kyle, he’s . . . he’s my best friend.” Noelle’s voice broke on the last word.

“I’m sorry, Ash,” Kyle said. The fact that he actually sounded sincere was almost as terrifying as my observation that the hand holding the knife to Jasper’s throat had started to shake uncontrol ably. “It’s their fault. If they hadn’t come here, none of this would be happening. Now please do as I say.”

Noelle looked at him for a few more seconds before she pulled the rope tight enough that Evelyn inhaled sharply. Then she tied it off with a knot.

“Turn around and let me see your hands,” Kyle barked, directed at Evelyn.

She did as he said, twisting so he could see the way her wrists were tied.

Kyle gave a short nod and gestured for Noelle to go on.

After lingering behind Evelyn for a few more seconds and giving a short squeeze to her hands, Noelle got up and walked over to me. My body stiffened as I felt her hands on me, but I let her put my hands behind my back without trying to struggle.

A lump formed in my throat as the rope tightened until my hands were completely immobilized. The drip drip drip increased. I was sure my lungs were filled at least halfway by now. I couldn’t fucking breathe.

Hours away, my dad was probably still waiting at the station to pick me up. And Mom—fuck, I hadn’t talked to her in months.