“I will. Please. Just let me out of here, and I’ll say I did everything.” Melissa pressed a hand to her head. The force of her begging was making her light-headed.

“You won’t be able to let your daughter think that you killed her father,” It said. “She’d hate you.”

Ava’s face flashed in her mind. Melissa pictured her kid’s features twisting with revulsion. She heard her crying and screaming about unforgivable betrayal. Her captor was right. The truth was that Melissa would never be able to stomach her only child going through life believing that her mother had taken her father from her.

But the truth wouldn’t set her free.

“She won’t hate me.” Melissa squeezed her eyes shut, forcing Ava’s image to disappear. “Not when she knows why I did it. I’ll tell her that he was cheating on me with young actresses. He was manipulating these women into sleeping with him by promising movie roles. I’ll explain that I was going to leave him. I already started the financial process. When she finds that out, she’ll understand how Nate and I could get into a violent argument.”

Footsteps punctuated her speech. Melissa opened her eyes to see It coming in and out of the light. Pacing back and forth. It was considering her offer—perhaps weighing whether she’d be able to deliver on her promises.

“I’m an actress,” she said again. “I’ll make everyone believe it. I’ll make Ava sympathize with me. She’ll understand.”

Melissa choked on the last word. Ava had adored her father. She’d never accept infidelity as an excuse for murder.

The break in her speech stopped Its movement. “It won’t work. I’m sorry.”

“No!” Melissa wailed. “Please. You don’t need to be sorry. Just let me out.”

It retreated from the halo of overhead light. “I can’t.”

Melissa rushed toward the sound of Its voice, before it disappeared for good. “Please, please. Please. I’ll make everyone believe. I’m an actress.”

An arm shot out, striking the pendant light. The bulb swung over the bar, briefly illuminating the far wall. Melissa caught a glint of something metal. Thick.

“You couldn’t even convince me,” It whispered. “It’s too late.”

The same hand that had hit the light landed hard on her shoulder, pushing her back against the bar and out of the way. Footsteps hurried to the main exit. Melissa threw herself in their direction. “You can’t leave me here,” she screamed.

Again, the hand landed on her body. This time, it grabbed her neck.

Instinctually, Melissa clawed at it. She was choking. Her hands struggled to wrap around her own throat in the universal signal. Another hand joined in. Melissa felt thick fingers digging into her skin. Blood rushed to her head, like mercury rising in a glass thermometer, about to burst.