Effie couldn''t shake the sense that something was off.


    A sudden suspicion shed through her mind.


    Where exactly did Ynde go to school?


    She''d been driving for ages now-if Ynde walked this distance every day, it simply didn''t add up. And as Effie nced at the empty roadside, she realized they hadn''t passed a single pedestrian—just a handful of cars, scattered here and there.


    So, had Ynde lied to her?


    But why would she bother? They weren''t family, barely even acquaintances. As far as Effie knew, this was the first time they''d ever met.


    What was Ynde''s angle? What could she possibly gain from this?


    Effie was still puzzling it over when, out of nowhere, a sudden rush of air came from behind.


    "Don''t move. Keep driving."


    A cold, sharp pressure pressed against the back of Effie''s neck—a small knife!


    Her pupils narrowed in shock, fingers mping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, threatening to burst free.


    She forced herself to stay calm.


    In the rearview mirror, Ynde-who just moments before had dozed off, all innocence and warmth-was now wide awake, fixing Effie with a chilling, predatory smile. The transformation was soplete, she barely looked like the same girl.


    No wonder I fell for it, Effie thought grimly.


    But she had to keep her wits about her.


    "You''re sharper than I thought, aren''t you?" Ynde''s voice was still gentle, but now there was a sinister edge to it that made Effie''s skin crawl. "Unfortunately, you''re a bit toote."


    Effie forced down the panic rising in her throat. "Just now... those people—are you working together?"


    How old was Ynde-sixteen, seventeen? Yet she held that knife without a hint of fear, steady as a rock. What could have pushed someone so young to pull a stunt like this?


    "Smart girl." Ynde tilted her head, tapping the t of the de lightly against Effie''s cheek. “Those two idiots were hopeless-had to step in myself."


    Effie''s mind raced. This was a setup. A trap. They must have staged the whole thing just to lure her out here.


    Someone''s been watching me, waiting for the perfect moment. And now, out in the middle of nowhere, it would be all too easy for me to disappear.


    But who? Who would go to all this trouble?


    "What do you want? Money?" Effie tried to keep her voice steady. "I have cash, I can give it to you."


    "Money?" Ynde snorted. "We''ve already been paid. We''re professionals, you know."


    So someone had hired them.


    The de pressed harder against Effie''s skin, so close she barely dared to breathe. She knew if this went on, she wouldn''t get out alive. She had to act.


    "If you hurt me while I''m driving," she said quietly, “the car could spin out of control. We''ll both go down together."


    As she spoke, Effie''s eyes darted to the door lock. If she braked suddenly, maybe she could create enough chaos to break free...


    "Don''t even think about it." Ynde seemed to read her mind, digging the de in just a little. “Keep driving, or I''ll carve up your pretty face right now."


    Sweat trickled down Effie''s forehead. And then-


    Bang!


    The car jolted violently, as if it had struck something.


    Ynde, caught off guard, lurched forward; the tip of her knife nicked Effie''s neck, drawing blood.


    Now!


    Without hesitation, Effie yanked up the emergency brake.


    The tires locked up, the car skidded-wheels screaming-then flipped, mming into the guardrail. Metal screeched as the barrier snapped, and the car tumbled down the embankment,ing to a bone-jarring stop on the grassy verge below. The driver''s airbag exploded in front of Effie, cushioning the impact, but pain still shot through her body. She was hurt, but alive.