Chapter 1 - The Boy Tied to the TreeNoah Whitmore stopped fighting the rope when he realized that was exactly what Victoria wanted.
She wanted him terrified.
She wanted him exhausted.
Most of all, she wanted him to beg.
So the fifteen-year-old forced himself to stand straight against the thick oak tree even though the rope cut painfully into his arms every time he moved.
Three yards away, a massive beehive hung from a low branch.
It was the biggest Noah had ever seen.
Brown-gray layers folded over one another like old paper. Bees crawled across its surface and disappeared through the dark opening near the bottom. Others circled lazily through the warm afternoon air.
Noah looked from the hive to his stepmother.
Victoria Whitmore smiled.
She looked completely out of place beside a boy tied to a tree.
Her blonde hair was perfect.
Her expensive cream garden outfit showed no dirt.
Even her shoes probably cost more than most families' monthly grocery bill.
“Let's see how everyone reacts…”
She stepped closer.
“…when I tell them the bees killed you.”
Noah stared at her.
For the first time since she and Emily had dragged him into the far end of the mansion garden, he stopped hoping this was only meant to frighten him.
Victoria wasn't bluffing.
“My dad will destroy you for this.”
Victoria laughed.
Not loudly.
That somehow made it worse.
“Your father?”
She leaned close enough for Noah to smell her perfume.
“He'll believe me before he believes you.”
“You're insane.”
“No.”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“I'm prepared.”
Noah looked past her.
Emily stood near the path in her simple household uniform.
She was thirty, maybe thirty-one.
She had worked at the Whitmore mansion for two years.
She had brought Noah soup when he was sick.
She had helped him hide a broken lamp from his father once.
Now she wouldn't meet his eyes.
“Emily.”
She flinched.
“Untie me.”
Victoria turned.
“Don't speak to her.”
Noah ignored her.
“Emily, she's going to blame you too.”
Emily's face went pale.
Victoria gave a small laugh.
“Don't listen to him.”
“You think she'll protect you?”
“Noah.”
Emily's voice shook.
“Please stop.”
That told him everything.
She was scared.
Not of the bees.
Of Victoria.
Victoria pointed toward a handful of stones near the path.
Then toward the hive.
“Hit it.”
Emily stared at her.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Noah pulled against the rope.
“DON'T!”
Emily bent slowly.
Her hand trembled as she picked up a stone.
“Mrs. Whitmore…”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“Do you want me to remind you what happens if you refuse?”
Emily froze.
Noah saw it.
There was something else here.
Something Victoria held over her.
“Emily, don't do it.”
She looked at him.
Her eyes were wet.
“I'm sorry.”
Victoria snapped,
“Now.”
Emily threw.
The stone struck the side of the hive.
The entire structure shook.
The buzzing changed instantly.
It went from background noise to something alive.
Something furious.
Dozens of bees poured from the opening.
Victoria smiled.
Noah held his breath.
He couldn't run.
Couldn't cover his face.
Couldn't even turn away properly.
For one terrible second he thought his stepmother had won.
Then the swarm changed direction.
Victoria's smile vanished.
“What?”
The bees rushed past Noah.
Straight toward Victoria and Emily.
Emily screamed first.
Victoria slapped desperately at the air.
“GET THEM OFF ME!”
Bees tangled around their hair and shoulders.
Emily ran across the lawn.
Victoria followed.
Her expensive shoes sank into the soft grass as she covered her face with both hands.
“HELP ME!”
Noah stared.
The bees didn't touch him.
Not one.
Maybe because he remained still.
Maybe because Victoria and Emily were moving, shouting, waving their arms.
Maybe because Victoria's heavy perfume attracted them.
Noah didn't know.
He only knew he was still alive.
And Victoria's perfect plan had just fallen apart.
Emily ran toward the house.
Victoria stumbled behind her.
Within seconds, both women disappeared around the hedge.
Noah let out the breath he'd been holding.
Then he heard something.
A phone vibrating.
He looked down.
Victoria's smartphone lay in the grass near the tree.
She must have dropped it while running.
The screen lit up.
A message preview appeared.
MARTIN: Is it done?
Noah stared.
Another message came.
MARTIN: Remember. It has to look like an accident.
Noah stopped breathing.
Victoria wasn't acting alone.
May you like
And whoever Martin was—
he already expected Noah to be dead.
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