Chapter 8

Lena let out a sharp little laugh. "Please! She only got that site because she sold herself! Girlfriend? Give me a break!"

Those who usually echoed her fell strangely quiet.

"If you don't want the credit, don't come," someone shot back. "No one's begging you to join in."

"Yeah! Enough with the snide comments!"

The color drained from Lena's face, and she was left speechless. She had no choice but to trail after us.

I shot her a glance and sneered to myself. She couldn't get under my skin anymore.

The convoy wound halfway up the mountain as dusk settled in.

The air went unnervingly still. Then, all of a sudden, a group of masked men charged out of the bushes, their knives glinting in the darkness.

"Get out of the cars!"

They forced us to line up and collected our phones one by one.

"We're here for cash," the leader said coldly. "We'll take a few hostages and make a trade. Stay put, and don't get stupid."

Some of my classmates screamed, their legs trembling in fear.

Someone cr