All Chapters of The Rope That Told the Truth: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

My phone buzzed.I opened my eyes and saw the underside of the bunk above me. From the lower bunk, I heard Chloe Pierce's voice."Lena, come with us to Eagle's Beak Cliff tomorrow to film a video. It'll be quick."I had heard those exact words in my previous life.Exactly the same.My fingers tightened around my blanket. My nails dug into my palm.It hurt.This wasn't a dream.I really was back.I took a deep breath and kept my voice flat."What are we going there for?""A graduation memory video. It'll be meaningful."Chloe made it sound so casual.A graduation memory.In my last life, I believed her.Only when we got there did I find out she wanted to film an "extreme challenge."She planned to tie a rope around her waist and pretend to fall off the cliff while I played along as the person who "pushed" her.She was afraid I would look unnatural if I knew the truth, so she hid the plan from me the entire time.All she told me was, "Just stand next to me. You don't ha

Chapter 2

At the school gate, Chloe was already waiting.She wore a white camisole dress, a full face of makeup, and her hair was curled into big waves. She looked like she was about to walk a red carpet."You're wearing that to hike?" I asked."It looks good on camera."She checked her makeup through the front camera of her phone."Tell me, does this lipstick shade look good on video?"Chloe turned toward me. Her lips were painted a deep red."It looks good," I said.It really did.In my last life, after she fell, her makeup was smeared.Blood poured from her nose and ears, redder than her lipstick.Sienna arrived second.She was carrying a large canvas tote, bulging with things."What did you bring?" Chloe asked."Power banks, a selfie stick, a fill light, and the rope."Sienna lowered her voice and wiggled her brows."The one you asked me to buy.""Let me see."Sienna pulled out a coil of orange-red rope.I glanced at it.The rope was old. The surface was worn, and several

Chapter 3

When we arrived at the park, Chloe rushed to buy four tickets.We passed through the entrance and walked up along the cliffside path.The walkway at Eagle's Beak Cliff was built into the face of the cliff. At its narrowest point, only one person could pass sideways.The railing was iron, already rusted.Chloe walked at the front, light on her feet."Hurry, hurry. While there aren't many people, let's grab that corner."I knew the corner she meant.The surveillance blind spot.She had scouted it in my last life.When we reached the bend, Chloe stopped, spread her arms, and took a deep breath."This is it! Perfect!"She looked down and deliberately shivered."It's so high. My legs are going weak."Then she took out her phone and started performing for the camera."Guys, I'm standing at the most dangerous spot at Eagle's Beak Cliff. Below me is an endless drop!"Look at the wind. I don't even dare look down."The comments flew by.While all of their attention was on the l

Chapter 4

"Ready?" Chloe stood at the edge of the cliff, arms spread wide."Ready!" Sienna raised the phone. "Starting the livestream!"She opened the app, adjusted the beauty filter, and forced out a sweet smile."Hey, everyone! Sunny is already at Eagle's Beak Cliff!""Today, we're doing a super thrilling challenge--Cliffside Life-or-Death Moment!"Comments poured in.Chloe waved at the camera, smiling like a flower."Guys, I'm standing right at the edge of the cliff. In a second, I'm going to challenge myself to take a few steps along the edge and pretend I lose my balance."There's a safety rope around my waist, so it's totally safe. Please don't imitate this!"As she said that, she shot me a look.I stood beside her, expressionless.She frowned and lowered her voice."Lena, look at me."I looked once.Only once.Then she suddenly widened her eyes. Her expression turned terrified, and her voice trembled as she shouted, "Don't push me--Lena, what are you doing--don't push me!"

Chapter 5

I turned around and removed the pinhole camera from my collar.Then I retrieved the action camera from the shrubs and the other one from the railing.Three devices. Continuous recording.Chloe tying the rope. Me helping her tie the knot. The close-up of the frayed section. The entire process of her shouting "don't push me" and falling.All of it was there.I also took the voice recorder out of my inner pocket.Every conversation from the moment we left until now had been recorded.Including Chloe saying, "pretend to fall."Including Sienna saying, "just buy any rope."Including Molly asking, "Should we test it?"That was enough.I put everything away.Then I waited for the police.The police arrived in twenty minutes.The lead officer was a woman named Detective Greer, in her early forties, with short hair and sharp eyes.She looked at me, then at Sienna and Molly."Who called this in?""I did."I raised my hand."Name?""Lena Macmillan. The deceased's roommate."D

Chapter 6

In the interrogation room, Detective Greer played the footage once.The pinhole camera had captured Chloe standing at the cliff edge while I tied the rope for her. The frayed section of the rope was clearly visible.The action camera captured another angle: Chloe falling backward on her own, and the rope snapping.The voice recorder captured the conversations."Just buy any rope.""Pretend to fall."Every piece of evidence was clear.After Detective Greer finished watching, she was silent for a long time."Lena, did you know that when you tied the rope for Chloe, the worn section happened to sit exactly at the load-bearing point?""No.""You really didn't know?""I only tied a knot for her. The rope was already worn. Other than that, I never touched the rope."Detective Greer stared at me.I stared back.At last, she looked away."Fine. For now, you aren't responsible. But the case is still under investigation. Keep your phone on.""All right."I stood and walked to th

Chapter 7

The next day, my phone almost exploded.Classmates, teachers, reporters, strangers online.Everyone wanted to talk to me.I didn't answer.I only took one call--my mother's."Lena, I saw the news. Are you all right?" Her voice was shaking."Mom, I'm fine.""The girl who fell... was she your roommate?""Yes.""You really didn't push her, did you?""No. I didn't do anything."My mother was quiet for a few seconds."That's good. If you don't want to stay at school, come home.""Okay."After hanging up, I opened Twitter.The top trending tag was: #InfluencerSunnyFallsFromCliff.The second was: #MomentTheRopeSnapped.The third was: #LenaMacmillan.I tapped into the third one.The pinned post was from a gossip account."Influencer 'Sunny' fell to her death during a livestream. Roommate Lena Macmillan is being accused of 'watching someone die.' Video shows Lena never touched Chloe Pierce, but she also never reached out to pull her back. Police are investigating. Chloe's mo

Chapter 8

After getting into the cab, I gave the driver the address of the train station.The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror."Miss, are you that Lena Macmillan?""Yes.""I watched the video. You really didn't push her.""Thank you.""But you didn't pull her either."I looked out the window."I couldn't have held her.""You didn't try. How do you know?"I didn't answer.The driver sighed and said nothing more.At the train station, I bought a ticket home.While waiting, my phone rang.It was Molly."Lena...""Yes.""Why did you put cameras there ahead of time?""What do you think?""... Did you already know the rope would snap?""I didn't know. I was just afraid something would happen.""What were you afraid of?""That someone would blame me."Molly started crying on the other end."Lena, I regret it so much. If I'd spoken up earlier about the rope, would Chloe still be alive?""Maybe.""Would you have pulled her?""Maybe."She cried even harder.I h

Chapter 9

On my second day back home, I received a package.Sender: Detective Greer.Inside was a USB drive and a short letter."Lena, this is the complete footage from the cameras you placed at the cliff. I copied a set for you. The case is closed now, so the evidence no longer needs to remain sealed. I hope you live well. Greer."I inserted the USB drive into my computer.A folder opened.There were four video files inside.I clicked the first one.On screen, I crouched down to tie the rope for Chloe.The worn part of the rope was clear under the camera.I watched it three times.I confirmed that from every angle, no one could tell I had done it deliberately.Then I removed the USB drive and locked it in a drawer.In the third month of my leave from school, I found a job in my hometown.I worked at a bubble tea shop.The pay wasn't high, but it was enough.My mother worked as a cashier at a supermarket.Between the two of us, we could get by.The owner of the bubble tea shop

Chapter 10

One year later.I received my paralegal certificate.My score wasn't high, but I passed.My mother cried with joy and cooked a whole table of food.At dinner, my aunt asked, "Lena, are you going back to that college?""No.""Isn't that a shame?""It's fine. Next year, I'll start an online bachelor's program."My aunt still wanted to say something, but my mother stopped her."The child has her own plans. Don't interfere."After dinner, I returned to my room.A message arrived on my phone.It was from my college classmate, Lily Webb."Lena, did you see the news? Something happened to Sienna.""What happened?""She got into a fight while working down south and injured someone. She was arrested. They say she might go to prison."I put down my phone.I didn't reply.Another month later, I received a letter.The return address was a detention center.Inside was a piece of paper with a few crooked lines."Lena, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have bought that r

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