Chapter 2: The Message
Marcus stared at the phone without saying a word.
Maya sat shivering on the pool deck, wrapped in his tuxedo jacket while guests whispered behind her.
“What is it?”” Maya asked.
Marcus didn’t answer.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Give me my phone.””
Marcus raised the screen.
“No.””
Vanessa’s eyes flicked toward the guests.
“Marcus, you're invading my privacy.””
“You just tried to drown your sister.””
“I did not try to drown her.””
“You shoved her into a pool.””
“It was a joke!””
Marcus looked down at the phone again.
His thumb moved across the screen.
A message thread opened.
His jaw tightened.
Maya noticed.
“What did you find?””
Marcus turned the screen toward her.
There it was.
A message Vanessa had sent earlier.
*She still can’t swim. I’ll do it tonight.*
Maya stopped breathing for a moment.
“No…”
Vanessa lunged forward.
“Give me that!””
Marcus stepped back.
“Don't touch me.””
“That message isn't what you think.””
Maya stared at her sister.
“You said you'd do it tonight.””
Vanessa's voice became defensive.
“You're taking it out of context.””
“What context could possibly make that okay?”” Marcus demanded.
Vanessa pointed toward Maya.
“She was embarrassing me all night!””
Maya blinked.
“What?””
“You always do this!”” Vanessa snapped.
“You make everything about yourself.””
“I was literally standing beside the pool.””
“You were supposed to be enjoying my celebration.””
“Your celebration?””
Maya pushed herself upright.
“You invited me.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Yes. Because you're my sister.””
“Then why would you do this?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Marcus looked back at the phone.
“There’s another message.””
Vanessa went pale.
Marcus read it silently.
Then he looked at her.
“Who is this?””
He turned the phone around.
A reply sat directly beneath Vanessa’s message.
*Good. Make sure everyone thinks it was an accident.*
The laughter and music from the celebration seemed to disappear.
Maya stared at the words.
Her lips parted.
“Who sent that?””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
Marcus took one step closer.
“Who told you to do this?””
Vanessa backed away.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“You were messaging someone.””
“No.””
“You wrote the first message.””
“I said I was joking!””
“Then why did someone tell you to make it look like an accident?””
Vanessa glanced around the pool.
Every face was watching her now.
One guest quietly lowered his phone after realizing he had been recording.
Maya saw Vanessa notice.
For the first time that evening, Vanessa looked afraid.
Marcus held the phone tightly.
“Who is this person?””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward Maya.
Then toward the mansion.
Then back to Marcus.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“I wasn't supposed to—”
She stopped.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Wasn't supposed to what?””
Vanessa looked at the message again.
Then at Maya.
May you like
And the color drained completely from her face.
“I wasn't supposed to be the one who—”
