Read Chapter 1 of Why Me…

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The earth was gritty beneath Cassie Ryan’s knees when she was forced to the ground. As the bag was pulled off of her head, she stole a glance into the eyes of the masked man. He had taken her from her apartment parking garage on what felt like the longest ride of her life.

With the bag over her head, the sweat and tears stung her eyes, and she thought every moment that had brought her there was going to be her last.

The man had questioned her the entire way, and she thought if she was completely honest, he would let her go.

She wasn’t a person who made enemies and hadn’t hurt anyone intentionally. She was an aspiring influencer and wanted to make it big in Hollywood, just like so many others living in Los Angeles.

Her only crime, if any, was being in the wrong place at the wrong time more than she was comfortable with. But it wasn’t like a girl like her had any control over those situations. The men in her life had all of the power, and she was just along for the ride.

“Don’t look at me,” said the deep voice, causing her to divert her eyes from the masked man.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, sputtering out the word. “Are you going to let me go? Please. I won’t tell anyone I talked to you. I don’t even know who you are.” She didn’t want to know, but seeing the mask gave her hope. Why would someone wear a mask if they weren’t planning to let her go?

Cassie averted her eyes and looked around but didn’t have any idea where she was in the dark. There was nothing but dirt all around her, but she knew she had a chance of survival if he would just leave her there. 

“That’s not going to happen,” he said as she could hear him fidgeting with something. She knew he had a gun, and she was about to piss herself, wondering when he was going to pull the trigger.

“But I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. I don’t know anything else. I swear to you. Please. Just let me go.”

He had asked a lot of questions while she was still bagged, and she had told him far too much than she was comfortable with. If this was a test of her loyalty, she had already failed it. No matter the outcome, her life, as she had gotten used to it, was over.

Cassie wouldn’t be able to go back to it, not now. Not after this. If anyone found out she had talked, she was as good as dead, whether this masked man wanted to be the one to do it or not. Her only option was to run away once she was free.

The man loomed over her. “Yes, you have told me plenty, but you’ll soon see that cooperation doesn’t buy freedom. And turning a blind eye to something you know is wrong but can’t control doesn’t make you innocent.”

“But I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t have a choice! You don’t know how bad I wanted to do something.” 

“You always have a choice, Cassie. You just didn’t make the right one. And now you’ll have to pay.”

She heard something he was messing with that sounded like it could have been a gun, and she wasn’t sure if that was her final moment or not. All she knew to do was beg for her life. “Please, please just let me go. I won’t tell anyone about this! I will move away. I promise. Just let me live.”

She couldn’t stand not looking up at the man and not knowing what he was about to do. Was he a moment away from pulling the trigger? She had to know. So, against her best advice, she glanced up again, only to see him with his phone held out.

“You like your face on camera, don’t you?” Everyone who knew her knew that much, and it was obvious to her by his tone that he thought it made her shallow.

“It’s just a way to make a living,” she said, wishing she could go back to the days when she was just a waitress working in a diner where the tips were lousy and the boss had treated her like a piece of meat on the daily special. At least he let her go home alive.

“Look at the camera,” he said, stepping closer.

She glanced at it again, making sure to look at the camera and not him. As tempting as it was, and even though his face was covered, she didn’t dare. “What do you want me to do?” she said, looking into the camera. “I’ll do anything if you just let me go. I can do whatever you tell me to.”

“I’m sure you would do anything you’re told. That’s the kind of morals you have, isn’t it? You’ll do anything, even shit on your friends for a little more of the limelight, wouldn’t you?”

“I can do better.” She wanted to do better. She wanted one more chance to do everything right and try and be a better person. She knew she could if given another chance.

“I’m sure you could. But what would that matter anymore? Sometimes you don’t get a second chance to do the right thing.” He aimed the gun at her head while he kept the camera on her.

Cassie realized he was going to make good on his threats, and he was going to video it too. “No, please.” She shook her head and began to beg. She even smoothed her hair back from her face so he could see the fear in her eyes, hoping to buy herself a pardon with whatever good looks she had left through the grit and sweat.

“Any last words?” he said, looking down the barrel with his dark, menacing eyes.

She put her hand out as if she could use it to shield herself. There were so many others responsible for what she’d confessed, and she didn’t understand how she could be the only one paying for what happened.

“I’m giving you a chance to speak,” he snapped. “You should feel good knowing you’re going to be the catalyst from which something big happens.”

She wasn’t sure what that meant, only she didn’t want to be the catalyst if this was what it meant. “No, wait! At least tell me why?”

“It doesn’t matter. You should be happy. In just a short time, your face is going to be everywhere. So come on, tell me those last words, Cassie Ryan.” 

She looked into his eyes with her blue ones full of tears. “Why me?” The hopelessness inside her cracked through her voice, and when he pulled the trigger, she had only a moment to flinch before it was over.