CHAPTER TEN: TRAPPED IN LIES

I didn't know how much time had passed.

The pain in my body dulled, replaced by numbness. My wrists throbbed from the tight restraints, and my throat was raw from crying.

Then I heard it—voices outside the door.

Muffled. Urgent.

Something was happening.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

Light flooded the room, blinding me. I squinted, struggling to focus.

Then I saw them.

Leon. Elena. His family. And behind them—uniformed officers.

My breath hitched.

"There she is," Leon said, his voice dripping with fake concern. "She's dangerous. I had no choice but to lock her up after she tried to kill me."

Shock rippled through me. "What?" My voice cracked. "That's a lie!"

One of the officers stepped forward, scanning me with wary eyes. "Mr. Leon says you've been acting violently. He also reported suspicious behavior linking you to the recent serial killings."

My heart pounded. "That's not true! He's lying!"

Leon sighed, shaking his head. "She's been unstable for months. I tried to help her, but she refused. Last night, she attacked me, screaming about a woman who doesn't exist. I barely escaped."

Elena clung to his arm, pretending to be shaken. "She's dangerous. We've all been afraid for our lives."

Tears burned my eyes. I struggled against my restraints. "Please! You have to believe me! They're setting me up!"

The officers exchanged glances. One of them took out his radio. "We need medical transport. Suspect appears delusional and possibly dangerous."

Panic surged through me.

No. No, no, no.

This wasn't happening.

I thrashed against the ropes, desperate. "I'M NOT THE KILLER! LEON IS LYING!"

But no one listened.

The officers moved in. Strong hands grabbed me, pulling me up. My body was weak, but I fought. I screamed.

Leon simply watched, his lips curling into a victorious smile.

As they dragged me away, Elena whispered, just loud enough for me to hear—

"Goodbye, little pawn. You played your part beautifully."

And just like that—

My world was stolen from me.

The police car felt colder than the room I had been locked in. My wrists were cuffed, my body still aching from Leon's brutal betrayal.

As the vehicle moved through the dark streets, I stared blankly out the window, my mind spinning.

How had it come to this?

I had been blind, believing Leon's love was real. Now, I was being driven away like a criminal, accused of murders I hadn't committed.

The car came to a stop in front of the police station. The officers led me inside, past curious stares and whispers.

They placed me in a small interrogation room—gray walls, a metal table, two chairs. The air smelled of coffee and tension.

Minutes passed.

Then the door opened.

A tall officer walked in, his eyes sharp as he studied me. He sat across from me, flipping through a file.

"Your name?" he asked.

I swallowed hard. "You already know it."

"I want to hear you say it."

"It's—" I hesitated. My voice cracked. "It's Billie."

He nodded. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Because my husband is a liar." My voice shook with anger.

The officer leaned back, arms crossed. "Leon claims you attacked him. That you've been mentally unstable for months. And…" he paused, his expression unreadable, "there's evidence linking you to the recent serial killings."

I flinched. "That's impossible. I didn't kill anyone."

He slid a folder toward me. "Then explain this."

I hesitated before opening it. My stomach dropped.

Photographs.

Crime scenes.

And worst of all—fingerprints. My fingerprints.

Tears filled my eyes. "This isn't real. Leon set me up!"

The officer studied me carefully. "Then prove it."

I opened my mouth but froze.

I had no proof.

Nothing.

Leon had taken everything from me.

The officer sighed. "Until we sort this out, you'll be held in custody. If you're innocent, you better find a way to prove it."

The door opened again. Another officer stepped in, cuffs in hand.

I felt the cold metal around my wrists once more.

As they led me to a holding cell, I realized one chilling truth—

I had no one left to trust.

And I was running out of time.