Writers 
Chapter 11 — The Lie
Amara stood in front of Zara, waiting for her to say something.
She could tell Zara was nervous. She kept looking away, rubbing her fingers together like she was trying to find the right words.
“I want the whole truth,” Amara said again.
Zara looked at her.
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Zara took a deep breath.
“There is something I didn't tell you.”
Amara’s heart sank.
She already knew there was more. The message she had received made that clear. But hearing Zara say it out loud made everything feel more serious.
“What didn't you tell me?”
Zara looked around before answering.
“It was about that night.”
Amara stayed quiet.
“The night Mia disappeared,” Zara continued. “You and Mia were not just arguing.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were fighting about something important.”
“What?”
“I don't know exactly what you were saying. I wasn't close enough to hear everything.”
Amara frowned.
“But you said you saw us.”
“I did.”
“And you said Mia wanted to tell me something.”
“She did.”
“Then why didn't you tell me all this before?”
Zara looked down.
“Because I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
Zara didn't answer immediately.
Amara felt frustration rising inside her.
“Zara, everyone keeps saying they're scared. My mother is scared. You are scared. Daniel keeps warning me. And nobody will just tell me what happened.”
“I know,” Zara whispered.
“Then tell me!”
Zara looked at her with tears in her eyes.
“Mia told me that someone had lied to you.”
Amara froze.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You have to know something.”
“I only knew what Mia told me.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Zara hesitated.
“She said the person you trusted most wasn't telling you the truth.”
Amara's stomach tightened.
“My mother?”
Zara shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Amara looked away.
She didn't know what to believe anymore.
Then Zara reached into her bag and brought out her phone.
“There was something else.”
She showed Amara an old message.
The message was from Mia.
Amara read it carefully.
“If anything happens, don't let Amara believe what they tell her.”
Amara stared at the screen.
“What does this mean?”
“I don't know,” Zara said.
“Why did you keep this?”
“Because I didn't know what to do with it.”
Amara looked at her.
“You should have shown me this from the beginning.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you?”
Zara swallowed.
“Because I lied to you.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“What lie?”
Zara looked down at the phone.
“I told you I left that night because Mia asked me to.”
Amara waited.
“That wasn't completely true.”
The words made Amara feel cold.
“Then why did you leave?”
Zara's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Daniel told me to.”
Amara stared at her.
“Daniel?”
Zara nodded.
“He came to me after you and Mia started arguing. He told me I needed to leave and that he would handle it.”
“Why would he say that?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you listen to him?”
“Yes.”
Amara stepped back.
“So you left Mia there?”
“I didn't know what was going to happen.”
“And you never told me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Afraid of Daniel?”
Zara nodded slowly.
Amara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Daniel had warned her to stay away from Zara. He had acted like he was protecting her.
But now Zara was saying that Daniel had been the reason she left Mia that night.
Amara's phone suddenly vibrated.
She looked down.
Another unknown message.
“Now you know about the lie.”
Her hands became cold.
A second message appeared.
“But Zara wasn't the only one who lied.”
Amara stared at the screen.
She slowly looked up at Zara.
“Who else lied to me?”
Zara didn't answer.
And that silence told Amara everything.
There was still another secret.
And this time, she had a feeling it was much closer to home.