The stairs lead down into a dimly lit basement. The door slams behind you as you step down onto the stairs. They creak underneath the combined weight of you and Wes as he follows you closely, the point of his knife in the small of your back. Your legs are shaking, and you're afraid you'll trip and fall, but you grasp the railing and manage to keep your feet.

When you make it to the bottom of the stairs, you find yourself in a cold, cement-walled room lit dimly with a single bulb hanging from the center of the ceiling. It smells like mildew and dust, and cobwebs hang from the ceiling beams, layered over tangles of electrical wire and plumbing. There are old boxes down here filled with empty wine and liquor bottles, covered in layers of grime. Lying on the floor along one wall, out of place in the grim surroundings, is a cream-colored designer handbag.

You recognize it instantly. You've seen Ivy pull scented lotion and granola bars out of that purse a million times.

"Oh my God," you whisper.

Wes glances at the purse. Then he glances at you. You have a sense that he knows you know, and you share a moment of eye contact as horror dawns on you in a sickening wave and Wes slowly smiles.

"You said you hadn't heard from her," you say, which is the first thing that comes to your mind, although his lie is the least concerning aspect of this turn of events. Ivy hasn't run off with her no-good boyfriend. That much, you can be certain of. "What did you do to her?"

"No concern of yours, darlin'. She's well taken care of. You, on the other hand...you're a bit too strong-willed for my taste."

You draw your breath and scream at the top of your lungs, backing away from him: "Help! Help!"

But Wes only chuckles. "Ain't that cute. It won't work, Kendall. I've tested it. Often. No one can hear you scream. Now, let's be civil about this. It won't hurt a bit."

You don't have much time. He's creeping toward you through the filthy basement, that knife gleaming in his hand. He doesn't look scared, and he looks pleased that you do...

A lie might buy you some time, if you can scare him. The threat of discovery will get through to him! Tell him the Dansville Daily photographer is on his way to meet you! [[Go to Chapter 92.]]

"I don't have any proof of who you are, Wes. Let me know, and I won't tell anyone anything. Just please. Please, let me go." [[Go to Chapter 71.]]

Grab one of the empty wine bottles and go for the head! [[Go to Chapter 93.]]