Truth or Dare : A Bloody Game

The final bell of the day rang out like a call to freedom. In an instant, the school halls transformed into a scene of chaos as students rushed out of their classrooms, practically running toward the exit.

Laughter, shouting, and the excited buzz of kids filled the air as they burst free from the monotony of the school day.

Backpacks swung wildly as they pushed through the crowds, and sneakers squeaked on the polished floors as everyone tried to make their escape.

"Yes! Freedom at last!" one boy cheered, throwing his arms up in the air like he had just won the lottery.

"No more school for a whole month!" another shouted, high-fiving his friend with a grin so wide it looked like it would split his face in two.

Lily and Ava moved through the throng of students, both of them grinning like it was the best day of their lives.

The promise of summer vacation hung in the air, and their spirits were soaring.

They grabbed their books and supplies, shoving them into their bags with zero care for organization.

The goal was simple: get out as fast as possible.

"Finally! The last day," Lily said, slinging her bag over her shoulder with a satisfied sigh.

Ava laughed, already feeling the weight of school lift off her shoulders. "I know, right? I've been counting down the days. I've even found a cool place to spend the holidays. It's supposed to be super adventurous!"

Lily raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Are you planning on going full-on explorer mode or something?"

Ava shrugged, her grin widening. "You know me, always up for some adventure. Plus, it's in the mountains. I figured we could all use a change of scenery."

"Well, count me in," Lily said, her excitement bubbling up. "We could use a break. Something chill, but also fun."

Just as they stepped out of the classroom, they overheard a familiar argument coming from further down the hall.

"You always do this, Chloe!" Natalie's voice rang out, clearly annoyed.

"And you always overreact to everything!" Chloe shot back, her tone equally heated.

Ava glanced at Lily and shook her head with an amused smile. "Here we go again."

Lily couldn't help but laugh. "What did you do this time, Nat?"

Before Natalie could respond, Chloe butted in, throwing her hands in the air dramatically. "Oh, I'll tell you what she did! We were in Mr. Lee's class, and out of nowhere, she starts poking my thigh. Like, full-on jabbing me! I freaked out and shouted right in the middle of the lecture. Of course, Mr. Lee thought I was the troublemaker and gave me detention!"

Ava and Lily burst into laughter, clutching their sides as they imagined the scene.

"You got detention for that? " Ava snickered.

"Hey, I was just trying to get her attention! How was I supposed to know she'd jump out of her seat like that?" Natalie defended herself, her face slightly flushed.

Chloe rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're....."

...

Outside, Jake and Noah were waiting for the group near the school gate, leaning against the fence with the relaxed, carefree air of guys who had absolutely no worries in the world.

"Took you guys long enough," Jake said, tapping his foot dramatically like he'd been waiting for hours.

Ava laughed. "Blame Nat and Chloe. They were at it again."

"Oh, come on," Lily added, "you're going to love why they were fighting."

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

As they started walking together, Noah slid up next to Ava, giving her a shy smile. "Hey."

"Hey," she replied, feeling a tiny blush creeping up her cheeks. She had always liked how Noah was quieter and more thoughtful than the rest. There was something cute about it.

"So, what's your plan for the vacation?" Noah asked, trying to sound casual but curious.

"I'm just going to follow Lily's lead," Ava said with a shrug. "She's got this whole mountain trip planned."

"Sounds good to me," Noah replied, nodding. "Lily always comes up with the best vacation ideas."

Jake, who was eavesdropping, jumped into the conversation. "By the way, where's Ethan?"

Ava scanned the area. "Oh, there he is," she pointed. "Looks like he's busy chatting with someone."

"Are we seriously going to stand here all day?" Chloe called out from ahead. "Come on, let's get going!"

Blushing, Noah muttered, "Oh, right. Let's move."

They all picked up the pace, falling into step together as they headed toward the town. The air was buzzing with excitement about the upcoming break, each of them chatting about their plans for the next few weeks.

---

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the neighborhood, Lily's phone pinged with a message. It was from her group chat.

"Hey guys, I found this super interesting place in the mountains. It's a hidden gem, not many people know about it. Seven-day trip. Who's in?" she typed quickly, already imagining the adventure ahead.

Almost immediately, her phone started buzzing with responses.

"I'm in," Ava replied first. She was already mentally packing her bags.

"Me too!" Noah chimed in. He could practically feel the fresh mountain air already.

Jake responded, "Count me in! This sounds epic."

Chloe, however, was a bit more cautious. "Wait, where exactly is this place? How hidden are we talking?"

Lily reassured her, "I found it on this cool travel site. It's not super remote, but it's not crowded either. A perfect mix of adventure and chill."

Ava added, "It looks a little spooky, but that just makes it more exciting, right?"

Before long, Ethan joined in. "I'm down. Always up for a trip like this."

Natalie was the only one who hesitated. "I don't know, guys. I've got to work on some new songs for my performance, and I'm seriously stuck. I might have to pass."

Ava groaned. "No way! You can't skip out on this. We need you there!"

Lily agreed, sounding a bit worried. "Yeah, it won't be the same without you, Nat. Come on, it'll be fun!"

Noah chimed in, "Maybe getting out in nature will help. You know, clear your mind, give you some fresh ideas for your songs."

"Yeah, exactly," Ethan added. "Plus, you know you'll regret it if you don't come."

Natalie sighed but relented. "Alright, alright. I'll think about it."

"Just let me know by tomorrow," Lily said, "so I can book the tickets."

"I'll tell you tomorrow," Natalie promised, though she still sounded unsure.

...

The next morning, as the group was getting ready for the day, a message popped up in the chat.

"Alright, I'm in," Natalie finally confirmed.

Noah's response was instant. "YESSSSS!"

Ava grinned at her phone. "Awesome!"

Ethan kept it simple: "Great."

Lily was relieved. "Cool, I'll book everything now."

With that, the trip was officially on, and the excitement was palpable. They couldn't wait to see what kind of adventure lay ahead in the mountains.

...

Over the next few days, the group started preparing for the trip. Lily, always the organized one, created a checklist and shared it with everyone.

"Make sure you pack warm clothes," Lily advised during a video call. "The mountains get super cold at night."

Ava rummaged through her closet as they spoke. "Got it. I'm just pumped to get out of here."

Noah, however, was way more laid back. "I'll just throw a few things in a bag the night before."

Jake laughed. "That's so typical of you, dude. You've got to plan a little."

"Yeah, yeah," Noah waved it off, smirking. "I know what I need."

Chloe, meanwhile, was focused on more important things—fashion. "Do you think we'll get to do some shopping up there? I need new boots."

Natalie chuckled. "Maybe some retail therapy will help me get inspired for my songs."

Ethan, ever the gadget lover, was busy checking his camera equipment. "I'm bringing my drone. We can get some killer footage of the mountains."

"Good call," Lily said, nodding. "This is going to be one epic trip."