Dare Me (30 page)

Ricky looks up at us. “Yeah, yeah, just put your vests on and give me mine.”

I slide into the protective gear and feel like I’m suiting up for the electric chair. There is no way this can end well, and I think for the first time, Ricky is having doubts. So am I. All the other dares, the danger was on us. But not this time. What if the glue doesn’t work and people charge the doors and get trampled by a bucking bull? Or the doors hold and people get crushed against the metal, trying to watch?

I hook my fingers back under the shoulders of the vest. We can’t do this. It’s too much. We have gone too far.

I start speaking but my phone vibrates with a text. I want to ignore it, but at this point, who knows who it could be?

There’s a picture. It’s of Alexia, crying, standing on top of Jesse’s car. The text below reads:
Meet us and save her. I dare you.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ricky pull straws from his pocket. “Shortest goes first, and on up until the last.”

I find my voice. “Stop! Fucking stop!”

Ricky holds the straws like a bouquet and the guys all stare at me.

“Look.” I hold out my phone and the guys gather around.

“Is that Alexia?” John asks.

“That’s Jesse’s car.” Trevor adds.

“Ben, what the hell is going on?” Ricky asks.

I read the message aloud. “He’s daring us to come save her.”

“It’s a fucking trap. I guarantee it. He probably Photoshopped that shit.”

It’s possible, but what if this isn’t some stunt?

Ricky steps to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Ben, we’ve got like five minutes before our dare goes down. Come on, we’ll deal with that after.”

He may be right. This may just be Jesse’s way of fucking with me. I look at the picture again. It doesn’t looked Photoshopped. But even if it did, what’s more important, this dare—which I know hasn’t pushed the envelope, but lit it on fire—or leaving her to chance?

“I’m going,” I say and stare at Ricky.

“What? You’ll get your head cracked. Be smart. Stay here. We’ll do this and then if you want, we’ll go see what’s what.” Ricky’s back together, his typical self, and I look past him. John and Trevor look like I feel.

I swallow and shove Ricky with all the strength I have. He stumbles but stays upright. “
I’m
going. These dares mean nothing now. And this one . . . not happening. There’s too much to control. Too much at risk. You know I’m right.”

My phone vibrates again:
Ten minutes and we surf. U coming?

“What is it?” John asks.

“They’re going to make her car surf.” I look up from my phone. “He’ll kill her, Rick.”

Ricky looks into my eyes for a long moment and I can see the struggle. We’ll make a killing with this dare. The hits will be off the charts, but that’s not what it’s about anymore.

“Guys, keep your vests on. If we’re going to save Alexia, I want it on film.” Ricky grabs my neck. “This dare’s yours. Lead it.”

—

The limo driver
wasn’t at all happy. He’d just settled in with his book when we rolled up and gave him the address—a street over from Jasperg—and he mumbled about “stupid fucking teens.” We strategized during the ride, but since we really don’t know what’s ahead of us, there’s no great plan from Ricky, no advice. We’re flying by the seats of our pants.

The driver pulls over. “Here we are.”

We pile out and stand on the shoulder of the road. It’s cold and dark, with only an errant streetlight, but up ahead their voices are clear, along with taillights.

“Am I bringing you back to the dance?” The driver’s head’s out the window. The guys look at me. Ricky shrugs.

“No. We’ll take care of that.”

He looks us over. “What the hell are you doing?”

“A senior ritual.” I’m trying to keep it light, but he cocks his head.

“Like some kind of prank?” He pauses. “Shit, are you those kids, those idiots from YouTube?”

“No, we’re not.” It’s not a lie. We’re not the Daredevil Crew anymore.

“Shit, that would have been awesome.” He does a U and heads down the road.

“So what now, Ben?” Ricky asks.

“I’ll go in alone. You guys hang back near the woods. I’ll give you a sign when I need you.”

“What’s the sign?”

I think for a second and up ahead the gunshot crack of a beer can pops. “Newton. I’ll scream Newton.”

I don’t wait for questions. I walk and keep my eyes on the shadows moving around the red lights ahead. Two cars, so Jesse’s boys must all be here, and somewhere, Alexia.

“Is it go time?” It sounds like Chris Carsdale asking.

“Couple of minutes.”

Danny and Chris are directly ahead, maybe twenty-five yards. I put up my hand for the guys to stop. They do and move off the road, carefully picking their way into the cover of the woods.

“I sure hope that fuck shows. This’ll be awesome.”

“It will be even if he doesn’t,” Danny answers. “All of us and only her. You know he’s got a plan B.”

Chris laughs and a chill runs up my neck. I don’t know if I’m more frightened or pissed off. I tighten the vest around me and check that the camera’s on. “Let’s stick to the original plan, assholes.”

The beer that was just opened is dropped. An instant later headlights pop on. I’m blinded. I turn away from the light and shield my eyes. When I turn back I see Alexia inside the car. She’s been gagged. Jesse steps out and hangs on the driver’s door.

“Ben, so glad you showed up. Woulda been real boring if you didn’t.”

“I’m sure the three of you could have kept one another company.” I’m surprised at how calm I sound.

“Big mouth for such a little boy all by himself. I’m surprised the rest of your douches didn’t come. Too busy?”

“Something like that.”

“See, that’s the thing about loyalty. You can’t ever really trust people unless they’re scared of you.” Jesse laughs. “It was nice of you to try and protect her. But never send a boy to do a man’s job.”

I don’t know if he’s drunk or so full of himself he thinks he’s untouchable, but I’m happy as hell his mouth’s as loose as it is. The mic on this vest better be working.

“So why are you here? Or is kidnapping a girl a manly thing? I didn’t get that notice.”

Jesse waves for Chris and Danny to crowd me.

“The manly thing is doing whatever the fuck you feel. And right now we’re going to fuck your shit up and then make you watch Alexia surf that fucking car. The one back there, that looks like Ricky’s. Yeah, I figured you out. Had a hunch, then watched you all real close. It was a gamble, but it seems to have paid off.”

He smiles so wide it doesn’t seem physically possible. And I know because of that I should be shitting my pants. But I’m not afraid. This is what I wanted.

Jesse continues. “We’ll wear your masks and get it on film. And when she’s in the hospital, you can try to weasel your way out. Good luck with that.”

They advance and my heart leaps into my throat, but I manage to scream, “Newton!”

Jesse turns but Chris punches me hard. I fall back onto the road but have enough sense to roll away. Feet are charging over the blacktop, and through the light of the headlamps the guys are visible, tangling with Danny and Chris. At least we outnumber them.

I look for Jesse, expecting him to hit me from my blind side, but I’m alone in the middle of the street. The ignition firing jolts me worse than that taser. Jesse’s in the car with Alexia. He undoes the gag and is already wearing a mask that looks like ours. Alexia screams.

I sprint to the car and Alexia sees me. She’s being tossed on the roof. “Ben! Help!” I’m ten feet away, and the hit comes from the shadows. I’m drilled and skid like roadkill.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Chris Carsdale hisses into my ear while he lays on me. “Now you watch, you little bitch. Best show you’re ever gonna . . .”

He doesn’t finish because Trevor kicks him in the ear. Chris grabs his head and screams like a girl. “It’s gone!” His face is drenched in blood, and Trevor may have taken his ear off. But Trevor doesn’t care; he just reaches down and hauls me up.

“Get that motherfucker!”

Jesse’s behind the wheel and I reach the door as he’s pulling away. I wrench it open and run alongside. Alexia’s screaming from the rooftop, but I don’t know what she’s saying. I’m concentrating on how to get in. Jesse sees me and swerves, but I hold on to the door and the roof and stay balanced. I have one chance because he’s picking up speed. I dive and crack my forehead against Jesse’s dash. But I’m in.

He steers with one hand and punches the back of my head with the other. I get an arm up to block and connect with a punch of my own, somewhere in his neck. He stops punching and grips the wheel with both hands.

I freeze. What do I do now? I can’t grab the wheel or pull the E-brake. Alexia’s on top.

Jesse breathes deep and fishes around his lap, pulls out the camera. The screen lights up and this feels oddly like our other dares. Jesse turns the camera on himself. “This is Ricky Puckman of the Daredevil Crew bringing you our latest dare. We’ve got a real crazy one in store. It’s back at the scene of our first, and we now have the help of Alexia Bellamy.” He points the camera toward the windshield and then back to himself. “As you can see, we’re going forty out here on Jasperg Lane and Alexia’s on top of the car. Ready to watch?”

Jesse lowers the camera and covers the mic. “You better take that fucking wheel, Ben, or she’s dead.” With that he rolls down the window and slides out. The car slows, and I wait for it to stop. This dumb fuck. But his hand appears and he jerks the wheel. “Need some gas, Ben!”

Fuck. I hop into the driver’s seat and take control. Jesse lets go and I can hear him talking to Alexia, coaxing her into standing up. If I stop quickly, she’ll fall. If I slow down, Jesse will grab the wheel and rock her off. What the hell can I do?

“Ben! Stop the car!” Alexia screams.

I grip the wheel and try to think, but the road keeps unfolding, with rows of dead cornstalks on my periphery. Alexia pounds the roof and Jesse screams, “Stand up, bitch!”

There’s no way out of this. I can’t save her. She has to save herself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t help.

“Alexia, hold on!”

“What are you doing?” Jesse’s hand reaches in and grips my hair. “I’ll knock you out before you fuck this up.”

“Go ahead,” I say, and pull off the road and into the field.

Jesse grips harder and starts pounding my head into the door. My eye smashes against the frame a dozen times, and fills with blood. I can’t see out of it. We slow way down, but the car bounces in the ruts. I can hear Alexia slamming into the roof. Jesse keeps cracking my face into the frame, but I ignore the pain and focus on what’s important. I’ll hit the brakes when we’re slow enough. It’s the best I can do.

Jesse lets go of my hair and grabs the wheel. He whips it and we swerve uncontrollably. Here’s my chance. I crawl up onto the seat and crouch. Jesse screams, “Gas, Ben, or she flies off.”

I can only see half of what I should, but his hand is visible, clenching tighter around the wheel. I spring.

I fly into him and out the window and there’s an audible crack over the thudding car and Alexia’s screams. I hold on to Jesse’s neck and we propel from the car and hit the ground. A stalk sticks into my head, and Jesse is already screaming. I roll off and watch the car continue and finally come to a stop.

Alexia is no longer on the roof.

I slide off Jesse and look down. His arm’s split in half and he’s screaming, but I’m not helping him. Blood pours out of my eye and I can barely see, but I stagger along the field and call out for Alexia. There’s no answer.

“Alexia!” I scream and taste more blood in my mouth. I’m dizzy but have to find her.

I plod as best I can, scouring the field, and then I see a lump. I move to Alexia and fall by her side. She’s breathing, but there’s a stalk in her side and blood on the ground. I lie next to her and stroke her hair and say I’m sorry.

“It’s my fault. All of this. We set Jesse up, and I should have known better. And now . . .”

She sighs and all goes black.

CHAPTER 31

I
shift and my head throbs.
I lift my hands to touch it and they’re tethered. Must be the cornstalks, but that doesn’t make any sense. I try to rub them away and pain shoots up my right hand.

“Benny, no. No, don’t do that.”

I open my eye at Mom’s voice. She’s inches from me, smoothing my hand, which lies on top of a bed. I pull back and look around. Through the dizzy wave I see Dad and Ginny sitting in the corner, the space between them cluttered with monitors and medical equipment.

I lie back, closing my eye, realizing one is bandaged. I can’t make sense of why this is, why I’m in the hospital. “What happened?”

Mom squeezes my hand harder. “Oh, Benny, it doesn’t matter.” She slides across the bed and hugs me like I’m a three-year-old and had a nightmare. She cries, and I try to hug back but have no strength.

The door opens and people shuffle in. I peer at the visitors, a doctor and a police officer. The cop’s eyes do not leave mine, but the doctor swoops in and starts checking the monitors.

“I’m going to need Mom, Dad, and Sis to leave. Need to check Ben’s vitals, okay?”

They stand and Ginny waves. Dad pulls Mom from me and shoots the cop a look. “What about him?” he asks.

“Officer Smith has some questions. He needs answers so he can finish his job.” Doc whoever tilts his head and shrugs. My Dad nods, looks at me, and drags my mother out into the hall. Ginny follows and does not look back. The door closes and Officer Smith takes out a small notebook.

“Ben, do you think you could tell me what happened this evening?”

I close my eye and then open it. I’m dizzy and confused, but need to answer his questions. “I don’t know what you mean.”

There’s a pause, filled by the beeping monitors. “The dare you were involved with this evening, with Jesse Holmes and Alexia Bellamy?” The officer’s voice is gentle, but direct.

I feel a laugh bubble inside. Why would I be doing
anything
with those two? They’re a couple. I used to be a friend of Alexia’s, but so what? I open my mouth to ask the cop what he’s talking about, but an image fills my mind: Alexia on the roof of a car, Jesse driving. I was there? Yes, I was there.