Chapter 1: AMY

Amy Stone

“Truth or dare?”

Melissa’s sweet voice dripped with challenge as she leaned forward, a sly smirk playing on her glossy lips.

Despite being my best friend, she had a way of making everything about her.

I watched nervously as everyone around the circle leaned in, eager to play the childish games.

I let out a small breath, almost regretting driving hours just to find this.

I pressed a handkerchief to my nose, trying to block the smell of booze and weed. The air was so thick it felt like I was inhaling smoke and sweat with every shaky breath. Gross.

Nearly everyone was pressed together like the whole house was one big, disgusting orgy.

“Relax, Amy. You’re here for Chad,” I told myself, comforting myself for what felt like the tenth time.

This was supposed to be my night alone with Chad...a surprise visit to see my fiancé after many months apart. A romantic reunion just for us. I had even brought an aphrodisiac to spice the mood. Instead, I was trapped in some twisted frat-house nightmare.

Melissa tapped my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. I immediately realized it was my turn at this godforsaken game. I was a CEO. I wasn’t supposed to be doing this.

“Truth,” I said cautiously, hoping to keep it safe, maybe finish quickly enough to sneak out of here.

“Boooo… No way… I knew it, Chad… Your girl is so fucking boring!” one guy shouted. His voice nearly stopped my heart. It was loud as hell.

A chorus of groans erupted around me.

“She looks nerdy. What do you expect?” Melissa rolled her eyes.

I didn’t bother defending myself, though the continuous boos stung a little.

“I picked truth. That’s what I want. Truth.” I finally spoke up, staring at Chad, who was busy blowing smoke into the air.

I hadn’t even known he smoked that much.

Melissa gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like I had offended the gods of this filthy little gathering.

“Ugh, truth? Boring.” Her blue eyes glimmered with mock disappointment. “Come on, Amy, don’t be a buzzkill. Pick dare.”

Others joined in, chanting “Dare! Dare! Dare!” like they were summoning demons.

I glanced at Chad once more, silently begging him to shut this down, to tell everyone to leave me the fuck alone. Instead he just smiled, his arm lazily draped across the back of the sofa behind me, his expression completely unreadable.

I swallowed hard. For a second this wasn’t what I had signed up for.

“Chad, this isn’t what we agreed on… remember? What’s with the games and these people?” I leaned toward him and whispered in his ear.

He simply chuckled like I was the only one who hadn’t gotten the memo. I wouldn’t lie—the pit in my stomach grew heavier.

“Do it for me, my love… Be fun… Pick dare.” He brushed his lips against my cheek.

“Fine,” I snapped, trying to match their energy even though my gut screamed this was wrong. “Dare.”

Melissa instantly squealed, clapping like a demented cheerleader. “That’s my bestie.”

The circle exploded in excitement as I forced a small smile.

Chad leaned forward, his grin sharp enough to cut glass. “I dare you to swim in that river outside.”

For a moment I thought I had misheard him.

“That pitch-black river?” My voice cracked. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

Melissa tilted her head innocently, her long hair spilling over one shoulder, making her even more beautiful.

“Careful,” she purred, “there’s some kind of weird fish in there.”

The way she said it made my skin crawl.

“It’s just a swim,” I whispered to myself. Just cold water. Just a stupid dare.

But when I glanced at Chad, there was nothing playful in his expression. His dark eyes stared at me in a way I couldn’t quite name.

I remembered him being sweet and sensitive. Even when he made promises, I had always seen the sweet man he was. Maybe he was just high or drunk.

Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and yanked me to my feet. “Chad… Wait!”

Melissa grabbed my other hand, and together they dragged me through the house, out the back door, and into the biting night air despite my constant pleas.

I felt slightly foolish. I had never asked why he wanted us to meet at a forest lake house, or why Melissa and the other drunks were there. The elegant Chad I knew wasn’t here tonight. There was only this man daring me to do crazy things in the dark.

“Chad, please,” I whispered, shivering. “You don’t really want me to do this. There could be dangerous creatures in the river… maybe even crocodiles!”

“You picked dare,” he said flatly, no trace of warmth in his voice. “Now prove you’re not a coward. If you love me, you will do this.”

My stomach twisted. Melissa stepped closer, smirking.

“Take it off,” she ordered, her tone gleeful. “Everything… even your underwear.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Relax, babe. It’s just a swim… You’ve got this.” Chad cooed, then pecked my lips.

That small peck flooded my stomach with butterflies. It had been months since I had felt a man’s touch.

Heat flooded my cheeks, but I complied, stripping off my dress with trembling fingers.

I stood in my bra and panties, arms wrapped around myself, feeling exposed. There was no way I was standing there naked.

I felt Chad’s gaze roaming over me slowly, like a predator sizing up its prey.

For a brief, stupid moment I thought he might call it off—that he would laugh, pull me into his arms, and tell me this was just a fucked-up joke.

Instead he stripped my bra and panties off in one swift motion and shoved me forward hard.

“Ah!!” I screamed as I lost my balance off the wooden planks.

“Chad!” I shrieked, windmilling my arms… but it was too late. I plunged into the freezing water. The cold was so vicious it felt like a thousand knives stabbing into my skin.

The shock ripped a scream from my throat as the current dragged me under. This wasn’t a simple game. It was a trap.

My eyes widened in shock as I fought to reach the surface.

I kicked and thrashed, breaking the surface just long enough to gasp, “Chad! Help me!” before the river swallowed me again.

From the riverbank his voice floated down, calm and nonchalant. “Swim, Amy. You’re a grown-up.”

“This isn’t funny. The current is too stro....” I began, but something brushed hard against my leg. It felt fast and slimy.

My heart stopped. I suddenly remembered what Melissa had said about the weird fish.

“What was that?” I choked, spinning wildly in the dark water.

Then dozens of razor-sharp teeth pierced my skin.

“AHHHHH!” My scream echoed across the river as something bit me, tearing into the tender flesh of my thigh.

“Oh my God, oh my God!” I sobbed, thrashing violently, but every movement only drew more of them. “Chad! There are piranhas in here! Help!”

They bit into me like living saws, peeling away strips of flesh. I tried my best to swim, but all my effort went nowhere.

I saw my blood clouding the water in swirling crimson clouds under the moonlight.

I screamed until my throat shredded raw. The only thing I held onto was the bracelet on my wrist...the one my grandma had given me years ago, telling me never to take it off.

I felt the pain and the regret all at once.

“Chad!” I screamed, but all I heard was laughter.

My hands clawed uselessly at my body, trying to rip them off, but their teeth sank deeper, anchoring them to me.

“CHAD! PLEASE!” I shrieked, sputtering river water and blood. “HELP ME!”

On the shore Melissa’s laughter rang out, high and delighted.

“Oh, Chad,” she cooed, “finally. She’s gone.”

“No!” I tried to scream, but only bubbles escaped as water rushed into my lungs.

My vision blurred. “You set me up!!!” I choked.

I had trusted him. We had dated for years. He was the only man I had seen a future with. I had handed over everything to him....made him next of kin on most of what I owned....so he wouldn’t feel inferior.

He used to complain that social circles laughed at him for being with a woman richer than him, but I had never seen it that way. I never did.

I felt foolish for sticking around long enough to end up ripped apart by piranhas.

“I was so foolish… I gave you everything.” My voice cracked through the water. I sank so deep I barely noticed the faint glow on my wrist.

The last thing I saw before the darkness took me was Chad’s silhouette....standing perfectly still, watching, his arms wrapped around Melissa’s waist.

“Oh Amy… you should never have trusted me with your properties…” Chad growled as the darkness overtook me.