Deranged [REWRITTEN]

Chapter One

The dirt road ahead looked dark and mysterious. With only two flashlights to guide the way, we scanned the bushes and trees surrounding us. At the sound of a twig snapping I quickly turned my flashlight toward the direction of the noise and sighed in relief once I realized it was Jessica's boyfriend. I hadn't realized they had been arguing, too caught up in my own mind to pay attention to them.

"Because, Jessica, I was at Noah's house playing video games," Francis says, clearly ticked off.

"That doesn't explain why you didn't return my calls? If you were really at Noah's house you wouldn't have ignored my calls!" Jessica screeches, throwing her hands in the air for emphasis.

"Guys..." Kate mumbles from a long distance ahead of me.

"My phone died! His charger was broken, I don't know what else you want me to fucking say-"

"You really expect me to believe his only charger was broken? Really?"

"Guys!" Kate whispers aggressively, looking over her shoulder to observe the couple fighting.

"I don't expect you to believe anything. You've been so clingy and paranoid lately its-"

"Clingy? Paranoid? Oh no, you don't-"

"Guys!" Kate yells this time, finally getting everyones attention. The silence was eerie, yet peaceful compared to hearing the argument. We all stop walking and I shine the light ahead of us, realizing we arrived. "We're here. This is it. This is the tunnel."

"You've got to be out of your fucking mind if you think I'm going anywhere near that," Jessica curses, looking absolutely disgusted with the outside look of the creepy tunnel.

"For once, I agree with you," I stated, quietly. I moved the flashlight all around the tunnel, checking out how damaged it looked. I can't even fathom how this tunnel was of use sometime ago.

"Thanks... I guess?"

"Stop being a bunch of babies." Francis rolls his eyes and grabs the flashlight out of Kate's hand before walking toward the tunnel. Jessica quickly follows after him and I'm standing there, shocked and unable to move.

"Wait, nobody said anything about going in," I exclaimed, not moving an inch as Francis and Jessica stand below the mouth of the tunnel.

"What, are you a wuss, Grace?" Francis laughs, shining the light in my eyes. I squint and raise my hand above my face.

"No, I'm just saying. The sign back there literally said, 'no trespassing'. And here we are... doing what the sign said not to do."

"It's a sign. Plus, this place is basically abandoned, nobody would be waiting here everyday to see if kids like us are trespassing," Jessica tries to reason.

"Okay, well I doubt there is anything interesting in there so why don't we just take a picture of it and leave." I was starting to freak out, feeling the hairs on my neck stand up. This entire part of town made me feel so uneasy and unsafe. I just wish I was at home curled up in bed with my little dog, Teddy.

"If it's so uninteresting, why don't you go in and take a picture, hm? Then we'll leave. How's that sound?" Jessica crossed her arms. I looked at Kate who shrugged as if she agreed with Jessica.

"You've got to be kidding me." I stare at them in disbelief. They stand their ground and watch as I pace around. Off in the distance a flash of lightening lights up the sky, illuminating the tunnel and the trees that surround us.

"Just hurry up and take a picture, Grace. It'll start pouring soon and I just spent hours on my hair to make it look this good." Oh Jessica, what a good friend. I pull out my phone with a sarcastic smile. I'll remember this next time you come to me for help. I shove past them and before I know it, I've made my way into the tunnel. I'm not even sure about the history on this tunnel, just the fact that everybody comes here when they are bored and want to get spooked for fun.

This tunnel has been here for generations. They say it might have been used to transport alcohol across town. Not very exciting information. I shine my light down the tunnel but not even my flashlight can give me safety and comfort that nothing is here because this tunnel can go for miles. There are no other sounds except for my heavy breathing and the water dripping from the ceiling and hitting the puddles on the ground.

I stood still and raised my phone to take a picture. As my thumb hovered over the button, I felt a chill run down my spine. I turned around to shine my light and just as I raised my flashlight, the light flickered rapidly before I was surrounded by complete darkness.

"Oh no." I hit the flashlight with my hand, trying to get it to turn on again. "No, no, no. Shit!" I slowly walk toward the tunnel's exit, trying to feel for the wall. The wall feels sticky and I don't even want to begin to think about what it could possibly be. I stop in my tracks when I hear the sound of gravel under a shoe. A shoe that's not mine.

I wait with baited breath to hear anything else behind me. I roll my right shoulder up to my ear, another shiver running down my spine. Something is standing behind me, I can feel it. I hear a sigh of breath right next to my ear and suddenly I'm paralyzed.

"What a lovely treat," A deep voice murmurs against my ear. A pair of hands creep around my back and waist and I try to move away but I'm stuck. The grip is tight and I can feel a cold nose right behind my ear, buried in my hair.

"Please," I whisper, tears building in my eyes. I hear a grunt in my ear as the grip tightens. "Please let me go."

"And why would I do that?" The voice sounds almost as if they are smirking. A hand leaves my waist to pull at my hair, as if to pet it. I shut my eyes tight, still encased in darkness. "Didn't expect to have company, now did we?" The voice whispers in my ear.

I flinch at the harsh chuckle. "This should be interesting."

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Author's Note:
I'd like to take this time to thank my friend NikolinaDrum for the book cover! I met her on Wattpad years ago and we've been friends ever since.
Go give her books a read! She is a wonderful writer and big things are coming her way. ❤️

Not going to lie, I was scared to publish the first chapter lol.