Free Six Days: Book One in the SIX Series by Randileigh Kennedy

continued.
                “Arrested? What is this?” I said, trying to hide the
shock and confusion in my voice.
                “Oh, I don’t mean we’re going to do anything to get you
in trouble. I’m just suggesting you need a little adventure in your life,
that’s all. So for one week I dare you to say yes to me. Whatever
I ask of you. Just seven days,” Griffin said, not taking his eyes off me
as he spoke. “Seven days.”
                “So what, you’re going to make me bungee jump or
something? NO bungee jumping, I won’t do it,” I said, vehemently shaking my
head.
                “Deal. No bungee jumping, I
promise. But you have to trust me. Just say yes, and I promise you a good time.
You’ll get to live a little,” Griffin paused and everyone fell silent. “It’s in
the box,” Griffin added, twirling the note card around in his hand and dropping
it into the wooden box, closing the lid. “Seven days,” he mused.
                “Seven days,” I repeated, suddenly feeling queasy. He did
promise no bungee jumping which was a relief. Surely there weren’t things worse
than bungee jumping? I barely knew this guy, what would he want to do for a
week? Besides, I have had a little adventure in my life. Maybe not the good
kind, but that still counted, right?
                “So, another year of dares,” Mallory said, raising her
plastic cup of wine. Everyone lifted their drinks. In silence, they all sipped
on what they had in their hands. I stared at the campfire, thinking I might
throw up.

 

Chapter 6

 
                I woke up in a haze, feeling chilly but yet somehow
sweating from the early sun beaming into the tent. What time was it? I
looked over at Mallory, snoring away, all wrapped up tight in her sleeping bag. How much did I drink last night? My head ached, and although I debated
laying back down, I thought the best thing for me would be some fresh air.  
                I unzipped the tent and peered out into the morning,
taking in the beautiful view of the lake. I never considered myself much of a
nature person, but I could get used to this. The sun was coming up over the
mountain and the air was still and crisp. As I prepared to climb out of the
tent, I noticed a bunch of sticks laid out on the ground. They were laid out
like arrows. What? The first thought through my head was gratitude that
it had been quite some time since I saw Blair Witch Project.
                I threw on some shoes and a turquoise hoodie and made my
way outside the tent. I followed the stick arrows, nine sets of them to be
exact, to a large tree with a note taped to it.
                Day 1: Hunt and gather for a fine dining experience.
                What?Who is this for? I thought back to last
night, to Griffin’s dare, realizing this must be for me. Okay, hunting is not my kind of adventure. I’m not against eating animals obviously, but I do
draw the line at killing them myself. I’m just not that person. I have seven
days of these adventures? I suddenly thought back to the conversation Steve was
having in the car earlier on the way up to the campsite, something about
hunting and eating what he caught. That hadn’t happened though, not yet anyway,
which I was relieved about. Did this have anything to do with that
conversation? Why were men so barbaric? Annoyed, I turned to head back to the
campsite.
                “You’re up early,” Griffin’s smooth voice said, startling
me. “I see you found my note.” He sipped from the coffee mug he held in his
right hand. I hated how good he looked this early in the morning. It didn’t
seem right. His thick dark hair somehow looked even better slept on than it did
after he purposely did anything with it. How was that even possible?
                “Yeah, I did. That was a clever little trail, other than
the first twenty seconds where