The original title of this was suppose to be "Dare of My Life Brought Me Closer to My Love But Even Closer to My Death" but I realized that it was unreasonably long. Also, I'd like to point out that this is in the point of view of Will Bowens, a sixteen year old boy.
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“Just do it, bro,” said Jay Chavez. “It’s only going to take only about an hour.”
“An hour?” I asked petrified. “In that death hole?”
“Come on Bowens, don’t be such a baby.” My friend Lewis Parks said.
But I just stood there, shaking my head, my hands glued to my sides, clutching into fists. Me and the guys stood in a deserted street in front of a large mass of trees, the entrance to a forest. The forest in which people are last heard of going into, but never returning. My friends thought it would be a good little dare if one of us went inside there. I was the chicken out of us all. I never used to play dares with them, but just watched as they did idiotic challenges. But today, I just felt like manning up and being a bit brave for once. Seemed like a good idea then. Except now, when I looked back on it, it sounded more like a life or death commitment. Like I was promising that I would do what I could, but if I didn’t return, then I guess I died with courage.
Right.
I didn’t want to be a loser and run away. In school, I did act like the tough guy, but then again, I never got into a real fight. So I never really showed people what I could do with my hands. And no one ever dared try finding out. I guessed being the threatening guy that I am, people just watched out when it came to me.
Lewis placed an arm around me. “Yo, Will Bowens, don’t worry. We’re going to be standing right here. If anything happens, just shout and we’ll run after ya.”
“Yep,” Jay nodded, then he shook his head. “No wait, I ain’t running after nobody in that place.”
“Fine,” Lewis said. “Then call the police for us then, ‘cause I’m going in after Will if he’s in trouble.”
“Hell naw, then they gonna ask me questions,” Jay shook his head again. “I’ma dip. It’s nice knowin’ ya’ll.”
“That’s messed up,” I said, shaking myself away from Lewis. “Why don’t we just walk back, go rent a movie from Blockbuster –I got some money on me –and forget everything about this, eh, whatcha think?”
“I think no deal.” Lewis said, crossing his arms. “Dude, you’re such a chicken. It’s not that bad. Just go in, till you’re somewhat in the middle of the woods, then come back. You’re not going to get lost, unless you start turning in random directions.”
I looked down, and started rubbing the toe of my sneakers on the pavement.
“Come on,” Lewis urged. “It’s getting late. If you go now, you’ll be back before sunset.”
I hesitated. “Fine, but better stay right here.”
I turned and marched towards the front of the woods. When I stepped under one of the trees, I couldn’t hear Lewis and Jay’s conversation on some double date at a bowling alley, but of birds chirping and grasshoppers’ tap dancing. I turned around and noticed how small Lewis and Jay’s figures looked from here. I resisted the urge of running back, and turned back towards the forest and strolled inside. There was nothing really freaky about the place. Nothing eerie. The biggest animal I’ve heard or seen there was a rabbit, and it looked remarkably harmless.
After about ten minutes, I was so deep into the forest that it was darker and more damper then it was outside of it. I actually liked this place. Sort of peaceful. Good place to think, for someone who has a lot on the mind. I didn’t though. I liked to think of myself as the type of guy who just went with the flow. I didn’t see why people had to worry or cry about things that could be taken cared for if they were just calm.
