A Perilous Challenge

→❀ Chapter 7

Flashback:

My gang of friends and I had just got up. Marlene accompanied us. She was currently commandeering all our phones. Louis was the most reticent, to tell the truth, he was rarely seen without his cell phone. He has all his life on it; and even his music that he composes himself. His biggest dream would be to become a singer. And we, as a band, we would be his first fans. We would do all the concerts with him. But for now, he needs to focus on his last year of high school. His parents are very religious, unlike their son. They pray every day for him to have his diploma. Louis does not work, he does not like it, like many of us. However he experiences some faculties in philosophy, which at first surprised his teacher, and even his parents.
As for me, I gave my phone without worrying more than that, just like Amy and Niall.

"Come!" Smiled Marlene.

She beckoned us to follow her as she pulled out her flashlight. Zayn absolutely wanted to accompany Amy. I watched Liam lower his head and stuff his hands into the wide pocket of his sweater.
We walked for a few minutes before Marlene stopped. She turned towards us; illuminating us with his lamp.

"Well, we agree we meet here tomorrow night at the same time!" She was looking at her watch. "That is to say at midnight."

We agreed. I could not wait until the next day at the same time. She offered us a slight smile before beckoning us to go.
Zayn rushed to his girlfriend, before lifting and twirling several times in the air.
I looked away, as embarrassed. And I was obviously not alone, Louis and Niall were laughing in the darkness. Liam did not move. His gaze fixed on the ground, his hands stuffed in his pockets. My heart was tight.

"I love you." Whispered Zayn, as she laughed.

His words sounded extremely wrong. I pinched my lips not to laugh too. Marlene turned her attention back to us before nodding.
It was then that the first to seep into the forest was Niall. He was screaming like a child, and he was hopping in all directions. He seemed to be happy to take up this challenge.

"Calm!" Louis whispered. "You're not a Ninja yet!!!"

His remark made me burst out laughing. Niall did not answer.

"Who tell you that I want to be one?" He replied curtly, after a few minutes of silence.

I diverted attention and stared at the figure of my friend, Amy. She was walking right in front of me, and behind us walked the boys. I sighed.

End of flashback:

I felt shaken. At first, I thought it was only in my dream, then I heard my name. I ended up opening my eyes. Amy's face was just above me. I blinked several times as she moved slowly.

"You are awake." She observed with a smile.

I sat up slowly, taking hold of my elbows. The floor was really very dusty. And it looked like the wooden floor that is found in horror movies.

"Obviously not enough!" Said Louis squatting next to me.

Normally, I would have thrown my pillow in my face, except that I was not at home. And was waiting... where was my bed? Suddenly, I opened my eyes wide.

"It's okay?" Amy asked.

She was worried about my change of attitude in a few seconds. I got up quickly, my hair tousled.

"Margot?"

"Where I am?" I stammered quickly.

"Calm." She said. "You are in the shack!"

"The shack?" I repeated, looking dazed.

What shack? Tell me it's a bad joke?

"You know the challenge." Said Louis gently.

"Oh, the stupid challenge we all accepted?" I asked.

That's it, I remembered it. Everything came back to me. I stared at Amy then Louis. Where did Niall and Liam go?
Amy seemed to read in my thoughts as she added:

"They are outside."

I nodded slowly before passing my hands over my face. I was blowing at the same time. We still had to spend the day here, cloistered between these four walls. I did not really intend to walk in the forest.