A huge, seven-day scavenger hunt, a trio of teenagers sitting in a car for WAY too long, coffee, binging on theatre candy and ice cream pints, smacking smokers across the face, ferris wheels, fortune tellers, manipulative ex best friends, art museums, hotel rooms, muddy campgrounds, probably breaking some laws, and what's likely to be the craziest spontaneous road trip in history.
•••••
Oliver Tretz, 16, is trying to control his life after his older sister moved away one day without any good reason. She was his cornerstone, and he wants more than anything for her to come back and make everything normal again.
Rory Meeking, also 16, is itching to make it through high school and leave everything behind, even his best friend Oliver, but he is struggling with school and his home life since his grandmother died.
Avril Kalici-Peterson, 17, a girl everyone hates but nobody truly knows, is dying to go to a crazy-prestigious art school on the other side of the country, but she is afraid that she isn't going to be good enough-for them or anyone.
Nothing seems to be working in their favors until a man called Souhait, on a live stream found in a mysterious email, tells them that there is a way to make their wildest dreams come true: a weeklong scavenger hunt game called SØMNIUM. They decide to play, and are teamed up to crisscross the Midwest alongside hundreds of other kids who too want to claim The Ultimate Prize: The fulfillment of their greatest desire.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The beliefs or opinions expressed in this work are not necessarily supported by the author.
(Thanks for 375 reads!)
•#2 in scavenger hunt 9/3/19
[Word count - 55,202]
[Chapters complete: 15 of 25]
While her best friend Cassidy snacks on brie and boys in France, Darcy Li-Quinn must face her last year of high school and the unpredictable wrath of her sister, Danica, alone. Darcy's plan for dealing with Danica and her heinous friends is simple-be invisible. But first, she's promised Cassidy she'll do 'one brave thing'.
Mustering the courage to say 'hi' to the cute boy on the bus, Darcy expects rejection or indifference. She doesn't anticipate a grumpy ghost with unfinished business who needs her help.
Suddenly, a quiet year of flying under the radar looks increasingly unlikely.
***
Rationally, Hunter Viera knows that his brother's death wasn't his fault. But that doesn't stop his guilt about Archer invading his every thought or lessen the grief sitting heavy in his chest.
Changing schools offers a fresh start, and Hunter's plan is simple-be invisible. But he hasn't counted on Darcy, or her ludicrous claim that Archer speaks to her from beyond the grave.
Suddenly, a quiet year of sitting on the sidelines looks increasingly unlikely.
***
This is a story about hearts and hope and public transport.
This is Darcy and Hunter's story (and a little bit Archer's too).
***
'Get A Life' is my entry for Open Novella Contest 2023 and is inspired by the following prompts.
20. You finally build enough courage to talk to that cute someone you see every day on the bus. Their face turns dark as they respond "You shouldn't be able to see me."
9. There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a taxi cab that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to go. One night, you stepped into this cab.