“I bet you can’t go a day without seeing anyone you know,” he had said with an evil smirk. It was a stupid bet, but I had just been bragging about how I have so many people there for me. He didn’t. It was my old high school friend. The one who had always gotten into trouble for everything. I used to get into trouble with him. Until I had met Mary, the woman who soon became my wife.
“You’re on!” I had said, completely ignoring the evil glint in his eye. “I’ll go to the other side of the state for a day, maybe even two!” I had willingly agreed to this bet because I knew what this guy was capable. If I didn’t accept bad things would happen.
“I’ll have people watching you,” he said darkly. I knew this was true, which was why I was going to a place in the woods by myself.
“Just let me say goodbye to my wife and kids,” I asked of him. Slowly he nodded and I sighed in relief. At least I could say bye. Quickly I drove home, wanting to get this bet to end as soon as possible. I opened the door, kissed my wife and told her, “I’m going out to that cottage my grandparents used to own. There’s no cell reception so don’t bother calling, and don’t follow me. I’ll be back in a few days.” She opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. “There’s nothing you can say to stop me. This is something I have to do.” I ran out the door and drove away.
TWO DAYS LATER
I drove home as fast as I could, excited to finally see my wife and kids again. I raced home and charged through the front door, yelling “I’m home” at the top of my lungs. As I ran into the living room, I stopped.
What happened? I thought, looking at the pile of bodies in front of me. It started off as a bet, a simple challenge. What did he do? I fell to my knees looking at the body at eye level. Tears began to come. In front of me were my wife and my three beautiful daughters. All dead. All because of a stupid bet I made. Looking at all the bodies I realized that every single one of them was one of my friends. How he had gotten all of them in two days I would never know. All I knew was that everybody I ever cared about was lying in front of me.
“See what happens when you brag?” an ominous voice said from the kitchen.
“Who’s there?” I asked my voice shaking.
“I should let you live with this. Knowing that it’s your entire fault. That everyone’s dead because of you. But I find too much joy in killing you.” With that he stepped out of the doorway, allowing me to see his face once before he pulled the trigger.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
