‘Where are you now? Kale’s already here.’ I heard Suzi in the other line.
“I’m on my way. Bye,” I replied then hung up. I grabbed my purse and keys then went downstairs.
“Mom, I’ll just be in Thea’s place!,” I shouted as I tie my shoelaces.
“Just be careful, okay?” she said and pointed something beside me using her lips and I saw a calendar.
Friday the 13th. I shrugged. Whatever, I don’t believe in it anyway.
When I’m done tying my shoelaces, I got up and bid goodbye to my mom. I went to my car and drove my way to Suzi’s place.
After 30 minutes, I arrived at her place and saw them waiting in the porch. I opened the doors and motioned for them to come in. Both on the back seat.
“Have you already called Thea that we’ll be coming over?” I asked them, eyes still on the road.
“Yes, she’s getting ready,” Kale replied. I just nodded.
After another 30-minute drive, we arrived at Thea’s place. I parked the car in front and the three of us went down. Thea’s mom opened for us as we knocked on their front door.
I kissed Thea’s mom’s left cheek. “Good Morning, Tita.” My other two friends followed. She then motioned for us to come in then called Thea. Her daughter then went down. Thea’s mom went to the kitchen.
“What’s the plan?” She asked and sat on the couch facing us.
I wriggle my eyebrows. “You know.”
“It’s Friday the 13th, we just can’t go outside and play that game,” Thea said almost a whisper. We don’t want our parents to know what we’re doing. We’ve been playing this game for four years already.
“We just have to be more careful though,” Kale said.
Thea nodded and we stood up. We bid goodbye to Thea’s mom.
“Be careful, ladies!” Thea’s mom shouted from the kitchen. We replied with a, “yes, Tita!”
While on our way to my car, we talked about who will come first.
“Who was last the previous time we play?” I asked.
“It’s Suzi,” Kale replied.
“Ok, you’ll be first to do the dare, Suzi,” Thea said.
We already reached my car. I hopped in the driver’s seat and the rest followed.
“Fine. What will be the consequence?” Suzi asked as she sat in the back seat.
I started the engine and got the razor from my compartment and showed it to them. “You’ll get bald.”
“What? No, not our hair.” Kale disagreed and the three of them touched their hairs.
“It’s your choice anyway,” I said and stopped the engine as we arrived near a convenience store where the first dare would be done.
“Ok, what will be the order?” Thea asked.
“You’ll dare Suzi,” I said and looked at Suzi. “Then you’ll challenge Kale.” I then looked at Kale. “Then you’ll dare me and I’ll dare you.” I finished looking Thea.
Thea looked at Suzi with a smirk. “I, Double-Dog dare you to —” She then looked at the convenience store outside. “Steal at least 3 stuffs without getting caught.”
“What? I’m not a thief,” Suzi said but I showed her the razor. “Dare or get bald? You choose.”
“Fine!” she grunted and went out of the car. The three of us followed afterwards. Suzi, wearing a jacket, went inside the store as if without anything suspicious to do.
Thea readied her phone and recorded the scene. We laughed and watched how Suzi slowly put some stuffs inside her jacket. After 25 minutes, Suzi went out of the store walking innocently.
When she reached our place, we quickly went inside the car and watched the video while Suzi sighed heavily and pull out the stuffs she stole. She got four crackers and a wine! I then started the engine and off to a club. It’s night already.
“That was hilarious!” Suzi laughed and turned to Kale. “I, Double-Dog dare you to —” She watched outside as I stopped the engine in front of the club. “Sing inside and act as if you’re having a heart attack.”
Kale nodded. She grabbed the wine and drank a few. “For confidence.”
All of us then went out of the car and went inside the club. Thea again readied her phone and started to record. Kale was now in front, holding the mic.
“Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen, I’m Kale Echavez and I’ll sing you a song tonight.” Kale introduced herself. We cheered along with the crowd and Kale started singing. After a few lines, Kale then acted as if she has a heart attack. The crowd panicked then some went near to Kale checking if she’s okay.
We laughed at the back and quickly went out then hopped inside the car. A few minutes after, Kale went inside the car laughing nervously. “That was epic!” Then stretched her arms and looked at me. “My turn. I, Double-Dog dare you to jump off the ‘Cursed Bridge’.”
I then started the engine and went to the ‘Cursed Bridge’. It’s named as ‘Cursed Bridge’ because many people had died on that bridge, some were accidents and some were suicides.
I grabbed the wine Suzi’s holding and went out. We went near the bridge. Only four of us were here.
“Are you sure you’ll do that?” Thea asked, looking worried.
“I’ll know how to swim, don’t worry,” I said then went on top of the railings getting ready to jump.
Thea readied her phone and they started counting. “In 1, 2, 3!” Then I jumped!
Oh my, God! It’s quite deep and the water current’s fast! I kicked my feet and swam towards the shallow part. I heard my friends’ voices shouting my name. I tried so hard to swim and fortunately, I reached the riverbank. I survived!
“Ysa! Where are you?!” I heard Kale’s voice. I got out of the water and shouted, “I’m here!” They quickly went to where I am.
“You made us nervous!” They instantly hugged me. “I’m alright. Don’t worry,” I assured them and walked towards the car. We hopped in and drove our way to the park.
“And the last,” I said, facing Thea. “I, Double-Dog dare you to walk around the village, naked.”
Thea faced me with horror. “What? No!” I showed her the razor. She loves her hair so much so she took off all her clothes and went out, covering her private parts with her hands.
Suzi readied Thea’s phone and started recording. “Run, Thea, run!” We shouted as we follow her, still on the car.
Thea ran as fast as she could. Her eyes were so focused that she didn’t notice the truck coming on her left side.
“Thea!” we shouted and abruptly stopped the car I’ve been driving. But everything was too late. Everything happened like a blur.
“No. No,” I said as we got out of the car. We hurriedly went to Thea’s place and saw blood everywhere. The truck just ran away like nothing happened. Curse him!
Suzi went back to the car to find a blanket to cover Thea’s naked body. Kale then called for a rescue. I touched Thea’s hands.
“Thea, no, please, you’ll be fine. The rescue is on their way.” I cried. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault!”
“I shouldn’t make that game,” I whispered
The rescue came in an instant. They put Thea inside and we followed using our car. We reached the hospital in no time. Nurses helped Thea on her way to the emergency room.
Still crying, we followed their way, stopped just outside the emergency room. We waited like our lives depended on it. It was the most terrifying hours we had! We went near the emergency room’s door and we just heard the most heartbreaking words ever since.
Time of death, 08:13 pm. Then followed by a one, long continuous tone.
“No!” I got up from bed. Sweating. Heart beating so fast. My phone’s ringtone woke me up.
With shaking hands, I picked up my phone. “Hello?”
“Where are you now? Kale’s already here.” I heard Suzi on the other line.
I suddenly remembered my dream. A nightmare.
I brought my phone away from my ear and looked at it. ‘Impossible,’ I muttered. What she said was exactly what she said in my dream. It really felt so real! Like it really did happen!
“Hey, Ysa? You still there?”
I brought back my phone near my ear, but before answering, I looked at the calendar beside me, Friday the 13th. I don’t believe about this before not after what I had dreamed. Friday the 13th is not just a simple superstitious belief.
Suddenly, a flash of Thea’s bloody face, hopeless and lifeless, crossed my mind. I couldn’t dare lose my best friends. I couldn’t dare put their lives on the verge of death.
“Maybe some other day.” I faked a cough. “I’m sick.” Then hung up.
I saw a message coming from Thea. ‘Are you guys coming over?’
I replied with the same words I’ve said to Suzi.
I lay down back to bed. Might as well respect the day. Prevention is better than cure as we say.
‘We should not be playing that game again,’ I whispered and closed my eyes.
COMFORT ZONE 