DEAD BY DAYLIGHT

i

chapter one
//doubt//

"This is a dumb idea," I mutter as I step over a log, walking farther into the forest. We're in the one forest in the whole world that's closed off, two exits letting people in and out. Not just regular people, dumb people. It's supposed to be some kind of attraction, but most people stay clear of it.

"You're a dumb idea," Jide retorts causing me to make a face at him. Simon raises his eyebrows at me, almost trying to tell me not to argue with him.

"That doesn't even make sense. You're all fucking dumbasses," I groan as I tighten my grip on my backpacks strap. I'm following behind Josh, who really doesn't seem to know where he's going.

"It's for a video, nobody asked you to come," Josh states causing me to make a face at him as well.

"You asked me to come," I mutter as he abruptly stops, nearly causing me to walk into him. I roll my eyes noticing he's looking at the map confused.

"Have we been walking in circles for the past ten minutes, or is that just me?" Vik asks. I sigh before sitting down on a log and resting my chin in my hands.

"This map doesn't make any sense," Josh mutters, and Ethan flails his arms in the air at that sentence.

"Let me see," Vik states before taking the map in his hands. His expression immediately turns confused as he looks at it. "Every direction is the same." I narrow my eyes at him before getting up to look at the map. Simon looks at it as well, both of us confused as soon as we see it.

"People say this forest is haunted," JJ speaks up causing me to groan. This is just wonderful.

"I'm tired. What time is it?" I question before sitting back on the log. Josh pulls out his phone causing me to do the same thing. The time reads 6:38 making me become even more confused. "That's not fucking possible, we came in here at noon, and it hasn't even been an hour. If this video is actually a prank, well done. You've definitely weirded me out. I'm leaving now."

I start walking away, but Simon grabs my arm. "You really want to split up?" he asks as I glare at him. As much as I don't want to admit it, he is right if this isn't one of their stupid pranks.

"Look, you guys know I hate scary shit, so if this is a prank, bravo. Can we go home now?" I insist, suddenly feeling really cold. I rub my arms as I look at Vik trying to figure out the map.

"It's not a prank, Amber," Josh clarifies, but that only makes me feel worse. The map is a lost cause, and the huge time skip doesn't make sense, even if this place is haunted.

"So we're just screwed?" JJ asks as I make eye contact with Simon. Even he looks weary of everything, and usually he doesn't give a damn.

Out of nowhere, JJ screams and ducks down, putting his arms, up in what looks like self defence.

"Are you on fucking drugs JJ?" Ethan asks as everyone stares at JJ. I quickly glance around to see if JJ could've seen anything, but there's nothing there.

"I just saw Michael!" JJ shouts before pointing into the trees. "He was just fucking there!"

"Who the hell is Michael?" Simon asks while running a hand through his hair.

"Michael fucking Myers, Simon," JJ says like it's obvious. Vik scoffs, and everyone else looks at JJ like he's insane.

"Haha very funny JJ," I mumble before crossing my arms across my chest. I hear a crow out of nowhere, scaring me slightly.

"It's not a joke, Amber. He was just standing there, watching us!" JJ insists, and I shake my head in disbelief. These boys are gonna have to try harder to scare me.

"Amber? Can I talk to you?" Simon asks. I sigh before nodding my head. He grabs my hand and drags me a little ways from the others. "I saw him too," he says, clearly trying to make me believe the whole thing.

"Simon, I'm not falling for this pathetic prank. Okay?" I argue and go to walk back to the others, but he quickly grabs my arm, making me glare at him.

"This isn't a prank Amber. I didn't see fucking Michael Myers, but I saw somebody standing there, okay? And the time? How would we even fuck with your phone? It doesn't leave your hand. I don't know what's going on, but it's not a prank," Simon explains, and I look at him. He seems to be telling the truth, but a part of me still doesn't believe him. None of this seems possible, so it has to be a prank.

"Can we just go back to the others?" I ask, my voice quieter than normal. If this ends up being a prank, I'll be so angry. Simon nods in response, so we walk towards the others.

When we get to the spot we were previously in, the others aren't there. "What the fuck?" Simon mumbles, and I look around confused.

"We were literally like ten feet away!" I announce while pointing towards where we were stood. "We couldn't have lost them. This has to be a prank, Simon. It's not funny anymore, okay."

I turn away from Simon and start walking away. "Hey!" Simon shouts before grabbing my arm yet again. "Look, I get that you're confused, but you can't just walk away from me. Who knows what's out there."

"I know what's out there, Simon. It's JJ, Ethan, Josh, and Vik waiting to scare me," I say, cockily, wishing they'd just drop the act. "You're probably wearing a camera right now."

Instead of answering me, Simon kisses me. I stare at him after he pulls away, waiting for him to explain.

"I wouldn't do that in front of the others, let alone a camera," he explains, and I realise he's right. "This is real, Amber."

"That doesn't mean you had to kiss me!" I mutter, pushing him away from me lightly since he was still really close from the kiss.

"What is your problem? Why are you so angry?" he questions causing me to sigh before sitting down on a rock.

"I'm not angry. I just- I don't know," I stutter, frustrated. "I'm scared, okay? You know I'm not good at showing my emotions."

"Yeah, I'm aware," he scoffs, turning away from me. I shut my eyes in annoyance, not wanting to think of our history right now.

We tried the whole dating thing, without telling anybody, and it didn't really end up working out. We started arguing a lot more and decided we were better off friends, but the sexual tension never went away after the first time we hooked up. It only started getting weaker after we broke up.

"Can we not argue?" I ask, my voice weak. I hate arguing, especially with Simon.

"Why? It seems to be the only thing you're good at," Simon snaps. I nod my head bitterly, standing up and shrugging my shoulders.

"Simon, please. You know that I care about you," I mumble. It wasn't his idea to break up, and he didn't take it the best way. He's not in love with me or anything, but he did enjoy the relationship. Not that I didn't, I just didn't want it destroying the friendship in the end.

"We're in the middle of some fucked up forest, and all you're doing is blaming me. Everything is always my fault," he rants, and my face softens as I notice the amount of hurt on his face. I know how much he overworks himself, and I know how hard he pushes himself. He's had multiple breakdowns in front of me.

"Okay," I whisper, loud enough for him to hear me. He's still facing away from me, so I wrap my arms around his torso from behind, hugging him without giving him a choice. "I believe you, Simon. I'm sorry."

"Can I turn around or do you just like hugging my butt?" he asks causing me to roll my eyes and pull away. I slap his shoulder playfully.