Hi friends! 

Long time no chat.

I've been super busy working on edits for Surviving Adam Meade, so when I sat down to write this post I knew exactly who to write about – Adam and Claire.

There was a bit of back and forth on what you might or might not want to read. Eventually, I had an idea and wanted to run with it. Enjoy!

***

"Um, why are we here?"

I trailed the old dirt road, glancing at Adam as we walked. There was mischief in his green eyes, and I knew him well enough to know better.

"Because if this is going to get either of us in trouble, tell me now," I continued. "I can't bail you out of jail without good reason."

"It's me," he answered. "That's reason enough."

"Um, no."

He grinned and shook his head. "You're telling me you'd let me spend a night in jail?" he said, wrapping his hand around the door handle of the old abandoned saw mill.

"I'd let you spend a week there, if I felt like it would do you some good."

"That's messed up!"

I smiled and crossed the threshold in front of him. It was the truth and he knew me well enough to realize it. Good. At least we were clear on where I stood.

Dust filled the air of the mill, and I coughed as Adam navigated the room. He pulled a pair of flashlights from the wall at the front, and flipped one on. When he turned, the flashlight beam illuminated the plains of his face making them even sharper than they already were.

"How about a round of hide-and-go-seek for old time's sake?" he asked.

"With the amount of critters in here? Negative."

"Okay," he answered. "Then what if I told you Riley and Tate are already out here, and I bet Tate a hundred bucks I could find him in less than five minutes?"

"Then I'd say you should've spent that money on food." I took the flashlight from him, earning a smile. "Do you know how many bags of Sour Patch Kids you could've bought?"

"Don't remind me."

Our footsteps echoed around the room, while the flashlight beams lit up cobwebs that lurked on the ceiling. My lungs clenched with each new spider; choking me with fear. This was nothing compared to the spider den at the back of the mill, but it was terrifying enough to make me want to help Adam in his search. The sooner we found Tate, the sooner we could get out of here.

Adam crossed into the hall, way more silent than me and my flip-flops. Most of the heavy steel doors were tugged shut, but one jutted out just enough to be odd. Adam paused, nodding at the door with a smile.

"A hundred bucks, here I – ah!"

He punched whatever was inside and slammed the door shut, grabbing my hand as he took off down the hall. He was so fast, he'd give Flash a run for his money. I was struggling to keep up.

"What was it?" I asked.

He continued to run, navigating the mill with the skill of someone who played way too many games of blackout hide-and-go-seek. Once we reached the main room, Adam moved for the door and tried to tug it open.

Behind me, was another set of footsteps. I darted the flashlight across the room, catching a silhouette on the wall. It looked like a person, but then again it didn't. Either way, it was creepy enough to scare the crap out of me.

"What is that?!" I said, stepping closer to Adam as I kept my sight on the creature.

Adam was silent as he stopped pulling on the door and moved instead to the handle. I took another step back as the figure crossed into the flashlight's beam of light. What the crap is that?!

"Adam," I whispered, pushing my back flush against him. "Adam."

"I'm trying to get this stupid lock off the door!" he answered. "This wasn't here before!"

There was fear in his voice; blatant terror that poured from his words. This wasn't okay. None of this was okay.

"I need a key!" he said, pulling on the padlock. "Where's the key?!"

The clown reached the room where we stood, a sickening grin on its face. I squatted beside Adam, wedging myself between him and the door.

"There's a clown," I whispered, gripping my flashlight harder.

Adam turned and screamed as he scrambled backward, blocking me in against the wall.

"Come any closer and I'll hurt you," he warned, though his voice didn't carry the intimidation. "I mean it. I'll punch you in the face."

"You already did!" a muffled voice answered.

The creature ripped the clown mask off its head. Tate stared at us in its place. That jerkface! I was about to sacrifice Adam to a monster, and it was him the whole time!

"It was actually hilarious," Riley added, stepping out of the dark. "Got the whole thing on video. Thank you, Snapchat."

Tate shook his head. "Way to be supportive, Riles. Appreciate it."

"Anytime."

She nudged him in the side as she approached us, handing me her phone where the video played on loop.

One second the room she was in was dark. The next second, Adam stood in the glow of a flashlight screaming his head off and decking Tate. Tate fell to the floor and Adam sprinted off, leaving Riley laughing in the background.

"I'd give the footage a ninety-five on Rotten Tomatoes, and a total viral capability of ninety-eight point seven," I said, giving her back her phone.

Between Adam and Tate's respective football teams, there was no doubt the clip would get around. Oh, what an interesting day that would be.

"So, does this mean I get the hundred bucks?" Adam asked behind us. "Because I found you in less than five minutes."

"But you didn't escort me back to base," Tate answered. "Rules are rules."

"Those weren't the rules!"

"Fight me."

Shoes scuffled and the boys disappeared into the dark, sending objects clanking against the concrete floor as they laughed and swore at each other.

"Some things never change," Riley said, grinning.

"No, they sure don't."

She pulled a small key from her pocket and unhooked the lock on the door. The night air was a welcomed change, and I took a deep breath as we stepped outside.

"So," she said, leading the way. "Ryan Reynolds movie while we wait?"

"I'm in."

***

Yay!!! Thank you so much for checking out my post. Hope you enjoyed this unseen footage!

To read more of Adam and Claire, or Riley and Tate, you can check out Surviving Adam Meade or Finding Claire Collins.

- Shannon

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