Chapter: Truth & Dare — Night of Chaos (Part 2)
The desert night was colder than anyone expected.
The big fire in the center of the camp crackled loudly as sparks flew into the dark sky. The Sahara looked endless around them — just dunes and stars.
Everyone sat in a large circle.
Some wrapped in blankets.
Some holding cups of hot tea.
Some still half-awake.
But one thing was certain.
Tonight was not going to be peaceful.
Lyra spun the bottle again.
It spun fast.
Everyone leaned forward.
It slowed.
Slower…
…and stopped.
Right at Keifer.
The entire group immediately started shouting.
"OOOOOOOOO!"
"Finally!"
"Trouble time!"
Lyra smirked.
"Truth or Dare?"
Keifer leaned back casually.
"Dare."
JJ narrowed her eyes instantly.
"That was a dangerous decision."
Lyra looked at Alex with a wicked grin.
"Oh I have a good one."
Everyone leaned closer.
Lyra spoke slowly.
"Confess your feelings to the person you like…"
The group leaned even more.
"…and kiss them."
The silence lasted two seconds.
Then the camp exploded.
"NO WAY!"
"LYRA!"
"SAVAGE!"
"THIS IS ILLEGAL!"
Freya clapped loudly.
"BEST DARE OF THE NIGHT!"
Keifer just laughed.
But JJ froze.
Cin whispered dramatically.
"Oh my god…"
Keifer slowly stood up.
Everyone went quiet.
He walked directly across the circle.
Toward JJ.
Aries immediately sat up straighter.
Percy's eyes narrowed.
Care whispered to Ash,
"This is going to end in blood."
Ash whispered back,
"Probably."
Keifer stopped in front of JJ.
JJ crossed her arms.
"You better know what you're doing."
Keifer smirked.
"I do."
He crouched slightly so they were eye level.
For once, his voice wasn't joking.
"I like you, JJ."
The fire crackled.
Nobody spoke.
JJ blinked slowly.
Keifer continued.
"You're terrifying."
Some people laughed quietly.
"But you're also the bravest person I know."
JJ looked away slightly.
"And honestly…"
He shrugged.
"I think I've liked you for a long time."
Silence.
JJ stared at him.
Then muttered,
"You idiot."
And suddenly—
She grabbed his collar.
And kissed him.
The group screamed.
"OH MY GOD!"
"WHAT!"
"JJ!"
"KEIFER!"
Freya fell backwards laughing.
Cin stood up dramatically.
"I HAVE WITNESSED HISTORY."
Care covered her mouth.
Lyra was shaking Alex's arm violently.
"I TOLD YOU!"
The kiss broke after a moment.
JJ pushed Keifer back.
"That was your dare."
Keifer grinned.
"Worth it."
And that's when—
Aries stood up.
The entire group went silent again.
Percy stood up beside him.
Alex whispered,
"Oh no."
Aries walked slowly toward Keifer.
Not smiling.
Not joking.
Keifer looked slightly nervous now.
Aries stopped right in front of him.
His voice calm.
"You hurt her."
He pointed at JJ.
"We bury you in this desert."
Percy added quietly,
"And no one will find the body."
Dead silence.
Keifer blinked.
Then nodded seriously.
"Understood."
JJ smacked Aries on the back of the head.
"Stop threatening my boyfriend!"
Aries blinked.
"You just kissed him five seconds ago!"
Percy looked horrified.
"IT'S OFFICIAL ALREADY?"
The whole group burst into laughter again.
---
Lyra grabbed the bottle again.
"Next victim!"
Spin.
Spin.
Spin.
It stopped.
Right on Cole.
The group immediately looked excited.
Care groaned.
"Oh no."
Lyra grinned like a villain.
"Cole."
He leaned back.
"Truth."
Alex shook his head.
"Coward."
Cole sighed.
"Fine. Dare."
Everyone clapped.
Lyra spoke immediately.
"I've been waiting for this."
Care looked suspicious.
Lyra grinned.
"Cole."
She pointed toward Care.
"Carry Care bridal style…"
Everyone leaned forward.
"...and walk around the fire while complimenting her."
The group exploded.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
Care stood up instantly.
"NO."
Cole looked equally horrified.
"Absolutely not."
Ash raised a hand.
"Dare rules."
JJ shouted,
"Dare rules!"
Freya started chanting.
"Dare rules! Dare rules!"
Soon the entire group was chanting.
Even the quiet HU group was laughing.
Cole rubbed his face.
"This is the worst night of my life."
Care crossed her arms.
"I refuse."
Cole shrugged.
"Then I fail."
Everyone booed loudly.
Alex shouted,
"COWARDS!"
Care glared.
"Fine."
Everyone froze.
Care pointed at Cole.
"Do it quickly."
Cole walked over slowly.
"This is humiliating."
Care rolled her eyes.
"Just do it."
Cole lifted her easily.
The entire group lost control.
"OOOOOOOOOO!"
Lyra almost fell laughing.
Cole began walking around the fire.
Deadpan voice.
"Care is intelligent."
Care muttered,
"You sound like a robot."
Cole continued.
"Care is stubborn."
Alex shouted,
"TRUE."
Cole kept walking.
"Care has very annoying opinions about preservatives."
The group laughed again.
Cole finished.
"And Care is…"
He paused.
Looked at her.
"...actually impressive."
Care blinked.
Unexpected.
Cole immediately set her down.
"Dare completed."
Everyone clapped and screamed.
Care sat down quickly.
Trying not to look embarrassed.
Lyra whispered loudly,
"Enemies to lovers."
Care threw a stick at her.
---
The bottle spun again.
More chaos coming.
Truths.
Dares.
Secrets.
Laughter.
But something else too.
Across the dunes in the darkness…
Far beyond the firelight…
Someone was watching the camp.
And the night in the Sahara was far from over.