The Longest Night Ever Lived

By Mitch Goth

Nate Bray and Cady Steward were an average eighteen year old couple. They juggled their time between enjoying each others company and enjoying the company of their friends Mike, Cera, and Taylor. But one disrupted summer solstice party and militant ambush later, everything changed. Now, with Cady and Cera taken hostage by these mysterious terrorists, Nate and the remaining group must work against time as well as their own shortcomings to ensure they save their friends and survive the night. And maybe they'll have a decent epiphany along the way...maybe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitch Goth
• Release date: Jan 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311442536

Mitch Goth

Mitch Goth currently resides in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he attends Antioch College working towards his BA in Literature. When not writing, he spends his time investigating the paranormal and indulging in a good book or movie.

Book preview

The Longest Night Ever Lived

An Adventure Comedy Novella

By:

Mitch Goth

The Longest Night Ever Lived

Copyright 2013 Mitch Goth

Smashwords Edition

No portion of this book may be reproduced or reprinted in any medium, or by electronic, mechanical or any other means without the express written consent of the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real world events, people, products or places are used in a fictitious manner. Other characters, events, or places are products of imagination and any resemblance to actual people, places or happenings is purely coincidental.

Dedication:

This book is dedicated to the Best Buy employee who sold me the computer I wrote this on. I owe you one, bro.

1

In our younger and more dim-witted years we all did our fair share of stupid things, some of those things brought us great and everlasting tales that we could pass down through our own generations, for better or worse, and some others simply brought us nights spent in jail. This is a story of (miraculously) the former.

Now I wish I could tell you I was a part of this story myself, but I’m afraid I am merely a narrator to this particular piece of prose, and for the reader’s enjoyment as well as a preservation of my personal dignity I will refrain from calling it prose from here on out. It’s a story.

The summer solstice, the longest day of the entire year has befallen the mid-sized town of Woodburn, Wisconsin (don’t Google it, it’s not there). Now, unless you’re a pagan, the summer solstice isn’t a particularly big event in the year. But, certified non-pagan and average-standing Woodburn young adult citizen Cady Steward threw a party every year anyway, perhaps feeling that the shortest night of the whole year should be burned away in the company of others, or maybe it’s just because her parents always go out of town to celebrate the solstice.

It wasn’t by any means uncommon for the only people to attend this solstice party to be her close group of friends, and this year wasn’t any exception. She never planned for anything different, because those were the only people she invited every year anyway. There was her boyfriend of several years, Nate Bray; the Aldrin twins, Mike and Cera; and the well-to-do Taylor Lankin.

As was often his forte, Mike drew the eyes and ears of the small gathering in Cady’s backyard to him. He’d been accompanied this year by a rather impressive cache of illegal fireworks and despite the sun just barely beginning its setting stage he was already setting off the smaller mortars and firecrackers.

Cera and Taylor looked on from a picnic table as Mike let another mortar away and two bright streams of light appeared in the sky and trailed down into the seemingly endless rows of corn that surrounded Cady’s rural home.

"What the hell are you doing?’ Cady strode out of the house, agitated by the sudden ruckus.

Shooting off fireworks, Mike replied with a smile, lighting another bundle of firecrackers.

Why? It’s not the fourth of July for another few weeks.

Why do you think? To make this an occasion!

As much as Cady hated to admit it, her jock-like friend, with his eighties Keanu Reeves haircut, broad shoulders and a letterman jacket stuffed with premium, Illinois bought firepower was right. This was somewhat of a special occasion. For this summer solstice, would very likely be their last. It was a mere fifteen days earlier that they’d all taken the walk across the stage at their high school graduation. Just a few months from then they’d all be off to different corners of the nation, going on to lead lives independent from each other.

You do realize I have neighbors? Cady asserted despite her inner belief, brushing a strand of black hair out of her face in a huff.

Mike searched around the area, Where? he wondered slyly. I don’t think the corn stalks mind all that much.

They’re a few miles down the road, but I’m sure they can see if not hear those damn fireworks.

Lighten up a little bit, Cady, you’re starting to end up like your boyfriend. Speaking of that guy, where did he go off to?

He’s in the house helping me, unlike you.

Hey, Mike defended, they’re not helping either, he gestured to his sister and Taylor on the nearby table.

Cera, despite the gender difference, was an uncanny match to her brother, her hair was shorter than his and slightly more kept, but there was no doubting their close relation. Her eyes matched her hair and her broadened facial structure showed off a look of dominance, like the face of a wolf that was leader of the pack, or at least wanted to be.

Taylor, from a distance, appeared to be the typical blonde teenager. She was careful to stay up close to the latest clothing and fashion trends and was by no means willing to be easily outshined by her peers in any aspect of her exterior. In addition to this she was the model student, she maintained straight A’s, or so she said, and had been the class president for most of their school tenure.

Well, Cady replied, giving the two of them a look, they’re also not shooting off illegal explosives in my backyard.

They also have no intention of helping you, he added.

She turned to them for assurance.

Yeah, I’m pretty good just sitting over here, Taylor agreed. You should come out and enjoy all this with us, after all, it’s your party.

Yeah, it is my party, Cady mimicked.

And she’ll cry if she wants to, Mike added.

At that, Cady trudged back into the house, black locks falling back in front of her face.

What’s up with her? he wondered.

It’s you, Cera pointed out, it’s always you.

Be nice, he tossed another firecracker.

I find it amazing, Mike. You can throw a firecracker like a champ, but when it comes to a football you develop Parkinson’s.

What did I just say about being nice?

Wait, he can’t throw a football? Taylor wondered. I thought he was a star on the school team.

He is, Cera explained, he can run faster than anyone else, but he’s got a throwing arm like Jell-O.

I’m standing right here, Mike said.

Maybe this conversation will inspire you to improve on your God awful throwing skills, his sister chuckled, as did Taylor.

I hate you guys, he went back to his firecrackers.

Back in the house, Cady sauntered into the kitchen and sat down with a small sigh next to Nate on one of the stools at her tall island countertop. Discontent showed clearly through her ivy-colored eyes.

What’s all that noise? Nate asked.

Mike is lighting off fireworks, she answered, running her fingers stressfully through her hair with one hand and biting the nails on the other.

You need to worry less, you’ll turn into me.

That’s exactly what he said.