A Nacht to Remember

By Eris Kelli

When a sink hole showed up in the small town of Dunkel, Florida it didn’t rate more than a ten second mention on the major news networks. However, for the residents of the small town, it was big news.
Megan Penn didn’t have any interest in seeing the growing pit but she went along with her friends and the rest of the teens attending her best friend Jackie’s party. It was a bad idea, and like most bad ideas this one would have a consequence no one could have prepared for.
One minute she’s with her friends and the next she’s being woken up by paramedics. Police, parents, and everyone she goes to school with wants answers about what happened that night. No one wants answers more than Megan, but she can’t remember.
Weston –a new guy in town—seems to know more than he’s saying about what happened. Megan is sure that Weston knows what happened and intimidating hot guy or not, she’s intends to get answers by whatever means necessary.
After all, the life of her best friend could be hanging in the balance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eris Kelli
• Release date: Dec 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463447673

Eris Kelli

Eris Kelli grew up in the pacific northwest as the youngest of eight children. Her writing is fueled by her love of adventure, learning and her drive to explore an idea. She now resides in Midwest America, with her husband, two beautiful children, (who keep her running,) and two happy puppies.Currently she is fast at work on the fifth book in the Piper LeVine Series and several other projects are in the works as well including her Witch Hunter Series!Make sure to connect with Eris on Facebook! And don't forget to review!

Book preview

Chapter 1

Megan Penn

I’m not sure whose bright idea it was to check out the sudden geographical anomaly of Dunkel, Florida but that was where it started.

The sinkhole showed up out of nowhere just at the edge of Mr. Hardy’s orange grove. Mr. Hardy said he lost at least six trees and twelve feet of his fence. The rest of the hole ate up an entire lane of Citrus Street, and the street was closed off by police. Yellow do not cross tape three rows deep marked off half of Mr. Hardy’s land and the street as well.

I don’t know what it is about forbidden areas that draw teenagers, but it was like kindergarteners to jelly beans. Everybody at Jackie Romano’s party wanted to go as soon as Juno, my best friend Jackie’s crush, said that his brother could get us past the tape to check out the sinkhole.

This has to be the dumbest idea anyone has ever had. I told my other best friend, Shelby Friedman.

Shelby shrugged, while her silky black hair bounced with her movement. Her big brown doe eyes were scanning the faces in the group. At least no one’s been drinking.

Jackie was standing far too close to the edge of the sinkhole for comfort. I knew she was trying to impress the idiot who wanted to see it in the first place. This annoyed me for many reasons, but just to name one, Jackie could do way better than Juno Fleming.

I’m not a big fan of heights either so watching her bend over to peer into a black pit was making me more than just a little bit nervous. Jackie, that’s too close, I said as the wind picked up and blew her long ash blonde curls around her smiling face.

Lighten up, Meg, Juno said with his pencil-thin arm around Jackie’s waist.

Seriously, Jackie. Back up. I ignored Juno.

Shelby gave my shoulder a pull. Careful, Megan. Juno’s got a bad temper.

I was already aware of second time senior Juno’s bad temper. He clashed daily with my twin older brothers, who were seniors too. Another reason why I didn’t like Juno.

He was looking at me from behind Jackie like he wanted to hit me.

Yeah, Jackie, this one is a real winner.

Juno fake stepped forward as if he was going to drop Jackie into the sinkhole making her scream with real fear before pulling her back.

What is wrong with you? I asked racing to Jackie’s side.

He was laughing as I pulled her free of his hold.

Jackie swiped at her watery eyes trying to find a laugh that wasn’t there. Shelby hugged Jackie as she glared at Juno.

When he squared his shoulders and his sandy brown eyes focused on Shelby, I stepped in front of my friends. That wasn’t funny. I raised my voice so that he was forced to look at me instead of Shelby.

Why is everyone laughing then, Megan? You’re such a buzz kill.

The only people laughing are the cowards who don’t want to stand up to you.

Juno’s face grew hard as the laughter died. He stepped closer to me with the unnatural smile he was trying to hold on his brutish face.

That was when my boyfriend, Drayson Pratt, reached us. Whoa, let’s chill out, okay? Dray was facing me and pushing my shoulders to back me away from Juno.

Yeah, get your girl in check, Juno said puffing out his chest.

Come on, Dray said pushing me harder when I tried to resist.

Shelby had a handful of the back of my t-shirt as Dray was trying to make me back up.

Maybe I should have let it go, maybe I should have listened to my friends, but I didn’t.

The image of the huge purple and black bruise Juno gave my brother, David, in football practice surfaced in my mind, adding to the look he was giving Shelby and the terrified scream that came from Jackie that was still making my heart race. "Yeah, better get me out of here before I hurt the caveman’s feelings."

Juno’s head snapped back in my direction so fast he might have given himself whiplash.

Dray didn’t have to look back to know that I’d just ticked off Juno. Stop it, Megan. Dray was a junior like me and not a wimp. However, there were few people who stood up to Juno and his famous temper.

People were leaving like the police had already been called as Juno stomped toward us.

Juno, don’t be like this, Jackie said from behind me, her voice still shaky.

Enough, Megan. Let’s go, Shelby said firm and steady.

Juno wasn’t going to let me walk away after calling him a caveman. Everybody knew that saying anything about Juno’s low IQ was asking for trouble.

It was too late to leave.

Walking away at that point would have meant I would have to be looking over my shoulder knowing he would get me back. I’m not a fan of surprises or anything that I have to wait for. The waiting builds up all the anxiety that I’m just not willing to deal with.

Dray’s shoulders were stiff as he turned to stand beside me. He was scared and considering that Juno once hit a kid in the back with a brick, I couldn’t really blame him.

You have a big mouth, Juno said as he invaded my space and leaned in close enough that his breath stung my eyes.

The ground shifted and the sinkhole grew. The earth groaned, and the sound of rocks hitting the bottom of the hole far below sounded like thunder.

She’s sorry, Dray said to Juno. Somebody is going to report that noise. We should split.

Juno didn’t look at Dray. It was like Juno had locked onto me and wasn’t letting go until he evened the score.

The strange yellow-brownish shade in his eyes had my attention as they dipped from my eyes to my chest. Everything about him screamed serial killer. There was no doubt in my mind it was what Juno would grow up to be if he hadn’t already started.

Juno smiled as he looked me in the eyes again. You think you’re so smart and untouchable with your big brothers looking out for you, don’t you?

My gaze remained defiant.

You’re going to apologize to me, Juno said ignoring his friends who called for him to leave with them. Police sirens were sounding in the distance but they were growing louder.

Apologize, Megan. We have to go. I can’t get in trouble. I have a match tomorrow, Dray said while standing at my side.

An apology wouldn’t be enough. Juno was stupid, but I wasn’t. An apology would just be icing on whatever cake he was planning to eat at my expense.

I shook