The Dare Book One

By Mia Carter

Truth or dare? What begins as a carefree afternoon of celebrating their college graduations for a group of ten friends quickly turns dark when the girls of the group receive word that an abusive ex-boyfriend they had each dated in their time has been released early from prison. Handsome, exotic, and dangerous, John Miller has unfinished business with his latest ex-girlfriend, Taylor Johnson. With the help of her friends Kala, May, Judy, and Cristy, she had put him behind bars with her testimony for almost killing her one cold November night. After he makes his unwelcomed appearance at their graduation party, and makes it clear he’s still in love with Taylor and wants her back, things begin to take a strange twist through the remainder of the day. After a game of truth or dare, the hostess of the party calls out a name to make the “ultimate dare,” little does she know she will have to take part. Dared to go in the dead of night to an alley with a violent and bloody history, Taylor, Kala, and May witness one of their friend’s brutal murder. They escape from the killer’s grasp, barely making it out of the alley alive. The only problem is that the killer has seen them and knows who they are… Things are just getting started in part one of this series. Take the dare and follow the group of friends through one hell of a ride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647502416

Mia Carter

Mia Carter is a writer, coffee lover, music fan, and an avid action/horror movie-watcher. She was born in Central California and grew up in the Bay Area with her family. Mia relocated to the colorful state of Colorado a few years ago and has loved it ever since. She resides in the heart of Colorado Springs with her two adorable doggie writing assistants. Her K-9 companions enjoy sitting at her feet while she plots out her next adventure on the pages of her notebook. Mia writes in the new-adult genre, adding a touch of romance and horror elements to her stories.

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The Release

The wind whipped and howled across the front range of Colorado, as foreboding, black thunder clouds blew in over Limon Correctional Facility on a late summer afternoon. A violent storm was coming in fast. It’s a fitting scene for a dangerous inmate who was being released today. His tall, muscular figure walked casually down the long hallway toward his freedom. Swagger and arrogance emanated from his facial expressions toward the inmates not as fortunate as he was. The guards were watching him carefully, wanting and looking for any reason to revoke the grant for bail he was just awarded. This man is a criminal and not fit for society; but money, his parent’s money to be exact, had seen to that detail. Only 24 years old and this man already has a violent, bloody history. His smirk continued to taunt the guards as he walked by each of them and started to whistle a catchy little tune to really get under their skin. Lightning cracked overhead as the guards opened the doors to the fenced-in walkway. At the end of the bland concrete path to freedom, beyond the final gates, a shiny, black, expensive car waited. The engine was running, yet no one stepped out to greet the prisoner. As another clap of thunder boomed overhead, rain began to fall out of the sky making loud plopping noises as the big drops hit the ground. The man looked up, closed his eyes, and smiled as the rain splashed onto his face. It had been so long since he’d felt the freshness of rain and the freedom of being outdoors. He had been placed under administrative segregation, away from the general population of the prison, due to his case being high profile. He was walled up in his cell for 23 hours a day. When he was allowed outside for that precious hour, he was still confined to a cage, surrounded by other criminals and more cement floors. No grass under his feet, no rain to be felt splashing down, the breeze hardly ever blew into the small square of cages. He hated every single one of those guards that made his life hell during his time inside. The one he hated the most was standing at the final gate with a disgusted look on his face.

One of the guards escorting him shoved the man forward, breaking his enjoyment of the cool drops of water. As they approached the final barrier of the hell hole he’d been living in for months, the guard at the exit stopped him. He slowly and deliberately checked the paperwork, looking for any clerical mistake that would delay the smirking man’s release.

Finding nothing, the guard reluctantly removed the smirking man’s handcuffs. The guard carrying his personal items shoved the bag into the man’s arms. His grin grew bigger and more menacing now. He could taste the sweet air of freedom just beyond the chain-linked fence.

I’d love to knock that shit-eating grin off your face. The guard was so close to the prisoner’s face, he could practically taste the evil oozing out of him. You’ll be back here in no time, or in a body bag. Either way, I don’t care. You don’t deserve to be let out after what you did. The guard resisted spitting in the smirking man’s face.

"I doubt it, Chuckles. Hey, you got a daughter? Maybe I can pay her a visit, get to know her real well," the smirking man hissed in the guard’s face. The enraged guard almost punched him.

Larry! Enough, let the prick go. Get him out of my sight. One of the other guards stepped in to stop the fight. The two men squared off in silence as the passenger door of the running car opened.

Get out of here! The guard named Larry shoved the man through the exit and shut the gates. The wicked smile returned to the prisoner’s face; waving at the guards, he flipped them the bird and roared a villainous laugh. He dropped down into the waiting car, still chuckling.

Get me the hell away from here. He shut the door and the driver sped off, away from the correctional facility.

Did you have to tease them like that? the smooth voice of the driver asked.

After the shit they’ve put me through, yeah. The smirking man looked back at the ominous building that had been his unwanted home for several months.

You have to behave. We can’t risk you getting thrown back in there or you’ll ruin everything! the driver hissed.

Calm down. I’ll behave. Have you been keeping tabs on the ladies I owe some payback to?

Yes, we’ve been keeping a close eye on all of them. The driver handed the smirking man a folder full of photos and information on the women he was asking about. The smirking man took them out and gazed at each one of them. He lingered on the last photo. This one was his favorite. He had unfinished business with her.

Oh, sweetheart, how I’ve missed you. He gazed at the photo of a beautiful, young brunette woman, with green eyes and a smile that could bring a man to his knees. He kissed the photo; he dreamed of the time he could be kissing her.

"You need to keep a low profile until the appeal goes through. You can’t go running around and showing up near them, especially that one! The driver poked his finger at the picture. Your parents can’t keep buying you out of every hole you dig." The driver took the photo and files and threw them in the back seat.

"You’re no fun. I’ve been locked up for months because of those bitches and you want me to willingly lock myself away?" The smirking man wasn’t smiling anymore, he was growing angry. The driver pulled the car over quickly, slammed on the brakes, and shoved the smirking man against the passenger window.

You need to keep yourself and your temper in check. It’s what landed you here in the first place. Your actions could expose everything we’ve all worked hard to build. The driver released the man and pulled back onto the roadway. I told you, everything is working out, the plan is going to be set in motion and we’ll both get our revenge on all of them.

"You need to reign in that temper of yours too. But fine, I can be patient if it means I get to have her in the end." The man was back to smirking now, thinking of his green-eyed brunette.

You’ll get to have her however you want her before you end her life. The two shared maniacal laughter and continued down the rain-soaked highway.

The Party

Further south, in Colorado Springs, it was a warm, sunny afternoon, no rain clouds to darken a bright day as Taylor turned down the familiar route to one of her best friend’s house. Her emerald green eyes filled with excitement thinking about a wonderful celebration for another friend’s birthday. Though the actual day had already passed, May still wanted everyone to get together to celebrate and combine it with their college graduation party. All her friend’s college graduations came and went in a blur of colorful hats, gowns, and parties. They were all now racing toward an unknown and exciting future. They could hardly believe how fast four years of their high school lives had flown by and now college had just ended for most of them. In the blink of an eye, it seemed it was all over. A new path in life was opening under their feet. Bright young women and men just starting their own journey. They had all kept in touch over the years, staying close and in contact with one another was easy thanks to the birth of social media and the ever-growing technology of cell phones.

For now, Taylor thought, an afternoon at their friend May’s house held an evening sure to be filled with laughter and mischief. Taylor’s chestnut brown hair flowed freely in the wind as she raced to her friend’s house in her graduation present. Her father, a sucker for classics, had been saving up money and working night and day to surprise his daughter with a classic 1970 Cherry Red Chevrolet Chevelle SS. Taylor had almost lost her mind out of excitement when her father brought it to life the night of her graduation dinner. When she was younger, she, her two brothers, and her father would go to the drag races together where she’d come to love the sound and feel of the machines that sped down the quarter-mile strip in the blink of an eye. They would go to car shows and drool over the pristine, glistening classic muscle cars people had spent countless hours, blood, sweat, and tears on. She appreciated what her father had built for her with nothing but her happiness in mind. Her father had, however, made a few modern additions to the car. A new stereo system and docking station for her iPod allowed rock music to be blasted and heard through every road she traveled. Grinning and singing AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, she punched the gas and soared the Chevelle down the street. The engine roared to life and to her devilish pleasure, set off a few of the neighbor’s car alarms. Laughing at the stern looks one of those neighbors was giving her, she pulled into the driveway of her best friend’s home and honked her horn.

Come on! We’re going to be late, Kala! Taylor hung out the window and nearly had to scream at her friend’s open bedroom window over the rumble of her car. Kala—tall and beautiful, with chocolatey-brown hair that flowed in gentle waves to her middle back, blue eyes that echoed the clear oceans of Hawaii—peered out the window and held up five fingers indicating she’d be down in that many minutes.

Taylor opened the squeaking door of her Chevelle, a touch her father left in saying it gave the car character and climbed out to wait for her friend. She glanced at her phone, reading a text that buzzed in. The contents of the text made her smile and grow nervous at the same time. She distracted herself by smoothing out her new sundress that had little sunflowers dotted on the white background and fidgeted in her short-heeled shoes. Taylor wasn’t one for dresses, but May had insisted on somewhat nice attire for the party. Grudgingly, Taylor found the dress randomly shopping and to her surprise, she actually liked it. The dress was made of soft material; it was comfortable and fit her figure perfectly, so all in all, it wasn’t too bad. She had brought a bag with a change of clothes as the party would go late and she didn’t want to be stuck in the dress and heels all day. The front door opened and revealed Kala in a mid-length, navy blue dress with white polka-dots sprinkled all over. She too had chosen short-heeled shoes for the occasion. Kala slung her bag of clothes over her shoulder and walked to meet Taylor. Kala, a good head taller than Taylor, grinned wide at her friend. They were eager to get the day started. The two friends were practically inseparable. Their friendship had survived through turbulent times and the connection they shared was concrete and unbreakable. Kala and Taylor excitedly jumped into the muscle car and headed to May’s.

We’ll be there in about 20 minutes, Taylor announced to Kala as she turned the iPod on to play their favorite songs.

A truth or dare party, leave it to May to have a silly theme like that! Kala snorted in reply.

Do you know what else I just heard about this shindig? Taylor turned her eye to Kala and added a smirk, ready to reveal the text May had sent her.

No, what? Kala asked, turning in her seat to face her friend.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t tell. Maybe I should just keep it a secret for now, Taylor teased.

Kala, not amused, punched her friend in the arm, No way, come on, you have to tell me now!

Okay, okay! Taylor rubbed her sore arm, her friend had quite the punch. "You know how May said it was supposed to just be us girls? I guess May changed her mind, Ken and the other guys are coming…and a little birdy told me that Jordan and Logan were going to be there too!"

No way! Kala, hearing Jordan would be there, blushed at the thought and started primping her hair and makeup in the tiny visor mirror. Do I look okay? Oh my gosh, I should have picked a different outfit! The guys were supposed to meet up with us later in the weekend, not tonight! I’m so nervous now. Jordan never notices anything about me, though. Kala continued to fidget with her appearance.

You look amazing, Kala, quit stressing! Jordan will fall over himself at you tonight. How about me? Taylor asked, feeling the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. It had been a little while since she and Logan had last seen each other. Through the years, she, Kala, Logan, and Jordan had gone to school together, along with May and the others. She and Logan always seemed to have the chemistry, but the timing was never right. They were great friends and they both knew there was something more there than just the friendship. Both were just too nervous to take it to the next level. Jordan and Kala also danced the torturous tango of lovers that seemed could never be together. Taylor thought that maybe tonight would change that status for both of them. Maybe things in the relationship department could turn around for once. Was she ready? Kala’s reply interrupted Taylor’s anxious thoughts.

You always look great, Tay, and it’ll be a fun night no matter what! She took a deep sigh. Can you believe college is over? First, it was high school that seemed too short and now… So much happened in such a small amount of time… It’s all just…gone, Kala almost whispered.

I can’t believe it either. It all did happen so fast, everything. Taylor’s thoughts turned to a darker time. To the time and the way that the girls had all become friends. One common, sinister mark in all their lives that had brought them together. A nightmarish shadow in their not-so-distant past showed them that the world was not always roses. They were thrown into a hell that made the girls grow up slightly faster than their schoolmates. Taylor shook her head softly and swore to herself not to rehash what had passed. Not wanting to upset Kala, she broke the silence by asking if the turn coming up was the one they needed to take.

It sure is! Kala replied. The troubled look that came over her friend was not lost on her. She knew the thought that infiltrated Taylor’s mind. She shook it off as well and silently promised tonight was for looking to the future and letting go of the past. She was going to find out for certain if she and Jordan had something more or not. She had to move on if he wasn’t going to look at her as anything more than a friend.

May’s family had recently moved toward the foothills just below the mountain peaks of Colorado Springs; the girls were not used to taking this new route to their friend’s house. Kala was trying to use the GPS on her phone, but the old Chevelle drowned out any hope of hearing the not-so-pleasant female voice repeating turn here and turn there in so many feet. Instead, Kala just read off the instructions and played navigator for the rest of the ride.

Taylor guided the car down the lengthy, tree-lined street that led to May’s new house and rumbled into the circular driveway. Trees that appeared to be as tall as skyscrapers surrounded the old Victorian-style house giving it a warm and cozy feeling. The tan-colored exterior with its brown and white trim had large, bright-white French doors welcoming anyone who came up the driveway. A wrap-around porch surrounded the house and luscious green lawns spread through the property. Bold orange Begonias bloomed along the perimeter of the driveway, splashing color against the green of the lawn and contrasting against the dark, paved roadway. Birds chirping happily echoed in the trees above breaking the silence. The sun peeking through the treetops added a warm glow over the grounds. A slice of heaven perhaps, Taylor thought. She had to close her mouth when she noticed it dropped open.

Well, Kala cleared her throat, "let’s go see the girl of the hour and the interior of