The Last One | Project Fear

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

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Before we even get to Sweet Springs, we lose cell service.

I throw an annoyed glare at Dakota when he mentions that it's the perfect start to every horror movie.

"I'm literally just digging my own grave right now," I say as we drive through the mountains of West Virginia.

"I mean, it's probably just the physical effects," Dakota suggests. "We're going to places that are sad. Very sad American history."

"That's true," I agree.

"And you could be picking up on that a little bit, just the feelings." I nod, but also can't help but feel like I am actually actively digging my own grave by agreeing to this trip. "What is making you guys wanna go through this?"

"Um, delusion?" I joke, and we all start laughing. When we calm down, I actually answer, "I would never have done this if you guys weren't involved." I turn to Tanner. "You especially. And if I do this, this will be one of the most challenging things I've ever done and just . . . to really, like, take my fear and bring it to a whole other level."

Dakota nods, smiling slightly at my words. Tanner claps my shoulder, shaking it as I sit beside him around the kitchen table in the RV.

"Why are you doing it, Tanner?" Dakota asks. "What's your driving force behind doing this?"

"I mean, for me personally, I really wanna test myself," Tanner responds. "Am I a person who is going to be the first one to run out the door, or am I going to stand right there in the face of fear and try to protect the people that I care about and love?"

I force a cheesy smile and lean back against him, pointing to myself. Alex laughs from behind his camera, as does Dakota. We all know that I'm the person Tanner would literally kill for, and he wouldn't back down from smacking a ghost if it meant keeping me safe.

Sweet Springs is huge and it's immediately terrifying when we pull up to it. It's raining—and I mean, storming as we figure out our plan for the night. Dakota decides that we're going to split up immediately. He puts Tanner and Alex together to go to the slave corridors while I'm going to go with him to the West Wing.

As we head to our location, Dakota surprises me by saying, "I'm excited that I get to walk with you."

I don't really know how to respond, so I just shrug and joke, "Yeah, get in line."

Dakota chuckles. "I feel like, the worst thing, though, honestly, is like . . . when me and you get scared, we're the biggest chickens."

He isn't wrong, so I agree, "Biggest chickens, hands down."

We encounter thumping above us, which we go to investigate. Something moves down the hallway from us, but we're both too nervous to go and look further. Two unexplained bangs follow, feeling like we're going to be backed into corner. We push through, make it to the third floor and head to room 3007, where nothing really happens. Then, we swap locations with Alex and Tanner, with Dakota and I heading into the basement. We come across some very insensitive things like dolls in cages, which makes my stomach sour. As we walk, Dakota says he doesn't feel good and then we hear what sounds like a woman keening or moaning.