Baby Don't Cut | Colby Brock

8

 "So, about that abandoned building idea..."

I glanced at Colby, who immediately jumped in. "Sam, we've talked about this. Maybe it's not the best idea right now."

But Sam was persistent. "Come on, guys! It's been on my mind for weeks. What do you say, Maya? Feeling adventurous? Plus this is the only ting that can cheer me up" He said slightly pouting.

On Sunday evening, after we had finished everything on Sam's list and were munching on the giant cookie we baked, Sam suddenly sat up with a mischievous grin on his face.

"You know, there's one more thing we could add to the list," Sam suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "How about exploring some abandoned buildings?"

I looked at him, a mix of intrigue and apprehension swirling inside me. "Exploring abandoned buildings? That sounds... kinda fun, but also really scary. Especially if we do it at night."

Sam waved off my concerns. "Come on, Maya! It's the perfect way to end our weekend adventure. Just think of the adrenaline rush. It'll be epic!"

I laughed nervously. "I don't know, Sam. It sounds cool, but I think I'll pass on this one. I'm not exactly a fan of dark, creepy places."

Sam pouted playfully, clearly not taking no for an answer. "Oh, come on! It'll be safe if we stick together. Think of the stories we can tell!"

I shook my head firmly, trying to hide my nervousness. "Seriously, Sam, I'm not up for it."

Colby, who had been quietly listening, noticed my hesitation. "Hey, Sam, maybe we should hold off on that idea for now. We've already had an awesome weekend. We can think about the abandoned buildings some other time."

Sam looked disappointed but nodded. "Alright, alright. Maybe later."

We had been avoiding the topic for a while, until today.

I sighed, feeling the familiar apprehension rise up again. "I still don't think it's a good idea, Sam. Maybe some other time."

But seeing Sam's glum face made me reconsider. I sighed and turned to him. "You know what, Sam? Let's do it. If it's the only thing that will cheer you up, I'm in."

Colby looked at me with concern. "Maya, are you sure? We don't have to do this. There could be some real dangers."

I smiled at him, trying to seem more confident than I felt. "I'm fine, Colby. It could actually be fun if we just forget about the possible threats. Let's think of it as one last adventure for the weekend."

Sam's face lit up with excitement. "Yes! I knew you'd come around, Maya. This is going to be awesome!"

Colby sighed but eventually nodded. "Alright, if you both are sure. But we stick together and stay safe, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "Deal. Let's make it a night to remember."

~~~~~~~

We decided to meet at Sam's place after school to plan everything out. As we sat in his living room, excitement buzzed in the air.

"Okay," Sam said, spreading out a map of the area. "Here's the abandoned hospital I was talking about. It's been deserted for years, so it's the perfect spot."

I glanced at the map, my nerves tingling. "Looks creepy, but I guess that's the point."

Colby nodded, looking serious. "We need to make sure we're prepared. Let's list out what we need to bring."

We quickly compiled a list of essentials:

Flashlights with extra batteries, First aid kit, Bottled water, Snacks, Portable phone chargers, Pocket knives, Maps and compasses, Rope.

Sam packed some of the items into his backpack, while Colby and I made sure we had the rest. Once everything was ready, we agreed to meet at Sam's house at 10 p.m.

I headed back home, my mind racing with thoughts on how I was going to convince my dad to let me go. Then it hit me—a perfect idea.

As soon as my dad came home and started drinking, I waited for the right moment. When he wasn't looking, I quietly added some NyQuil to his drink. It wasn't harmful; in fact, it would help him sleep better, and I could sneak out without worrying.

By 9:45 p.m., my dad was already dozing off on the couch, his drink half-finished. I grabbed my backpack, making sure I had everything I needed, and slipped out of the house.

The night air was cool, and my heart pounded with anticipation. When I arrived at Sam's place, he and Colby were already there, ready to go.

"Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" Sam asked, grinning from ear to ear.

I smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Colby gave me a reassuring nod. "Remember, we stick together and stay safe. If anything feels off, we leave immediately."

"Agreed," I said, feeling a bit more confident with my friends by my side.

We went over our plan one more time, double-checking our gear and making sure we had everything we needed. Once we were certain we were prepared, we set off into the night, the thrill of the unknown ahead of us.