Jessica Rainey was sitting on the porch with her best friend Samantha Duncan. They were doing what most teens in the small town of Englewood did on summer afternoons; they were bored out of their minds.

Samantha flicked her cigarette and watched it bounce off the porch, into the dead grass. "We need to do something."

"Like what, Sam?" Jessica asked. "We don't even have a movie theater here."

Samantha rolled her eyes. "As if we had the money for that."

Jessica nodded. "It's almost enough to make me want to get a summer job!"

"A job?" Samantha squealed, jumping to her feet. "Are you kidding?"

"Well-"

"You are so...boring!" Samantha sputtered. "You need to learn to be more adventurous!"

Jessica looked down. "What would you have in mind?"

Samantha thought for a minute. "Let's go to Garnett!"

"Garnett?"

"Yeah, it's a big town. There should be lots to do there."

"I don't know...."

"Stop being a wuss," Samantha said. "Go pack a few things. We're busting out of here!"

Jessica's eyes went wide. "Pack? What do you want to do, stay a few days?"

Samantha shook her head. "Nope. We're going to stay forever!"

"I don't think-"

"Don't think, do." Samantha pushed her through her front door. She pointed toward Jessica's room. "Pack." Jessica packed, sure her friend would get over the idea before the day was through.

They walked quickly to Samantha's house and Jessica waited in the living room while Samantha packed.

The girls headed toward Garnett, about 20 miles away. They walked in silence for a bit, until Samantha started laughing.

"What is it?" Jessica asked.

"Did you hear about that guy? I think his last name was Simmons."

"Doesn't sound familiar."

Samantha smiled. "He's in prison for murder. Killed his girlfriend after he raped her. Pretty sick, huh?" Samantha let out a peel of laughter.

Jessica looked at her as though she were nuts.

When Samantha caught the look on her face, she just laughed harder and skipped ahead.

Jessica began to wonder what she had gotten herself into. She didn't talk to Samantha for another several miles until Samantha lit up another cigarette.

"You know," Samantha said, blowing out her smoke, "you really should take up smoking."

Jessica stopped walking. "Why on earth would I want to do that?"

Samantha stopped and turned back to her. "Because I do it. Now come on. We want to get there someday."

Jessica started walking again. "Why are you so concerned with that?"

"I'm tired of smoking alone," Samantha replied. She pulled her pack out and handed one to Jessica, who refused to take it.

"Come on, Jess. Do it." Samantha stared at her.

Suddenly, Jessica felt like something bad might happen to her if she didn't take it.

Jessica put the cigarette in her mouth. Samantha flicked her lighter and the end of Jessica's cigarette glowed.

Inhaling the smoke, Jessica felt it burn all the way to her lungs. The urge to cough took over and Jessica had to stop and bend over.

Samantha pounded on her back until the fit stopped.

Jessica stared at her friend. "See what happens when I listen to you?" she croaked.

Samantha laughed. "It wouldn't always be like that. Now, don't waste that. Smoke it."

Jessica looked at the cigarette with disgust. She had a bad taste in her mouth. Reluctantly, she inhaled again. This time she didn't cough as much.

"Guess what?" Samantha said.

"What?"

"We're almost there!" Samantha smacked a sign that read: "Town of Sherman Garnett 5 miles"

The girls walked down Main Street in Sherman. The streetlights popped on suddenly.

"I didn't realise it was that late," Jessica commented.

"It's not. Get over it and keep moving."

A loud honk startled the girls. They turned to see a carload of guys hollering at them as they passed.

Samantha waved and yelled back. The car turned around.

Jessica pulled on Samantha's arm. "Don't do that! We don't want trouble."

The car stopped in front of them. "Lighten up, Jess."

Samantha walked over to the guys. "What's up?"

"Hey," one of the guys said. "You wanna go for a ride?" Before Jessica could say anything, Samantha was already in the car. Jessica sighed and got into the car.

The boys drove around for a few minutes before parking in front of a house. They all got out.

"Come on," one of them said. "Party's in here!" The boys whooped and headed for the house.

Samantha had to drag Jessica up to the house. They got inside and the door slammed behind them.

Two of the guys pulled knives. Jessica let out a gasp as one of the knives went to her throat.

"Now," the guy with the other knife said, "you want to do what we say or your friend gets it."

Samantha nodded, looking much too calm for Jessica's taste.

The guy nodded to one of the others, who pulled out some duct tape.

"Hold out your hands." Samantha did as she was told. The one with the tape wrapped it around her hands. Then he led her into one of the rooms.

A minute later he came back. Jessica didn't need to be told. She held out her hands.

Once they were taped, the knife left her throat. She was taken into a room, where Samantha sat on the floor with her legs taped. The guy had Jessica sit on the floor so he could tape her legs. Then he left, closing the door.

"Idiots," Samantha muttered.

"What?" Jessica screeched.

"Keep your voice down!" Samantha hissed. "Get in my pocket."

Jessica stuck both her hands into Samantha's jeans pocket. She felt something small and made of metal. She had to work her fingers, but Jessica finally got it out.

"Fingernail clippers?" she asked.

Samantha held out her hands. "Open it. There's a file in it. Cut the tape a bit, then force it apart with the file."

Jessica did as she was told. Within minutes the two girls were free. Samantha opened one of the windows, cut the screen with the clippers and file, and they were out of the house.

It was too late to keep walking. They had lost their bags to the guys. Jessica didn't speak while Samantha led her. She assumed Samantha had something in mind. Finally, once they were almost across town, Samantha stopped.

"Here we are!" she announced.

Jessica looked around. All she saw were houses she didn't recognise.

Samantha popped open a car door. "Our bed for the night."

Jessica sighed. She got in behind Samantha. Jessica took the backseat while Samantha lay in the passenger seat. They both slept instantly.

When Jessica awoke, the sun was barely peaking over the horizon. She couldn't figure out whiy she was in a car until memories of the night before came rushing back to her. Glancing at Samantha, she pushed the seat up.

"What the-!" Samantha glared at her. "What?"

"Get up," Jessica replied. "I want to get going."

They got out of the car. Jessica went one direction and Samantha went the other.

"Where are you going?" Samantha called.

"Home."

"No, we're almost to Garnett."

Jessica strode back to Samantha. "Look, I've had enough problems for one lifetime. All you ever do is get me into trouble."

Samantha narrowed her eyes. "Is that so? If you'd be a little more adventurous and a little less of a weenie then you wouldn't have 'problems'!"

"Excuse me? I don't call it being adventurous! I call it being dumb! I'm going home!" Jessica started off toward Englewood.

Samantha grabbed her arm and spun her around. Then she pinned Jessica's shoulders to a nearby tree. "You aren't going home."

"Don't do this, Sam." Jessica was beginning to get scared.

"You aren't going home!" Samantha cried. "I'll kill you if you try to leave!"

"What?" Jessica gasped.

"You heard me." Samantha let her go. "Let's get walking."

She grabbed Jessica's hand and dragged her along until she fell in step.

For the five miles they had left, neither girl spoke. Samantha kept smoking, and made Jessica smoke.

Finally, they reached Garnett. Samantha stopped at the first house they saw. It was small and dark brown with a white fence along one side to separate the yards.

Jessica stood behind her as she knocked on the door.

A nice-looking young man answered the door. "Can I help you?"

Samantha smiled for him. "I was wondering if we could possibly use your shower. We're just passing through. I promise we won't stay long."

Jessica turned her head and rolled her eyes. Samantha was shamelessly flirting with this stranger just to use him. He returned her smile. "Sure." He opened the door wider to let them pass.

Once inside, he showed them the bathroom and left. Samantha glared at Jessica. "Me first. Wait out there."

"Fine," Jessica mumbled. She waited by the door, until she heard Samantha get in the shower and headed for the living room.

The guy was sitting ont he couch reading a book. He looked up when she came in.

"Can you help me?" Jessica asked him.

"With what?" he replied.

"Jessica moved closer. "I need to get away from her. I can't take time to explain. Do you know a place I can go?" He thought for a minute. "My mom's house. It's right next door."

Jessica took his hand and gave him a quick smile. "Thanks!"

She hurried out the door and up a hill to a large white house.

Jessica knocked on the door. A grey-haired woman answered. "Whatever you're selling, I don't need it." She started to close the door.

"Wait!" Jessica cried. "I'm not selling anything. Your son said I could come over here."

Before she could explain, the phone rang.

"Excuse me," The woman went to answer the phone. A minute later she was back, with a scowl on her face. "I guess you can come in."

Jessica hurried through the door. The woman was making bread in the kitchen, so Jessica went with her.

"You have a lovely home," Jessica observed.

"Thank you," the woman grumbled.

Jessica decided to be quiet. She was startled when the woman started to speak.

"I can't believe Jeffery. All he ever does is get in trouble. Why he ever made friends with you, I'll never know."

Jessica decided not to tell her she didn't even know Jeffery. She heard a car pull into the driveway and looked out the kitchen window.

It was Jeffery's car! Jessica turned to his mother. "Where can I hide?"

His mother sighed and pointed her toward a bedroom. Jessica sprinted toward it but stopped in front of the front door. She looked over and dread filled her.

Samantha was standing there, glaring at her. Jessica hand't noticed that the door had an oval window running it's length. A simple lace curtain covered it. She was busted.

Throwing open the door, Samantha started to scream. "How dare you try to leave me!" Raising her hands over her head, Samantha lunged at her. Jessica saw a moment too late that Samantha was holding a knife. It went deep into her chest.

Jessica fell to the floor. The last thing she saw was Samantha, laughing at her.