Author's Note

In celebration of Amazon Prime Video's newest series Panic, I am thrilled to be teaming up with Amazon Prime Video and Wattpad to write this exclusive chapter that puts my characters from this story into the world of Panic!

I hope this chapter intrigues and inspires you to learn more about Panic. Visit the #PanicWritingContest on Wattpad for the chance to put your creative writing chops to the test and learn more about the show!

To find out more about the contest, prizes, and how to enter, check out the #PanicWritingContest here: wattpad.com/AmazonPrimeVideo

Don't forget to watch the series premiere on May 28th, only on Amazon Prime Video, here: http://primevideo.com/

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Stuck in the middle of God-knows-where, a whole two whole weeks after graduating. World-renowned Carp, Texas. Ha! A town so tiny, it doesn't even register on a Google search. Try searching fishing for carp in Texas and you'll have better luck. Who, in their right mind, would move here?

No one, but mom, of course. Good old Gwendolyn Newberry. Couldn't make it in the big city of Atlanta –had to tuck her tail between her legs and move back to the only home she owns, the ranch my Pawpaw left her.

An exasperated sigh escapes my parched throat as I kick the ratty patchwork blanket aside and climb out of bed to grab a drink.

Walking down the long, unlit hallway to the kitchen, I separate my hot, sticky nightshirt from my soaking back. No fan, no AC and the nights are getting hotter.

I've got to get out. Tried everything. Applying for college, applying for jobs, asking a family, any family member to take me in. There are no options left. Except one. And it's the most savage, most barbaric way to get out. But it's the only choice I have.

I snatch a bottle of water out the fridge, twist the top till it pops and guzzle. Relief floods my body. I cool myself off by placing the cold bottle on my forehead.

I'm gonna win Panic this year. That's my ticket out.

A wave of nausea stops me dead in my tracks, as I head back to bed. The floor creaks loudly and Mom's door opens slightly. A sliver of moonlight highlights the tips of my toes. Something about that light takes me back . . .

Headlights and honking horns. Why did she accept that challenge? She should've forfeited. But she was too brave. Just walked across the highway, blindfolded, barely missing cars as they whizzed past at a dizzying speed. She almost made it. If it wasn't for that semi-truck . . . Poor girl. She was only 18. My age now . . . when it happened. And she wasn't the only one.

I shake my head trying to get the image out of my mind.

Their faces, plastered everywhere around town. Reminders for the guilty. They won't let us forget what happened, because Panic happened. And it's going down again this summer. They've got a vendetta. The parents, the sheriff, the whole damn town.

"Oh, God! Am I really doing this?" I whisper to myself.

"Serena? That you?" Mom asks, the sound of sleepiness heavy in her voice.

"Go back to bed, Ma!" I urge, irritated at the interruption and the possibility of being exposed.

She'd kill me if she found out I'm doing this.

I hop into bed, sitting my water on the brown milk crate turn make-shift nightstand. My phone dings and lights up with a text from Diggins, this year's emcee.

"Just got the signal. Panic is on. Tomorrow 10pm. Water hole. If you're brave, bring swimwear. . ."

Anxiously texting the only other so-called newbie like myself, I reach out to Dodge Mason.

"Heard from Diggins?" I ask eagerly.

He texts back right away. "Initiation time."

"You know that means diving off a cliff, right?" I reply.

"Yeah. You get points depending on where you jump. You in?"

I hesitate. The cursor blinks stupidly. "Uh. I think so?"

"Serena? Think so? Got to be sure. You have to know on a jump like this. 30 to 40 feet easy."

My stomach turns. "You jumping?"

"All the way. Piece of cake."

I gulp. "Cool."

"See you tomorrow?"

"Yep."

My stomach twists into knots. I swallow as tonight's dinner tries to find a new home. Even still, a mouthful finds its way up. I close my eyes and almost vomit trying to send it back down.

So gross!

I rush to the bathroom and rinse my mouth out, before glancing at my reflection.  "You ready for this? It's only gets worse from here." My eyes are wide but weary. "I'm more sick of this dead-end town, than I'm scared of dying. I'm in."

Decision made. I plop into bed, trying not to worry.

How hard can it be? A stupid jump. Off a cliff. Into cold, dark water. What could wrong? Right?

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The lake is crawling with partygoers. Tension is thick but the atmosphere is electric. We're all here for a show. To see and be seen.

I shake my head at the kid guzzling beer like it's the last drink he'll ever take.

"Aye, Serena, you a player this year?" Ray Hanrahan, this year's collector, asks in a mocking tone. He's a class A, you-know-what.

Puffing out my chest, I reply, "This bikini ain't gonna wet itself." With that, I take off my vintage "D.A.R.E" tee revealing my red polka dot bikini. Ha, "D.A.R.E." It's ironic considering all the fiends hanging out at the water hole tonight.

A few of the guys get rowdy and high-five each other when they see my bikini top.

"That's what I'm talkin' bout!" Ray exclaims and wildly chest bumps another guy, causing his beer to spill on a girl sitting nearby.

"Guys!" she exclaims as she wipes beer off her legs.

I roll my eyes as Ray walks past, looking to harass his next victim.

Mason walks up and nudges me. "You should sit this one out."

I laugh uncomfortably and push him. "Playing mind games with me won't get you any further in game."

He snickers. "Just practice. Might work on someone else."

"Ha! This game is mine to win!"

Diggins turns on his bullhorn and the crowd quiets down. "Alright guys. There's a grand prize of $50,000 at stake. Here are the rules. 100 points for a successful jump. Which of course means, you land safely in the water below. Hit the rocks and you lose more than points." He laughs maniacally. "25 additional points for the High Jump. And 100 points or immunity from a future challenge of your choice for Suicide Leap!" Diggins laughs like a mad scientist who's just released his most gruesome creation onto the world.

The crowd goes crazy.

"Grab a flare and get your number. Go to your jump off point and state your name! Let the games begin!" Diggins looks around pointing. "Who's going first?"

The crowd eats it up. It's like the Gladiator games in Roman times, these kids are out for blood.

Before I lose the nerve, I rush to the sign-up table, grab a flare and get the number "2" written on my hand. Ray, of all people stole first spot and just hit the water.

My turn.

Everything seems to slow down. It's like I'm in a dream. Ray swims out the water to shore. He makes it look so easy.

I separate myself from the crowd and ascend the cliff. Looking back at their anxious faces, I'm already too high and I haven't made it to the first jump off point.

I can see my mom now, picking out a white casket lined in pink satin.

Higher still, I climb.

It's so dark up here. How am I supposed to see the rocks to avoid them?

I light the flare. My footing slips as I climb onto the next boulder, but I catch myself just in time. I take a deep breath and keep climbing.

Can they tell I almost bust my face?

My heart gallops like a prize horse at the Kentucky Derby. I've got everything to lose if I don't make this. Any slip in the wrong direction and I could literally die in front of all these kids. My face will be plastered everywhere like those two seniors from last year. I will have never escaped this dead-end town.

My skin prickles at the thought. Even in the cool night air, my palms are sweating. I grip the flare as I ascend the last boulder. Inching to the edge, I look over and down.

"Oh God!"

Taking two steps back, I rest my hands on my hips as my head drops. Then I look up at the sky. All those stars, twinkling without the interruption of a city light for miles.

"Phew."

I walk to the edge again. This time, knowing what to expect. My breath hitches, as I peer down. Everything inside me bounces with a nervous, butterfly excitement.

OK. Rocks to my left. Rocks to my right. I can either land between them or leap forward and land beyond them.

"Aye!" Diggins yells through his bullhorn. "Is this a competition or a study session? Let's see some action!"

The crowd chimes in, increasing my anxiety by a thousand percent. All eyes are on me now.

"Take your time!" Mason encourages.

"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!" The crowd starts chanting.

"Oh God!" The pressure is mounting.

Can I do this? Am I doing this?

It's almost as if I'm standing outside myself, watching myself. I take several steps back. All the way back.

"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"

The sound of the crowd seems muffled, like they're far away. I can only hear the rush of blood coursing through my veins. And my heart. My heart sounds as if it's a huge drum pounding loudly in my ears.

Thump—thump! Thump—thump! Thump—thump! Thump—thump!

"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"

Everything disappears but what's in front of me. My nerves. They ratch up times a million. My body is weak and seemingly no longer connected to my mind. It's on autopilot. It's in survival mode.

"Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"

I state my name. "Serena Newberry."

The crowd suddenly quiets.

I run. As if a referee shot off a race gun. I run like my life depends on it because it does. I run on the uneven, rocky surface of the boulder and once I get to the last step, I leap with everything I've got. Flare still in hand, I watch as I propel myself into the air, and for what feels like minutes, I float. It's like I'm a hummingbird, but my legs are kicking as fast as their wings fly. I'm weightless, in spite of gravity. After a long while, I begin to descend. The rocks on either side rush towards me faster and faster. I think I've cleared them. I angle my feet downward to cut the water on entrance. It's getting faster and faster now. I'm level with the crowd now. What feels like ice touches my toes now. I plummet into the water now. Down I go. It's freezing cold now. No air. I hold my breath and fight for the surface now. Am I rising? Am I going up? My head breaks through the wall of water. I made it! I suck in two lungs full of air now. I gasp and cough and breath and let go of the flare. I swim to shore. I made it! I freakin' made it! I'm in the game!

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Hey Loves! So tell me your thoughts! You checking out the new series? Come on binge with me! Oh and don't forget to Like this chapter. Muah💋💋💋