Digital Detox Survival Challenge

Digital Detox Survival Challenge

Gavin

5.0
Comment(s)
View
11
Chapters

The last thing I remembered was the cold, not from the biting wind in the remote forest, but the icy grip of utter betrayal. My own family, my sister Ashley, my parents, stood by a luxury RV, watching me. Ashley screamed for the camera, a performance of feigned terror, then shoved me hard, sending me stumbling towards the grim-faced survivalists waiting in the shadows. I later learned, in the brief, hellish time before I died, that the video of my "accident" went viral. Ashley' s follower count exploded, millions celebrating my demise, fueled by my family's lies about my supposed tech addiction and instability. They raked in donations and sponsorship deals, building a life of grotesque luxury upon my very corpse. Then, there was only crushing darkness. Until now. My eyes snapped open to the familiar white ceiling of my bedroom. My heart hammered, a trapped bird, but there were no wounds, no lingering chill of death. Frantically, I grabbed my phone, and the date glowed back, October 12th-the very day they coerced me into the "digital detox survival challenge." I was back. A hysterical laugh bubbled from my throat, a wild, unhinged sound. "You' re finally awake, Ashley has the most wonderful idea," my mother, Brenda, cooed, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Ashley appeared, phone already rolling, a predatory smile on her face. "Sissy! We need a family trip, a real bonding experience!" They stood there, these soulless monsters who profited from my murder, smiling. Last time, I fought, I pleaded, I was worn down by their emotional blackmail, used for my skills, then discarded. But this time would be different. A slow, chilling smile spread across my face, one that didn't reach my eyes. "That sounds like a fantastic idea," I said, my voice smooth as glass. I would play my part, be the compliant daughter, the sister who had finally seen the light. And then, deep in the wilderness, far from any help, I would make them pay. I would give them the authentic survival content they craved, just not in the way they expected. The hunt was on.

Introduction

The last thing I remembered was the cold, not from the biting wind in the remote forest, but the icy grip of utter betrayal.

My own family, my sister Ashley, my parents, stood by a luxury RV, watching me.

Ashley screamed for the camera, a performance of feigned terror, then shoved me hard, sending me stumbling towards the grim-faced survivalists waiting in the shadows.

I later learned, in the brief, hellish time before I died, that the video of my "accident" went viral.

Ashley' s follower count exploded, millions celebrating my demise, fueled by my family's lies about my supposed tech addiction and instability.

They raked in donations and sponsorship deals, building a life of grotesque luxury upon my very corpse.

Then, there was only crushing darkness.

Until now.

My eyes snapped open to the familiar white ceiling of my bedroom.

My heart hammered, a trapped bird, but there were no wounds, no lingering chill of death.

Frantically, I grabbed my phone, and the date glowed back, October 12th-the very day they coerced me into the "digital detox survival challenge."

I was back.

A hysterical laugh bubbled from my throat, a wild, unhinged sound.

"You' re finally awake, Ashley has the most wonderful idea," my mother, Brenda, cooed, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

Ashley appeared, phone already rolling, a predatory smile on her face.

"Sissy! We need a family trip, a real bonding experience!"

They stood there, these soulless monsters who profited from my murder, smiling.

Last time, I fought, I pleaded, I was worn down by their emotional blackmail, used for my skills, then discarded.

But this time would be different.

A slow, chilling smile spread across my face, one that didn't reach my eyes.

"That sounds like a fantastic idea," I said, my voice smooth as glass.

I would play my part, be the compliant daughter, the sister who had finally seen the light.

And then, deep in the wilderness, far from any help, I would make them pay.

I would give them the authentic survival content they craved, just not in the way they expected.

The hunt was on.

Continue Reading

Other books by Gavin

More
When Love Turns to Ash

When Love Turns to Ash

Short stories

4.7

My world revolved around Jax Harding, my older brother's captivating rockstar friend. From sixteen, I adored him; at eighteen, I clung to his casual promise: "When you're 22, maybe I'll settle down." That offhand comment became my life's beacon, guiding every choice, meticulously planning my twenty-second birthday as our destiny. But on that pivotal day in a Lower East Side bar, clutching my gift, my dream exploded. I overheard Jax' s cold voice: "Can't believe Savvy's showing up. She' s still hung up on that stupid thing I said." Then the crushing plot: "We' re gonna tell Savvy I' m engaged to Chloe, maybe even hint she' s pregnant. That should scare her off." My gift, my future, slipped from my numb fingers. I fled into the cold New York rain, devastated by betrayal. Later, Jax introduced Chloe as his "fiancée" while his bandmates mocked my "adorable crush"-he did nothing. As an art installation fell, he saved Chloe, abandoning me to severe injury. In the hospital, he came for "damage control," then shockingly shoved me into a fountain, leaving me to bleed, calling me a "jealous psycho." How could the man I loved, who once saved me, become this cruel and publicly humiliate me? Why was my devotion seen as an annoyance to be brutally extinguished with lies and assault? Was I just a problem, my loyalty met with hatred? I would not be his victim. Injured and betrayed, I made an unshakeable vow: I was done. I blocked his number and everyone connected to him, severing ties. This was not an escape; this was my rebirth. Florence awaited, a new life on my terms, unburdened by broken promises.

You'll also like

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

Jessica C. Dolan
5.0

Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book