Chapter 1

My boyfriend proposed we hike a mountain without water or food. A test of our limits.

The others jumped on the idea. I hesitated, and my best friend hooked her arm through mine.

"Where's your sense of adventure? Just think of it as keeping me company, okay?"

My boyfriend's face went hard too. "Renee Pruitt, why do you always have to be the one who ruins the fun?"

I gave in. On the day of the hike, he made us all leave our phones at the base of the mountain, so no one could sneak an electronic payment.

Then, when our throats were dry as sand, the others pulled out cash and each bought water and bread.

When I questioned it, he looked at me like I was pathetic. "We said no bringing food. We never said we couldn't buy it with cash. If you can't think for yourself, whose fault is that?"

I passed out from dehydration, and they didn't give me a single drop of water. They just picked up their feet and walked away.

"You have to feel the pain before you'll ever learn. We're doing this for your own good!"

By the time someone found me, my skin was burned raw, and one of my arms had charred so badly it had to be amputated.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day they proposed the no-supply hike.

I agreed without a moment's pause. "Sure. Count me in."

This time, I would be the one to let them feel what hunger and thirst really did to a person. Let them learn their lesson.

I was doing it for their own good. Wasn't I?

……

Seeing me agree, my best friend Bertha Finch put on her helpful, concerned face.

"Renee, remember, you can't bring anything to eat or drink. And no asking for help along the way. Each of us is responsible for ourselves."

I looked at her and asked, puzzled, "Asking for help?"

"You're not bringing anything either, right? So even if we could ask for help, it wouldn't do any good, would it?"

The second the words left my mouth, my boyfriend Ezra Henson, his older sister Bernice Henson, and his childhood friend Desmond Cobb all burst out laughing.

They nodded along. "Right, right. Renee's so clever, she doesn't need you reminding her, Bertha."

Bertha gave me a smile heavy with meaning.

"You're right. I was making a fuss over nothing."

Ezra took out an agreement.

"Since you've agreed, sign it."

In my last life, he'd produced the exact same document.

It stated that I, as a legally competent adult, took full responsibility for my own safety.

Back then I'd been so confused. "It's just a hike. Do we really need to be this serious about it?"

But they'd called it a gentleman's agreement and pressed me until I signed.

Now, looking at that familiar wording on the page, I gently pushed it back across to him.

Ezra's expression changed.

"What's that supposed to mean? We haven't even set out and you're already trying to weasel out?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Since all five of us are going, shouldn't everyone sign one? And everyone keep a copy on file?"

"Your safety is your own responsibility too. It has nothing to do with me."

Desmond laughed out loud.

"We'll be perfectly safe. You should worry about yourself."

I tilted my head toward him.

"How can you be so sure? Don't tell me you've got a way to cheat and you're just not telling me."

The moment I said it, guilt was written all over the rest of them.

Desmond's laugh froze on his face, his mouth still slightly open.

Ezra shot him an irritated glare.

"Renee has a point. We're all doing this together, so we should all sign one."

He ran off to the copy shop next door and came back with four more copies.

Ezra, Bernice, Bertha, Desmond. One after another, they each signed their names.

I picked up one of the signed copies, put it in my bag, and turned to leave.

Bertha called after me with her "concerned" reminder.

"Go home and eat and drink plenty, okay? Tomorrow you won't be getting a single drop."

I nodded. "Thanks. Same to you all."

Their laughter rang out behind me.