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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Adrenaline makes you feel alive. And if you don't feel alive, you're dead.

This is too easy. Because they don't know who they're messing with.

My stupid parents thought they could fix me if they took me away from DC, from the places I knew and used to go to. From the people I used to see.

They thought Carp, Texas out of all places would be the solution. A sleepy little town the world forgot, filled with people the world should forget. It was here that Jocelyn and Harold Hart decided I should finish my senior year and then build my future.

They didn't know about Panic. Ever since I started attending school, whispers of it flitted down mostly empty corridors, passing from cracked lips to too-eager ears. It was an urban legend. The ghost of a once popular game among the seniors, now tainted by the death of two players the previous year.

I didn't pay this game much attention at first. After attending Petraka and being in the mighty presence of the Golden Circle who breathed couture and expensive cars, $50,000 means nothing to me. Hell, I think Rosie Geld has purses more expensive than that. And I don't need the money anyway. I can always steal directly from my parents if I need to.

But the prospect of death enticed me. Because there is one more faux pas my parents made after I convinced them I was back to normal. They foolishly thought I needed friends.

"What exactly are we supposed to be doing this time?" Marisa Delterre mumbles next to me, shifting on the ground.

"You're losing your touch," I growl back at her. "You used to be patient when surveying people."

Marisa shifts uncomfortably. "This isn't people. This is a damn house." But she doesn't comment any further.

"Come on, babe. Don't tell me you're losing your sense of adventure." Davey Postvam grins at her. He actually grins at me and I instantly want to whack him with my binoculars.

Oh, yes, I think some context is in order. Marisa wanted to visit, and my parents embraced the idea of her and Connor returning to my life. They had no idea they'd bring friends with them, though. Rod Wiseman, Connor's new best friend decided to tag along, as did Davey freaking Postvam because apparently him and Marisa are a thing now.

I just want to puke, but I grit my teeth and lift the binoculars again to continue my surveillance of Spurlock's old farm. I need to keep it together, because it's precisely their arrival that convinced me to participate in Panic this year and drag them along.

I heard the whispers between Natalie Williams and that scaredy cat Heather Nill, how everyone is scared shitless this year, how the Sheriff is trying to stop the game.

The thing is, if there were deaths before, there could be deaths again. Accidents or not. The perfect revenge against my so-called friends.

And it was so easy to get them to play. All I had to do was press the right buttons and subtly imply that the boys were cowards.

Rod immediately wanted to impress Audrey. The idiot is obviously still in love with her which is why he's actually here, Connor be damned. Davey thought it would actually be fun. Connor most likely suspects I'm up to something and wants to stop me. Marisa stood no chance against the four of us and finally caved.

Bribing the judges to let them play even if they aren't Carp seniors was just too easy once Davey threw all of $5,000 in the pot in their name and a hefty $2,500 birbe for the judges.

The game of Panic just got a lot more interesting.

What they don't know is that I've already figured it out. Who the judges are, who the bagman is, who is a favorite to win, who will most likely pull out.

After all my experience watching people with much deeper, darker secrets than this narrow-minded lot, it was too damn easy. And I'm sure I'm going to win. Just to prove a point. And if I can get rid of a handful of traitors while doing it, all the better.

"Someone is going in," Davey says, distracting me from my plotting.

I move the binoculars in the direction he's pointing his and indeed spot a few people lurking around, probably trying to find the supposed booby traps. I squint and recognize some of them. Three of them are huddled together. Natalie, Heather and that Bishop kid who thinks he's a big deal just because his dad is Chief Justice. Pathetic.

On the other side of the house, I spot this year's favorite, Ray Hall. He's such a twerp and a cliché, I swear. But none of them are going in. They're just surveying the property, like us.

"Where are Rod and Connor?" Marisa asks, sounding worried.

"Come on, give them some credit." Davey still sounds amused and it's starting to grate on my nerves. "They've done much better skulking than this."

And right on cue, our own spies return, hopefully with valuable information. We leave our place from behind the bushes at the edge of the property and make our way towards an old abandoned truck parked nearby. It's not exactly the diplomats' house, but my resources aren't what they used to be, so all my equipment is in there.

"Well?" I ask, trying to sound excited rather than impatient. 

I don't want anyone going in before us. My plan depends on it. But I know the Carp kids aren't going in yet. I've been watching them closely, figuring out patterns. Despite being small-town hicks, they're not idiots. They'd want someone else in first to set off some of the traps.

"There are definitely booby traps in there," Connor says, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

I'm so used to people always wearing checkered shirts around here, it's strange to see a plain, black one. Connor always looked good in black. I try not to shiver as I remember what he looks like without any clothes on. I wonder if he's doing Rosie now. Most likely. The torturing thoughts make me miss the next exchange.

"Audrey?"

Right, that's supposed to be my name now. I snap back to reality and notice that everyone is staring at me.

"Sorry?" The word hurts coming out when all I want is to yell at them.

"Why are we doing this again?" Connor asks.

I shrug. "It's a game. It's supposed to be fun."

"Yeah, Connor, lighten up." Rod clamps his shoulder and I do my best not to roll my eyes.

I could've asked them to eat a wheelbarrow of horse shit and Rod would encourage everyone to do it just to get on my good side. Pathetic.

Connor turns to him, his eyebrows bunched up in worry. "Fun? We jumped off a cliff to get into this damn game!"

"That was actually pretty fun," Davey says, the grin still on his face.

He's definitely doing Marisa or he wouldn't be grinning so much. I swear, I don't think I've even seen him crack a smile while we were in DC.

"It was still a bit scary," Marisa says, even if she'd actually done it first and put all of them to shame.

It was easy for me. Falling had always felt like flying, made me come alive. I jumped off the highest platform, the one called Suicide Leap, and gained myself an extra 100 points in the game as well as immunity I can use whenever I want. I didn't tell them that, because the less they know about the rules, the easier I can make them up to serve my purpose.

"Not as scary as walking that plank between those two crumbling water towers," Rod mumbles.

"You're just saying that because it took you forever to cross and you may have lost all your jumping points," I say with a light laugh.

Rod laughs, too. "Whatever, I'm not doing this to win."

I want to point out that doing anything for any other reason is just plain useless, but that would be Adrienne talking and I sure as hell don't want to give myself away. Yet.

"None of us are, really," Marisa says. "Not like we're going to take the money from these kids. We don't need it."

"We could always give it to them if we win," Davey says with a shrug and Marisa gives him gooey eyes which makes me sure he's getting laid tonight. Or at least he would if he would still be alive.

"There is only one winner in Panic," I say, wanting to distract them from all that sentimental garbage.

It works. They all turn to me again.

"Do you want to win?" Rod asks, as if he'd do anything to make sure that happens if my answer was yes.

I give a half-shrug and mysterious smile, and the fool is melting. "So, the farm house?"

"Yeah, it's booby trapped," Connor says, though the suspicion in his eyes is obvious. "Wires, trap doors, the works. At least that's what we could gather from checking the doors and windows."

"When do people actually go in?" Marisa asks, hugging herself.

The last rays of sun play in her mahogany hair, making it shine, and I hate her for it. For how perfect she is, smart and beautiful and kind. For how she looks like a goddess in just cut up jeans and a dusty old t-shirt. How she secured her happy ending with the guy all of Petraka was in love with...

It's just not fair. Neither is the fact that Connor is dating Rosie, that he and Rod are friends. That they all moved on without me. Do they even think of me when they're at their fancy Ivy League schools?

They're here, aren't they?

And if all goes well tonight, they'll never leave here.

"We need to send proof to Diggings before midnight. So we might as well be first."

They nod and I can tell that some of them, namely Connor, just want to get this over with.

With confidence, the five of us make our way towards the gate leading to the farm. The other squatters had hauled ass out of there, probably out to make their own plans and pety aliances.

I know there are traps before the house as well. A net, a hole where an old outhouse used to be, and barbed wire buried in the overgrown grass. I don't tell them this beforehand, but the moment Marisa is about to make her way through a barbed wire bush, I pull her back before she can do more than nip her jeans.

"Be careful," I whisper.

"Wow, thanks." She gives me a look that's filled with hope. It just lets me know that she suspected I was up to something and her suspicions are finally ebbing away.

"How'd you even see that?" Davey asks.

I just smile and don't warn him about the outhouse hole. It's too funny to see him covered in shit up to his knees. I swear, Rod and Connor almost choke with laughter as he curses furiously and pulls himself out.

"See?" I say to them. "The game is funny."

"Yeah, hilarious," Davey mumbles, sounding a lot more like his sulking self.

I decide to avoid the net all together. It would take us too much time to pry whoever gets caught in it out. Plus, my fellow Carpians need some fun as well.

Once we reach the steps to the front door, we halt.

"A hundred bucks says on of the steps will cave," Rod says.

I'm so used to kids here betting on five bucks, his offer seems very generous. But unfortunately, he's right. It's the third step, but I'm not about to tell him that.

"Let's each climb one step and see," I suggest and already put my foot on the first step. It screeches, but nothing happens.

"Okay," Connor says, taking the second.

I grit my teeth because I wanted him to be the one to fall in. My disappointment however is short-lived once Rod wants to prove his bravery and jumps on the third step like a complete idiot. It breaks as he lands and his legs disappear between cracked wood.

"Rodney!" Davey hurries on the fourth step and he and Connor pull Rod out as he sucks air through his teeth.

"Shit, I really scratched myself there."

"This isn't fun," Marisa mumbles.

Yes, it is, hilarious actually.

"You shouldn't have jumped," I say, shaking my head. "We need to be careful."

But even so, I don't tell them about the pipe barreling towards the entrance once the door opens. It hits Connor full-force in the chest and throws him off the porch, into a thistle bush.

"Maybe I should just go first," I say over Connor's continuous cursing. "Because you guys really don't want to be careful."

"Don't want?" Davey asks sounding annoyed for once. "It's not like we could predict these traps."

Yes, they could, if they paid attention. But I ignore them and take the first steps inside the house. There is nothing to be taken near the door, but then the game wouldn't be fun. For a fact, I know that all the small objects have been moved upstairs for this particular round of the game.

I don't really need an object. I've picked it up days ago when I first made my way in here to explore and observe. When I set my very own trap.

"It seems safe," I whisper over my shoulder.

My companions look suspicious, but step inside the house as well. As I knew they would, one of the activates the tripwire which closes the door again. The windows are either grimy or boarded up, so we're left in almost complete darkness. I knew this would happen, and with quiet steps, I move away from them and towards the staircase, avoiding all the tripwires.

"I know it's maybe the third time someone's asked, but why are we doing this again?" Marisa mumbles.

"Where's your sense of adventure, babe?" I ask.

All shuffling coming from their direction ceases as they finally do the math.

"Adrienne?" Connor asks, his voice shaky.

"Bingo, dumbass." No use hiding it now. They're just where I want them.

There is more silence after this, the type filled with the delicious smell of fear and uncertainty.

"What would happen to us if we open the door?" Davey asks, his tone even. Of course he doesn't show any fear and I hate him even more for it.

"Why don't you try and find out?" I ask, my tone sickly sweet. To be fair, not much, but I'm not about to tell them that. For all they know, the house could explode.

"What do you want?" Rod asks, his tone assertive, as if I gave a shit about who he is.

"Don't act like I'm keeping Audrey hostage," I say between my teeth. "You assholes should've known this was coming, should've recognized me."

"This is not you," Marisa says.

I let out a hallow laugh. "Seriously? What do you know about me, Marisa Delterre?"

"I know that Audrey is still in there, and we want her back."

Something stirs inside me at her words, but it's only hatred. They've all rejected me, never loved me. And for that, they deserve what's coming. So I put on my most pathetic face and put on the show that would end them. Their stupid hope and their kindness will lead them right where I want them.

"I... I need help," I whine. "She's too powerful. I can't--"

Marisa takes a step forward, but Davey grabs her arm."Don't. She's just acting."

Damn him. But I have bigger guns. So I turn to the weakest link.

"Rodney. Rodney, you have to help me. I... I feel like I'm going insane."

"You are insane," Davey says between his teeth.

"Don't say that," Marisa says, outraged.

"What the hell is going on?" Connor mumbles. "Audrey, do you know why we're really here?"

I whimper some more. "No. I don't know why I'm here. I'm scared!"

They still don't move and I want to throw something at them. For real, I'm getting sick from how pathetic I need to act and they're still not swallowing it up. They're whispering among themselves and I pretend to start crying just to aggravate them further.

"We can't leave her here like this," Marisa hisses.

"We move together then," Connor says. "Just in case."

I was planning on it, actually, because I was sure one of them would suggest it.

"Please," I moan. "Someone, please. I can't see anything."

I hear footsteps. I hear the tripwire breaking with a thwack. I hear their screams of surprise as all four of them fall through the floor.

"Oh, my God. You guys are so easy!" I pull a flashlight out of my backpack and shine it down the hole at them.

They all shut their eyes and look away. I know the room they fell in is tiny and used to be the boiler room. The only door out is locked.

"What the hell!" Connor looks up at me, looking ready to murder. Not like he hasn't before. "Let us out, you twisted--"

"I'd watch my mouth if I were you." But I grin at them because this makes me so happy. "What did you think? That you could double-cross me and get away with it?"

"We didn't double-cross you," Marisa says, though she sounds angry, too. I love that.

"Oh, you didn't? Than how come you're fraternizing with the enemy? With the Golden Circle? You two, my friends, are sleeping with them."

"There is no more Golden Circle," Davey says, rolling his eyes at me. "You're the only one still stuck in the past."

"Isn't that ironic?" I put my finger to my chin in thought. "Because now you're about to be stuck in the past." And on that bombshell, I shut the trap door with my foot.

I can hear them yelling through the floor, demanding that I let them go. If I walk away now, I'm sure someone would eventually let them out. After all, the game of Panic is about hope. About winning enough money to leave this dead town.

Except my friends are going to lose hope and leave this town dead.

Whistling, I make my way to the valve on the back wall. I took care to mess with the plumbing myself. The valve screeches as I turn it, and the sound of gurgling water soothes my soul.

I hear Marisa screaming once she realizes what's happening. Water has began to pour in their tiny prison. And it will continue to until it fills up the room and drowns them.

They have no way out. And when the other players will come, it will be too late. But they will find out. Find out that four kids, the offspring of important politicians have found their ends in the game of Panic.

It will be a national scandal. Panic would take the world by storm and then die. Just like TMI.

And just like in the case of TMI, the only winner in this year's game of Panic will be me.