Anderson, the challenge.

Anderson is your typical 18 year old teenage boy. School has ended for the week and he is currently spending his Friday evening with his other friends: Maya, Jane, and Reuben. They’re currently hanging out at a dessert shop, sipping on milkshakes.

“Ms. Sandra giving two assignments over the weekend is cruel.”

“You got two? That sucks. I didn’t get anything.”

“That’s cause you chose easy classes this year Anderson. And if I remembered correctly, you’re barely passing those classes.”

“Cs are passing grades. No need to try harder if an A and C both result in the same outcome.”

“Aren’t you afraid that having low grades will make getting into college harder?”

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“That’s not true. You were always scared of the dark growing up.”

“What?! Where did you get that from Reuben?”

“I remember we had a sleep over at my house one time and we were telling scary stories. And there was one story about shadow people that got you scared.”

“Bruh, that was like 11 years ago. I’m not scared of the dark.”

The two girls in the group look at each other with a slight smirk.

“Prove it.”

“Huh? Prove it? How do you want me to do that?”

“Go to the old factory and stay there overnight.”

“The old factory? You can’t get in. The alarm system will trip and I’m not trying to get in trouble.”

“That’s not true. My dad was a construction worker at the time they were making it. I know the way in.”

“How long have you known that Maya?”

“Couple of years.”

“Wha?! Have you been inside?”

“Only one room. The door of that room is locked.”

“I have a lockpicking kit. We can stop by my house before going in, I live only a few blocks away from the factory.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Anderson hearing his three other friends make a plan so quickly in front of him gets him a little flustered and anxious.

“Whoa whoa whoa! Slow down. Jane, didn’t you say you had two assignments to do?”

“Those can wait. I wanna see you get scared. You can’t get cold feet now.”

“Yeah, everything's coming together. It was meant to happen. C’mon Anderson.”

All eyes are on Anderson. He steels himself, puts on a confident face, and responds.

“Alright alright, fine. But I want an energy drink if I have to stay the whole night, and you guys have to join me. I don’t want any funny ideas that I hid in one place the whole night.”

“Sure.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“Sounds good to me.”

The group finishes off their milkshakes and heads towards the factory. Clouds gloss over the town, blocking all moon light, making this night especially dark. When the group arrives at the factory gates, Reuben runs over to his house to grab some items. The two girls alone with Anderson take this opportunity to ask some questions.

“Soo…Anderson. Does Reuben talk about me?” Jane asks.

“Reuben talking about you? Hmmmmmmm…nah.”

Jane’s mouth drops open.

“You’re lying.” Maya retorts.

A grin goes across Anderson’s face.

“He might have said a few things about you.”

Jane’s shocked expression quickly turns to happiness.

“What about?”

“Something about prom. And plans for this summer.”

“Plans? What kind of plans?”

“I can’t say.”

Jane playfully punches Anderson in the arm.

“Tell me!”

“Nope, no can do. Bro code.”

“Pshh. Bro Code.” Maya says in a mocking tone.

“Why do you ask Jane? Hmmmm!” Anderson asks back.

Jane tries to stay calm and cool, but a small blush appears on her face.

“Oh, no reason.”

Anderson looks at Maya.

“Girl code?”

“Girl code.” Maya answers.

Anderson nods and drops the topic as he sees Reuben run back.

“Here you are.” he hands Anderson the lockpicking kit and an energy drink.

Anderson looks at the lockpicks.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Cause you have to do it. This challenge was proposed to you.”

“What?! I don’t know how to use this!”

“There are instructions on the inside. You’ll be fine.”

Anderson pockets the lockpicks and cracks open the energy drink.

“Well, we’re already here. Show us the way.”

Jane leads the group around the fence of the factory.

“One of my dad’s coworkers accidentally bumped the fence with a bulldozer and broke part of the fence. But they never told the foreman in order to not get in trouble. As it turns out, no one noticed it for years, or at least didn’t say anything about it.”

Jane leads the group to a section of fence that has no perimeter lights on.

“Even though the mayor says the factory still has power, and thus the alarm system still works, this part of the fence doesn’t have power.”

She grabs some of the bars and starts to climb the fence. After reaching the top, she hops over the side into an alley.

“See? The sensors on the top of the fence don't work.”

“Jane!” Maya exclaims. She gets close to the fence to whisper to Jane.

“You didn’t say we had to climb. I can’t get over this.”

“It’s just a fence. Get Anderson to help you.”

A blush creeps over Maya’s face.

“You!”

Jane backs away from the fence laughing.

Reuben has started to climb the fence to join Jane on the other side.

Anderson grabs the first bar before he feels a hand tug on his jacket. He turns to see Maya grabbing his attention.

“Could you help me over?”

“What? Not strong enough to get over on your own?”

“Shut up and just help me.”

Anderson laughs a little bit, but stops his climb to help Maya. He turns his back to the fence and squats down.

“Put your foot here and I’ll push you up.”

Maya steps on his thigh, his hand pushing her other foot up. He boosts her up and over. He then finally climbs over and everyone is in the alley. Jane starts to lead the group again towards the factory. With Anderson and Maya in the back, out of ear shot from the others.

“Thank you…”

“What was that?”

“You heard me!”

“Can I hear it one more time?”

“...thank you for helping me over the fence.”

“No problem.”

They enjoy their cute moment together before they hear a shout.

“Hey! Hurry up!” Jane shouts at Maya and Anderson.

Reuben and Jane are standing by a door that appears extremely weathered and rusted. It sits slightly ajar as Jane grabs the edge and pulls it slightly open, the door screeching as the metal rips across the ground.

“Scaredy cats first.” Jane gestures to Anderson.

“I’m not scared.” Anderson says in passing as he is the first to enter the factory. His friends follow suit and they find themselves in what appears to be an employee locker room. There are benches and lockers that line all the walls.

“A locker room?”

“I thought the factory never employed anybody.”

“I don’t think they did. None of these lockers looked like they’ve been used.”

Jane opens one and reveals the inside, not a speck of dust or a scratch in sight.

“Spotless.”

She slams the locker closed. “Not what we’re here for though.”

She walks over to a door that is somewhat hidden on one of the sides of the room.

“This is what we want.”

“You’re up.” Reuben says.

Anderson walks up to the door while pulling out the lockpicks.

“No guarantees I can get this open.”

“Well, at least try first.”

He gets down on one knee, pulls out one of the picks and starts to work on the lock.