'The Dare' by Birgit K. Gaiser

During the year’s shortest night, we all headed to the shore. Despite the late hour, the sky retained some memories of light. I heard Grant slur “I totally will” before he staggered seawards. Stripped down to his boxers, he yelped, then entered the waves. When he had not returned thirty minutes later, we were panicking. We fanned out , surveying the beach with our mobile phone torches. Ashley, more sober now, proclaimed she wished she hadn’t challenged him. She’d demanded he find the treasure in the old pirate’s ship. Having been raised with the cursed treasure’s legend, we lost hope. Indeed, Grant never returned, and Ashley quietly withdrew, emigrating months later. I heard they sold the treasure and live in the Caribbean.