I would really like some feed back. I can't decide how to write it. I kinda like how this turned out but before I continue, please let me know. I am thinking if I don't go with whatever this is, then I will go with Daneliya's perspective...Ugh.

Btw. I changed the way it was written so many times. I apologize for any confusion. Also this is just a draft. nothing here is set in stone yet.

Chapter 1

The setting.

Outside of the church window, birds sang their songs and squirrels scurried up their trees. Daneliya Jones, a brown-haired girl with light, sun tanned skin watched them as she helped carry another foldout table to a corner where the Youth group was in charge of setting up for a large event. That event being none other than her own sister’s, Isa’s wedding. She turned her attention to a boy across the table. A member of her youth group, Gavin Swift. His black hair had fallen in his hazel eyes and he was trying to blow it out of the way.

“Set it down there,” Paul called holding a checkboard. Paul is their youth group leader. He is tall and blond. A man in his early twenties. His skin looking as if he just got back from a beach vacation.

They lowered the table to the ground and checked to make sure it was set up right.

“Ranea!” Paul snapped slightly, “What are you doing?”

The teens turned their attention to a gorgeous African American girl who had her phone in her hand and her fingers flying over the small screen, “On sec. My bestie just gave me the bestest news ever!” She squealed excitedly her hair bobbing slightly as she turned away a few of the other girls joining her.

Daneliya returned her gaze back to the window before she went back over to Paul for her next instructions followed closely by Gavin. She straightened out her Blue cropped-T and looked around at the sames shade of blue around the room. The wedding was in a few hours and the theme was Midnight Blue. She smiled to herself as she imagined her sister in her weddin dress walking down the isle to James Brady. Her soon to be brother in law.

“Ok,” Paul said reading from the list the Isa had provided, “We still need flowers, table-cloths, lights, and the cake,” He looked up. Anyone know who is going for the cake?”

Both Gavin and Daneliya shook their heads. They had both heard their parents discussing it, but neither knew what had been decided.

Paul nodded and turned away pulling out his phone and called Daneliya’s mom, “Hello Mrs. Jones,” He paused and then laughed as he listened to the response, “Fine, fine. Tani Jones. Do you know who is going to get the cake? Should I send some of my teenagers to get it or?” He listened for the response, “Your husband is going to get it? Ok Perfect. See you later,” He laughed again, “Yes yes. The church will be ready!” He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at Daneliya and Gavin. “No need to worry about the cake. You two can start on the lights. I’ll get Mitch and Renea to help you.” He looked up and scanned the room, “Mitch! Renea!” He called.

Mitch Sanders is a tall lanky boy with pale skin and hair dyed black at the roots and a fiery red at the tips. He has the air of a goth and rebel, his leather jacket connected to his black jeans with silver chains similar to then ones worn around his neck. He wore black eyeliner around his eyes and added powder to lighten his skin farther.

Mitch turned to Paul. His shoulders hunched over and his eye showing a rebellious spirit. Daneliya just wanted him to go home if he didn’t want to be here, no need having him mess up the wedding with his sour attitude.

“Come here,” Paul finished.

Renea rolled her eyes and put her phone in a pocket in her blue dress and flounced towards Paul, Gavin, and Daneliya. Mitch pushing himself off the wall and following her.

“What do you want?” Mitch grunted as he reached the group.

Renea pulled her phone back out and checked herself out in the camera app, not paying the rest of them any mind.

Paul raised a brow, “All four of you will go retrieve the lights and ladder from the basement. Work together to find them.” he looked at the faces of the group all showing signs of distaste, “ Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12,” He quoted from the bible.

Gavin nodded his head in understanding shaking his head slightly a smile on his face. The word filled him with hope, even when he had to go into a basement with two butt-heads.

Daneliya smiled slightly and thought to herself, “I hate it when he does that,” She didn’t really mean it, but it was wisdom she couldn’t argue with.

Renea looked up, “What? I wasn’t listening,” she said a smug look on her face.

Mitch held out a hand for her to clap and when she had he crossed his arms smirking.

Daneliya and Gavin glanced at each other then at Paul who has always been very patient with them.

Paul smiled slightly, “You think you are so clever. Now go get the lights and ladder then set them up,”

The four teens turned, Daneliya and Gavin leading the reluctant two down a flight of stair into the old, musty, dark basement.

Mitch looked at the wall with a disgusted look and flicked the light switch, the room still dark, the only light coming from the stairwell. “Lights don’t work,” He grumbled.

Upon hearing that, Renea stopped half way down the stairs, “I will not come down If I can’t see,”

Gavin turned towards the stairwell and called up to her, “Renea, there is nothing but us and a few items down here,”

Daneliya was digging through an old box searching for the fairy lights they had stored down here a month ago while Mitch stood in the corner next to the stairs just out of sight from anyone coming down.

Renea held her phone and turned on the flashlight feature pointing it down the stairs. she could see Gavin standing at the bottom and took a few steps down.

Gavin nodded his head and turned to find the ladder, feeling along the wall and behind some tall pieces of plywood he felt it and turned looking through the darkness for Mitch.

Renea made it to the bottom and before anyone could stop him, Mitch jumped out from around the corner and grabbed her. Renea let out a startled yelp dropping her phone and falling against the door plunging the group into Darkness.

“Mitch!” She screeched, “Why would you do that! I am telling Paul!”

They could hear Mitch’s wheezy laugh as he chocked out, “Couldn’t help it!”

Daneliya had one hand in the box and the other on her hip, “Can we focus please?” She snapped thinking of all the work that had to be accomplished before the wedding.

Renea shoved Mitch away from her and that was followed by a crash of metal against the floor. She opened the door light flooding the area around her feet. She saw her phone and was thankful it had landed screen up. Picking it up, she swept it around the room and saw Daneliya next the boxes, Gavin by the wall, and Mitch standing next to a fallen over shovel.

“Renea,” Daneliya called, “Can you help me find these lights?” she said getting frustrated. Where had her parents put them?

Renea crossed the room to Daneliya and shone her flashlight into a few open boxes refusing to open them herself.

After a few minutes of searching together they had found them and Daneliya picked half of them up looking at Renea expectantly.

“What?” Renea asked a questioning look on her face, “You can’t seriously expect me to carry those things!”

Daneliya sighed and reached down picking them all up, her arms completely full and turned to look at how Gavin and Mitch were doing with the ladder.

Gavin had moved the plywood out of the way and was looking at the wooden ladder as Mitch walked towards him. “This shouldn’t be too hard,” He said testing its weight. It wasn’t too heavy, mostly just long and awkward.

They each got on one side of it and lifted it up, Gavin offered to go backwards, and they shuffled towards the stairs and had to maneuver it through the door. Mitch looked up a smirk on his face and pushed hard pinning Gavin against the wall and handrail.

“Mitch!” Paul scolded from the top of the stairs.

Mitch pulled back and Gavin rolled his eyes wincing at the spot where the handrail had jabbed into his lower back. The boys made it up the stairs followed closely by the girls and set up the ladder. The church had wooden rafters across the ceiling that they would hang the lights from and they were sure it was going to create a very beautiful effect.

Once the lights were checked and the ladder set up. Daneliya climbed up, Gavin standing at the bottom keeping it steady as Renea and Mitch argued as to who had to hand the lights up to her.

Renea pulled out her phone and snapped a quick picture of Mitch and said, “I will send this to everyone with a caption that say’s-,”Mitch swiped for the phone but wasn’t fast enough and Renea jumped back typing fast, “Send!” She growled looking at him and showing him the screen.

Mitch’s eyes widened as he read it, “You witch!” He snapped.

Paul called into the room, “Renea! Mitch,” He scolded, “Out here now!”

They disappeared for a few minutes and returned looking around at the progress Daneliya and Gavin had made in their absence. Both Renea and Mitch looked sour and angry but they came over and helped with the lights. Renea passing them up, and Gavin now able to focus on keeping the old ladder from falling over. Mitch untangled the lights angrily shoving them towards Renea who pointedly ignored him.

Daneliya could feel a vibration through the ladder and looked down a questioning look written on her face and the ones of her fellow youth. Suddenly, the whole room seemed to shake and panic filled the group.

“Jump!’ Gavin called as a crack appeared in the ceiling above their heads

Daneliya flung herself off the ladder just as the ceiling caved in, hitting the ground next to Gavin seconds before the plaster and wood landed on top of them. She felt pain jab through her body before her vision swam, “Gavin…,” She said weakly as they passed out, falling into darkness.