American are you scared.., p.1
American Are You Scared Yet, page 1
AMERICAN ARE YOU SCARED YET
ELLE MITCHELL
OTHER NOVELS
BY ELLE MITCHELL
Our Tragedy
sweethearts
I Never Stopped
AMERICAN ARE YOU SCARED YET
by
Elle Mitchell
OUR TRAGEDY
* * *
Copyright © 2021 by Elizabeth Mitchell
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Little Key Press.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, and events are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in articles and reviews. For information, please contact the author.
First Edition
Edited by Tessa Garrett
Cover by Elle Mitchell
Cover font: Leo SemiRounded Bold & Got heroin?
Cover photographs by ro9drigo, Frank Okay, Lil Artsy, Cottonbro, StockLite, PR Image Factory, Antonio Guillem, Tero Vesalainen, KeyStock, Sigmund, Rawpixel, and Debra Millet via Shutterstock, iStockPhoto, Unsplash, Rawpixel, and Pexels
For a person. Thank you for spending countless hours inspiring this story while eating cheesy chicken foodstuffs.
CONTENTS
Other Novels
American Are You Scared Yet
American Are You Scared Yet
A Quick Note
Announcements
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Epilogue
A Note & Acknowledgments
About the Author
American Are You Scared Yet
Our Tragedy
About the Author
AMERICAN ARE YOU SCARED YET
by
Elle Mitchell
A QUICK NOTE
This book is first and foremost fiction.
All of the names of televisions shows, social media apps, and people referenced have been changed due to the satirical nature of the book’s content.
All of the images used are from free image websites and do not reflect the models' or photographers' feelings or beliefs. I have never met nor spoken to any of them; I’m simply using stock photos to show a variety of people, places, and things because we are accustomed to seeing such on the internet.
The social media posts within the book are fake and have been created to serve the purpose of the story. If any of the handles are real, that is purely coincidental and unrelated to the fictional content within the novel; I could not make as many handles as were needed without the possibility of overlap, so I explicitly chose not to consult any social media sites to see if they were used. All photographers are credited on my website.
* * *
Okay, I’d strap in now. This is going to be a journey.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25
AMERICAN ARE YOU SCARED YET
Welcome to the American Are You Scared Yet Official Website!
* * *
We are the only live reality show, exclusively on Shiver—your place to stream fear! Our first episode will air on Tuesday, February 22 at 10/9c.
* * *
Sight unseen, will you root for:
A) The famous surfer
B) The reality star mother-to-be
C) The doting newlywed
D) The bodybuilder
E) The American Ultimate Fighter
F) The MMA fighting aunt
G) The Olympian
TREV: CONTESTANT
Los Angeles, CA
* * *
The ring light is on, the camera is rolling, and the viewer count is at 1,245 and growing. Perfect.
“Hey, fans out there! Thanks so much for taking a minute to check out my Live! I have some incredible news this afternoon! You may have heard some buzz around a show called American Are You Scared Yet. After eight seasons in Japan, it’s totally coming to America. I know what you’re thinking: Will it be as extreme? Will it be any good? The first season of anything is a toss-up—I get it. But I promise you, you’ll want to check this out! Why, Trev? Why?
Cause, babes, I was asked to participate! I’m SO stoked! They saw my surfing vids and thought I could take on the competition no problem. I almost said no. I mean, a lot of people have died trying to win the title of Killer and get that prize money. But then I thought, Trev, you got this. I’ve taken on 71.4-foot waves; I’m practically a water strider. So you know what, babes? I totally do got this. I'm starting up a campaign with shirts and buttons in my support; there's also a section for a donation to my surf shop. Swipe up or go to my bio for the link to see all the swag I've got available! You know you want to back the first American Killer.”
Comments and hearts stream across the screen, and it’s the dopamine hit Trev needs. He doesn’t bother responding. That just makes them thirstier, hoping that next time he’ll answer them.
“Well, the waves are calling, so I’m out!” He clicks off, making sure he saves the video and uploads it to his page. Trev can’t imagine how he’d feel—what he’d do—if it went away after 24 hours.
The view count before he closes the app is 54,980. That’s what I’m talking about. If I have to do this, I might as well get some extra fame for it.
He turns off the ring light, kicks up his feet, and goes back to what he was doing before the scheduled Live—playing Mario Cart and eating Fruit Loops.
CLARK: CONTESTANT
Augusta, GA
* * *
Clark wants to be the one that posts it, but Vanessa insists that she has more people regularly engaging on her social media profiles than he does.
“Honey, I just want everything to be perfect!” she says. “You understand. I'm doing this for us, really. I want us to have the most fans, the most support, the most love.”
“Sure you are honey,” he replies, kissing her on the forehead.
The photo Vanessa uses is from when they summited Mount St. Helen while visiting and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
She starts her post with “HI, EVERYONE!” From there, it just gets more annoying.
“Clark and I have something so exciting to announce,” it says. “I KNOW, I KNOW!”
Clark had watched her excitedly type the whole message, and remembers her eyes light up at the beginning—this must be why.
“We’re just full of announcements lately! But this one is different. We are going to be on a game show!”
Vanessa is watching Clark read the post now. Clark is glad Vanessa isn’t a writer; he couldn’t imagine reading more than a few paragraphs with her eyes on him like this.
“Drumroll please,” the post continues. “It’s American Are You Scared Yet! I KNOW! We can’t believe it ourselves. We didn’t even know the show took couples!” Clark imagines what backlash that comment will bring, shudders, and continues reading. “What a whirlwind of a year we’ve had! Got married! Got pregnant! And now we’re going to be on TV! Wish us luck and send us all your love and prayers just like you did for our wedding and the new addition to our family!”
Vanessa cracks her back.
I’m sorry I’m taking so long, honey.
“Thank you so much in advance for your support!” Vanessa wrote in the final paragraph. “The show airs in one month exclusively on Shiver! It will be on Tuesdays at 10/9c! From our family to yours —love you! Vanessa & Clark Monroe.”
Clark chooses to like it and writes how excited he is. But to Vanessa, he says nothing, just tries to keep his face impassive. By the time he’s finished reading it—less than a minute after she wrote it—there are already a few hundred responses. Despite Vanessa’s hope and request for positivity, there are a fair amount of mad reactions. To be honest, though, Clark doesn’t care much about other people’s opinions.
LUCA: CONTESTANT
Portland, OR
* * *
Luca wakes up early and heads to the gym. It’s finally the day he’s allowed (and contractually obligated) to tell at least one person about him being on the show. But honestly, they wouldn’t know if he didn’t—no one knows him. No one cares. Yet.
To follow his contract to the letter (he is a rule follower, after all) he will tell one person—the chatty receptionist. Her name is Nisha, and her eyes are glazed over as he signs in.
“I guess I’m supposed to tell this thing to a bunch of people today, but I don’t really want to, yeah?” Luca says.
She plasters on a barely tolerating you face and waits for him to leave.
“Here’s what it is,” Luca says, pretending Nisha cares. “I’m going to be on American Are You Scared Yet. It’s a TV show, kind of a big deal to some people, I guess.”
Nisha shrugs and forces a weak smile on her face. Luca waits for questions, for praise, for a phone number.
“Anything else I can help you with?” she asks, as if listening to his big news was some kind of favor.
“No, I’m just going to go hit the—”
“Have fun,” Nisha says dispassionately, dropping her gaze back down to her phone.
Luca enters the weight room, deflated. He sees a man he’s chatted with before. One more person. I’ll just tell one more person. Nisha didn t make his announcement feel very exciting.
HEATHER: CONTESTANT
Annapolis, MD
* * *
Heather has already told those closest to her about American Are You Scared Yet. The results were mixed.
Today, she tells her acquaintances and followers. She has 239 and going strong. The post is simple: a picture of her weightlifting at her favorite gym along with the caption, “I’m going to be on TV in a month! #americanareyouscaredyet.”
ERIK: CONTESTANT
Natchitoches, LA
* * *
“I’m just like, what else is left when you’ve already won American Ultimate Fighter?” Erik says to the mirror, practicing for his Live. If he had anyone he could tell in person, maybe he’d do that. If he was still in Minot, ND, he’d be having a party with some friends, but thanks to his new job, he’s in Louisiana now.
His phone buzzes and lights up with a text from an old co-worker. “Did you hear that Trev Mackenzie is going to be on American Are You Scared Yet? Isn’t that the show you were going to audition for?”
Erik checks all of Trev’s social media profiles. His Instafication Live is up with over 300,000 views already on the one platform, and it was only posted seven hours ago. With all of the platforms combined, it’s nearly half a million! Why did I think waiting would be a good idea? Right. The fucking algorithm and his numbers say that his engagement is best in the evening. Tonight, leaning in to that trend is biting him on the ass.
Shake it off. You’ll kill it.
Erik looks at the clock. 6:59 pm. He watches the numbers flash from 9 to 0. “Hey all! Looks like yours truly will be on the same show as Trev Mackenzie!” Seems they both had the what else is there mentality—Trev and his massive wave, and Erik and his title. “Go check his page out for more deets!” He hopes his plan of borrowing Trev’s fans will work for him, not against him.
Erik clicks to stop recording. I should have just posted on Gammet.
ADDY: CONTESTANT
Mansfield, OH
* * *
Addy chooses her photo for the announcement. She’s turned and smiling at something just off-camera; her profile is all you can see of her face. Her sweet yellow dress is streaked with sunlight from the cracked morning blinds. She uses her Instafication to show the softer side of herself, so it should do nicely. Should get me at least 150 likes. People pay more attention to the caption when humans are in the image—or so says the internet.
Her fingers hover over the keypad. She’s unsure how much she should say. Less is more, she decides.
She starts typing, but backs up and changes GREAT to great. Addy knows better than to shout on a crowded social media platform. This shouldn’t be so hard. A big swig of coffee and back to it.
“Good morning! ☀️ I’m finally able to tell you all the great news. I will be on the first season of #AmericanAreYouScaredYet! It airs in exactly one month. So I guess wish me luck? I’d love to take the gold again!” Addy nods to herself. It’s perfectly short and sweet. She comes up with a collection of hashtags and posts it.
Okay, now I need a run. Whether her nerves are from her followers’ responses or because she’s going to be on a deadly show, she’s not sure.
She chugs back the rest of her coffee and changes into tight, shiny pants and a sports bra. After grabbing a jacket and a bottle of water, Addy is out the door. Jittery insides have her jogging in place as she locks up.
Three floors down, a neighbor is getting the mail, and she calls to her. “Hey Colista! Going for a run, wanna come?”
The woman with short bangs and a freckled face tosses her head up towards Addy’s voice. “What the fuck? You’re going to be on American Are You Scared Yet? Seriously? Oh, I’m definitely joining you. We have to—”
A voice in between them shouts to shut the fuck up.
Addy and Colista both shout an apology back.
Colista gives her the one-minute finger and rushes out of sight. By the time Addy makes it to the bottom, doing twenty jumping jacks at each landing, Colista is flushed and dressed. “Seriously? You’re risking your life to be on TV? You do know that you’re an Olympian, right? People already know who you are.”
And it begins.
RANDOM VIEWERS
Nisha – Portland, OR
* * *
Nisha almost sighs with relief when Mr. I’ve Got Something Good And Only You Get To Hear About It leaves. It’s the oddest way she’s ever been hit on, but at least he got the hint without her having to say much.
She does a quick Now search to see what he was even talking about.
Twenty minutes later, Nisha is fully invested in Mr. I Signed Up For Death. She’s seen him before today and never thought about him for a second after he walked away. Today is different. Nisha snaps a photo of him on a leg machine that looks like an implement of torture and sends it to her friend with an article called Deadly Game or Just For Fun?
“Some guy just came into the gym and is low-key saying he’s gonna be on this show,” Nisha types. “Should I get him to sign something before he dies? Lol. But for real, have you heard of this nonsense?”
Shanika – Oahu, HI
* * *
“No—no fucking way, man. I was so amped for this show, but I still haven’t gotten to compete against Trev. After all, I’ve worked for, he can’t die. I deserve better than that. Do you think I could invite him to a small, local competition before the show and he’d say yes?” Porter asks, bony fist wrapped around a sweaty amber beer.
“I really do not,” Shanika says. “Besides, there are none happening right now. Shouldn’t we be focused on the fact that the elimination isn’t just a snarky one-liner, it’s death? Shouldn’t we care a little more about that?”
A loud ruckus erupts when some team scores.
“I mean, we do care. I’m pissed!” Porter shouts, his last word a little slurred.
“Yes, you are drunk,” Shanika says, laughing. “Gimme your keys. I’m cutting you off. I have to be in early tomorrow.”
“Are you not upset, too? I’ve missed out on dates practicing!” Porter fidgets with his hoodie zipper.
Shanika stops laughing. “Yes, and that was your choice, not Trev’s. Whether you ever even meet is irrelevant at this point. You may as well be best buds with all the time you’ve spent thinking about him. I can’t do this anymore; I can’t listen to you complain about your life not being easy enough.”
Porter is clearly taken aback. “I don’t do that!”
“Fine, then talk about anything other than surfing, swimming, Trev, or the beach for the next hour.” He’s literally incapable, Shanika knows. “Otherwise, I’m going to go and text you tomorrow or the next day.”
He makes it ten minutes before his lamenting turns back to American Are You Scared Yet. “Maybe they’ll let more than one person live in this version. Or maybe no one really dies, they are just tucked away for a few months until the press moves on to something else.”
