Five Survive

Content Warning: The following section contains descriptions of murder and violence, and references to PTSD, profanity, alcoholism, blood, and the death of a parental figure.

The book opens with Red staring at her distorted reflection in the RV window while trying not to think about her mom, Grace. She is interrupted by Maddy, who asks if she forgot they were in the middle of playing twenty questions.

Red keeps forgetting what she is doing and thinking. She wants to ask Maddy which side of the bed Maddy sleeps on since Red can only sleep on the left side. However, she is distracted by a road sign, which shows that they should get on a new road soon.

Maddy asks Red to focus, but Red admits she forgot whom she chose as her person. Another friend, Simon, stumbles out of the bathroom. Simon is drunk on tequila brought by Oliver, Maddy’s older brother. When questioned by Maddy, Simon says that he is getting ready to celebrate spring break. Red talks to her friends but keeps getting distracted.

Maddy implies that Oliver, who is sitting in the front with his girlfriend, Reyna, does not like people touching his things. Simon argues that since everyone is in his uncle’s RV, he may touch their things.