I sighed as I felt the rumbling patches underneath my tires signaling the expanse of the bridge in front of me. I took a look in my rearview mirror, keeping an ear out for the sound of the car. But it was nowhere to be found. I didn’t hear the guys yelling. I didn’t feel them throwing bottles and cans at me. I even let off the gas, trying to see if I could hear them off in the distance.
There was nothing.
I sighed. “Holy shit, I think I actually lost them.”
Relief washed over my body. I shook my head as the rumbling patches gave way to the reddened concrete that signaled bridges in our area. I slowed my pace down, giving my bike a chance to breathe as I drew in the nighttime air through my nose. Everything was silent. Everything felt peaceful. I pulled over on the side of the bridge, turning off my engine as the trees around us shaded me.
“Silence,” I whispered.
There was nothing but the sound of the wind rustling the trees. Nothing but the sound of water rushing underneath the bridge. I peeked over the edge, seeing a great expanse of black with small caps of dark blue where the water rushed over smooth rocks at the bottom of the river. I’d completely forgotten this place existed. This small slice of country paradise on the outskirts of one of the biggest cities in the country.
I need to bring Rae here sometime. Have a picnic.
I smiled at the thought. The idea of bringing Rae here and sitting on the bank of the river. Our feet in the water. Our eyes, watching fish swim upstream, trying to fight the current. Our hands, interlaced as we looked out over the nature that surrounded us with full stomachs and a peaceful presence.
I let myself dream about it for a second before my mind took the helm again.
Sitting duck, Clarke.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins again. I cursed myself as I struck my bike’s engine back up. It was happening again. Me letting the thought of Rae distract me. I had to keep moving. I had to get home. I had to get back to the school and the grocery store and see if Rae was all right. I needed to go by her house to make sure she’d gotten home. And if she wasn’t home, I had to go out on a search for—
“Look who’s the sucker now!”
My head whipped around as the blaring headlight of the car filled my vision. Their horn blared over the sound of their disgusting laughter. I felt a glass beer bottle slam directly between my eyes. And as my head fell back, the sound of screeching tires filled my ears. The smell of burning rubber wafted underneath my nostrils. I heard metal crunching against metal, alerting me to the imminent threat.
Get off the bike. Get off your fucking bike.
I moved my leg just before it got pinned. I lunged for the hood of the car, trying my best to avoid what was happening. I heard my bike slam against the metal railing of the bridge before the car backed up. I took off running, leaving my bike behind, darting for the trees. They were thick around these parts. No way in hell that car could navigate woods like that without being totaled.
But the throbbing in my forehead was too great.
“Geromino!”
It was the last thing I heard before I felt a searing pain waft up my side. I stumbled off my feet, hearing the laughter from those boys fill my ears. The car slammed into my side, shoving me toward the metal railing. And as I lost my balance, I felt myself teetering over the edge. Flailing my arms. Crying out for help. With tears threatening to burst from my eyes as the sky quickly came into view.
Before fading away into nothingness as my body slammed into the river.
41
Raelynn
Michael white-knuckled his steering wheel. “Do you have any idea where the fuck they are?”
I shook my head. “No. Just keep driving.”
“For all we know, he’s back home. Safe and sound. While we’re out here—”
“Just drive, damn it!”
I slid to the edge of the seat as Michael put on his high beams. We’d only just crossed the railroad tracks, and I already saw burnout marks on the asphalt of the road. There were patches of grass that had one-tire and two-tire streaks in them. I had Michael pull over on the side of the road. I hopped out and started looking around. I ran to the bridge, fearful that the worst had happened. I bent over the edge, looking for his bike. Looking for him. Looking for any signs of wreckage.
To my relief, there was none.
“Ready to keep going?”
I hopped back into his car. “Yes. Sorry. Thank you for stopping.”
“Not a problem. Didn’t think I’d actually see tire tracks out here.”