Headlights flick on behind us. At first I don’t think anything of it, but the way they move seems wrong somehow. It’s not a car. They’re single lights, weaving like only motorcycles can. They’re coming for us.
“Blade,” I yell into the roaring wind, as close to his ear as I can get. “They’re coming!”
He throws a quick glance backwards. “Motherfucker.” At least I assume that’s what he says. I catch his lips moving, but our speed swallows the sound. Then he does the impossible, demanding even more speed from his bike and actually finding it.
We blow past Alpha and Ripper, who catch up quickly, and then we’re flying down the street so fast I’m convinced we’re about to die.
A red light hangs over the next intersection, but the guys make no indication of slowing down. Alpha signals right with one arm, and then we’re leaning into the turn. I scream from the bottom of my lungs as the asphalt comes closer and closer. Desperate, I try to lean with Blade, knowing what a passenger is supposed to do, but all of my instincts want me to do the exact opposite. Asphalt blurs by, threatening a gruesome death only inches away.
Blade rights the bike, and floors it. The echoes of our engines chase us down the street as we go. Downtown fades into lower commercial buildings, and finally residential neighborhoods as we near the city limits. It doesn’t seem possible that we’ve made it this far, but I guess that’s what happens when you drive thruway speeds on Main Street. I risk another glance behind us, and we haven’t lost the Pit Vipers. If anything they’re coming closer.
We fly through another red light, and a siren starts to wail, like we weren’t in enough trouble already. Flashing blue lights color the night as a police cruiser picks up the chase. I’m sure our descriptions are already being passed around. How long will it take before one patrol car turns into a full on manhunt?
A bullet whizzes by just before the sound of the gunshot catches up. Ripper draws his pistol and fires back. Tires squeal, and one of the following bikes makes a sudden turn before slamming into a wall. I close my eyes with a wince, wishing I hadn’t just seen that.
Everything is chaos. People are shooting and one siren turns into two. I don’t even know. There’s too much going on and we’re moving too quickly. Every second I’m alive seems like a miracle, but we’re no closer to escape.
Up ahead, a new sound joins the mix. One that nobody wants to hear while driving except maybe little kids. A train crossing, and around here, the freight trains takeforever.Every year, there’s at least one news item about someone being stupid and trying to get around after the arm comes down. Usually it’s just a close call. Usually.
The guys speed up, rather than slow down. I beat on Blade’s shoulder. “Train!”
Down the tracks in the darkness, the headlight from the engine peeks through between a couple of warehouses and the horn toots. The guys pay no attention, though. I send out a prayer to whoever’s listening. Anyone will do.
Yellow light bathes the tracks as we reach the blinking barrier arm. Blade deftly dodges around it and onto the tracks. The others follow. The driver blares the horn and brakes scream, metal on metal, but there’s no way it will stop in time.
“Are you crazy?”
My teeth clack together as our tires go over the rails, and the light from the train is so close it’s blinding.
Expecting the inevitable, I close my eyes and wish I never found that stupid tape.
10
FAITH
The crossing is rough,with potholes between the rails, and old wooden planks clanking as Blade navigates between the barricades. All three bikes make it, roaring across the deadly gap and onto smooth asphalt just before the wind of the train rips past. They slow long enough to check on each other. Alpha stands up on the foot pegs, punches an arm up into the air and lets out a victory scream. Blade and Ripper join in, and even I can’t help the shaky laugh that comes out.
The Pit Vipers are stuck on the other side with the cops, and the train still hasn’t come to a stop. With a little luck, it will block the road and give the police plenty of time to deal with our tail.
“Let’s ride,” says Ripper, his voice strong but a little strained. “That’s enough excitement for one night. Even for me.”
We continue, fast, but nothing compared to earlier. Blade takes the lead, with Alpha and Ripper falling in behind us, putting me right in the middle, protected from all sides. Once we’re on the highway, the city falls away quickly, and then the suburbs too. I don’t know where we’re going, but so long as we’re alive, it doesn’t matter. My home is a smoking wreck and I feel numb inside, but I’m here.
For a while, adrenaline and the wind tearing through my thin pajamas keeps me awake, but that doesn’t last forever. Time passes, and leaning my face against Blade’s back, with my hands tucked into the front of his cut for warmth, my eyelids start to droop. I try to fight it, but when I jolt awake for the second time, I bat Blade on the shoulder. I didn’t live through all of that just to tumble off his bike at full speed.
“Falling asleep!” I yell as loud as I can into his ear, hoping he’ll hear me over the roar of the wind.
He nods, though, and makes a hand signal to the others. A flashing sign near the next exit advertises “Lov est M tel”, and beggars can’t be choosers.
We pull off. Blade helps me off the bike, and I nearly crumple on the spot when my legs give out. I can barely feel my slipper covered feet. He huffs and swings me into his arms.
“Put me down. I just need a second,” I insist, but he shifts his hold and makes no sign that he even heard me. I’m too tired to argue.
Alpha swings his leg off his bike. “Blade, get us rooms. Ripper, come with me so we can cover up the bikes.”
Blade shakes his head. “Faith’s about to drop.”
“Yeah, and I’ve got blood all over my jacket.”