No Forest for the Wicked - Chapters 1 - 5

Introduction

Did you know that there are places in Washington DC that have more squirrels per square mile than any other place on the earth? It has to be true, I read it in a book (as you can now pass this off as truth having just read it), and it is for this reason that I can officially declare that the squirrel is the true Americanimal.

Chapter 1

Brad was feeling the itch; the need for speed. The fingers connected to the white knuckles tingled. Adrenaline pumping, Brad extended his leg and slammed his foot all the way to down while flashing Jenny a devilish grin. She was digging him, how could she not? As the red Corvette neared triple digits Brad had one thought on his mind, and it appeared from the lustful look in Jenny’s eyes that the feeling was being reciprocated. Some people just really like speed and when those people connect magic happens.

Brad took one hand off of the wheel and placed it on Jenny’s leg, which was barely covered by her tight yellow mini-skirt and at that moment fixing his eyes on hers took priority over the approaching bend.

“Keep your eyes on the road,” Jenny laughed playfully, making no attempt to remove his caressing hand.

“Why?” Brad toyed. “Isn’t the danger the best part?”

Brad’s eyes returned to the road, but his eyes were not the only ones watching.

Chapter 2

He took in a deep and calming breath, as he always did before action. His lungs filled and he held it a moment. Let the oxygen disperse and let the nerves settle. Exhale and prepare. This was it; this was big time. With this one final act he could be forever immortalized and this dark and crisp night could, no would, go down in infamy. Was he nervous? No, why would he be, other than the mere fact that this final act of his would be more challenging than anything he had attempted prior; but as they say, the show must go on. Right?

Sure he was the best at what he did, he reassured himself, but was that enough? He extended his limbs and arched his back, he needed to stay alert. He closed his eyes slowly and opened them to study his surroundings once more. He had one shot, and timing made all the difference. In a few minutes he would meet his destiny.

Chapter 3

Another set of eyes peered down from above, the beady eyes fixed on the one that crouched along the roadside. “Soon you will meet your maker,” hissed a raspy voice. “Soon I shall too, but I know my fate.”

He continued to watch and his hatred intensified. He knew that the time was coming close and although he could not see the vehicle in his line of sight, the loud roar of its engine acted as a count down.

“I have dedicated my life and I am about to receive my reward. I am forever grateful.”

Chapter 4

“Come on, I can drive at the same time,” Brad insisted.

“So you have experience?” Jenny shot back.

“Uh,” Brad stammered for the right words. “No. I just figure that I can remain focused; that’s all.” Brad then pushed his foot even harder into the pedal, half out of the embarrassment over the question and half out of a need to change the topic.

“What are we at now?” Jenny leaned over to check the speedometer.

“About a buck fifteen,” Brad answered, becoming intoxicated off of the sweet smell of Jenny’s hair. Perhaps he should pull over, he thought, but at the same time did not want to let Jenny down when she was so clearly getting turned on.

“Hot,” Jenny whimpered. “How fast can you go?”

That is a question that Brad was willing to find the answer to, but unfortunately fate had other plans for him, as well as all that watched.

Chapter 5

He saw the headlights fast approaching and shuffled his bare feet in the dried leaves beneath. The gentle cracking from autumns offering was soothing to him as it reminded him of home. He welcomed the reminder of why he did what he did, but he also needed to get himself back in the moment. Now or never, he told himself; the same thing he would always tell himself before anything remotely important. A moment more passed and his thoughts along with the sounds of the leaves were drowned out by the deafening blare of the engine; which was enough to make even the bravest of hearts achieve a rapid rhythm.

Standing there studying, with palpitating heart, he tapped his foot and mouthed a few numbers in sequence; all part of the routine. After the technically precise counting in his head reached ten, he set off. He darted out onto the pavement with lightening stealth, holding his breath in anticipation. Maneuvering as only he could, he darted behind the front tire and narrowly escaped it claiming him.

He was halfway there and everything was going as planned. All he needed to do was clear the car before the rear tire passed and he was in the clear and forever immortalized; he would finally make his sons proud. Although he would never admit it, everything he had done in life had been to gain the approval of his two sons, which he knew was opposite of the normal family dynamic, but he also knew that what he had was not the normal family.

He was nearly there, and everything was appearing to be happening in slow motion. He watched as each of his feet greeted the asphalt and lunged off with such skill and the grace of a gazelle. He watched as little pebbles skittered up into the air, firing passed his head like the projectiles of a rifle. He also smelled the smell of burning rubber as he closed in on the goal line of the black wheel; close enough to make out the uneven wearing of the intricate treads and able to tell they were due for a rotation. Then the horrid and acrid stench that filled his nostrils, compounded with the shrill screech of breaks was enough to warn him that things were no longer going as planned, and unfortunately he also knew that it was too late. He was never going to have that opportunity to make his only surviving family proud.