Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Winged Warrior ❯ Where it all began ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: hellhoundhavoc 
In the beginning when it all went wrong.
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.20.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 214 | Status: Work In Progress
In the beginning when it all went wrong.
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.20.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 214 | Status: Work In Progress
The man grunted and grimaced as he rammed his body into the cell door yet again. His determination and force had caused blood to rush to his face giving his normal tan flesh a deep red tint. Blood was leaking down from his wrinkled up nose as he ran into the door again trying to break it, to no avail. His right side, his battering ram, was now bruised and throbbing. His arm dangled lifelessly at his side. He shook in the cold dark cell. It reeked of mildew and the buzzing of the few lighting fixtures were driving him crazier by the minute. The dripping of water could be heard down the long empty corridor in front of the cell.
The determined vivid amber eyes of the man shifted around to the cell beside him. There sat a woman watching him hopelessly hit the door. "I’ll get us out of here, Sam, I swear I will." He spoke in a deep voice. He drew himself away from the door. The cell was seven feet high and wide as well as a puke green. There was only a small compartment for a bathroom and then a bench like bed without a mattress or pillow. He stood a little under half a foot smaller then the ceiling level. The walls kept feeling like they were closing in as if he was a caged bird.
The woman dubbed Sam only shook her head, her light green eyes looking sympathetically at the tall man. He would destroy himself first. She looked down again and scooted away, disappearing into the darkness of the separate cell.
However, the man was confident. He positioned his toned athletic body towards the cell door again. He ran forward throwing himself into it. He winced and groaned in pain sliding down. His messy dirt brown medium length hair fell in front of his angry face. His well portioned face was only slightly lit, the other shadowed by his long bangs. He ran his thumb under his nose catching the blood before it leaked in and out of his mouth onto the strip of a beard on his chin. He took in deep breaths, he wasn’t ready to give up. Three well dressed gentlemen entered the room. Two of which carried another woman. The man looked up, he knew her immediately. Short blond hair, the body, the face, "Alex..." he whispered as blinked shocked and confused. The two ogreish men threw her into the empty cell beside his own.
"Did her good." one commented laughing hysterically. The shock turned to anger as the man looked at this ‘Alex’. She was unconscious. He leaped up, striking at the guard nearest his cell.
"You bastard!" He hissed flailing at him desperately trying to cause the man in which harmed her as much pain as the iron bar would allow him to do. "What did you do to her?!"
"River stop!" Sam yelled leaping up and running over to the side of her cell.
"River, huh?" One of the men grabbed a hold of his arm and twisted it down the wrong way. "Aw, looks like someone tried to break out." The guard taunted striking at the bruises
"River, River, River... where have I heard that name before?" The man pondered striking the bruises which each second, River’s body began to sink to the side as he cringed. "Oh yeah!" The man drew out a gun and pointed it straight at River’s face. River heard Sam screamed then he opened his eyes. By then it was too late, the trigger was pulled a gas pellet had been fired at him. It hit directly under his nose breaking and spreading up into his nose. He could still hear Sam yelling when the world began to fuzz, he felt his face hit the bars then he began to slide down. Why? He thought tormented, Why us? He heard a thud and then the pain dissipated.
He couldn’t help but think back as he lost consciousness. It kept running through his head. What happened to them... he kept wondering why. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
It was Friday morning, Ms. Vexo was leaving for the weekend. It was only a weekend alone. River had work to do both days. Alex had practice on Saturday. Sam was going to be walking dogs on Sunday. The main concern, the boy, River, wouldn’t be in the house for more then fifteen minutes before he would crash up in the attic or on the living room couch on both days she would be away. She hopped that the teens wouldn’t destroy her house on Friday, being everyone’s day off.
The small woman looked up at River. The 6'5 boy carried her bags on his broad shoulders helping her load her car like a true gentlemen. As much as she trusted him, she wasn’t sure. She looked at Sam and Alex standing by the door whispering back and forth while River arranged the bags in the trunk. "Hey Ms. V, do you want me to put this bag up front?" River asked. He held what appeared to be a small duffle bag.
"Oh, yeah, yeah." she waved him off. He then opened the passenger side door and set the bag down. Sam finally stopped whispering with Alex and ran over to her mother, getting on the ground and wrapping her arms around her mother’s leg. She shivered almost whimpering like a small child begging their mother not to leave them alone. "Oh Samantha. Come on."
"No Mom! Not Come on Samantha. Sam, get in the car and come with me, we’ll have lots of fun. Not Samantha come on." Sam whimpered not letting go. "Please, please, please." Sam whined.
"Sam." her mother replied annoyed. "If it will get you off my leg." She took a digital camera out of her pocket and presented it to Sam. The teen removed herself from her mother’s leg, grabbed the camera, promptly thanked her mother then rushed into the house cheerfully. "That child, I swear. You two, no wild parties, no staying up late, there is 50 dollars on the counter for food and only food. Stay out of trouble, I don’t feel like coming back to bail either of you out." The two were already laughing a bit. "I’ll be back Monday night. If any really really important happens contact me on my cell."
"Don’t worry, we’ve got it under control. Just got enjoy your trip." Alex said walking over to River. All of them were taller then Ms. V. Alex hit River at chin level at 5'10, Alex was an inch taller then Sam, Sam was four inches taller then her mother. The small brown haired woman had no other choice but to nod and agree. She couldn’t send them away, they had no where else to go.
"River, if you do anything I’d deem inappropriate, I’ll get a rusty axe." Ms. Vexo looked up at the giant boy. He just blinked down at her. His shoulder rose up and pressed against his neck nervously.
"To Sam, ma’am? I would never think of that when you so generously gave me a bed to sleep in." he said backing away. It didn’t matter if she was three feet taller than him or two feet short. Ms. Vexo had the power to put the fear of god into him. She used it well, making River one of the most behaved men on the entire block.
"To Alex as well." She reached up and messed with the hair on Alex’s head. "I consider them both my daughter you realize this right, so if you do anything." She just made a chopping action. She gave him the evil eye before walking around to the driver’s side."Hey, what happens to them if they do something to me?" River questioned raising an eyebrow. "That’s two against one... oooohhhhhh that’s two against one." River smiled at Alex who pushed him. He only laughed "you know I was joking."
"If they gang up on you, fend them off and run like hell. Call me, I’ll deal with them the
proceeding Monday." she replied smiling.
"What if it happens tonight though?" River asked blinking. Alex rested her arm on his shoulder.
"Then you’re shit out of luck aren’t you?" She teased. He only pouted at her. "Oh give it a rest River, I’m not going to help Sam gang up on you."
"And if you both gang up on Sam, I’ll kick you both out." She smiled then climbed in her car. "Well, tell my rotten ungrateful child goodbye for me will you."River, don’t burn down the house."
"No Promises, Ms. V."
She just shook her head laughing, she waved to the two. They both watched her pull out of the drive way then drive down the road. The two exchanged a look shrugged then walked back inside. Both ended up landing across each other in the living room after shutting and locking the door. "So how have you been lately, Rivie boy?"
"I’ve actually been having this weird dream lately." he said rubbing his head. "But other than that, I’ve been all right."
"A strange dream about what?" Alex asked sitting up and looking at him interested with her icy blue eyes. "Has it inspired you to write or draw anything?" She raised an eyebrow. Shifting closer to him, River just shook his head.
"No, nothing in the creative category." River sighed looking over at her almost out of tune with reality at the moment. "I was in mid-air.... and just zooming around in this forest. I know where I’m going, but I don’t know... where I’m going. I know that makes no sense. My feet just never touched the ground.... and what’s very strange... that didn’t feel weird at all... it was almost as if I did it most of my life." He stared at the ceiling. "Maybe I was meant to be a Bird..."
"A Bird Brain that’s for sure!" Alex gave him a joking shove. They both laughed a bit, but River stopped first. He cut out the entire part where she appeared and she had these amazing light blue wings... he didn’t want to draw it, even though it would have been amazing. With Sam snooping and his privacy not specifically an issue for the two girls, it was just too risky. Plus, he had sworn against drawing Alex after Sam told him to draw her and then Alex said it wasn’t her, that he had just found some chick off the internet. He didn’t know if she meant the picture was ugly or if she meant that it was too good to be her. He just didn’t know and wouldn’t ask. "Hey, are you okay?" She shook him a bit when he zoned out just staring off into space.
"What?" He snapped back into attention then smiled at her. "Sorry about that... just out of it I guess." He then stood helping her up. He looked around the house a bit then decided it was time for a change of scenery. "Hey, I’m gonna go on a ride." He said walking over and picking his helmet up out of the closet. "You want to come?" He offered her a similar helmet.
"No way man, I’ve seen you pull a wheelie on that thing." Alex said stepping back putting her hand on her hip.
"I’m not stupid. Besides the extra weight on the back would cause the entire formula I have for the wheelie to fail." He thought for a second. "Chances are, not only would the front lift off the ground, but the back would too by that time both of us would have hit the ground. Or I could try a front wheelie, destroy both our faces and possibly have to eat through tubes the rest of our lives." He said shaking out his hair and getting ready to put on his helmet. "And that children is why you wear a helmet." River finished sounding like an after school special. He put his helmet on adjusting it. "Yes or no knowing this?"
"Well... once couldn’t hurt. Just no crazy stunts or anything." Alex said grabbing a hold on the extra helmet.
"Like I told you, the extra weight on the back would throw off my formulas... it would cause utter disaster. That’s not my plan... oh here." He straightened her helmet. "Hey Sam" River yelled up the stairs. "You mom said goodbye to you, her rotten ungrateful daughter, her words." River snickered. "Alex and I are going for a ride. We’ll be back in a bit, okay?"
"WAIT!" Sam said. She burst out of her room and ran in as River was putting on his jacket and gloves, while Alex was doing pretty much the same thing. Thousands of flashes erupted out of the digital camera as Sam ran around them they hardly had any recovery time. "Alex and River go on a ride, day one." Sam said with a smile. River stumbled a bit then sat down.
"Okay give me a minute," he said dazedly. "Jeez Sam, did you get enough?" he asked flipping up the face shield on his mask and rubbing his eyes. Then standing up and grabbing his keys and shoving them in his coat pocket. He steadied a swaying Alex. "Focus in babe." She nailed him in the gut for calling her babe. "Yeah, you’re focused." He said sort of out of breath.
"Ow." She shook her hand. "What the hell is under your shirt kid?" She felt like she had hit a rock.
"The same thing there is every day Alex... my belly."
"Have you been eating rocks or something?" she asked as the two of them walked outside. Sam followed close behind with the camera in hand. He just shook his head and lifted his shirt slightly, showing off his abs. "Holy crap River, you’re a freak."
"You beat I am." He said smiling and nodding his head just like a teenage boy. Alex got him in the side this time, with her elbow. "Ow..." He walked around and got the blue ‘sports’ motorcycle, he, of course, tricked out of the garage before stopping in front of Alex. "I had to get it out of my system." Sam snapped a picture. "Would you stop that?" River grumbled. So Sam took another picture. "Vexo." She ran away flailing the camera in the air. Sam disappeared behind the door, slamming it, the sound of the lock turning was never louder. River only laughed then turned to Alex quickly. "Let’s go." He smile then straightened her helmet again. "All right, just jump on, not literally mind you."
"I know what to do." She replied getting on the bike behind him and cross her arms. River just shook his head.
"I could be cruel right now and speed up throwing you off because you’re obviously not secured." River said looking back. Alex just rolled her eye and put her arms around his waist. "You have a good grip?" She grunt a yes already. "Sweet." He revved the bike then pulled away from the house. They just cruised around the city at a lower speed then must have been normal for River. It was a small town for the most part, almost everyone knew everyone. You couldn’t get thrown in jail without everyone finding out somehow. The little town had a main street with small shops and family owned restaurant. It still had some dirt roads but more often than not it was pavement. They passed by the high school. The Sign out front read ‘Have Fun and be safe on Sping brek’. It was almost custom for the senior to steal letters every day of spring break, then the night before rearrange them into a new message on the board.
River finally stopped at the outskirts of town, looking back at the town. No one was really out and about this morning. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and would soon be hidden behind the approaching storm clouds. He and Alex just sat there in the still silence of the morning watching it.
"Do you watch the sun rise normally?" Alex asked, leaning on him from the back of the bike. He nodded removing his helmet and setting it in front of him. "Well.. It is lovely..."
"Lovely? Never thought I’d hear that come out your mouth." He replied with a smile looking back at her. He got off the bike as did she. River just sat on the ground staring upward. He didn’t even care that technically he was still in his pajama’s not having bothered to change before leaving the house to help Sam’s mother, or before getting on the bike. "What are you thinking about?" Alex inquired looking at him for a second.
"Who knows really." He replied. "There is too much to think about." He lend back on the grassy hillish land. "Tell me when you want to head back." He said just staring off into space now. His eyes then darted towards the dense forest surrounding the entire little town excluding some major roads leading out of it, but the forest even lined that. He always wanted to go in there, but he never did. There was an urge in him to just run through the tree, leaping off of them and swerving around like a madman. It seemed so fun in his mind but he never got around to actually doing it. In his mind though, he could imagine just finding out something about himself just running around in there... but that was just his imagination. He always dismissed it. He was already gone by the time Alex spoke again.
"Hey River." She looked at him. She got no reply from the boy so she nudged him. He leaped up and assumed a defensive pose as if it was second nature to him. But, River had never taken martial arts or any other combat training. "You okay?" She asked feeling his head.
"I’m fine... I was just thinking..." He said rubbing the back of his head after dropping his battle ready hands.
"How did you know that pose? That’s not traditionally one that they put in movies."
"What pose?" River asked tilting his head to one side confused. He was completely unaware of what he just did. Alex stepped away from him looking at him as if he was crazy or just an idiot. “What?” he asked annoyed by her strange look.
“Just nothing. I’m ready to go home now.” She said stepping back towards the bike, putting the helmet back on. River sort of nodded escaping his daze after looking at the forest one last time. He put his helmet back on and drove them home silently. Upon returning home, Sam had already broken out the CDs and was messing with the stereo system munching on a cup of cereal. River and Alex walked into a random song, they weren’t quite sure what it was but Sam immediately changed it. She looked up at them. The song changed immediately to something both knew. River took off his helmet and threw it onto the couch. It was Go the Distance which was sung by Michael Bolton. He took off his gloves then looked to Alex. “Would you care to dance?” he offered his hand in a pleasant gesture, it was obviously just a dance between friends. Sam was signal wildly for Alex to say yes. Seeing as Sam was near the door and River wasn’t a bad guy she agreed to it. It was just a funny little dance mixed some classical steps; he was actually a real good dancer which surprised her.
The giant, motorcycle driving, football playing, typical teenage boy could dance? What was up with that? It took her a bit to realize it, but he was singing along too! Under his breath, perfectly in tune, she couldn’t believe it at all.
“I have often dreamed, of a far off place, where a hero's welcome, would be waiting for me” he sang lowly. He had a very boy bandish voice, a tenor probably; she would have guessed that any from the way he talked. It just shocked her that he was actually singing.
“Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face and a voice keeps saying, this is where I’m meant to be.” With the starting music over the classical dance moves were talking control.
“I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance, I will find my way, if I can be strong.” She could hear it stronger now, they had drifted closer.
“I know ev’ry mile, will be worth my while when I go the distance, I’ll be right where I belong.” They had stopped paying attention to Sam who was using that digital camera her mother had so graciously given her to tape the entire scene.
“Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate though that road may wander, it will lead me to you” his hand slight almost as if you meant her. She dismissed it as a mere slip of hand
“And a thousand years, would be worth the wait It might take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through” He still hadn’t gotten louder but they were much closer now the song just continued.
“And I won't look back, I can go the distance And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part For a hero's strength is measured by his heart Like a shooting star, I will go the distance I will search the world, I will face its' harms I don't care how far, I can go the distance Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms I will search the world, I will face its harms Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms” By this time they were face to face, the song ended and they stood there from an outer stand point they looked as though they were about to kiss.
“A-HEM.” Sam said after they stood there for a minute straight saying nothing. River stepped back letting go of Alex’s hands the heading out of the room quickly. “Wooowww… that would have been the best footage ever if you idiots would have just kissed, but alas, nothing, there was no kiss. ” Sam sat on the couch fiddling with the camera.
“Oh shut up Sam.” Alex replied. “We’re just friends; that would have been weird.”
“Ohhhh RIGHT, ‘just friends’ I gottca” Sam said sarcastically still going through her photos. “Who the….” Alex blinked a bit walking over. “Who is that?” Sam pointed to a man who appeared to not be standing back too far when Alex and River were about to get on the motorcycle. “Alex…” Sam looked at her alarmed. “Whoever it is… he’s in the house.” Sam pointed to one of the pictures. The man was in the house behind River and Alex again.
“Sam, get the police on the phone. I’ll get River.” Alex ran out of the room. Sam followed behind grabbing the phone and getting nothing.
“The phones are cut.” Sam called scared. She stuck extremely close to Alex. They started up the stairs slowly, the sounds of crashing and yelling was beginning to appear and get louder.
“RIVER!” Alex yelled running up the stairs and tearing open the attic latch. Sam rejoined her just as River came crashing through the floor five feet from the latch. He groaned in pain, eyes closed. The man jumped down and grabbed a hold of River’s collar, both of them had rips on their clothing and bruises. Alex didn’t stop to think she jumped on the man’s back, she wrapped her arms under his armpits then placed her hands behind his head. She lifted him off the ground throwing him across the room. “come on!” She put her hand out to River. He grabbed it out of focus.
“Look out!” Sam screamed, the mysterious man was up now. He threw down a capsule. The area filled with smoke. River grabbed a hold of what he thought was Alex’s hand. The smoke began to draw heavy on his lung. He felt faint. His grip loosened and then there was darkness.
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He awoke in that cell. They were already taking Alex away. In fear he began to react by trying to break the bars. Sam just watched she had no idea where she was either. Then the memory was fuzzy.
The determined vivid amber eyes of the man shifted around to the cell beside him. There sat a woman watching him hopelessly hit the door. "I’ll get us out of here, Sam, I swear I will." He spoke in a deep voice. He drew himself away from the door. The cell was seven feet high and wide as well as a puke green. There was only a small compartment for a bathroom and then a bench like bed without a mattress or pillow. He stood a little under half a foot smaller then the ceiling level. The walls kept feeling like they were closing in as if he was a caged bird.
The woman dubbed Sam only shook her head, her light green eyes looking sympathetically at the tall man. He would destroy himself first. She looked down again and scooted away, disappearing into the darkness of the separate cell.
However, the man was confident. He positioned his toned athletic body towards the cell door again. He ran forward throwing himself into it. He winced and groaned in pain sliding down. His messy dirt brown medium length hair fell in front of his angry face. His well portioned face was only slightly lit, the other shadowed by his long bangs. He ran his thumb under his nose catching the blood before it leaked in and out of his mouth onto the strip of a beard on his chin. He took in deep breaths, he wasn’t ready to give up. Three well dressed gentlemen entered the room. Two of which carried another woman. The man looked up, he knew her immediately. Short blond hair, the body, the face, "Alex..." he whispered as blinked shocked and confused. The two ogreish men threw her into the empty cell beside his own.
"Did her good." one commented laughing hysterically. The shock turned to anger as the man looked at this ‘Alex’. She was unconscious. He leaped up, striking at the guard nearest his cell.
"You bastard!" He hissed flailing at him desperately trying to cause the man in which harmed her as much pain as the iron bar would allow him to do. "What did you do to her?!"
"River stop!" Sam yelled leaping up and running over to the side of her cell.
"River, huh?" One of the men grabbed a hold of his arm and twisted it down the wrong way. "Aw, looks like someone tried to break out." The guard taunted striking at the bruises
"River, River, River... where have I heard that name before?" The man pondered striking the bruises which each second, River’s body began to sink to the side as he cringed. "Oh yeah!" The man drew out a gun and pointed it straight at River’s face. River heard Sam screamed then he opened his eyes. By then it was too late, the trigger was pulled a gas pellet had been fired at him. It hit directly under his nose breaking and spreading up into his nose. He could still hear Sam yelling when the world began to fuzz, he felt his face hit the bars then he began to slide down. Why? He thought tormented, Why us? He heard a thud and then the pain dissipated.
He couldn’t help but think back as he lost consciousness. It kept running through his head. What happened to them... he kept wondering why. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
It was Friday morning, Ms. Vexo was leaving for the weekend. It was only a weekend alone. River had work to do both days. Alex had practice on Saturday. Sam was going to be walking dogs on Sunday. The main concern, the boy, River, wouldn’t be in the house for more then fifteen minutes before he would crash up in the attic or on the living room couch on both days she would be away. She hopped that the teens wouldn’t destroy her house on Friday, being everyone’s day off.
The small woman looked up at River. The 6'5 boy carried her bags on his broad shoulders helping her load her car like a true gentlemen. As much as she trusted him, she wasn’t sure. She looked at Sam and Alex standing by the door whispering back and forth while River arranged the bags in the trunk. "Hey Ms. V, do you want me to put this bag up front?" River asked. He held what appeared to be a small duffle bag.
"Oh, yeah, yeah." she waved him off. He then opened the passenger side door and set the bag down. Sam finally stopped whispering with Alex and ran over to her mother, getting on the ground and wrapping her arms around her mother’s leg. She shivered almost whimpering like a small child begging their mother not to leave them alone. "Oh Samantha. Come on."
"No Mom! Not Come on Samantha. Sam, get in the car and come with me, we’ll have lots of fun. Not Samantha come on." Sam whimpered not letting go. "Please, please, please." Sam whined.
"Sam." her mother replied annoyed. "If it will get you off my leg." She took a digital camera out of her pocket and presented it to Sam. The teen removed herself from her mother’s leg, grabbed the camera, promptly thanked her mother then rushed into the house cheerfully. "That child, I swear. You two, no wild parties, no staying up late, there is 50 dollars on the counter for food and only food. Stay out of trouble, I don’t feel like coming back to bail either of you out." The two were already laughing a bit. "I’ll be back Monday night. If any really really important happens contact me on my cell."
"Don’t worry, we’ve got it under control. Just got enjoy your trip." Alex said walking over to River. All of them were taller then Ms. V. Alex hit River at chin level at 5'10, Alex was an inch taller then Sam, Sam was four inches taller then her mother. The small brown haired woman had no other choice but to nod and agree. She couldn’t send them away, they had no where else to go.
"River, if you do anything I’d deem inappropriate, I’ll get a rusty axe." Ms. Vexo looked up at the giant boy. He just blinked down at her. His shoulder rose up and pressed against his neck nervously.
"To Sam, ma’am? I would never think of that when you so generously gave me a bed to sleep in." he said backing away. It didn’t matter if she was three feet taller than him or two feet short. Ms. Vexo had the power to put the fear of god into him. She used it well, making River one of the most behaved men on the entire block.
"To Alex as well." She reached up and messed with the hair on Alex’s head. "I consider them both my daughter you realize this right, so if you do anything." She just made a chopping action. She gave him the evil eye before walking around to the driver’s side."Hey, what happens to them if they do something to me?" River questioned raising an eyebrow. "That’s two against one... oooohhhhhh that’s two against one." River smiled at Alex who pushed him. He only laughed "you know I was joking."
"If they gang up on you, fend them off and run like hell. Call me, I’ll deal with them the
proceeding Monday." she replied smiling.
"What if it happens tonight though?" River asked blinking. Alex rested her arm on his shoulder.
"Then you’re shit out of luck aren’t you?" She teased. He only pouted at her. "Oh give it a rest River, I’m not going to help Sam gang up on you."
"And if you both gang up on Sam, I’ll kick you both out." She smiled then climbed in her car. "Well, tell my rotten ungrateful child goodbye for me will you."River, don’t burn down the house."
"No Promises, Ms. V."
She just shook her head laughing, she waved to the two. They both watched her pull out of the drive way then drive down the road. The two exchanged a look shrugged then walked back inside. Both ended up landing across each other in the living room after shutting and locking the door. "So how have you been lately, Rivie boy?"
"I’ve actually been having this weird dream lately." he said rubbing his head. "But other than that, I’ve been all right."
"A strange dream about what?" Alex asked sitting up and looking at him interested with her icy blue eyes. "Has it inspired you to write or draw anything?" She raised an eyebrow. Shifting closer to him, River just shook his head.
"No, nothing in the creative category." River sighed looking over at her almost out of tune with reality at the moment. "I was in mid-air.... and just zooming around in this forest. I know where I’m going, but I don’t know... where I’m going. I know that makes no sense. My feet just never touched the ground.... and what’s very strange... that didn’t feel weird at all... it was almost as if I did it most of my life." He stared at the ceiling. "Maybe I was meant to be a Bird..."
"A Bird Brain that’s for sure!" Alex gave him a joking shove. They both laughed a bit, but River stopped first. He cut out the entire part where she appeared and she had these amazing light blue wings... he didn’t want to draw it, even though it would have been amazing. With Sam snooping and his privacy not specifically an issue for the two girls, it was just too risky. Plus, he had sworn against drawing Alex after Sam told him to draw her and then Alex said it wasn’t her, that he had just found some chick off the internet. He didn’t know if she meant the picture was ugly or if she meant that it was too good to be her. He just didn’t know and wouldn’t ask. "Hey, are you okay?" She shook him a bit when he zoned out just staring off into space.
"What?" He snapped back into attention then smiled at her. "Sorry about that... just out of it I guess." He then stood helping her up. He looked around the house a bit then decided it was time for a change of scenery. "Hey, I’m gonna go on a ride." He said walking over and picking his helmet up out of the closet. "You want to come?" He offered her a similar helmet.
"No way man, I’ve seen you pull a wheelie on that thing." Alex said stepping back putting her hand on her hip.
"I’m not stupid. Besides the extra weight on the back would cause the entire formula I have for the wheelie to fail." He thought for a second. "Chances are, not only would the front lift off the ground, but the back would too by that time both of us would have hit the ground. Or I could try a front wheelie, destroy both our faces and possibly have to eat through tubes the rest of our lives." He said shaking out his hair and getting ready to put on his helmet. "And that children is why you wear a helmet." River finished sounding like an after school special. He put his helmet on adjusting it. "Yes or no knowing this?"
"Well... once couldn’t hurt. Just no crazy stunts or anything." Alex said grabbing a hold on the extra helmet.
"Like I told you, the extra weight on the back would throw off my formulas... it would cause utter disaster. That’s not my plan... oh here." He straightened her helmet. "Hey Sam" River yelled up the stairs. "You mom said goodbye to you, her rotten ungrateful daughter, her words." River snickered. "Alex and I are going for a ride. We’ll be back in a bit, okay?"
"WAIT!" Sam said. She burst out of her room and ran in as River was putting on his jacket and gloves, while Alex was doing pretty much the same thing. Thousands of flashes erupted out of the digital camera as Sam ran around them they hardly had any recovery time. "Alex and River go on a ride, day one." Sam said with a smile. River stumbled a bit then sat down.
"Okay give me a minute," he said dazedly. "Jeez Sam, did you get enough?" he asked flipping up the face shield on his mask and rubbing his eyes. Then standing up and grabbing his keys and shoving them in his coat pocket. He steadied a swaying Alex. "Focus in babe." She nailed him in the gut for calling her babe. "Yeah, you’re focused." He said sort of out of breath.
"Ow." She shook her hand. "What the hell is under your shirt kid?" She felt like she had hit a rock.
"The same thing there is every day Alex... my belly."
"Have you been eating rocks or something?" she asked as the two of them walked outside. Sam followed close behind with the camera in hand. He just shook his head and lifted his shirt slightly, showing off his abs. "Holy crap River, you’re a freak."
"You beat I am." He said smiling and nodding his head just like a teenage boy. Alex got him in the side this time, with her elbow. "Ow..." He walked around and got the blue ‘sports’ motorcycle, he, of course, tricked out of the garage before stopping in front of Alex. "I had to get it out of my system." Sam snapped a picture. "Would you stop that?" River grumbled. So Sam took another picture. "Vexo." She ran away flailing the camera in the air. Sam disappeared behind the door, slamming it, the sound of the lock turning was never louder. River only laughed then turned to Alex quickly. "Let’s go." He smile then straightened her helmet again. "All right, just jump on, not literally mind you."
"I know what to do." She replied getting on the bike behind him and cross her arms. River just shook his head.
"I could be cruel right now and speed up throwing you off because you’re obviously not secured." River said looking back. Alex just rolled her eye and put her arms around his waist. "You have a good grip?" She grunt a yes already. "Sweet." He revved the bike then pulled away from the house. They just cruised around the city at a lower speed then must have been normal for River. It was a small town for the most part, almost everyone knew everyone. You couldn’t get thrown in jail without everyone finding out somehow. The little town had a main street with small shops and family owned restaurant. It still had some dirt roads but more often than not it was pavement. They passed by the high school. The Sign out front read ‘Have Fun and be safe on Sping brek’. It was almost custom for the senior to steal letters every day of spring break, then the night before rearrange them into a new message on the board.
River finally stopped at the outskirts of town, looking back at the town. No one was really out and about this morning. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and would soon be hidden behind the approaching storm clouds. He and Alex just sat there in the still silence of the morning watching it.
"Do you watch the sun rise normally?" Alex asked, leaning on him from the back of the bike. He nodded removing his helmet and setting it in front of him. "Well.. It is lovely..."
"Lovely? Never thought I’d hear that come out your mouth." He replied with a smile looking back at her. He got off the bike as did she. River just sat on the ground staring upward. He didn’t even care that technically he was still in his pajama’s not having bothered to change before leaving the house to help Sam’s mother, or before getting on the bike. "What are you thinking about?" Alex inquired looking at him for a second.
"Who knows really." He replied. "There is too much to think about." He lend back on the grassy hillish land. "Tell me when you want to head back." He said just staring off into space now. His eyes then darted towards the dense forest surrounding the entire little town excluding some major roads leading out of it, but the forest even lined that. He always wanted to go in there, but he never did. There was an urge in him to just run through the tree, leaping off of them and swerving around like a madman. It seemed so fun in his mind but he never got around to actually doing it. In his mind though, he could imagine just finding out something about himself just running around in there... but that was just his imagination. He always dismissed it. He was already gone by the time Alex spoke again.
"Hey River." She looked at him. She got no reply from the boy so she nudged him. He leaped up and assumed a defensive pose as if it was second nature to him. But, River had never taken martial arts or any other combat training. "You okay?" She asked feeling his head.
"I’m fine... I was just thinking..." He said rubbing the back of his head after dropping his battle ready hands.
"How did you know that pose? That’s not traditionally one that they put in movies."
"What pose?" River asked tilting his head to one side confused. He was completely unaware of what he just did. Alex stepped away from him looking at him as if he was crazy or just an idiot. “What?” he asked annoyed by her strange look.
“Just nothing. I’m ready to go home now.” She said stepping back towards the bike, putting the helmet back on. River sort of nodded escaping his daze after looking at the forest one last time. He put his helmet back on and drove them home silently. Upon returning home, Sam had already broken out the CDs and was messing with the stereo system munching on a cup of cereal. River and Alex walked into a random song, they weren’t quite sure what it was but Sam immediately changed it. She looked up at them. The song changed immediately to something both knew. River took off his helmet and threw it onto the couch. It was Go the Distance which was sung by Michael Bolton. He took off his gloves then looked to Alex. “Would you care to dance?” he offered his hand in a pleasant gesture, it was obviously just a dance between friends. Sam was signal wildly for Alex to say yes. Seeing as Sam was near the door and River wasn’t a bad guy she agreed to it. It was just a funny little dance mixed some classical steps; he was actually a real good dancer which surprised her.
The giant, motorcycle driving, football playing, typical teenage boy could dance? What was up with that? It took her a bit to realize it, but he was singing along too! Under his breath, perfectly in tune, she couldn’t believe it at all.
“I have often dreamed, of a far off place, where a hero's welcome, would be waiting for me” he sang lowly. He had a very boy bandish voice, a tenor probably; she would have guessed that any from the way he talked. It just shocked her that he was actually singing.
“Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face and a voice keeps saying, this is where I’m meant to be.” With the starting music over the classical dance moves were talking control.
“I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance, I will find my way, if I can be strong.” She could hear it stronger now, they had drifted closer.
“I know ev’ry mile, will be worth my while when I go the distance, I’ll be right where I belong.” They had stopped paying attention to Sam who was using that digital camera her mother had so graciously given her to tape the entire scene.
“Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate though that road may wander, it will lead me to you” his hand slight almost as if you meant her. She dismissed it as a mere slip of hand
“And a thousand years, would be worth the wait It might take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through” He still hadn’t gotten louder but they were much closer now the song just continued.
“And I won't look back, I can go the distance And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part For a hero's strength is measured by his heart Like a shooting star, I will go the distance I will search the world, I will face its' harms I don't care how far, I can go the distance Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms I will search the world, I will face its harms Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms” By this time they were face to face, the song ended and they stood there from an outer stand point they looked as though they were about to kiss.
“A-HEM.” Sam said after they stood there for a minute straight saying nothing. River stepped back letting go of Alex’s hands the heading out of the room quickly. “Wooowww… that would have been the best footage ever if you idiots would have just kissed, but alas, nothing, there was no kiss. ” Sam sat on the couch fiddling with the camera.
“Oh shut up Sam.” Alex replied. “We’re just friends; that would have been weird.”
“Ohhhh RIGHT, ‘just friends’ I gottca” Sam said sarcastically still going through her photos. “Who the….” Alex blinked a bit walking over. “Who is that?” Sam pointed to a man who appeared to not be standing back too far when Alex and River were about to get on the motorcycle. “Alex…” Sam looked at her alarmed. “Whoever it is… he’s in the house.” Sam pointed to one of the pictures. The man was in the house behind River and Alex again.
“Sam, get the police on the phone. I’ll get River.” Alex ran out of the room. Sam followed behind grabbing the phone and getting nothing.
“The phones are cut.” Sam called scared. She stuck extremely close to Alex. They started up the stairs slowly, the sounds of crashing and yelling was beginning to appear and get louder.
“RIVER!” Alex yelled running up the stairs and tearing open the attic latch. Sam rejoined her just as River came crashing through the floor five feet from the latch. He groaned in pain, eyes closed. The man jumped down and grabbed a hold of River’s collar, both of them had rips on their clothing and bruises. Alex didn’t stop to think she jumped on the man’s back, she wrapped her arms under his armpits then placed her hands behind his head. She lifted him off the ground throwing him across the room. “come on!” She put her hand out to River. He grabbed it out of focus.
“Look out!” Sam screamed, the mysterious man was up now. He threw down a capsule. The area filled with smoke. River grabbed a hold of what he thought was Alex’s hand. The smoke began to draw heavy on his lung. He felt faint. His grip loosened and then there was darkness.
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He awoke in that cell. They were already taking Alex away. In fear he began to react by trying to break the bars. Sam just watched she had no idea where she was either. Then the memory was fuzzy.