Broken Wheels
Once in a while, Red goes for a bike ride, and sometimes Barney decides to tag along. He though it was a good way to stay in shape and spend some time together. They usually ride around in the afternoons on weekends or later at night on workdays. Today it seemed like it was just going to be another bike ride with each together, yet that sadly wasn't the case.
They had just came out of work an hour ago and they already felt ready to go. After taking a short nap, Red got his bike ready and waited for Barney to join him. It was a workday so they had to go later on, around nine. "Okay's I'ms ready" Barney shouted to Red. Barney turned to face the door and flipped though a few keys on his keychain to lock the door. Once he found the right key, he pushed in into the door nod and twisted it until a click was heard, indicated it was locked. Barney picked up his bike by the handles and rode it over to Red. It was dark out and the only lights were from other houses and the street lights that they come across once it a while. "Come on, I'll race you" Red replied taking off. "Hey's you's dirt bag!" Barney said laughing, taking off after Red.
He had finally caught up to Red, slightly out of breath. They crossed roads of neighborhoods in the quiet darkness. Everything was silent expect for their small conversations and dogs barking ever so often. The sky was slowly becoming dimmer and Barney became concerned about this. Red didn't seem to notice at all just riding down the sidewalk and empty roads.
"Hey's Red, should's we's go's back? It's getting's late." Barney asked. "Alright just ten more minutes" Red replied childishly. "You's sure, it's eleven's already?" Barney checked his phone a few minutes ago, but he took his best guess that it as around eleven. "Fine. Five more minutes." Red said, trying to persuade him to ride a bit longer. "Alright" Barney agreed. Time felt like it few by for Red. He wanted this night to last, to enjoy the silence and be with his friend. He always though it was sweet when Barney to come along. When Barney didn't ride with Red, he always came home earlier. He loved peace and quiet, but not being alone in silence. It made him feel uneasy.
"Okay let's go's Red's" Barney said. He didn't want to leave that much either, but he felt this feeling. It stayed with him for awhile, but he just passed it off as paranoia. However now the feeling felt as if the idea was nailed into his brain. "Alright." Red turned his bike around as Barney did the same. Red felt this feeling as well, but he always shook it off and focused on the road and Barney behind him. They were on the way back home and everything felt okay for a moment. Everything was okay until they saw a man walking on the side walk. At the end of the road they could see a van pull into the street. Barney and Red could easily tell the van was staying behind the man who was walking. That paranoid feeling came back to both of them.
"Hey." Red and Barney both heard this and turned their heads towards the man. Neither of them spoke. "Can you to come over here and help me real quick?" He asked. It was pitch black and the van didn't even have on it front lights. All the two could make out was that he was wearing a green hoodie and a baseball cap; covering details of his face. "What's do you's needs help with?" Barney asked. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation, and he surely didn't trust this man or the people in that van.
"I need to borrow your phone real quick" he asked. Barney grabbed Red's bike handle and pulled it towards him. "Sorry's, we lefts ours phones at home" Barney responded truthfully. Barney's response sounded normal, but his stare was telling the guy to get the hell away. "Okay," the man said "could you help me find mine then." He kept trying to convince the two to tend to his needs, yet neither Red or Barney would step forward. "We's have to leave's now, sorry" he said again. "No no, I promise it will only take a second" the man said. He slowly arched closer to the two while the people in the van just stalked nearby. Then Barney's calm voice became demanding. "We'res leavings now."
Barney let go of Red's bike and nudged his head away from the man. Without exchanging a word, they got onto their bikes and set off to leave. Red just so happens to look back at the man and get a good look at him. The only thing he could see was the anger in the man eyes. Fear struck Red as he become aware of the situation they were getting themselves into. And as they road home, they could feel eyes staring straight through them. Barney was fixated on only on getting home, the road, and most importantly, Red.
Everything was starting to quiet down as the sky slowly patterned with stars. The world was so beautiful, yet the two looked at each with confusion and shock. "What's ever that's was about?" Barney said looking behind him into the darkness. "Yeah" Red said in agreement, nodding my head.
They were about fifteen minutes away from home and they were feeling better. Barney laughed along with Red's jokes he made along the ride as they forgot about the whole event. Red just enjoyed finally having some alone to with Barney, and Barney enjoyed Red making him laugh. They stared at each other any opportunity they got; smiling at one another hiding shades of red from their faces.
Now ten minutes away from home, both Red and Barney were relived. They talked for a while, then stopped to look at the night sky and relax in the cool night air. Then Red looked over his to see Barney staring. He thought it was romantic at first and then felt awkward as they locked eyes. Then Barney expressed had changed in a matter of second. Red felt confused when Barney's stare went from confusion to full on concern. "Hey, are you feeling okay?" Red asked. Barney stopped. He put on foot on the ground below him and of course Red did the same, still mixed at what's going on. No words are said for a moment and things become slowly more chilling for them. So it scared Red when Barney suddenly grabbed his shoulder and told him to get on his bike. He didn't ask any questions, he just did what he was told.
"Go!" Barney called from behind Red. They both road at full speed, one know what happened, and another having no knowledge of the situation.
"Get over here, fucker!" They both heard. A car roared towards them as it became clear they were being followed now. Red's heart trembled as Barney's hands shook out of shock. Barney looked back once and regretted doing so. The man they had seen earlier was run at them with one of his hands dug into his pocket while the van was at the end of the street speeding at them.
His legs gave out for a second out of fear, yet he kept pushing himself to petal faster. Then he looked over to Red to see him horrified and out breath. Barney wanted to calm him down and say everything was okay, but he felt equality as terrified. Once Red looked over to Barney he had finally got the opportunity to signal him to turn left. Everything felt like it was in slow motion as they turned into alleyways to thin to fit any vehicle. All they had to do was wait in silence. They heard sighs of frustration and cursing from a few buildings away. But now, Barney and Red had to make the decision of leaving the bikes without words. They could leave the bikes and run, but if the people in the van came out and saw them, they were screwed. Same goes for if they take the bikes, the noise of getting on and riding off will be obvious as day.
They held each other closely out of protection. They both knew they wouldn't be able to stay hugging onto one another for long, yet it felt so enchanting for the two to hold each other in silence. Once the silence was broken by the mans footsteps being heard, Barney pulled away and grew the courage to peek around the corner for the people in the van. They had just parked and hadn't even gotten off yet. Barney felt relief as he stood up and held Red hand firmly. The butterflies in their stomachs was the only thing keeping them from giving out in exhaustion and fear.
Then the slow motion turned into fast forward. They ran and ran and never even thought of looking back. Their hands were still held together as they sprinted away. Both had decided to leave the bikes and hoped for the best.
Finally stoping, they both halfway collapsed on the ground. Never while they ran even think about stopping. Adrenaline proved to show from both of them as they became cautious of their leg pain. Without a word, Barney opened the front door and let Red inside. Coughing could be heard from both of them as they threw themselves on the couch. Sweat feel on their foreheads as they began to calm down.
Red then walk over to Barney and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much, for going with me today" Red said to Barney. He was thankful as well. He didn't know what he would have done if he stayed home; to later be informed about the worst. Barney didn't even want to think about what might have happened if he wasn't there to see the gun that was aimed at Red's head while he was unaware. His heart dropped when he caught sight of the gun. He never wanted to tell Red what he saw, because what mattered to Barney right now was Red. Barney rubbed Red's back smoothly and let him feel into his embraced. "I's will always be's there for's you's Red" Barney whispered to Red. Red had gotten that heavenly feeling with shivers down your back and your heart pounding in greatness. Barney began feeling through and playing with Red's hair as they both smiled from relief and love. "I love you so much Barney."