Walking in Circles - 2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Shit, I’m still in the damn woods. At least the suns up now. Man, I gotta pee, WAIT. Someone took one of the damn dirt bikes. I didn’t even hear them. They could have killed me in my, mother fucking, sleep. I gotta get out of here. I am just going to go pee on the other side of the fire.

As I tossed the sleeping bag off my shoulder, I heard a sound. It, it sounded like, metal. I grabbed that bag and turned it inside out. Keys! I looked at the bike and back at those keys. I ran over to the remaining bike. I swear it was sooo close. But, they didn’t fit.

WAIT, the other sleeping bag! I turned that one inside out and this time there were keys and a Knife! It was one like you see cowboys with, you know in a leather pouch. I put the knife on my belt, grabbed the keys and ran for the bike.

YES, YES, they fit! How do you start this thing? I pulled in the clutch, turned the key a couple of times. There’s a thing behind my left leg that looks like something you’d step on. I got it to stick out and tried to step on it. No, but I honestly think I am on to something here. I really go at it! I can hear it trying to start. But it just won’t.

I see that little fucker across the clearing. I get off the bike and glare right at him. He obviously wants me to see him. Then he yells over to me, “Why did you bring me out here?”

What, nah, he’s trying to trick me. “Fuck you, you and your buddy are the ones who brought MY ASS out here!”

The little dude started stomping around, “I woke up yesterday to you coming at ME!”

“Look Bitch, I didn’t do, SHIT”

Little dude paced back and forth. I know I can take him if he comes at me. He looked up, then he wiped his eyes. I think the dude is crying. He’s pacing again. Man, I think he seriously believes I am the one who brought him here. “Look, Little Dude, I did NOT do this!” I took a couple steps towards his direction which made him stop so he could figure out which way he was going to run. “I won’t come closer, I’m just sick of yelling and I want to talk!”

I don’t know, but I think he’s still going to run. He looked at me again. He asked, “Where are we?”

“Dude, I told you, I don’t know.” So, I still think he has something to do with this, but my dad always said ‘keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer’. “Look dude, come over here so we can talk, we need to figure this shit out.”

Little dude took a couple of steps towards me and started pacing. He is scared, I get it. “Hey, you’re thinking I am trying to trick you. Dude, I think you’re doing the same thing to me right now... So, either one of us started this shit, or somebody else did who may be out there, right fucking now, watching us. So, now is our chance to try to get out of this mess!”

Oh, I got him, he is looking all around at the thought that we’re being watched. Well, that changed his pace and he started coming towards me. About 10 feet away he stopped. I asked him, “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I woke up to you coming at me.”

“No, before that?”

“I was at a Frat party.”

“Me too. So obviously that has something to do with it.”

He looks like he’s thinking hard, “Are you pledging with them?”

That was a good question, “No, but do you think this could be something to do with something like that? Are you pledging with them?”

“No, but you know how some of those city gangs have initiation things they make you do to get in, this could be like that.”

“Alright, I am taking a really big chance here, but you look cold. Come over by the fire and get warmed up. Names Zach, by the way.”

“Sean. Yeah, alright, just stay a few feet away for me.”

I walked back to the fire, after I sat down I directed him to sit on the other side of the fire with a log to sit on. Hesitantly, he made it over. After he sat down he started rubbing his arms and legs. “Oh my gosh, that feels so good.”

“I am going to stand up, I’m just going to go right there so I can put more sticks in the fire.”

“Ok”

With the fire burning warmer, I can’t help but feel dizzy. “I think I’m getting dehydrated and I am, fucking, starving.”

Sean looked at me for a minute, “I found a creek that has pretty good water, I haven’t gotten sick from it yet, I can show you where it is.”

My eyes got huge, “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time! How far is it?”

“About a mile maybe. Passed the clearing. I put that other dirt bike in some bushes over there.”

“No shit, so you did take it, but I have your keys asshole!” I am starting to think he IS the one who did this.

“I didn’t do this to you, I took the bike so I could get away from you or keep your accomplice from having it.” Sean said as he started getting up to probably take off running again.

“WAIT, do you know how to ride that thing?”

Sean stared at me, seemingly he was trying to figure out how to answer that and what my reaction would be. I think I need to be more blunt, “Look, I’ve never rode one of these things, I can’t even start it.”

“I heard you trying earlier and came to see what you were up to. Yes, I do know how to ride. I literally grew up riding dirt bikes, but before you go off again, I had NOTHING to do with any of this.” I have to admit, looking at his face he definitely was convincing.

“Do you think you can ride with me on the back over to the creek?”

Sean slowly nodded and stood up. “Yeah, ok, give me the keys.” Well, I don’t really have a choice do I?

I pulled them out of my right pocket and held them out. Sean is still skittish but he walked up to me anyway. He went over to the bike and then checked the gas tank. “Looks like it’s pretty full.” He squatted down and pointed at a small lever. “This turns the gas on and off, there’s a small reserve in case you would run out of gas. So you turn this up for on, horizontal for off and down for the reserve. Next, you turn the key to on, that allows the battery to be engaged. Then you make sure you put this switch, by the throttle, to the on position. That is the override shut off. So now all you do is hold the clutch and kick start it.” Dude kicked one time and it started right up. He twitched his head to me to get on.

“Put your hands around my waist so you don’t fall off.”

“Not going to happen dude.”

Sean gave it some gas and off the bike I went landing on my back. The little prick turned around with a huge smile. “Now, get back on and wrap your damn hands around my waist.”

Humiliated, I followed his instructions. I could feel as we made our way that I would have continued to fall off without holding on to him. It was only a couple minutes and I could see the creek coming up. I personally would have called it a river but whatever. We got off and went to the edge for some over needed water.

He was still scooping as I scanned the area. I see that other bike sticking out of the bushes, and it looks like more trees in every direction. We are in a narrow clearing along the creek. I look at Sean who is looking around some too. “Zach, we need to figure out how to catch one of those fish.”

I look in the direction he’s pointing and see two that are maybe 2 maybe 2 1/2 feet long. Good size around too. The water is actually really shallow and pretty rocky. But, it’s clear so I can see all of the bottom. Down a couple yards a tree had fallen in about half way across. I broke off one of the branches and handed it to Sean, “Look Dude, get in the water, I’m going to that tree. Then you use this stick to smack the water scaring them my way.”

“What are you going to do, catch it?”

“Yes, dumbass, just fucking do it.”

Sean shrugged and walked further down then slowly moved in the middle of the creek. I got in position and nodded. (Smack)(smack) it was working and he did it again. The first one got right up to me and I touched it but it got past. The second one came and I easily grabbed it with both hands tossing it to the land like it was a football. “FUCK YEAH “

“Holy SHIT! That was amazing!” Sean yelled running towards the direction I threw the fish.

We reached it about the same time, and we both bent over to get a good look at it. “I think it’s a Salmon, but I’m not really a fisherman.” Sean said as he poked it and almost got smacked in the face. Oh my God, I laughed so hard.

I picked out a sturdy looking branch and had Sean hold the fish down. I stuck the branch in it’s mouth poking it through one of the gills and about half way along the stick.

Sean didn’t suggest it, and I didn’t ask to learn how to ride the other bike. I think we were just to hungry to waste time with that. So, I took my place behind him and I put one end behind my belt and had the fish out over my arm. It worked well enough, at this point we both stink anyway.

We didn’t talk the whole way, but I was thinking about that girl Caira. She was just so sexy when I called. I met her by the library like she asked. I saw her come around the corner with a mini skirt on, and the only thing I wanted to know was, (please God, tell me she doesn’t have panties on!). She grabbed my arm and kissed my cheek. “Come on, the party is this way.” Damn she was hot.

“Hey! What’s going on back there!”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think your stick is starting to poke me in the back!”

SHIT, “Sorry Dude, Let me adjust that.” I put on a show moving the fish around. But, I don’t know if I fooled anyone.

Sean stopped the bike about half way through the clearing. “What’s wrong?” I started darting my eyes around looking for trouble. He shut the bike off.

“I am thinking if we have to stay another night, I don’t want the bear I saw last night sniffing around us while we sleep. I think we should clean and eat the fish here.”

BEAR? “You actually saw one last night?”

“I sure did, so what do you think?” He went on, “why don’t you find a way to bring some of the fire over here and and we’ll do it here.”

He must have noticed I didn’t trust the little twit, so he handed me the keys. “I’m not going to take the bike and leave you, so just take them.”

“Ok dude, I’ll be right back.”

I looked back when I got to the fire, Sean looked busy, I think he was getting some rocks. I need to figure out how to get some fire all the way to him. I made sure this one was going and I took 3 thick long sticks and I put some twigs kinda wrapped around the in between them. I got it burning on that end like a pretty good torch.

“Great job, Zach.” Sean stood taking the torch. He had made a circle of rocks and two large flat rocks sticking up. He had put 3 long skinny rocks across those. “Dude, you made a grill.”

“ Yeah, do you think it’ll work?”
He seemed unsure.

“I think it will.” I pulled out the knife and he took a step back. “We need to cut the fish up. “

“I was thinking maybe just getting the guts out but putting the whole thing on the fire. “

I shrugged and slowly handed Sean the knife. He looked at me for a minute then did the work. What I thought was cool, he didn’t even ask, he just wiped it clean and handed me the knife.

While we were cooking that fish my stomach was screaming at me. My mouth kept watering from the delicious odor coming up from the fish. But, the sun was starting to go down again and the tree line was getting dark fast. “Dude, I’ll be right back.” Sean looked concerned but nodded. You know, he doesn’t seem so bad.

I went back to the camp, and walked about picking up small branches and sticks. I put most in and by that fire, but I took a couple long and couple shorter ones back by Sean.

“What are you doing?” Sean looked confused because it looked like I was whittling. “I felt like if any fucking animal, or freak like who brought us here, came running up on me last night I wouldn’t be able to stab them. So, I am making us both a spear we will keep on us, and a couple we can throw. Any fucking thing comes up on us, make sure you stab that fucker in the throat. Got it?”

“I do, and by the way, it’s a great idea. Look at me-thank you.” Sean even had a tear. Man, what am I supposed to say to that? Nothing, I just looked him in the eye and nodded.

The fish was delicious and felt good to eat. I wish we had been able to bring water, but we will figure something out in the morning. Sean and I let this fire burn while I held the spears and onto Sean, he rode us back on the bike. We agreed to sleep in shifts and to stay close to warn each other if the shit hits the fan. I gave Sean the knife after everything was whittled. That way he had multiple weapons if we get attacked. I really hope he doesn’t try to kill me in my sleep.