Time Trials
By: Elizabeth M. Hazlett
Rated T
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Summary: Local, seasoned athletes disappear on the roads near Branson, MO, only to be found days later. Surely, that has nothing to do with the recent lights in the sky.
Chapter 1
It was an endless sea of green. The lush forestry covered the countryside with rows upon rows of trees, their tops illustrating the ebb and flow of the land. It flowed, uninterrupted for miles, wave after wave of relentless green. Even the pervasive stretch of tar, which dwarfed in size, could not impede the vast waves of nature.
The highway gave the two cyclists plenty of room to increase their speed. They pedaled leisurely along the lengthy straightaway. The man, early in his twenties, held a slight lead over his blonde cohort, who was equal in age. He looked over his left shoulder to check on her. He slowed slightly, allowing her to come to the right of him.
"How ya feeling?" He hollered over the whistling wind.
"Not to bad!" She hollered back. He smiled, the apple of his cheeks caused his reflective sunglasses to raise slightly. She smiled in return.
"We're gonna hit a curve on an incline, you'll want to change speeds," he motioned with his wrist. "It'll be tight, then once we reach the top, we can just ride it down."
"Got it!"
Passing the mileage road sign, the man gave signal to change speeds. Each bike clicked and clattered as the tension on the chain changed. The blonde fell in line behind her counterpart. They pedaled effortfully, pushing themselves to reach the top. Sweat dripped down their brows, as the sun's afternoon rays took no mercy on their perilous endeavor. They panted for air, as their legs continued up and down, pushing, fighting for the next pedal. She clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to slow down, to give in and quit.
"Almost there!" He yelled, fighting through his own fatigue. Slower, they rode, slower and slower, until they reached the top.
Once the road leveled out, he let out a huff of relief and laughed triumphantly. Rounding the corner, they began their descent.
Catching their breath, they rode without pedaling. The wind whistled loudly in their ears while their road tires hissed against the asphalt. Gradually they picked up speed.
Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure washed over the two. It pressed against their chests, making it difficult to breath, then their heads. A reverberating sound of being pulled through water while in a tunnel nearly blew out their eardrums. Lastly, a tugging sensation, as if riding through sand, seemingly suspended their descent. As quickly as it happened, it was over. The two continued their descent, unsure of how to ask the other if they had felt it too.
Looking over, the blonde discovered that her healthy brunette cohort now resembled that of an elderly man, who by no means, was capable of undertaking their current endeavor. Her body went numb as she let out a terrifying scream. Surprised by her sudden outburst, he looked to her. Her blonde hair was now a stark white and her face sunken in. His eyes grew wide as his mouth fell open. With the reflection in their sunglasses, each could see what the other saw.
There was a flash of light and another reverberating sound followed by a car horn. Caught off guard by the vehicle, the man overcompensated, steering his bike into the path of this cohort.
Looking in the rearview mirror, the driver muttered under his breath, "Goddamn kids."