August 2021
The sound of a garage door opening can be heard, the rollers creaking and the ceiling-mounted operator struggling and skipping as it pulls the single-car garage door open. As the door stops in its open position I step into the dark garage before flicking the lights on, in the middle of the garage is my current project/hobby, a Kawasaki KLR650 adventure bike. It's sitting on a repair stand at the moment, I dropped it on its left side while riding through the city, I had been going through an intersection when I lost traction on a patch of gravel and laid it down on its left side. As a result, the left side fairing shattered, and the transmission cover got scrapped up pretty badly; the transmission cover I don't mind much but I did replace the fairing.
I currently have the fairing hanging from the ceiling at chest level near the back of the small garage, the new fairing I had ordered wasn't painted so I had to put a fresh coat of green paint on followed by a layer of clear coat. I run my finger over the fairing to make sure it's dry, I nod in confirmation as I unhook it from the ceiling and check for imperfections before moving it over to the bike and checking for both fit and looks. I set the fairing on my seat before walking to my toolbox and grabbing an 8mm socket with a 3/8 handled driver, walking back to the bike I use my foot to push my rolling chair to the left side of the bike. I sit down and start to reattach the fairing, only a handful of screws, and the fairing is secure. I the ground next to me is the radiator guard, I grab it and secure it to the new fairing and frame of the bike.
"I really need to invest in crash bars," I say, wiping the sweat off my forehead with my forearm.
Once secure I stand and push my rolling chair across the garage before checking the new fairing for fitment, I bought it second-hand for eBay, Kawasaki wanted an arm and a leg for this fairing. Satisfied with the look and fitment, I open the kickstand and move the rear of the bike before easing it off its stand. It leans to the left and eases onto its kickstand, I pull the key out of my pocket and turn the ignition to the on position before pulling the the clutch and starting the bike. It idles high as it's trying to get the oil up to operating temperature, letting it idle I go back inside my house and grab my riding gear. I have plans to go camping with some friends today, it'll be a short ride through the city before getting into the mountains and eventually off-road on some trails.
As I'm putting my jacket on my phone starts ringing, I pick it up and see it's my friend Brent, I answer and say, "What's up man?"
"Yo, Brian, you on your way yet?" he asks.
"Yeah, just got that fairing on the bike, about to head out now,"
"Tight bro, listen, we found a shortcut to the campsite; instead of going right at the fork, go left. It'll take you through a cave but it's way faster,"
"Through a cave?" I ask, confused.
"Yeah dude, it's like way faster, and the cave looks sick bro,"
"Alright, left at the fork, got it, I'll see you when I get there," I say before hanging up.
I set my phone on my bedside table before changing into riding attire; steel-toe brown boots, blue jeans with knee pads over them, a brown leather riding jacket, and black riding gloves. I look at myself in the mirror and make sure my hair looks decent; I'm clean-shaven aside from a thick mustache, brown hair, and hazel eyes. I am 5' 10" and in half-decent shape, I could lose a couple of pounds put feel comfortable with the way I look.
I head back to the garage helmet in hand; my helmet is the Icon Airform Chantilly in white. I close and lock my back door before walking into the garage, the bike is now idling at a lower rate as the engine oil is now up to temperature. On top of my toolbox is my backpack ready for the weekend, next to it is a long green tube with a strap. On the tube is black writing that reads 'OFM JIC M500CRUISER', opening the tube I pull out the firearm inside, a Mossberg 590 Cruiser. It's a compact shotgun that I got specifically for camping, the tube it comes in is water-resistant and very durable. I slide the pump of the shotgun back to check if the chamber is clear, once I confirm that it is I slide it forward and set it on my toolbox. Inside the tube I also have a box of 12 gauge slugs and a small survival kit, I pull out the slugs and open the box before loading five slugs into the tube of the shotgun, I put the box of slugs back into the tube and make sure the safety of the shotgun is on before also returning it to the tube.
Closing the tube I put my helmet on before I grab my backpack and walk over to the bike, turning the lights off. I open the right saddlebag and put my backpack inside, I try to slide the green tube in with it but it's too tall, I sigh and close the saddle bag before walking to the left saddle bag and depositing the green tube inside, I pull the garage door remote out of my pocket and close the garage door. It again creeks and whines as the door comes down and sits on the ground, I throw my leg over the bike before kicking it into gear and taking off.
After leaving my street and making a few turns I'm already on the freeway, it's after 4 pm so there is light traffic but it will start to pick up soon as rush hour starts. I look to the mountains to see it's cloudy and rainy, my favorite type of weather. I weave around the cars I pass, the bike feeling smooth like I'm riding on glass. As the freeway gets closer to the mountains, it goes from five lanes down to three lanes, it also goes from being straight and flat to curvy. I've ridden up here many times in the past, I usually stick to the center lane to avoid the slow people in the right lane and the speeders in the left lane. The further I get into the mountains, the wetter the roads get, nothing I haven't ridden in before but I still remain cautious. I reach the exit only a few miles later and leave the freeway before stopping at a traffic light, as I shift into neutral the sky starts to drizzle a soft rain. I put my left turn signal on before letting my feet touch the ground, I stretch my neck and back, popping bones throughout, and I lean the back left and right with my legs giving them a stretch as well.
Even though this bike weighs nearly 500 pounds it feels super light and comfy, as I sit at the light I inhale the cool air through my nose before exhaling through my mouth with a satisfied sigh. The smell of the mountains and wilderness is amazing, the smell of the wet trees and dirt mixed with the smell of the rain is like heaven. Most people hate how long this light takes but I could sit here for hours taking in the smell and feel of the area. The light finally turns green and I kick the bike into gear before turning left and riding down the frontage road.
After finding the trail I need to turn down I pull off the side and stop the bike, I shift into neutral and change the bike's ride mode from street to sport. Nodding in satisfaction I kick it into gear and put the hammer down before dumping the clutch, my rear wheel kicks up a bunch of dirt in mud as I am thrusted into the forest trail. I ride in more of a standing position and let the bike take the bumps under me, a grin is on my face as I weave around the rougher bits and the softer mud. As I go further into the forest the rain starts to die off again and the dirt starts to get drier. I soon approach the fork in the road and I go left like Brent mentioned to me earlier. The bike roars as I tear through the forest smile still on my face as I enjoy the ride so far.
As I round a corner I can see the aforementioned cave coming up, I sigh as I slow down and turn on my headlight, this place looks a bit creepy. I come to a stop at the cave entrance and survey the area, nothing out of the ordinary. I get off the bike and open my top case, inside is a holster with my handgun and magazine inside. I clip the holster onto my belt and draw my handgun, a Rock Island 1911 chambered in 45 acp, I chamber a round and put it back in my holster before mounting my bike once more. I can feel my anxiety creep up but I ignore it and start riding into the cave, the mouth of the cave is about 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide but as I get further in it gets as small as 10 feet tall by 12 feet wide, as I get comfortable I pick up the pace. Soon my eyes adjust to the dark I realize this is just a cave and nothing more, confident I pick up the pace more and begin smiling again.
As I fly through the cave I weave left and right, avoiding rocks and trying to keep the bike straight as the cave banks left and right, as I round a corner into a larger room-like area, I make eye contact with a large puddle and gasp before panic braking my rear brake, I'm unsuccessful in stopping and my front wheel hydroplanes before the bike slips out from under me. I hit the ground hard and end up on my back, I curse to myself as I stand up and try to survey the damage. I walk over to the bike and turn it off before picking it up to see that it is surprisingly unharmed, I breathe a sigh of relief as I open the kickstand and let it rest.
"I need to be more careful," I say to myself as I pull my helmet off and set it on my seat. I inspect myself to see if I'm injured and just like the bike I am also unharmed, I'll probably be sore in the morning but happy to be alive. As I regain my bearings I glance at the trail ahead and realize that the cave has a fork in it. Confused I check to make sure I'm looking the right way and can confirm my tracks come from the single entrance. I sigh and grab my phone out of my pocket and try to call Brent, I have one bar of service, shaking my head I give Brent a call anyway. It rings a couple of times before he picks up.
"Yo, you on your way?" he asks
"Yeah, I'm in the cave but there is a fork in the cave, which way do I go?" I ask
"What? Yo- *static* I can't hear- *static"
"You're breaking up, what?" I ask
"I ca- *static* service isn- *static*"
The call ends and my phone says there is no service, I sigh and walk around the cave with my phone in the air trying to get somewhat of a signal to no avail. I close my eyes in frustration before shoving my phone into my pocket. I look at the ground near the fork in the trails to try and see which way the tracks go but there aren't any, I kick the ground in frustration and lean against my bike unsure of what to do. I close my eyes again and try to think of the relative position of the old trail to where I'm at now.
"If anything I can just come back and try the other way if I'm wrong, guess it really doesn't matter which way I go," I shrug my shoulders before putting my helmet back on and starting the bike. The trail that went right eventually wraps around to the left of the small mountain this cave is a part of, so if I go right I should be fine. I nod as I kick my bike into gear and go down the right opening. I continue on at a fair pace, making sure to avoid puddles and rocks as I have been. I again start to get more comfortable and pick up the pace, the roar of the bike increasing my adrenaline.
I round another corner and I can finally see the exit, "Thank god," I say to myself as I slow down. Exiting the cave I notice it's brighter outside than it was when I entered, clouds must have cleared up, how long was I in there? I shrug my shoulders as I continue on, the forest looks unfamiliar but I've never been this way before so I'm not sure what to expect. I can see an opening in the trees ahead, I also notice that the trail ends at the tree line, this must be where we're camping. I slow down as I get to the tree line, I eventually slow to a stop and look around to see . . . no one.
"The fuck?" I question as I pull my helmet off and look around more, not a tent or person in sight, did I go the wrong way? I sigh in frustration as I once again get off my bike and get my phone out, as I slide the lock screen open I see I have no service whatsoever, not even an SOS signal, nothing. I scratch my head in confusion as I look around more.
"No signal, no camp, what the fuck is going on?" I say aloud before I hear a growling from my left near the tree line, I whip my head around and all I can see are a pair of green glowing eyes, holy shit is that a wolf? I can taste fear on the back of my tongue, my hand goes to my hip to grab my gun only to feel an empty holster. Shit, my sidearm must have fallen out when I slipped off the bike back in the cave. My eyes shoot to my left-side saddlebag, I'm only a couple steps away, if I move slowly I can get my shotgun, I look back to the wolf to see now there are a few sets of eyes looking at me.
Without breaking eye contact I take a step closer to my bike, they growl even louder as I take another step closer before reaching down and opening the saddle bag. This causes them to step out of the tree line, they're large and brown and - made of wood? I swallow in fear as I glance down at the green tube in my saddle bag, I just need to twist that cap off and I'll have the upper hand. I slowly reach my hand in and twist off the cap, this causes the wolves to start walking toward me at a faster rate.
I pull the cap off and quickly grab the 12 gauge by its pistol grip before aiming at the wolves. This causes the wolves to charge at me, I rack the shotgun only for the pump to get jammed and will not go forward. I look in the chamber to see the shell I tried to load had jammed itself in the mechanism, looking up I see the lead wolf is now jumping at me with its mouth open ready for the kill. I gasp as I hold the shotgun sideways using it the guard me, the wolf bites onto the gun and pushes me to the ground. I am face-to-face with the wolf now, his teeth inches from my face, I manage to eject the jammed shell and rack a fresh one in the chamber.
BANG
I pull the trigger and the kick from the shotgun breaks most of the wooden teeth in the wolf's mouth, causing it to back off and fall to the ground. I get to my feet and rack another shell before taking aim at the wolf to my left who is now charging me. I brace myself and send a slug right into its head, the wolf crumbles to the ground turning into a pill of wood. The wolf to the right was faster, it latches its teeth onto my shoulder, sinking its teeth deep into my shoulder. I scream in pain as I use my left hand to rack the shotgun once more before shooting the wolf in the stomach, he yelps in pain and lets me go before retreating to the forest. I fall to the ground as my shoulder starts to bleed, the last wolf is trying to get back up but is struggling, I sigh in pain and pull myself onto one knee. The wolf looks at me with pain in its now fading green eyes, I use my shotgun as a brace to pull myself up, and I limp over to the downed wolf before racking the last shell into the chamber.
Standing over the wolf I put the barrel to the wolf's head before pulling the trigger, putting it out of its misery. The sound echoes through the valley as the wolf falls dead, becoming a pile of wood like the other one I'd killed. I limp back over to the bike and drop the gun in the open saddle bag before opening my right-side saddle bag and attempting to get my backpack out. I fumble with the latch as my vision starts to blur. I look at my right shoulder and see that I've lost a lot of blood, I get my back out and sit on the ground leaning against my bike before opening my backpack.
"Come on, where is my med kit," I say desperate to get this wound under control. I manage to get my med kit out and open before I press some gauze into my shoulder, as hard as I try though I can feel myself getting weak, my vision starts to blur further and I drop the gauze to my lap before looking up at the sky. To my right I can hear a wooden cart approaching, I glance over and can see a large purple wooden cart stopped on the path.
"Oh my godness, Trixie! Come out here and help me!" I can hear a female voice say before I pass out.