September 24th

Outlaw

Alex's mind wandered as his stolen motorcycle sped down the deserted highway. He imagined himself as one of the cowboys from the Wild West, always on the run. He smiled. Cowboys had always been his favorite. Alex had always wanted to be an outlaw, though he wished it was under better circumstances. Jake and him were going to become outlaws together, or at least that's what they said when they were about 7 years old. Damn it, he couldn't stop thinking about his late friend. Alex tried to lose himself in the moment. He concentrated on the steady rumble of the engine, the wind blowing against his body, and the slight bumps and potholes in the road. He pushed the bike faster and faster down the highway. Nobody was around to enforce the speed limit, and he hadn't seen a car in miles. Alex watched the speedometer needle steadily climb. It was bittersweet to be free.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was disappearing behind the horizon, and so was Alex's gas. He pulled over into the upcoming gas station, which seemed like an oasis to him. Yes, he had passed other things on the highway, but he hadn't needed gas or anything else then. Alex stopped the bike next to one of the pumps. He got off and went to walk inside the gas station to pay. He kept his head lowered as he walked inside, careful not to let anyone recognize him. The door made a faint ding, signaling his entrance. He shuffled over to the counter and mumbled something about having $25 on pump 5. Alex could feel the attendant's eyes on him as he slid the money across the counter. He shoved his hands even deeper into his pockets, willing the man behind the counter to let him get his gas without any harassment. The attendant spoke. "You're all set." Alex practically ran out of the store. He darted over to pump 5 and started filling the bike with gas.

Alex stole a few glances back inside. He could see the man on the phone with someone, sneaking glances towards him every once in a while. Shoot. He willed the gas to pump faster. The display counted up, agonizingly slowly, towards $25.00. Finally, the counter on the pump read 2500. Alex yanked the nozzle out of the motorcycle and quickly closed the gas cap. Then he hopped onto the bike. The engine purred to life as he twisted the key. Like a bat out of hell, Alex sped away down the highway. Hopefully the attendant didn't get his license plate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex had just started to relax and think that he was two, no three, steps ahead of the police when the faint sound of sirens found his ear. He glanced down into his mirror and saw several cop cars behind him. They were still far away, but they were gaining ground. Alex pushed the motorcycle as fast as it would go. He barreled down the road, desperately trying to lose the cops. But they were still there, coming closer and closer. Think, Alex, think! As he was thinking, his mind got distracted from the road in front of him. His thoughts wandered, desperately trying to search for a way out of this terrible situation he had gotten himself into.

He glanced into his mirror once again, expecting to see the cops directly behind him right now. But they were nowhere in sight. The night was eerily quiet. Something was wrong. Alex didn't slow down now. He couldn't, not when he was so close to freedom. The bike's speedometer didn't move from 120 mph.

It was too late to slow down when Alex saw the cop cars ahead. He desperately tried to slow down and turn. The bike flew over a spike strip that Alex had neglected to see in the dark. The bike careened out of control, spinning out alongside the highway. He tried desperately to stay in control, to stay upright, but he was thrown roughly from the bike. Alex felt a sharp, familiar pain in his ribs. He had probably broken them, but that wasn't his concern now. He staggered upright, trying to put as much distance as he could between him and the cops that were most certainly closing in. Alex walked as fast as his body would let him into the dark desert. He hid behind a cactus and glanced back. He could see all the cops closing in on the wreckage. Alex made a break for the cop cars that were still running. He could take the car and be out of there before they realized it. He dashed towards the cars, breathing heavy from the pain in his chest.

Staying low to the ground, Alex crept around to the driver's side of the first cop car. He was almost home free. He opened the door, feeling victorious. Alex breathed a sigh of relief as he sat down. He turned to close the car door, only to be greeted by a cop who couldn't be more than 25 years old.

"Step out of the car with your hands up!" he shouted at Alex, pointing his gun directly at Alex's chest. Alex didn't respond, it was all too surreal.

"Do it now!" the cop yelled, imploring Alex to step out. Resigned, he did. The cop muscled him against the trunk of the car. The cool metal of the cuffs met his skin. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law," the officer droned. Alex wasn't paying attention.

Jake wanted to be a cop, Alex thought as the door to the cop car slammed shut on his past life.