Keep Running Darling

Unload

Being back on my bike makes everything feel normal. Everything feels right. Even riding side by side with the Trans Am, full of boys I still don't fully trust, feels right. 

Party's driving began to get boring. None of the boys look to be having a good time. 

Well, I can't be the only one having fun. 

I start looking around, deciding to start up my own fun. I look over at the Trans Am and rev my bike, earning me four sets of eyes. 

Perfect. Now that I have your attention...

"See you later fuckers!" I yell, speeding up and quickly veering off the road, behind a wall of rocks. When I turn back I see the confused faces of the Fab Four, all yelling at Party Poison to follow me. 

Once I know they're coming after me I turn my eyes back to my path. 

Show time.

I lead them on a chase through a small road around a mountain. I hear the Trans Am about half a mile behind me and I can't help but smile. My favorite part hasn't even started. 

I start making sharper and riskier turns in anticipation for my big finale. After about 5 minutes, I cut a left, bringing me to the opposite side of the mountain than we started, and I see it. Signs that warn on-comers of a 10 foot cliff face right below. 

"I know this'll get their hearts beating!" I giggle to myself. 

I slow my bike to a stop and turn to face the direction they're coming from. Not long after, I see the colorful car round my end of the mountain and speed up towards me. I can't hold back the grin on my face as the car screeches to stop about 20 feet in front of me. All four of the Killjoys pile out of the car. Three of them laughing, one turning red in the face from anger. Party begins to walk towards me, but I'm faster than he is. In seconds, my bike is turned back towards the cliff, slinging dust in the boys' direction. Once the dust clears they'll see that I am headed straight for the caution signs. 

I hear yelling from behind me, assuming they're all a little terrified now, and continue to build up my speed towards the drop. 

"Toxic!" I hear someones voice crack. 

Was that Party?

The thought hits me as my front tire goes off the edge. I pull the bike upwards and eventually feel my back tire becomes airborne as well. I take a quick look back to see the four men running towards me and yelling, to which I give a quick salute in response. 

By the time I look back forward, I'm almost on the ground. I brace myself and feel the thud of the ground under my tires. Once I know I'm stable, I whip my bike around to face the cliff again and stop. My heart is beating in my ears and my adrenaline is through the roof blinding me from the probable pain in my leg and right side. 

I look up to see the boys at he top of the cliff looking, well, terrified. 

"Holy Shit!" Ghoul yells down to me. 

"Are you fucking crazy?!" Kobra follows. 

Jet just looks at me with wide eyes and an open mouth.

Where's Party?

I feel an arm wrap around my chest and the barrel of a gun press to my temple. My body froze, I instinctually reach for my own gun but my arm is stuck in this person's grasp. 

"Thought you could get away that easy, huh?" Party growls in my ear. I realize now, that he's sat on the back of my bike, my back pressed to his chest.

How did he get down here so fast? How did he get on my bike without me noticing? 

I can feel his heart pounding and his breathing slowing. My stomach turns and I get a weird feeling in my gut at the sudden closeness of our bodies. 

My mouth opens and closes, trying to find words, but I'm at a loss. My mind is going a mile a minute but not a single word is produced. I hear him chuckle at my loss of words and feel his hot breath on my ear again. 

"Keep running, I could chase you all day." With that he quickly dismounts my bike holstering his gun. I keep my head forward, still unable to speak. I'm sure I look like a deer in headlights. I can see him from my peripherals smirking at me. 

Why won't my heart slow down. And why is that pit in my stomach still there?! I think.

The roar of the Trans Am making its way to us is what pulls me out of my state of shock. I look over to Party but he's no longer looking at me. He's staring at something off in the distance. I get off my bike and put the stand up, turning around to see what he sees. 

Two cars are racing towards us. It isn't until shot are fired that I realize its two cars full of... 

"Dracs!" Party yells to the others as they get out of the Trans Am, which is not parked about 10 feet from us. 

In seconds, our fun, and slightly confusing, adventure is over and it's time to get serious. 

"Cover me!" I shout to Party as I draw my gun and begin to shoot. I start walking towards the speeding cars and unload as many shots as I can into the front windshields. Rays are whizzing by my ears and I can feel the sting against my skin. 

The cars come to a screeching halt and about ten Dracs pile out, instantly aiming their weapons and firing. 

"Toxic! Don't let them see your face!" I hear Kobra yell. As I go to pull up my bandana over my mouth and nose, I realize I'm too late. One of the Dracs has set eyes on me and is making a mad break. I point my gun and fire but nothing happens.

Fuck! NO, NO, NO! My gun can't be dead now!

He's three feet away from me, I close my eyes and prepare for the worst. But nothing happens. 

When I open my eyes, I see the Drac lying lifeless on the ground, a shot going straight through his temple. The three that are left are piling back into the cars and speeding off, catching bullets from the Killjoys as they flee. 

I look back down at the dead Drac at my feet. Then I follow where the bullet came from. 

Party Poison. 

I look at him expecting something. Expecting what? I have no idea. 

"You're welcome." He grins, holstering his gun again.

There's that funny feeling in my gut again.

"Uh... thanks. Damn thing died on me." I reply, gesturing to the gun in my hand. I turn and begin to walk towards the rest of the group, wiping the sweat from my face with my bandanna. 

I freeze. He's behind me again, and I can again feel his breath on my neck It sends chills through my body even in the sweltering heat of the Zones. 

"Don't mention it. Plus, if you're gonna die, it's gonna be on my terms." 

He continues to walk past me and towards the rest of the group who didn't see a bit of the interaction. Once again, he turns to me. This time he... wait... winks?

Who the hell are you and what did you do with my Party Poison? Wait. Did I just call him mine? I think to myself, still frozen in place.

"Earth to Toxic!" Ghoul yells, "You alright?"

I look up at them, all looking at me expectantly. "Yea, just... um...thinking." I walk to my bike and begin to push it towards the group, purposefully avoiding the red hair to my left and instead, joining Ghoul to my right, with Kobra separating Party and I. 

"Let's get back to the diner before we run into any more Dracs. They've obviously seen your face now and are headed back to Batt City, no doubt to tell Korse that you're with us." He looks at me while speaking, glaring at me like I did something wrong. We all nodded in agreement and the boys turn to load into the Trans Am. 

"Oh, and Toxic Venom," Party continues, using my full name, "No more little adventures got it?" he growls at me.

I spoke to soon. There's the Party we all know and... no not that.