The Gated Return

Chapter 11 - Fight or Flight

Daniel found himself sitting in the grass trying to shake off the eerie feeling that he was being watched. Looking around in pitch dark not seeing anyone, he got up and brushed off the dirt and grass from his pants. Walking back to his apartment, he noticed that his car dome light was on and approached to make sure the doors were all shut. When attempting to push the doors close, the light remained on. "Damn what the hell else.." he said in a disappointed and worn out voice. Daniel went back into his apartment to get the keys so he could make sure the light was off by morning. "Don't need a dead batter when I get up for work tomorrow." After grabbing his keys, he went back outside and started walking towards the lot noticing that all the dome lights in all cars were on. "Sucks for them!" and went to his car to turn off the light. He sat in the drivers seat for a moment playing with the switches in attempt to shut it off and after realizing that nothing he did helped, the car door slammed! He tried to open the door but wouldn't budge and the car began to shift and rock as if it were on a boat. Thinking this was some other earthquake or a really bad prank, he grabbed the steering wheel to hold on until it stopped, but it only seem to become more violent bouncing him in the seat. He grabbed the seatbelt and buckled in just to be safe in case this gets much more out of control. Suddenly, the car seemed to start rising up as he could see the apartment roof getting lower in front of the car hood. The car seems to have smoothed out but now is floating in mid air rising further and further into the sky. Uncertain of where he was being taken or even what was happening, Daniel held onto the steering wheel just looking out the windows all around waiting for some sign of an answer to this frightening situation. Moments pass looking in every direction and by now, Daniel could see the entire city below as it appeared dimly lit with little activity.

Daniel and the car kept going higher and higher and he knew there was no way he could jump out as it would be certain death if he did. But staying in the car didn't appear to bethis didn't look any better of an option, staying in the car. Up in the clouds now able to see the puffiness all around, and air getting thin and difficult to breathe. "I have no choice and at least it will be a thrill until the end" Daniel thought to himself while unbuckling the seatbelt. He opened the door, looked over the edge and down seeing dim city lights below that only look like and Daniel opened the door to jump out. Just as he took the leap, the car began to fall with him but at a faster rate as if he were somehow descending at a controlled rate. In the distance below, he saw his car strike the ground and burst into flames while he continued to fall. The air rushed passed his ears and was loud so the sound of the boom couldn't be heard. the ground was approaching quickly and he knew this was the end. He clenched his eyelids tight so no to see it coming and kept thinking of his father and brother that he hasn't seen in so long. "I'm coming home"

*SNORT! Daniel woke up laying in a cot within a cold room and a wool blanket. "What the... where am I?" He asked out loud. "East Wing sir. The captain will be leaving in an hour, you plan on going with him?" Daniel sat up in the cot looking around and then at the guard. "Yeah... I mean, yes. I will be going with him." Not sure what or where he was, he stood up to walk around and wake up enough to see and realized he was back at the prison where Mike was. "Ah I see, this is some dream again huh? Alright, okay, I got this." Daniel turned to the guard and told him, "what's up dip shit? I'm gonna walk outta here without your bullshit captain 'cause I can do anything now, dick." The guard stood there with an angry look on his face while watching Daniel as he spoke. Daniel began to walk towards the double doors and made a motion with his hands to make them open. The doors flung open slamming against the exterior bricks with such force the doors broke off the hinges. The guard unfolded his arms in disbelief and his jaw dropped wide open as Daniel walked out the doors.

"Guess I don't need a car anymore" Daniel said while putting a fist in the air. Daniel squatted and leaped into the air taking off as if he were Super Man. The sound of the sonic boom could be heard for miles and the guard could only watch with his jaw was left open as Daniel took off into the air.

Daniel gone from the prison, the guard ran back inside to report what happened to his superior officer. "I think you need to take a break officer. Or get more coffee! haha" the senior officer chuckled. "No seriously, I know what I saw! This guy isn't human! Check the surveillance video, sir." The two officers walked to the video surveillance control and rewound the tape to fifteen minutes prior and saw the same incident as reported by the officer and both could only sit there in awe as they kept playing it over and over trying to understand what this person was. Before long, the video went viral on YouTube, FaceBook, and even Fox News. The world saw this oddity of a human burst open steel doors and fly off like some comic book superhero.

Weeks passed and there were no new reports of seeing this guy flying around and the video became questionable as a hoax. And before another week passed, the story was dead and everyone moved on thinking this was just some elaborate propaganda for the prison system or some other benefit no one could figure out.