The Voyager

Chapter Two

We've been riding for a while when we come to a clearing in the woods. Dylan stops and looks around, I come up next to him and look in the direction he is looking, wondering what could be so interesting. There isn't much, but the way the grass looks against the trees gives me an amicable feeling.

Dylan taps me on the shoulder. He has taken his helmet off, and his hair is all over the place. I start to laugh at him. He has a wondering look on his face, so I just point to his hair. I take my helmet off because we will probably be here for a little bit.

He hands me a little package, so small that it was easily hidden in his pocket.

"Here," he says, "since no one but your immediate family probably remembered that your birthday was four days ago, I got you a present. Happy sixteenth birthday."

The gift is rectangular and a little thicker than a piece of paper. He wrapped it in Christmas paper.

"Snowflakes and Santa's, really?"

"I didn't have anything else. So yes, you're stuck with snowflakes and Santa's." He gives me a smile. "Are you going to open it, or just admire the amazing wrapping that I did?"

The paper gives very easily and before I know it, I'm holding a little card in my hand.

"It's $50 on a pre-paid credit card that you can spend anywhere. Thought you could use it." He explains with a grin on his face.

"Thanks, Dylan. I will buy you something with it."

"I gave you the money and you're going to spend it on me? That kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think?"

"I could just buy you a cheap pack of gum. I didn't say what I was going to buy you."

"Gotcha. Well, let's ride."

"Sounds good."

We put our helmets back on and start the bikes. He takes off and I have a little trouble keeping up, but I'd never let him know that. In a little bit I know the trail widens enough for two to ride side by side, I will pass him then. Then he can be behind.

The trail opens a little, but it is my chance to go around him. I speed up and when I get up next to him, he looks at me, surprised. When I'm in front of him, I quickly get back over, the trail is narrowing again.

The dirt is softer here, I wobble a little. I should slow down, but that would show I'm not as good a rider as Dylan. I can't let him think that. That rain we had last night didn't help back here.

I'm almost to the field that my house is on when I hit a patch of even softer dirt. I am weightless, I'm flying. Suddenly I'm no longer weightless. I hit a tree, and fall to the ground. I feel a sharp pain in my head, then nothing. I'm dead, I have to be. How can you be having so much fun, then die? I don't know how, but it happened.

Why do I feel as though I'm being lifted? Now I'm spinning. What is happening? There is a burning sensation in my arms and legs. I see a light. I am dead. Don't people always associate dying with going into the light? Well, I'm going into the light. There is no stopping it. It is pulling me.

I feel normal again, a little lighter, but normal. I open my eyes and see maybe 20 people. Something is wrong. Why are they flashing then gone? They look like a candle flame. Here one second, gone the next. Why? What is going on? The people are appearing for a few seconds, then they just fade, disappearing. There is a woman walking toward me. Why isn't she disappearing like the rest? Why aren't I disappearing like everyone else's?

She comes up to me and says "Hello, I'm Nicole. Come with me."

"Why? What is this?"

"Follow me and I can explain."