A Strider's Curse

Chapter Three: A Pleasant Morning

Inferno Flame, Cobra's Earth, Fate's Water, Nomad's Air and God's Storm (even though it was never supposed to exist for some unknown reason); these are all the elemental enhancements that Striders can possess. Even though they can only have two before swapping one out for another. I only possess the God's Storm (somehow) and the Inferno Flame because it was gifted to me by a friend of my Father.

Anyway... here we are again; back at our house and the smell of bacon was in the air again. Seems like Max has discovered his new favorite breakfast. The boredom, however, had died down and I was feeling a little excited to begin my "little journey" at Eagle's Calling. Now that I'm a member, I'm feeling pretty good about the upcoming days.

As soon as the alarm went off, I hopped out of bed made it stop and prepared myself for the day. After that, I ran down the stairs, walked into the kitchen and sat at the table with Max; who was reading the daily paper, like he always does. He has a thing about keeping himself in the "loop" and I hate it.

"So... what's Edward gonna have me do today?" I asking Max, leaning over my plate, almost knocking off the knife and fork.
"He doesn't want you to do anything... but I have a... favor to ask." He said, closing the paper and placing it on the table. "Could you drive me to the bus station this morning?" He asked and I was honestly surprised.
"Why would you want to go to the bus station? That's like half a mile down the main road." I said, staring at him as he started twiddling his thumbs.
"I uh... need to pick Natalie up." He said and somehow I knew it was going to be something stupid.

If he decided to learn how to drive, I'd be a lot happier and he wouldn't have to feel crappy about asking me.
"You want me to be your taxi driver? No... that's not happening again." I said and he hopped out of his chair and kneeled on the floor with his hands together in front of his face.
"C'mon Dust... just this once, I swear I won't ask you again!" He said and even though he's the older one (by about five minutes) he looks like a little kid when he's on the floor begging like that.

He gave me the "Max googley eyes" for the first minute and then I decided that I'd better say something or he wasn't going to budge.
"Oh... fine! I'll take you to see your girlfriend." I said and then he jumped up off the floor, ran to the front door and opened it. A rush of wind came through and it was freezing! That's what I would say if I actually felt the cold.

After a couple seconds, I got up and walked out the front door and Max followed shortly after me. We walked over to the garage door and I opened it. Revealing... the beauty... but also the beast.
"Don't drive like a maniac when Natalie gets in the car ok? She hates idiots that go way to fast down the main road." He said and I chuckled. She doesn't like idiots that go way to fast on the main road? Well... she is going to despise me.

The beauty that I was talking about earlier is a car by the way. A Ford Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 1967, painted grey with two black stripes running down the center of the hood all the way the wing of the car. I basically kept it stock and there's hardly any other changes to exterior or the interior of the car. Somehow I managed to get it up to seven hundred and fifty horsepower but that's because I used a little bit of God's storm to help me out. Please... don't tell Max.

After staring at it for a couple seconds, I unlocked the doors and we jumped inside. The interior of the car is black leather and as much as I hate it... I don't really have enough money to change it. The steering wheel was polished and wooden with metal accents and metal centre. The pedals were also metal and they have holes in them... know idea why, I never really got my head round that. The dash board was also leather but it is slightly hardened compared to the seats.

We put our seat belts on and I woke the beast from it's slumber. The car came to life; a seven hundred and fifty horsepower engine roaring like a lion. A sensation that still gets me, even now.
"I still don't know how you managed to get this thing up to seven hundred and fifty horses; damn thing was a reck when we first got our hands on it." Max said looking at me in awe and amazement... or I wish he was.
"Well remind me to show you and you'll find out won't you?" I replied and revved up the monster sitting in the cage. "Natalie doesn't like idiots who go full throttle down the main road huh?" I asked Max, raising an eyebrow and putting the car In gear.
"No, she doesn't and I'd appreciate it if..." before he finished his sentence I let her loose and she roared out of the neighborhood onto the main road.

I brunt through the second gear, third and by the time we even made it to the main road I was already in fifth gear. Max was clinging to his seat and he made his seat belt as tight as it could go; multiple horns were heard as we made our way down the main road and we almost got spotted by the cops.

When we hit the halfway point of the main road however, the traffic increased drastically and I had to shut her down. We came to a complete stop and I could see Max angrily staring at me in the corner of my eye.
"Why do you always do that!?" He asked and shouted and I looked over at him and smiled.
"Because... it's fun!" I replied and he looked forward at the line of traffic ahead.
"Well... looks like we'll have to take it slow for the rest of the drive." He said and I went back to my normal, boring self. I put my elbow on the door and my cheek in the palm of my hand and looked miserable while we waited for the lights to go green.

After five minutes the lights went green and we were moving again; we weren't going the same speed as before though. We had to keep a slow pace the whole way and it was generally... extremely tedious and boring.

After twenty minutes keeping the slow pace, we finally arrived at the bus station.
"We can park just over there." Max said, pointing to an open space by the main office. I parked the car and then it started raining and I felt even more miserable. I turned off the engine and was about to get out of the car... until Max stopped me.
"You can wait here if you want Dust. I won't exactly be long so sit tight." He said and I gave a simple nod.

He got out of the car and ran into the office. I just sat in the car and waited for what seemed like hours. "I won't exactly be long" he says. "So sit tight" he says. So much for that idea... moron. But then... all of a sudden, I hear laughter and Max had exited the office... with the rainbow haired girl.