Fork City: In a Brave new world

CHAPTER THREE| Still Locked Up

"You actually think they're going to eat us?"

     These words of Aileen raced in my mind after a few seconds of fright.

       I turned and saw everyone else asleep.

        And I felt like smiling a little, but I didn't. If this was a dream, and they were sleeping in their dream... But hold on, could it possibly be mine, and not theirs? Could this be my dream?

       No. This couldn't a dream. I was sure of that. I'd been sleeping as well and had just woken up from a nightmare. Besides, I had a watch stuck to my wrist that actually gave me an idea that this was all not a dream; it was my doing. And even though it sounded ridiculous, it was what I felt was right.

"Ben?"

     I turned to my right. It was Aileen mumbling something.

     "... Hold on for a minute, please Ben... Don't go. Ben..."

     And she was silent.

      I raised an eyebrow.

      Who's Ben?

       I stared at her for a moment before I turned to Paul who slept next to her. And now turning to Kirsten to my left, she tilted her head a little. And I heard the clock tick, I wondered whether I could do it?- whether I could just stand up and say the truth...

       But what was the benefit of that? What would they gain from becoming angry with me? I knew that I'd gain a lot of fear. Paul, for one, would bash my head against the wall or something. Kirsten would cry and it all would be chaos.

     But now wasn't the time for negative thoughts; now was the time to clear my mind by getting some sleep.

     And who knows? Maybe Paul might be right.

     Maybe these fork people might be actually out to eat us. They did have forks.

+ + + + +

I remember cycling downwards to the old restaurant on that day.

     My mountain bike was fresh, and I could still feel a smile stuck to my face.

     "Ah, ol' McDonald's had some meat, E-I-E-I-O!"

      And I chuckled slightly.

      My friends hated me singing this. If they'd been there with me, riding along, they'd already start clicking and hurling insults at me. Maybe they'd even turn around and head back home, considering how much I'd gotten into their nerves with it.

       The city was beautiful. It was the one I'd known ever since I was a kid. The building windows glimmered. And tall, as big, grey and cream-colored buildings, they were tasteful to watch, and especially while riding a bike.

       The wind was slight and as I made my final turn, my eyes caught a banner, advertising Cocacola.

       As though the man smiling there was taunting my stomach!

       "Curse you!" I uttered, as I rode a little faster.

       I felt a little hungrier.

     I realized that this was an empty pavement and the traffic little. And because of this, I could ride it a little faster, and faster, and faster, and faster... until my leg almost lost control of the motion on the pedal.

       Suddenly, I swerved towards the road, losing control as a truck hooted noisily in front of me.

      And what happened next was a miracle.

      I was thrown into the air, almost magically.

     And the truck swerved to the other lane and into the pavement.

     I looked up.

     God was truly graceful.

     Thank heavens that truck driver was okay too. And the truck didn't suffer too much damage either.

       And looking back at the bike, it had been flattened beyond repair and lay there in the middle of the road.

       And just next to it, a watch. A metal watch. It lay on the ground, and it was the same one I had in the prison.