by Claire Adams
“Sure, it’s a nice bike, but it takes more than things to make you happy,” the old man said as if he was talking to himself.
“I do okay. I've got more than enough money,” I replied as I faced him and faked a smile.
I felt compelled to talk to him, but more for being pissed, rather than because I wanted to listen to what he said.
“Money ain’t the route to happiness,” he went on as he pulled on his long gray beard in contemplation.
“It gets me what I want. You name it, I can get anything with money,” I said waving my empty bottle to the barwoman who was eating salted crisps.
“Is that so?” asked the old man.
“Take the bike. It cost me 13 grand, which is a drop in the ocean. I could spend that in a day on dinner,” I replied as I raised my bottle and had a drink.
“You young ones are all the same,” the old man retorted looking at me like he was insulted.
“How would you fucking know?” I asked the old man feeling pissed off with his so-called 'know it all' attitude.
“Ah, that is my secret. My you are really the next generation, aren't you?” he commented as he looked past me like I meant nothing. What a idiot.
“Yeah, you’re talking horse shit. You know nothing,” I raised my voice. “You're just like all these old timers, clinging onto the past like an traditionalist.”
I turned my attention to the TV, and the news was just informing the weather. Unexpected rain was forecast which made no sense at all being summertime.
“That’s a nice bike you have there Mr. it would be a shame to lose it,” the old man piped up again as if to goad me more.
“You said that already, are you a bit senile?” I said as anger rose in my body.
“Not me, I'm full of wisdom, I spent years being just like you. I feel sorry for the man I used to be.” He looked at me, his face covered by deep weathered wrinkles and eyes as dark as coal.
"Just like me?" I was pissed with this fucker. He thought he knew it all.
“I earned my money. It didn’t come from an inheritance,” he said as he spoke his truth.
“Who says mine is inherited?” I asked. I wanted to punch him to the floor for being a mindless cock.
“Seen it many times. Soft hands, and no sign of hard work,” he said as he laid his palm out on the bar to show me. “See that? It's from work. Real work, blood, sweat, and tears made these hands.” He clenched his fist and rubbed his hands together to warm them.
“You still haven’t told me how you know all this?” I asked as I tried to act like I cared.
“Let me just say. I have more money than you ever will, Sonny!” The old man saluted me with his bottle. He raised it mid-air and took a swig and grinned a wide smile.
“Now I know your talking shit,” I replied. “Touché, old man. I nearly believed it.”
“I could buy you twice or thrice over and still have change left over,” the old man went on. “Check mate young man.”
I finished my beer and decided to head out. The old man was starting to talk gibberish as if he knew something about me. As I slipped into my jacket, the old man started talking to me again.
“All your money won’t stop you being alone in this world. Mark my words,” he said pointing his finger to make a point. “And then one day, just one day, you could be having this conversation with some punk ass kid who knows it all.”
I headed out of the door, the stale smells and sounds that reverberated off the jukebox began to fade out.
I climbed on my bike and started the engine, I dropped her into gear and shot off toward the hills, toward the twisting and turning roads that were a joy to behold. The rain was fast approaching, and I felt alive and ready to take my melancholy out and burn it off by the ride.
I hit the hills, the roads twisted and turned; I weaved in and out of traffic, all of my thoughts a blur. I was in the moment, no thoughts of the past, and no thoughts of the future either. I felt I was at one with the bike. I leaned and the bike responded, I twisted the throttle, and her speed increased like the perfect unison of man and horsepower together.
I rose to the top of the hill and stretched before me was blacktop, perfect and straight. Fuck, it looked as if it was a couple of miles long. I decided this was the ideal place to test her top speed, and with little or no traffic to consider, and no real obstacles in my way. It was like they had closed the road for me, I thought as my adrenalin kicked in.
I adjusted my gloves and loosened my shoulders, I dropped the clutch and shot off like a rocket. The gauge hit red and then changed gear. I had my head down as I approached 100. I could see nothing around me only the vastness of road stretched out, almost like I was flying. This would be my moment of glory.
I checked the gauge, I was up to 130, 140 and the bike was shaking. Then 142 and holding. I had reached maximum speed. I basked in the glory. I’d done it! With the top speed achieved, there was another I could tick off my bucket list.
"Woo hoo!" I screamed out under my helmet as I felt invincible.
I looked in front of me. I could see what appeared to be small balls hitting the road, it was, oh shit, my mind quickly replayed the past events. The news had forecast a downpour of rain and... fucking hail. I lifted off the gas and started to slow, I entered the hail storm at well over 100, and the noise inside my helmet was deafening as the hail continued to pummel me like I was a trash can that toppled over and clanged.
I touched the rear brake, and the wheel slid to the side, and as I corrected, the bike high-sided me. I spun as I flew through the air. I hit the road with my shoulder hard and fast, and then my ragdoll body cartwheeled. I landed on my back and slid toward the trees.
I felt a thud in my back as I hit the grass curb, my body flailed as I was thrown against the road sign. I could see behind me. The bike had slowed and ground to a halt, with a shower of sparks flying from the hail covered road as she finally came to a momentous rest on her side.
My visor misted up as my breath filled my helmet, I couldn’t lift my arms to open it. I could just see the day was slowly falling into dusk, and then lights came, and the first sign of traffic approached. I closed my eyes. I could hear voices.
"Over here," someone shouted.
I regained consciousness. I was fading and wanted to speak, yet I had nothing in my body left to mutter anything. My eyes opened and closed, the white lights changed from flashes of blue to red.
Then as I drifted back into and out of consciousness, there was something around my neck. It was stiff, and then my helmet was slowly removed. I could see the ambulance, with the lights flashing through the unrelenting hail. The lights looked like angels dancing as they flashed, in the dark gray sky.
I could see the outline of a man, as he stood there and watched me.
My mind went back to the bar, "Mark my words,” I pictured the old man saying. "You don’t want to lose it all." I pictured him raising his bottle again.
My eyes closed as I could my body being lifted onto the stretcher, then I floated. The lights flashed, and the dance became quicker in my tired mind. I turned my eyes and looked toward the voice, was I dreaming or was that, was that the old man? I wondered.
The doors of the ambulance opened in a haze of lights, hail, and a cloud of memory that flashed in my sore head. I was slowly being wheeled in.
From behind me, a voice said, “Nice bike you got there, Mister.” Just as the doors closed, the voice continued, “Checkmate.”
Chapter 8
Kendall
I woke up as Bo licked my face, it appeared he had responded well to his medication, so, at least I wouldn’t have to be so concerned about him during the day. Another good thing was I only had today and tomorrow remaining before I could tell Elijah to shove his job where the sun doesn’t shine.
***
I arrived at work and noticed that Elijah’s car wasn’t in the car park which I thought strange, even though he was a total prick, there was no denying his commitment to t
he company and his work ethics. But maybe he just had one drink too many last night. That made sense.
I exited the elevator and walked across to Jefferson’s desk, “Yo, Jefferson, how’s it hanging?” I said with a giggle.
“Hey homey, it's hanging okay for this time of day,” he laughed at our fun.
“You see any sign of Elijah? His car is not in the lot,” I said with a puzzled look on my face.
“Not seen him, and don’t care if I don’t see him at all today!” He grinned at me and winked.
“While the cat’s away, the mice will play and all that eh?” I replied.
“You got it, girl, make the most of it, it won’t happen very often,” he added.
I returned to my desk and got the day’s duties underway, I answered a few calls for Elijah, but I had nothing to tell them, I had not seen him. "I didn’t know when to expect him in," wasn’t an answer they wished to hear.
I had one call from Mr. Roddenberry who was Elijah’s personal lawyer, yet I had thoughts that he was much more than that. He asked where Elijah was as he had the information he wanted, but he wouldn’t leave a message, which I thought was a bit strange.
***
I had a normal day up until just before lunch when Peter came into to the office. He had a worried look on his face which was unusual for him. He was generally a laid-back sort of guy that everyone wished Elijah had been. He wore blue jeans and a dark sweater. His face didn’t match his casual clothes.
“Hi, Peter. What’s wrong? Oh my, you look worried. It’s not something Elijah has said, is it?” I asked.
“No, no, nothing like that, he has been in a serious accident,” he said looking distraught.
“My God, is he okay? Is there anything I can do?” I replied.
“It’s alright, just give me any messages to do with work, and I’ll take care of it for him,” he said.
“Of course, whatever you and he need, just let me know,” I said
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he’s lucky to have you as an employee. “He does think highly of you.”
“So, how did it happen, the accident?” I asked Peter as he took a seat and a deep breath.
“They are not sure why it happened, but he did show signs of alcohol in his blood so he must have been drinking. They found him and his bike on the mile flat between here and the other side of the hill,” he said.
“What was he doing all the way over there?” I asked with a puzzled expression om my face.
“He goes out on his bike sometimes to let off steam, he has always said the pressures stay out of his head that way, and it’s the only time he feels totally free,” Peter said.
“You did say they know how it happened,” I asked with concern.
“Ah, yes, the emergency services and the police reckon he was at top speed on his bike and drove straight into that freezing rain we had. They said, there was no way he would have been able to control it at that speed, especially if he was trying to slow down as the road would have become very slippery very quickly,” Peter explained.
“So, is he in a conscious condition or what?” I asked.
“He’s in a critical condition, but they said it could have been much worse. Had he not worn such a good jacket and helmet, the speed he crashed and hit the road at would have cut straight through,” he said.
"He was extremely lucky then, and he was lucky someone actually found him, he could have been lying there all night,” I replied as my stomach sickened from the news.
“Of course, he has a broken shoulder and a heavy concussion which is the biggest concern,” Peter said with his head bowed. “The doctors actually said that the traces of alcohol might have helped his body relax as he fell from his bike. So, it could have been much worse if he had not been drinking.”
“Anyway, I need to get back to the hospital and see how he’s getting on, just let me know if there are any messages for him, or if there is anything else that I need to do," Peter got up and started to walk back toward the elevator.
I sat and thought about what Peter just told me. I had a feeling of remorse for all the bad things I said about him over the past couple of weeks. I mean, he might be a dick, but he’s a human after all, and no one deserves for that to happen to them, no matter what anyone says.
There was no way I could go straight home, so I called Mandy to see if she was available for a chat. She told me she was always available for me, after all, that’s what friends are for, she reminded me.
I arrived at Mandy’s house, and as always, she stood waiting at the door, she sensed there was something wrong by the way I shuffled toward her house, with my head bowed rather than looking at her. She came out with some sarcastic comment anyway.
“So, what brings a girl like you out on a night like this, eh?” she asked. “And why the hunched shoulders? What’s up?”
“It’s Elijah, he has…” I started to say.
“Don’t tell me the dick has been shouting his mouth off again?” she asked as she screwed her mouth up in disgust.
“I wish it were that easy, he has been in a bad motorcycle accident and is in a critical condition, Peter came and told me just before lunch time.” Tears blurred my vision.
“Well, if you ask me, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. Obviously, he deserved it, and he does deserve everything that comes his way,” she said in an angry tone.
“Now come on Mandy, that is a little unfair, no one deserves that to happen to them,” I retorted in anger.
“Well he has been a total dick toward you. You should stop being so naïve with everything,” she replied.
“Well I’m not like you, maybe that is the difference between a city girl and a country girl?” I asked. “Accidents happen, and they are forced on people no matter who they are, that is why they are called accidents.”
“Well, in my eyes, it might make him realize a few things, he’s not as immortal and unbreakable as he thought he was,” she said. “He’s just human after all, just like you and me, and no matter how much money or power you have, there is no way you can avoid something like this.”
“I see your point, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a person and a person shouldn’t be blamed for being on the receiving end of an accident. Mandy, we should have some compassion rather than being bitter and twisted toward people like this while they are vulnerable,” I said with a sarcastic smile.
“So, you think I’m bitter and twisted, do you?” Mandy replied with a chuckle.
“Well you do have quite a blunt outlook on life, you make everything black or white, right or wrong. It's like there is no middle ground,” I said.
“Ah, it’s the middle ground where confusion sets in, that is where most people’s problems start from.” She pointed her finger to emphasize the point.
“I wished I could look at life so simply, I have feelings, and I know that people have the same feelings, no matter who they are or what their attitude is toward everyone else,” I said as I held back my tears. “There are times, I can see it in his eyes, that is when he’s not screaming at someone, I think deep down he’s afraid of something, and he just needs someone to help him conquer his fears,” I said with a sympathetic expression on my face.
“In Elijah’s case, it’s obvious something made him go out on his motorcycle and want to be free from everything. Fuck, what was he thinking and what could someone have done to prevent him from shooting off?” Mandy said.
“I don't know. But he’s going to be needing someone now, and I probably know him better than anyone apart from Peter.” I said with an obligation.
“Don’t tell me you have had second thoughts about leaving,” Mandy said in a shocked voice.
“Well, you know, I do like the job, and now it may be different, he may be different. We know people can have some trauma and their whole personality changes. Maybe it will bring out the best in him,” I said.
“I’m not sure Elijah has a good side, or if he has, it’s so well hidden it
will take more than an accident to reveal it, he will probably be bragging about how he survived a fatal accident. Yeah, another thing he can say to charm a woman into his bed no doubt.” Mandy returned from the kitchen with a refill of our coffee cups.
“I think now is not the ideal time to leave, even if not for him, the business needs someone, and Peter is not in a position to always be available to help out. And anyway, he’s not up to speed on how the company functions on a daily basis,” I said.
“God, you make it sound like you are the boss’ wife,” Mandy said with a laugh.
"What?"
“Kendall Hanson... Elijah returns from the dead, and beds a virgin, just think of those headlines in the news, you could be famous,” Mandy said as she choked on her coffee in a laugh.
“Fuck you, Mandy, you know I’m just a little inexperienced in the love department, unlike you, spread them and bed them,” I said a bit pissed with her, now.
“I might have had a few men, but it has all been my choice, I have never been swayed by anyone if I didn’t want to do it. I’m in control, not them and certainly not their cocks,” she replied as she clenched her fist to show her strength.
“Well enough joviality, I’m being serious, I may just give it a little longer before quitting, I would feel better in myself if I hang around until he’s fit again,” I added.
“I know you would, and I’m not going to stop you, even though I have different opinions. Because it would eat you up if you walked out on your 'knight in shining armor,'” Mandy said with a Cheshire grin.
“I can see why you are my best friend, you know me just a little too well,” I replied as I threw my arms out to give her a big hug. Gosh, she is so annoying sometimes!
Chapter 9
Elijah
My head hurt, and my ears rang, I opened my eyes and could just see white. I looked around the room and realized I was in a hospital. I desperately tried to remember why I was here, but everything was blank. Shit, had I been ill? I asked myself.
I could see a man in the chair next to the bed, and he looked familiar, but I couldn’t put a name to his face. I watched as he opened his eyes and looked at me. He grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it in genuine compassion.