Niagara Falls

A Story by Michael Maverick

Five international students from Toronto decided to go to Niagara Falls to have some fun. But they don't reach the destination point. Yet, at least.

What a chance!

"Yes, mr. Fredrix. Yeah, I got it. Everything's gonna be done just perfect."

He keeps insisting:

"Don't let me down, Maverick. This is your last chance.", - driving me mad.

I heard it is really bad for the food and consequently for the eater to cook it in a s****y mood. Well, my steaks are gonna be spoiled today.

Through Fredrix's detailed instructions and smelly dish sizzling in the pan I catch some noise from the upstairs. My girlfriend, the only person in the house except me, was calling for a fancy c**k. We were gonna go naughty for the next few hours, me and her alone in a three-stored house. The whole evening was ours, as all four of my tenants were away for some extremely advantageous reasons. What a chance!

"I'll be back in five minutes!"

Though I covered the mic with my palm...

"Pay attention when I'm talking to you, Maverick!.."

Bla-bla-bla.

This day was supposed to be a blast. I thought nothing was gonna stop me from making my own porn actress out of girl in ten minutes. Well, I was wrong.

I have always disliked that person and by a lucky coincidence we became the closest pair of a student and a teacher in the world. After Fredrix caught me banging my Introduction to Psychology I professor, who was really hot and young, he tried to blackmail me. He wanted me to become one of his students, saying he had great expectations for me. If I didn't, Fredrix would tell the rector and the consequences would be me expelled and the Psychology professor fired.

Biochemistry. That's what he is teaching me in college. That subject has always been pleasant for me to deal with but everything changed when I met Gordon Fredrix. A hell teacher with amazing skills of interfering into his students' lives "just in time". God, I hate him.

The doorbell rang right after the ""Leucine as the main amino acid" has to be on my table by tomorrow morning" words.

"Sorry, mr. Fredrix, I gotta go. See ya tomorrow!"

"Don't you dare hang up on me..."

Click. "Conversation time 12:36".

"Yeah-yeah! I'm coming!", - that was the answer to the second ring.

"Oh, shut up already!",- to the third one.

Why should everything go so messed up right about having the happiest moments?

As soon as the door was open, two of my best friends came in sight, looking as happy as never before. I couldn't say I was glad to see them. Not when I got a boner at least. My face stretched in a false smile.

"Hey, guys! What are doing here?"

"Pack your bags, b***h, we are going to Niagara Falls!", - Fung said and pushed me inside.

Highway cowboy

****

As the hot asphalt is spreading under the wheels of Shadi's van, hundreds of trees as well as cars, shining under the hot summer sun, are passing by my sight, making me sick. Oaks, birchs, beechs. Toyotas, Dodges, Chevrolets. Green, thick crowns filled with birds, raccoons and other furry poultry.

The last hour was about heading towards Niagara Falls, taken hostage by three of my best friends, listening to Bullet For My Valentine. Welsh melodic metalcore was making me take it easy, actually.

While Shadi, Syrian, was driving, Fung, Chinese, and Chris, Canadian, were having an argument on "The Hottest Redhead Porn Star" topic. Yeah, multicultural company.

The fourth member of our company is Alex, Ukrainian, like me. He was sleeping in the third row of seats, smelling as a girl-bartender right after an Irish wet t-shirt contest is over. You know that tradition, don't you? When a hot barman is sprayed with a vat of beer or wine. Beer, usually. After that girl spreads such an energizing flavor; combined with beholding of hard erected n*****s under a white cloth, it makes your panty friend ready to battle.

What's up with him, by the way?

"Hey, what's up with Alex?",- I asked Chris, watching the fourth member's spit dripping on a gum floor carpet.

"He was at some stag-party at Van Horne street. In a thousand feet from your house. Some friend of his is getting married. I guess, you know him, - Chris said, scratching his bristle, glancing at Alex's spit.

"Daniel, obviously."

Then I heard Fung's funny Chinese accent:

"Pay attention when I'm talking to you , Ferret!", - pointing Chris with a forefinger.

This words reminded me of biochemistry.

Ferret showed him a gesture of peace and love, also known as "f**k".

Only an hour ago I was about to have sex with my Mexican girlfriend and sucking tasteful juice out of my beefsteaks afterwards. My mind was full of terroristic ideas towards my lovely teacher, having no idea about how to do that "Leucine" work by tomorrow morning. And now I'm here, driving to Niagara Falls. Heading towards a "run-away" town. A town of alcohol, girls and fun.

****

In ten minutes we pulled over to pee and get some snack at a "Petro-Canada" gas station. Everyone got out of the van, leaving Alex watching his drunken dreams.

My eyes spotted a Chevy pickup with the title "To kill or not to kill? This is only a matter of mood." parked nearby. Then I saw a tall figure, getting out of the truck, dressed in jeans, shirt and a cowboy hat. His mouth, framed by a long mustache, was moving as he After giving me a maniacal gaze, the man passed the automatic door and disappeared. It slightly frightened me.

"Do you want something?", - Shadi said.

"A couple of "Kit Kat"'s would be nice", - I answered, smiling.

As Shadi and Chris left for the station shop, I said:

"Fung, did you see that cowboy? The one getting out of that truck?"

"Nope. Should have I?"

I caught bright notes of sarcasm.

"This guy... He looked at me. Really strange... He maniacally stared at me for a moment. So weird..."

"Dude, you didn't take that weed on the back, did you?", - Fung said laughing.

"Here is funny guy, I see, standing right in front of me.", - I said as a line of a poem.

****

After both of us sit comfortably in our former positions, I saw Fung copying my wince. We heard a shot. Then another one. And one more. It went from the shop.

And suddenly, another wince was caused by mumbling "What the f**k..." from behind me, as the Alex's swollen face raised above the headrest.

"Where am I? For f**k sake... Where the f**k am I?"

Then, he looked at my shocked bulging eyes.

"Oh, hey, Mike! How are you doing?", - finally smiling.

"Shadi. Chris.", - the first thought to spring to mind. Freezing, tearing, paralyzing wave of fear and horror spread all over my body, making my limbs trembling.

As the door was burst open with a crack, my feet with lightning speed brought me to the shop door. It slid to the sides, exposing a picture of the maniacal cowboy pointing me with a handgun.

In a moment, I was making a long jump to the right. Luckily, the wall saved me from becoming a sieve-man.

"Mike, no!", - Fung screamed through the gunfire. Two shots broke the relative silence of highway. In a second the shooter ran out through the door and aimed for my head. Fear and horror made me put my hands up and say:

"Please... Don't..."

A sign of hesitation came in sight all over his face. Buy then the maniacal look changed to extremely maniacal. He came closer, ready to pull the trigger.

"I'm too young to die", - my eyes went juicy.

"Hey, b***h!", - Fung roared, with a handgun in his hand. "Take this!"

Another shot broke the relative silence of highway. The cowboy dropped his pistol and the money bag he had been holding in his hands. His back slowly faced the wall and slowly slid down to the hot asphalt.

****

As Fung and Shadi were carrying wounded Chris to the van, I realized, there was no place left in the van, so I wasn't going with them.

"I'm staying."

"Tell the police only truth.", - Fung said.

"There is no point to lie."

I looked at Chris. His red shirt went black, his breath was hard and frequent. His closed eyes were telling me, not much time left.

"Promise me, you deliver him in time.", - I talked to Shadi.

"I'll try."

In a second I was watching the van rushing along the highway. My eyes went juicy. Again. I have never been so scared in my life. Moreover, my best friend got shot just because he was in the wrong place in the wrong time. Just by a coincidence. It's not the way he should die. Not today.

****

As I look around, I notice something different. Something is not the same as when we pulled over ten minutes ago. I give a gaze at the place, the cowboy was shot. However, a strike of horror hits my mind, as I realize, the shooter isn't there. He is not sitting at the wall with his clothes gory, and a gun and a money sack lying nearby.. No. Everything what is left from him is just a dozen of bloody spots.

As I look around one more time, there is no sign of the maniac. Shortly I get, the spots were leading somewhere. Somewhere to his truck.

It's engine rumbles. I freeze. With a yank, the Chevy went right on me. I jumped behind the dispenser, then a wind blow slightly pushed me as the car rushed by, running to the highway.

"Oh, no. Not that easy."

I ran into the shop and looked for car keys all over dead assistant's pockets. Anon I got into the only vehicle left at the station. I quickly started Honda Civic and drove after the shooter's truck.

Shortly, my eye spotted an old brown Chevrolet Silverado. That's my client. He was driving mad at a speed of over seventy miles. He was overtaking cars like in racing movies. My confidence was gone. But I coped with it. Chris was my friend. Presently, shot one. That f*****g maniac should receive my payback.

My feet pressed the gas pedal to the floor. Though the car was weak, it jumped forward fairly swift. Shortly, the Civic bumped the truck pretty hard, making a nasty bang sound, therefore the pickup wriggled out of the line. The result was only my arms aching.

The cowboy dodged right before the second clash should have taken place. He turned right, making an innocent car go skidded.

Before long, I tried to catch the Chevy one more time, and the right side of Honda faced the truck. The blow made it go out of the highway. My car skidded as well, moving really quick towards the bump.

****

"Hey, he's waking up!", - says a joyful voice, hardly heard through whistle in my ears.

That pain all over my head. All over my body. I can feel it everywhere, in every limb, in every eye. I try to see something, and shortly lines went sharp, particularly Fung's Asian face. It spreads all over my view range. I don't know what is going on. Where am I? Why does it hurt so much? Nothing.

"How are you feeling, buddy?", - my friend asks me.

"What happened? Where am I?", - mumbling only.

"You are in the hospital. You got crashed in a car accident.", - after a pause he continued. "I know, it's not the right time for this but... What happened out there when we left?"

"I'll tell you later...", - I say, fainting again.