Chapter Twelve-New Beginnings

Chapter 12

            I didn’t know where I was going I just knew I had to go. They had headed towards the bridge so I made a quick u turn and sped off as fast as I could go in Kirk’s junky car. Jack and Don hadn’t gone too far by the time I saw the old jalopy. I pushed my foot down harder on the ignition speeding up faster. Jack must have seen me, he sped up faster as did I, coaxing as much speed as I could out of the car.

            Everything rushed past in a blur but it still seemed to go by slow. The other random cars and people all seemed to be perfectly still and easy to dodge. It felt as if I were in a slow motion movie that everyone hated because it went too slow.

            Jack quickly turned a corner nearly flipping over the car. I slowed and turned losing a hubcap and watching it roll to the other side of the street. While Jack sped up and turned down the street a little farther, I stopped and turned on the closest right, it was a long shot guessing that they were headed for the bridge but I took my chance and took an old short cut that led to the bridge quicker.

            I saw the bridge drawing nearer I heard squealing coming from the other direction of the road. I sped up as much as I could trying to block the path to the bridge. Ignoring Carmen and Kirk I slammed the breaks coming to a halt in front of the bridge. I knew that Jack wouldn’t be able to get past without crashing into my car. Although it was only seconds later when his car came tumbling forward into ours, it felt like eternity.

            The grind of metal on metal made me cringe. Jack’s car had so much momentum it sent our car into the side of the bridge snapping the border like a toothpick. The car was half hanging over the side ready to tumble into the water at any moment.

“Milo! Are you crazy!?” Carmen shouted as she sat upright in the seat.

“Get out of the car.” Kirk told her.

“But Milo will fall if there’s not enough weight on the other side.”

“I can swim Carmen, just get out of here.” I said.

            As she shifted in her seat the car tilted, “I can’t do this.”

“Just go!” she quickly got out of the car through the window. I jumped into her seat, the car tilted once again.

            I looked out into the street, Carmen had backed away from the two cars and stood watching me.

“Go.” I told Kirk.

            He got out and the car and I scrambled out the window as Carmen had done and watched Kirk’s car fall into the water. I panted and watched my shaky hands knowing I could be down there in that car sinking beneath the freezing water.

“You!” a voice snarled from the other car. I looked at Jack as he got out of the car and slammed the door walking towards me, “You ruined everything!”

“Back off man.” I said to him taking a step back, closer to the edge.

“I warned you not to get in my way.” He pushed me backwards.

            Even in the darkness I could see Jacks features clearly. The freezing water roared in my ears. Next time Jack swung at me I ducked and used his movement and jammed my elbow into his back and watched as he fell to the dark water beneath.

“Milo!” Don shouted.

            I didn’t mean to push him but something still felt wrong. There was no splash. I turned and looked over the edge of the ledge.

“Milo!” Don called again.

From the ledge a hand shot out and grabbed my ankle bringing me off balance. I fell onto the asphalt and suddenly found it hard to breathe. As I scrambled onto something to hold, I fell into the water not yet realizing I was there until the freezing water engulfed me. As I tried to breathe I couldn’t, as I tried to move my arms I couldn’t. I could not swim to the top. Fear surrounded me as I realized I was drowning.