Faster Than This.

[Faster Than This] Chapter 2

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Flashing lights of red, yellow, green and horns that honked ferociously, deafening her ears were blurring into the depths of her mind, engraved with the italics of and espresso thrill . They were so fast , everything just mushed into one mess of colours and city smog. She tried to pry her eyes open, but force of gravity didn't let her, whipping shrieking winds across her paling skin. She decided to settle on slits, and the world plays out like a wide screen motion picture. How could he not be afraid? Her arms instinctively tightened around his waist and she leaned forward. How dare he make her go on this. Her heart beat sped up with the speed of the bike. How dare her legs move with him. She furiously knocked her leg purposely into the side of the bike, making sure to give herself a good beating.

"Whoa," he said as the force made the bike slightly swerve. he righted the steer again, to only speed up. In the distance she could see the light at the intersection flash yellow.

"Stop!" she screamed.

"What?" he yelled back over the roar of the acceleration.

"I said stop this fucking bike!" She shouted even louder. His head jerked in acknowledgment and she let the breath she kept locked in her lungs slide through her mouth. The beating of her heart calmed in response to the decrease of speed.

As the bike slowed to a stop behind a line of cars, her legs seemed to regain feeling. Her body pressed forward and her hands went to lean against the smooth glossed leather seat. She waited until just the right moment before springing herself agilely off and sprinting head first out of the traffic. Her heart beat wildly as she heard the honks of the cars and people yelling for her to get off the road. Somewhere in the midst of all the yelling, clear as a bell, his low voice smothered with concern was heard.

"What are you doing? You're going to get killed!"

It reached her ears, but the meaning didn't penetrate her mind. She kept on running with speed she never knew she had. What street is this? What road is that? Nothing made sense to her as she ran wildly around, glancing in every direction. Where did that man take her? Her insides screamed.

"Wait!" He shouted towards her again, this time closer. She turned around to see him chasing after her, dodging the cars on the roads to follow her. Why was he following her? She sprinted farther away from him, pushing pedestrians and cars alike. Get away, get away, what was this quickening feeling that rushed through her veins? The undeniable fear in her gut, sinking swallowing and puking out more fear, like a virus. Something just told to stay away from him. She glanced back to the buzzing of the streets. Her eyes scanned back and forth, passing the street signs and heavy rain. Darting back to the posts and billboards. He was nowhere.

"Alan," she muttered under her breath. Something struck her then. Alan? Why did that name sound so familiar. A spasm hit her head and she crouched down to the ground dropping like a dead weight. Her hands grabbed at her head as a migraine gave way to her head. Her eyes shut tight and she inwardly cried out. Why did the mention of that name hit herself so hard? A flow of flashing memories ran past her eyes, forcing her to tackle her knees with her arms and wrap herself close before crying out loud.

A young boy, plain as day although his face was missing. Brown messy curls blowing with the dandelion seeds in the light of the sunset burned deeply, peeling off the protective skin that covered these memories. Laughter, singing and a sweet voice. Screams of terror and flashes of white washed walls, red graffiti fading away from the harshness of time and a metallic glimmer followed by a sharp pain.

These images mingle, flashing for milliseconds again and again in the back of her eyeslids. Even with the lids close, the second one won't.

She stood up. Swaying from the excessive memories, her hands spread out to keep balance. Orthello road was overhead, the sign seemed to mock her. Childishly, her tongue stuck out and she went forward, ignoring the throbbing of her head and the freshen past memories that still linger

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The day passed quickly for her inside the school. Normal classes sped by with her listening to the teachers and obediently doing her work. Riley felt like the world was hers, being independent and not nearing anyone. She quietly hum a little tune to her in sculpting class, observed in her piece of artwork, playing with the clay that stuck to her fingers.

"That's Riley," she heard a boy whisper. Her body automatically flinched at the mention of her name, and she turned her back on the group of people who distant themselves from her.

The bell rang, piercing her and her bubble of momentary peace. She picked up her bags and loaded her work inside before pacing quickly down the blue wall hallway, avoiding strangers and peoples knowing looks. She ducked behind the cafeteria door and headed for the emergency exit. Her favorite door home, away from any crowds or unwanted encounters at the front gate.

"No way, Spain obliterated them in the last game no questions asked," a voice she would recognize anywhere spoke loudly as the door she pushed on swung open.

"Yes, but that goal shouldn't have counted at all, did you see the guy kick?" another male voice countered.

"They won, fair and square," he concluded with a smirk on his face and a toss of curly brown hair. She caught his eye and he looked up to see her on top of the blue emergency stairwell. He gave a surprised look before a big grin.

"Hey!"

She shook off the immediate terror that seemed to flow through her at the look on his face. Somehow, a clenching fear gripped her body again and forced her to turn away towards the door again.

"Wait!" he called after her, bouncing quickly up the stairs. She slipped through the door before he could make it up halfway.

'Why is he here? Did he follow me?' So many questions raced through her mind but only one ran clear and forced her to move. She had to get away, get away.

"Wait!" his voice ran down after her, vibrating off the lockers and hitting her at full steam. She ignored it and her pace turned into a slow jog.

"Riley!"

Her legs rooted and her body swayed to the ground but she caught herself and straighten up. Her eyes glanced down at her uncontrollable legs. Why did they stop at the call of her name?

"Riley, wait," he said breathless now only a few feet away. She heard him move closer behind her and she turned abruptly with anger in her eyes.

"Why do you keep appearing everywhere!" She screamed, unable to maintain her cool anymore.

"Everywhere?" he questioned, clearly not understanding what she meant. He had only encountered her the morning before.

She shook her head, letting the honey coloured waves fall from its place down and over her face. She couldn't explain to him, after all those flashes of memories she couldn't make out, his face was everywhere she went. Floating at the backs of her mind, behind her second eye lid his eyes would stare. That's what birthed her fear of him, or was it something else that forced her defensive instincts out?

"How do you know my name?" she asked after a complete silence. Her eyes dart back to his chocolate brown eyes. They suddenly calmed her, and she relaxed her tensed muscles. "I don't even know yours."

He smiled a lopsided grin and rubbed the back of his head with his hand. "Well, where to start off, it's a pretty long story Riley."

"Long story?" she briefly thought about his friends mentioning her as people usually tend to do, due to her reserved personality. People tend to distract their insecurity with the comforts of other people. That's how relief is found, by acknowledging the same ill factor in others. But not her, she channeled her emotions through art, avoiding meaningless chatter. She was petite, small, unusually quiet and raw. People feared her. Ironically enough, she was only half their size.

"Anyways, we have our whole lives to tell that tale," he continued, walking towards her until they stood side by side. He was a head taller than her she noted, now having to look up when he spoke.

"It's Alan."