Prompt: A picture of a bicycle in a tree
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Third Road Incident This Month722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsIWgIphH2
The busy streets of Maytown have claimed their third life last Sunday. A 17 year old boy (who has been requested by his family to not be identified) was run over while crossing Hampton St. The driver of the vehicle stated that it was like the boy 'simply appeared from nowhere'. Pedestrians are encouraged to cross streets with the utmost of care.
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First Sunday of the summer holidays. Down at the old dirt track in the forest, with that age old mindset of the world being ours, jumping on bikes like we'd never fall.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8zGcLM2tb
I had to bring Charlotte along too - had to look after her, my parents said, but they should know that I wouldn't give a damn about what she did or didn't want to do.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlwjnk9LCj
'I'm bored, Bran.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhQVAumSOZ
'Shut up. Read your book.' Everyone laughs at my sister, but only momentarily - we paid her little attention.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhYPkWhGRZ
We'd all waited six months to get our RX-4s, and I wasn't going to let Charlotte ruin this day of celebration.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jFSxRuaq7
'Oy, Brandon, watch this sick flip.' Jake flashes a smile, jumps the bike over a large rock, turning clockwise in a full revolution while airborne.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE6jk1bgqq
'Yeah?' I start grinding the pedals of my RX towards the lift in the road. Propelled into the air, I take my hands of the bike - clap once, clap twice, oh shit - I land it just in time, absorbing the shock of the ground with a forward lean at the last second.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXycdDgIpxD
Not to be outdone, Liam does the same, but claps once, twice, again, three times! And lands it with a whoop.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mnii7BqRM
Charlotte wails in consternation. 'Bran, mom said that you should be careful.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeW0z9w6sF
'I told you to shut up!' I take the jump again with 4 claps, and pump my fists at Liam and Jake. 'Who's the man?'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1QcHOqATV
Jake sneers playfully, and goes down the track a bit to build speed - when he's in the air, he gets one, two, three, four, five, six - shit! He hits the ground with an elegant thud, and, swearing loudly (with some admonishments from Charlotte), we rush over to him.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIcrDyemHH
'Crap, did you break anything?'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8czDttcoQS
Jake props himself up on our shoulders as he rises with a groan. 'Nah, it'll be fine. Where's the bike?'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNCtzTWRWj
It wasn't on the road. 'It... it must have tumbled out somewhere. Charlotte, did you see it?'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8dHiydjGs
She let out a 'hmmph' noise in response. I sigh. 'Just sit down here. Liam 'n' I will see if we can find it. It won't be far.' Even as I speak the words, confusion begins to pass over our faces - how did we not see the bike?722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC2LIGktAf
Jake settles down on the track and inspects his injuries as Liam and I trek a little bit into the trees. Where could it have gone?722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNa5wSluDf
'Bloody hell, guys, take a look at this.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6MfShcgIa
I sprint over, and -722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi2fV9CXnm
A bike, in the middle of a tree trunk, rusted and bent, frozen in the clutches of the tree. 'Holy shit.' I grab a stick to scrape off the rust. Just visible, almost entirely worn away, is the engraving RX-4.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZux0qBVx6y
'Get away from it.' Liam was staring at the tree. 'I don't like this...' I back off. It was making me uneasy.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBaEh5Qg17
We head back to the track. Jake looks up at us.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSJ0IPGtE4
Liam is the first to speak. 'We couldn't find it.' I give him a quick glance of surprise. He swallows. 'I dunno where it's gone.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaTMx6V9gX
'Whaaaat? That's my frigging bike!' Jake attempts to stand in shock but collapses on his still unstable legs. 'It can't just have disappeared!'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk79N5s0jC
'We'll come back tomorrow to find it.' I manage. 'It'll be somewhere.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AbnLrsZ42
Jake stares at us in disbelief. 'You guys are crazy. That's my bike.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HLEhk67Zr
Liam is pale. 'You can search if you want. Bran and I are going.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNoaWSs7a9
'Charlotte, come on, we're going.' Pause. 'Charlotte?' Crap. 'Jake, where the fuck did she go?'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSehmDl9iKv
'I don't give a bloody damn!' He stumbled off into the trees. 'I'm going to find what's mine, you find what's yours.'722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GjosUSfGs
'Jake, you can't just go off and - Jake! Come back.' He disappears into the thicket.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOck3mzfCSM
Liam tugs at my arm. 'Let's just go, Bran, I don't - ' His voice trails off.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsWGmGqqVR
I pause. Shout out for Jake once more. Shout out for Charlotte. Nothing. I nod.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQriH1JbGWl
We get onto our bikes and go as fast as we can back to Liam's place, breathless and dragged down by drenched clothes.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupR1rIPgDR
'They're gonna be okay, aren't they?' Liam asks.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf55VhKmmR9
I don't know. I really don't. 'They'll be fine.' He heads into his house, and, calmer now, I cycle slowly back home.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFbWrMj13m
From across the street, I can see Charlotte sitting on the front porch. How did she get back so fast? It doesn't matter - at least mom isn't going to kill me now. I get off my bike and wait on the curb.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3UFboACrO
'Charlotte! Why the fuck did you go?' She doesn't answer. 'CHARLOTTE!' Bloody hell. Hopeless girl. She'd better be ready for another beating after the next car passes.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRdYeWKjoi
She raises a hand - but it's not in greeting. Flick - 722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwXLZl3nyv
The world spins.722Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uSQKr7cRs
The screeching of tires.
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