Kingdom of Humanity - morning

Moving through another alleyway, I leap over a fence in my way. Following behind some kid I helped, I’m supposed to get something from him, but does it take this long to get a reward from someone? If this turns into an ambush, I’ll kick their asses and head back to the entrance.

“We’re here.” Turning the corner, we’re met with a dead end. Wow, a wall, how awesome… Hm, there’s a white sheet covering something in the alley's corner. “...You can have that,” the kid points to the sheet.

“‘Kay…”

I head to it, weirded out by this whole thing. This is too suspicious and I am not the type to be on edge. I throw off the sheet, unveiling what’s beneath the sheet.

“Holy shit!”

My jaw hangs open, dumbstruck by what was under the sheet. A slick red and black bike that looks like a custom-made bike, kinda like an enduro, except not as small. The seat can support the driver’s back. Also with smooth leather, nice.

“I-I found it while running through the alleyways. I hope you like it, sir!"

Sir? I'm way too young to be a sir. Whatever… Let's see what this baby can do. I jump onto the seat, gripping the handles, giving my hands the chance to get used to them.

"Feels nice. You sure this doesn't belong to anyone?"

"Its been here for days now, so I don't think so."

Abandoned, huh? Then nobody is gonna miss it then.

"How do I turn this on?"

"Um, I think on the side, next to the left handle."

Near it, a button sits next to it. I press it, bringing the machine to life. Its engine roars, letting out that satisfying sound bikes make.

"Oh, yeah! Now, this is what I'm talking about!"

"I'm glad you like it, sir. Hopefully, this will be enough to thank you?"

"Kidding me, this is–"

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The sound of rubber grinding against the ground spikes my heart rate. Before I can understand what's going on, the bike goes full in reverse out of the alleyway.

"W-w-what the–"

I burst out of the alley, breaking a wooden fence behind me. The bike comes to a stop, its engine humming as people look on. Guards hustle past the crowd, holding up spears.

"Cr–"

The bike revs up again right as the guards approach me. It goes blasting off again, speeding through the streets. I've ridden a bike before, but holy shit, this thing is fast! The wind is making it impossible to see where I'm going, and everything is turning into a blur. If this keeps going, then someone's gonna get killed!

"Stop!"

I jerk the handles and stomp on the brakes, but nothing happens. Now, it's steering towards a building. Is this thing trying to kill me!?

Instead of turning into paste, the bike actually scales the freaking walls, tearing everything below the wheels.

"Holy shit!"

This is awesome but scary as all hell. Landing on a rooftop, I can feel my organs bounce around inside my body, almost making me wanna hurl. Once again, it jets off without warning, almost making me lose my breakfast.

Moving from rooftop to rooftop, I'm holding on for my dear life, hoping that I don't go flying off this death trap… You have to be kidding me!?

"Wait, hold on, there's no more roof!" No good, it's actually gonna do it! Ramping off the edge of the last rooftop, I soar across the sky. The wind blowing by my body, gravity losing its effect, even if it's for a moment, and this view of the lower level… It's so cool!

But, like a brick smashing against a window, reality hits me. I scream my lungs out, anticipating the impact to the ground. The landing shook my body hard, and my ass took the brunt of the force.

"Had…enough…demon?" Revving its engine, it screams no. "Alright, then bring it on!" Accepting my challenge, it punches it, something down the road. "...Bring it!"

I pull back on the bike, using my shoulders to give it an oomph, and I use my leg to hit the brakes. My foot grinds across the ground, building up heat below my foot, and the muscles in my arms are getting tired..

"Come on!"

I dig my foot into the ground, burning the bottom of my sneakers, flexing my muscles with everything I got just to stop this goddamn thing. Every bump in the road nearly tears my foot from the ground, and the threat of crashing into something is another concern. This battle is about endurance, seeing which one of us gives up first; a machine that easily trumps other bikes or a human who could turn into a red smear on some wall. But I'm reigning this thing in, so it's all or nothing!

Using all the strength I got, raw and barbaric, I scream as loud as I can, pulling back as hard as I can… Pounding from inside my chest, my lungs are beating like a drum solo. Did…I beat it?

Glancing at the ground, I'm not moving anymore. My sneaker is still in one piece, though, the heat underneath it is scorching hot, just about to burn my feet.

"Did you decide to play nice?"

Nothing happened when I asked, but its engine got louder. I'll assume that’s a yes. Curious, I tried driving it on my own, and wouldn't you know it, it’s moving the way I want it to.

"Oh yeah, you're a good boy, aren’t ya? You and I are gonna get along just fine, I can tell.”

I hope…