Patrick was startled by the sudden screech of brakes and looked up to see a motorcycle hurtling toward him. Oh Shit! Instinctively, he threw his body backwards and the motorcycle streaked by, so close he could hear the whistle of the handlebars as it passed within inches of his head. Losing his balance he collapsed in a heap by the curb.

Dazed, he lay there for a moment his heart thumping in his chest and adrenalin coursing through his body. That son-of-a-bitch nearly killed me. Still shaken, he slowly stood up and carefully checked himself for broken bones. Fortunately, there were no injuries except for a nasty little bit of road rash on his left arm.

He turned toward the direction the motorcycle had gone and was surprised to see the bike and rider lying maybe a hundred feet down the road. A fit of unadulterated rage filled Patrick. His face flushed red and a strange pounding began in his temples. That's it, I'm going to teach this fuckin' asshole a lesson. He'll be lucky to live after I get through tearing his freakin' legs off.

Patrick began to walk purposefully toward the fallen man feeling the anger sweep over him. I'm really gonna do it this time. I'm gonna make an example out of this guy for the entire world to see. When I get through with him, the world will know that no one fucks with Patrick McDonald. As he drew near, the rider began to stir.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he yelled at the prone figure. Patrick was feeling really empowered at this moment. It felt good to unleash all the frustrations he was holding inside. The anger was comforting to him, an outlet he seldom utilized.

"What do you mean, what was I doing?" came the reply as the motorcyclist struggled to his feet.

Patrick was really fuming now. This person had nearly killed him and now he was going to imply that this was Patrick's fault? Hit him! said an insistent voice in his head and Patrick felt that he would. I'll teach this piece of shit to be a smartass. The stranger started taking off his helmet and Patrick inched a little closer, close enough now that he could take a swing. I'm really gonna do it! I'll split his fuckin'...

The helmet came off revealing the most beautiful woman Patrick had ever seen in his life. She's an angel. She had long, streaming black hair which fell about her perfect shoulders and down her back. Aphrodite's face could be no more radiant than hers. Sensuous burgundy lips adorned a full mouth and seductive dark eyes peered at him appraisingly. Although covered by a red leather riding outfit, her body was exquisite and had all the right curves in all the right places.

"Um...er...I...I mean..." Patrick stammered. His anger drained away replaced by a queer gnawing sensation in his belly. Check her out. Whoa momma! I'm hot, I'm burning up here. Four alarm fire, baby. He stood dumbfounded, watching every graceful movement while she checked her bike for damage.

"Look, I know I was going a little fast--" she said, breaking the silence.

"A little fast?" he heard himself say.

"Yeah --but you could watch what you're doing in the middle of the road like that, man." She turned her head and the sun caught her face just right and it was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow.

"I...well...yeah..." said Patrick intelligently. My life for you, princess. He could not pry his eyes off her. The anxious feeling in his belly grew until he thought he was going to be sick.

"Look, are you O.K.?" he said. His head was swimming now. "Because I really have to go--I'm really late for work..." Work? I don't' want to go, I want to stay here with you.

"Yeah, seems to be no real harm done. A few bumps and bruises, but nothing I can't handle, nothing serious. Probably just be stiff and sore for awhile."

His mouth was moving but the words coming out were not his, "Well, fine, then. Fine...I gotta go--" The ache in his belly reached a crescendo and he nearly doubled over with pain.

"Do you want my phone number in case there's some kind of problem later?" she asked.

Yes, yes, yes, give me your number, I want you, I must have you. His mouth said, "No, no, that's O.K."

"I want you to take it," she gave a seductive smile that nearly made him melt right there on the spot.

"No, really, no need to...I don't think it's necessary..." A flush was slowly creeping across his face and he felt out of control, out of his element. He had to get out of here, right now, before he exploded.

"Look, sorry about what happened here, OK? I didn't mean to cause you a problem. I guess I wasn't really paying attention. "Well, bye. Sorry. Didn't mean to cause...well, so long." He turned to go. Don't do this, talk to her. Say something, say anything. But he couldn't

"Yeah, don't worry about it. No big deal. See ya..." She was looking at him strangely, like she was expecting something.

Then his legs were walking away and she was out of sight. The sensation in his stomach changed to... remorse?

He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he nearly bumped into some guy selling meat out of the back of his truck.

"Excuse me." said Patrick and he scurried away. This is going to be a long day.

Patrick

Zoe

Hank

Return to the Digital Muse Center