The Last One

You're brakes are fine.  Just a little mud.  Matt placed his water bottle back in its cradle, adjusted his pack and mounted his bike.  Perhaps it was time to talk with Susan about the probability of a future together.  He'd discuss it with her after the weekend was over.  You guys all set?  Let's keep going.  After that, he put it out of his mind.

He led the group down a hard packed path with Scott right on his tail.  Matt met Scott in college.  They were roommates for a period.  They worked out together in the gym every week their entire college years.  Matt liked to be trim and flexible.  Scott was more extreme with an attitude to match.  He wasn't a bodybuilder but Scott was more muscular than most.  A bit of a narcissist, Scott was very concerned about his appearance and what other's thought about him.  He couldn't walk passed a mirror without noticing himself.

Scott regularly turned everything into a competition especially with Matt.  Sometimes Matt couldn't be bothered, but many times Scott could push Matt's buttons just right to get him to commit.

Come on, Helen.  Watch your balls.  Scott passed Matt.  Matt shifted into a higher gear and gave chase.  The two men quickly separated from the rest of the group gaining more and more distance.  Scott dove through a puddle spraying Matt up his front.  Around trees and other obstacles, the path weaved dangerously.  Scott caught some air off a shallow root.  Landing in a bed of loose rock, Scott's rear wheel skidded to the side.  Matt took the inside where the ground was more solid and passed Scott on a banked turn.  What the competing men saw next stopped them so suddenly Matt nearly flew over the handlebars.

What the hell is that? The words came to Scott first.

An oval light blocked their pathway.  White light like a large spotlight hovered less than a foot over the trail.  Scott climbed off his bike and walked around it.

Don't touch it! Matt said.  Stay away from it.

Scott waved him off.  He threw a stick at it first.  Light flashed and the stick disappeared.

Jesus!

The others were coming.  Matt ran up to the corner warning Susan and Michele.  Anyone coming around that corner too fast would collide with the object.  Object was hardly a good word to describe it.  It didn't seem to have any substance at all.

It's a water reflection, Susan said, not believing her own conclusion.

I doubt it, Scott replied.  I bet it's a doorway or portal of some kind.  See, look.  Scott demonstrated his theory by poking a stick at it.  The light flashed at the point of entry and the stick returned whole when he pulled it back.

Let's go through it.  See where it goes, Scott said.

Are you crazy?  No way! Matt refused.  We'll turn around, call the park rangers and go home.  Let them deal with it.

I'll go, Michele said smiling slightly at Scott.

Two against one.  Susan, you coming too?

Susan shook her head.  Adjusting her chinstrap, she was obviously frightened.

Fine.  Two against two.  We'll get Chubs to break the tie, Scott said.  Just as he said his name, Chubs flew around the corner out of control.

No brakes!  No brakes!  Watch out!

Matt reacted.  He grabbed him but the big man was heavier and moving too fast.  The momentum whipped Matt off his feet, throwing him face first to the ground.  Then, Chubs entered the white light and was gone.
 
Look it's getting smaller, Michele yelled.

It's closing, Scott corrected.