"Why do we always go to the tracks? It's so far from our neighborhood," Lucas asked, turning around to see where him and his friends came from for the tenth time.

"Oh stop being such a pussy!" Jack laughed at him.

"Yeah, Lucas! What- you already miss your mommy?" Tommy joked alongside Jack, and added, "don't get me wrong, I miss her too, but c'mon man!"

Jack and Tommy laughed hysterically as they walked faster to the train tracks.

"Relax, Lucas. It's not like I'm gonna leave you out here in the woods alone," Ben told him, and walked next to him. He wrapped his arm around Lucas's bony shoulders, and smiled.

Lucas listened to their annoying laughter, and kept his head down.

Why do they have to be such assholes, Lucas wondered.

He hated being the youngest one in the group. As the only sixth grader, he was the biggest target to make jokes on. The only kids that lived on his long street were the ones that were with him now. If he had the option, he wouldn't even hang out with them, but all their parents were friends, so Lucas's parents insisted that he went out with the rest of the children more.

They wandered deep into the tall woods. The sun was beginning to set, and the trees around them created a shade that made the whole world around them darker. Ben, Jack, and Tommy all loved the thrill of being out in the wilderness. The feeling of freedom made them feel powerful. It was their own world. A world ungoverned and unsupervised by their parents. It's what they longed for.

But not Lucas. He enjoyed coming back home to his parents, and doing family activities. He loved them very much, and didn't want to do anything that would disappoint them. Lately, he's been wanting to give back to them, but he hasn't found a way yet.

***

After half an hour of walking, they arrived at the old train tracks. The dark oak wood planks were new, and the metal tracks were as well. The mound of rocks that laid underneath the tracks were all white. It was the brightest color in the woods, as the dirt and trees were dark brown.

"Chubby! Check to see if there's a train coming!" Jack yelled.

Tommy sighed.

"Dude, I'm not chubby, I'm just big boned." Tommy tried to tell him, but Jack laughed.

"Whatever man! Just do it!" Jack ordered.

Tommy shook his head, and ran up the mound of rocks. He got down on both knees, and bent over. He put his right ear down on the track, and listened carefully, putting all his focus on the metal track.

Ben and Lucas stayed back and watched as Jack carefully ran up the rocks. He quietly stood behind Tommy, trying to keep in his laughter, and began air humping his ass.

Oh god, Lucas thought as he shook his head.

Jack turned around for a moment to look at Ben and Lucas, and started laughing, giving himself away to Tommy.

Tommy turned around.

"Wha- what are you-" Tommy stuttered in confusion, but as he got a better look, his eyes widened and he screamed, "hey- stop, dude! That's so gay!"

Jack backed off and couldn't stop laughing. He pointed at Tommy jokingly, and told him with his head tilt to the side, "but aren't you gay?"

Clearly angered, Tommy stood up and approached Jack like he were about to fight him.

"For the last fucking time, Jackass, I'm not gay!" Tommy told him.

"Oh please! Then why do I always catch you looking at gay Gerald?" Jack asked him, clearly not intimidated by his larger figure.

"He's the one that looks at me!" Tommy tried to explain himself, but Jack wasn't buying it, as he kept on laughing.

"Whatever you say, gay boy," Jack said, raising his hands like he was done and wanted to back out of the conversation.

Tommy's face turned red, and his hands balled into fists.

"I ain't no faggot!" Tommy shouted in Jack's face, and pushed him down the mound of rocks with both hands and full force.

Jack had a brief facial expression of shock before he went tumbling down the rocks. As he reached the bottom, the momentum came to a halt. He opened his eyes, and found himself staring at a large boulder next to his small head.

He immediately stood up, pissed off at Tommy.

"What the hell, man? You could've seriously fucked my head up!" Jack swore at him.

Tommy laughed, feeling like he won the little dispute, and turned to Ben, "come on up, dude. I hear the train coming."

Ben nodded, and turned to Lucas.

"You sure you don't want to do the bet? Fifty dollars is on the line," he asked, trying to convince him.

Lucas looked at Ben nervously, and then to Jack who was looking at everyone.

"Do you guys even care that I almost died just now?" Jack asked everyone, but none of them responded.

He shook his head, and went up the mound of rocks to the tracks to join Tommy.

"I dunno..." Lucas sighed.

Lucas wasn't sure if he wanted to join them. Their game of 'Chicken' was so stupid to him. But fifty dollars was a lot of cash to a kid in middle school. But then a light bulb turned on in his head.

Maybe I can finally buy something for my parents, Lucas thought to himself, I can't remember the last time they went out for dinner together. They've always been at home, watching and doing stuff with me. It's about time I give them their own space.

But then he remembered: The game was 'Chicken'. His parents would be so mad at him if he played a game as dangerous as that..

"Nah..." Lucas shook his head, and told Ben shyly, "Imma' sit this one out."

"Dude, come-" Ben stopped, clearly frustrated by Lucas's response. He looked at Lucas straight in the eyes, and rolled his.

"Alright," he sighed like he gave up, and left Lucas alone to join the rest of his friends on the tracks.

Jack and Tommy were already standing on the tracks as Ben reached the top. He stood in between the two and smiled.

Lucas sat down on a log and watched them as they talked and waited for the train. He didn't pay any attention to what they were saying, so he began playing with his long shoelaces from his father's big construction boots. He then heard Jack mention his name.

"Hey, is Lucas not joining us?" He heard Jack ask.

Lucas looked up for a moment to see what was going on. He saw Ben looking at him before he turned to Jack and shook his head.

"Nah," Ben told him.

Jack then turned to Lucas, clearly done with his act, and yelled across the rocks, "dude! Stop being such a pussy ass bitch! We didn't bring you with us just so you could watch!"

Tommy turned around and looked at Jack.

"Dude, he's not gonna join. He never does," Tommy told him.

"See?" Jack said, "that's what I'm trying to say! God, you're such a drag."

Jack shook his head, and looked straight ahead, still bothered by Lucas.

Lucas looked down at the ground and sat there completely still.

They're right, he thought to himself, I've always been so nervous around these guys. I'm always thinking about the bad stuff that could happen, and never the fun that could come out of it. Dad always told me I should put myself out there. This is my chance to do that.

Lucas stopped in the beginning of his knot process, balled his fists, and stood up. He started walking towards the tracks, and going up the mound of rocks. Ben turned and watched him come up.

"Those fifty dollars are mine," Lucas told them confidently.

Soon, the rest of the group noticed Lucas coming up.

"Aye! There we go, Lucas!" Tommy clapped his hands and smiled.

Lucas stood up on the metal tracks behind Jack, blushing at the words he never thought he would hear.

"THAT'S what I'm talking about, man!" Jack turned around and grinned, smacking his shoulder playfully.

Lucas smiled brightly, and saw Ben looking at him. Ben gave him a long look with a smile, and nodded. Lucas  nodded back, and then Ben turned around.

"But hey, just letting you know," Jack said, and rubbed his finger and thumb against each other, "I got a date with hot Emma this Friday, so I'm getting that dinero."

Tommy turned around and looked at Jack.

"Dude, she's a three at best," Tommy told him.

Jack then stuck a middle finger with each word at Tommy.

"Fuck. You."

The four kids on the track laughed together, and then the sound they've been waiting for the entire day finally came in the distance: The train.

The metal tracks beneath them rang louder, and they could feel the entire track shake. They heard a giant metal vehicle rolling towards them, the sounds of clanking metal echoing through the tall trees.They impatiently waited for the train to appear out of the corner.

"Here we go boys!" Ben said excitedly.

The train horned again, a little louder than the first time.

"Let's not piss ourselves, guys!" Tommy added to the excitement.

The train horned once more, this time it was paired with the sound of the wheels rolling on the tracks

Chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga!

"I'm gonna make this train my bitch!" Lucas yelled and jumped up at little. He lost his balance for a moment as he accidentally landed in between the tracks on the planks, but quickly stepped back on.

"Damn, okay Lucas! I dunno what's gotten into you, but I'm liking it!" Jack yelled and smiled.

Then, the train rolled into view.

Choo-chooooo!

"Awoo!" They howled like a pack of wolves out in the wild..

They stood on the tracks bravely as the large, monstrous vehicle charged at them in full speed. The train had to have have been three hundred yards out, but that scared neither of them.

Lucas felt his blood pumping like never before. His confidence was in the sky.

Three hundred yards.

"Alright guys, now's your chance. Hop off and lets call it mine!" Ben yelled.

"Fat chance, Ben!" Jack yelled at him.

"Yeah!" Lucas added.

Two hundred yards.

The train was getting larger and louder.

Choooo!

"Oh fuck this-" Tommy couldn't hold it anymore, and yelled as he jumped off and ran down the rocks, "I'm out!"

"Pussy!" The rest laughed and pointed at Tommy.

"Fuck you guys!" Tommy stuck both his middle fingers at them.

One hundred and fifty yards.

The train blared it's horn continuously, the rolling of the wheels now filling up their ears.

"Yeah- no- I'm done!" Ben laughed and hopped off, leaving only Jack and Lucas on the tracks.

Everyone laughed, but Lucas was surprised. He never thought he would last this long, especially the fact that it was only him and Jack now..

"Give it up, kid!" Jack yelled.

"Never!" Lucas yelled back.

One hundred yards..

Jack started shaking his head, and then he shouted, "fuck this! Emma's a hoe anyways!"

And then it happened: Jack jumped off, leaving Lucas as the last one standing.

"Woohoo!" Lucas screamed, filled with joy.

"Shit! Lucas won!" Tommy yelled in shock.

"Go Lucas!" Ben shouted, throwing his fist in the air.

"Alright, alright, you win Lucas, come down so we can give you your fifty dollars," Jack said, embarrassed that he lost to him.

Finally, his thoughts ran wild, I did it.I put myself out there, and I showed these guys that I wasn't a wimp. This is the day where my life changes, I can already feel it! Not only that, but now I get to invite my parents out to dinner!

Lucas's smile was so bright as he turned to hop off the track, but that smile was instantly wiped off as he found himself pulled back, falling face first on the rocks.

Fifty yards...

"LUCAS! GET UP! LUCAS!!!" He heard all his friends scream, but the train was more powerful and louder.

"What the..." Lucas gasped as he struggled to turn around. His heart stopped when he found that his long laces were caught with the nails on the wooden planks.

"C'MON MAN! GET OUT OF THERE!" Ben cried, throwing his hands behind his head.

Lucas began to panic as he tried to pull his feet away, but the knots were caught bad.

He was stuck.

"GUYS, I CAN'T! HELP ME!" Lucas turned around and begged, but when he saw his friends, he found them all frozen and their faces filled with horror.

The train was only seconds away.

Lucas began to sob and cry rivers as he reached for his boots with both hands, trying to get his feet out.

He turned to see how much time he had left, but his eyes widened as the only object he saw was the monster, black train.

And then it happened.

The train rolled through and sliced Lucas's small arms and feet off like they were nothing. The sound sent shivers down every single one of the boys. It was like a slab of meat going through a meat grinder. The sound was quick, but to the boys, it rang in their ears long after. But it was nowhere near as horrifying as the sounds that came after.

Lucas's blood-curdling screams were so loud and painful that it surpassed the level of noise the train made. He rolled down the mound of rocks, crying out in pain as blood shot out of his severed limbs like fountains, painting the pure white rocks with blood. He soon came to a halt in front of the three mortified boys.

"MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE!" Lucas begged at the top of his lungs, veins popping out of his neck as he stuck his chest out in the air.

The three boys watched Lucas roll around helplessly. Their jaws were dropped, and their eyes trembled heavily. They couldn't even move a muscle, or begin to process what was going on.

"MOMMY! MOMMY!" Lucas sobbed violently, and looked down at his arms and legs, only to to scream in horror.

"IT HURTS! IT HURTS SO MUCH!"He cried.

Tommy covered his ears, and Jack covered his eyes, but Ben did neither. He watched as his friend bled out.

God please, make it stop, Ben shook his head in horror, and wondered, how is it possible for someone to scream like this?

Lucas looked at each of his friends as he sobbed, but gave a long look at Ben.

Ben stared deeply into his eyes, and found himself beginning to get emotional.

He immediately got down and sat beside him, looking at his blood covered outfit.

"I-I'm here, man- I'm here..." Ben sniffed, snot dangling out of his nose.

He couldn't tell if Lucas was smiling at him, but he immediately knew that he was just crying when Lucas looked up at the sky.

"M-Mommy, D-Daddy..." Lucas called out weakly, his voice now raspy from all the screaming, and sobbed, "I'm so sorry..."

Ben dug his hands into the dirt as he continued to cry. He couldn't get himself to stop.

"I just... I just wanted to make everyone happy..." he cried tiredly.

Ben shut his eyes as tears landed on the dirt. He shook his head violently, wanting this terrible, terrible nightmare to end.

For the next minute, all they could hear was the roaring sound of the passing train. They all remained still, and when the train finally passed, they were left with a haunting silence. A silence that crawled all over their skin

"L-Lucas?" Ben heard Jack say.

Ben opened his eyes and sniffed the dripping snot back into his nose. He looked up, and saw that Lucas wasn't blinking.

Ben quickly leaned over Lucas and checked to see if he was breathing. He waited and waited, desperate to hear just one small breath.

But it never happened.

Ben returned to his spot, and slowly shook his head.

They sat there in silence. They tried to wipe away their tears, but more kept rolling, so much to the point that their red eyes began to burn.

Jack and Tommy both sat with Ben, looking down at their young friend.

Tommy shook his head slowly before turning around and vomiting all over the ground. After he finished, the three remained speechless. For ten minutes, they did nothing. They couldn't even think of anything.

Ben looked at Lucas and gulped

"We need to get his parents..." he said quietly, not trying to ruin the silence.

Jack and Tommy were silent, but they nodded their heads slowly.

Jack slowly got up, and looked at the way they came.

"C'mon guys, we gotta hurry," he said, sounding serious for the first time.

"Okay..." Tommy said, and slowly stood up.

Jack ran up the mound of rocks to get to the other side, but when he stepped over the tracks, he immediately froze. He then gagged.

"Oh god..." he said disgustingly, almost like he wanted to throw up as well, "Tommy, don't look..."

Tommy stopped, and covered his eyes as he slowly continued walking up.

Jack looked at Ben who still sat with Lucas, and frowned.

"Ben... we need to go..." Jack told him.

Ben slowly shook his head.

"I told him I wouldn't leave him alone in the woods..."Ben said, and turned to the two, "guys... give me the money..."

Jack and Tommy both looked confused for a moment, but when their eyes landed on Lucas, they knew the reason.

They slowly walked back down the mound of rocks and pulled out the cash. They each placed their share on top of Lucas's chest, and slowly backed away.

"We'll be back..." Jack told Ben, and gently smacked Tommy's arm, "okay, let's hurry."

Tommy nodded, and they both ran off into the dark woods.

***

It was night. There were no stars out in the sky: Just pitch black. The only sound Ben heard was that of the crickets. He could barely see Lucas's body, for which that he was thankful for. He pulled out his part of the money, and placed it alongside the rest of the cash. He then closed Lucas's eyelids, and sat there silently.

He no longer felt sad. Instead, he felt something that didn't sit right with him. Now his thought process was beginning to work.

"I'm so sorry, Lucas," Ben shook his head.

He looked down for a brief moment, and found that Lucas's blood had spread to him, permanently painting the bottom of his small, new shoes.

"This was all our fault," he said, "We shouldn't have told you to join this... this stupid..." he began to get angry, and grabbed a rock and chucked it across the woods before yelling, "THIS STUPID GAME!"

"IT WAS FUCKING STUPID!" He cried, and grabbed another rock. He then started bashing the right side of his head with it nonstop, shouting, "STUPID!" after each hit.

He wanted to the feel the pain. He knew he deserved it, but for some reason, it wasn't enough. Not even close.

He stopped and let go of the rock. He felt blood drip through his hair and down his neck, but he didn't care.

His tired eyes landed on his small, bloodied hands. He raised them in the air and studied them, but they only confused him. He then looked around the dark, lonely world he waited in, and was horrified. The trees that stood  high around him used to be so welcoming, but now they looked down at him with deep bitterness and shame. He felt as though each tree had a pair of judgemental eyes, and had all witnessed the horrible tragedy that occurred.

He shook his head like a mad man, trying to avoid the thousands of eyes that stared into his once pure soul.

The rocks stained with blood, the old trees that turned their backs on him, and the lifeless corpse that couldn't go out peacefully overwhelmed him.

He then realized there was nothing he could do. Nothing that could make it easier. All he could do was sit there and wait until Lucas's parents arrived.

I don't get it, he thought to himself, and wondered, this was supposed to be our world. How could I feel so powerless in my own world?