The whole town was out in the streets during Independence Day. Few drunken and slurred words flew past young children's ears. Basketballs and baseballs were flying in different directions. A couple of the sober fathers in the neighborhood set up the fireworks for later festivities.

Mothers had no care in the world where their children went. They were busying themselves with sharing the appetizers that took them hours to make. They had no desire to let their hard work spoil and rot. Everyone in the town stuck to their cliques and their jobs.

Two kids, however, were sneaking away down the long and twisted roads. Their bike pedals squeaked against the chain. They felt the wind hitting them in the face. Like the feeling of freedom and no ties to hold them down.

"Josh hurry up, slowpoke!"

The older of the two pedaled harder to catch up with his friend.

Their spirits were high in their hearts. The stars peeking through the overcover of the trees danced above them. They had no destination to go to. Adrenaline and teenage dreams coursed through their blood.

When Josh had caught up with his younger friend he said, "Tyler? Isn't that far enough?" He asked. Tyler shook his head which caused his helmet to wobble a bit. "I want to see how far we can go. Let's do this while we have nothing to look forward to. Let's just do this, Josh!" He said happily.

Josh glanced at the widening grin on his friends face. It was infectious and set a warm feeling in his heart. He nodded and smiled at him. He would do anything to keep a smile like that on Tyler's lips.

The two boys had biked farther and farther until their known had turned to unknown. The wind in their face no longer made them feel free but instead felt like they were being pushed back by an invisible force. Like a presence that was unnatural or unnecessary.

Josh pushed through the soreness he felt in his legs and waited for the time that Tyler said he was ready to give in. "Tyler?" He called out.

He looked ahead to see Tyler getting ready to give up. That was one of the most consistent things about Tyler that Josh has noticed. He could never give up.

In sixth grade, Tyler liked this girl named Jenna but he was too shy to actually talk to her. Each day following the first, he would do small acts in hopes to prepare to talk to her. He eventually went from picking up her pencil from the ground to sacrificing himself in dodgeball to keep her from getting hit. Now Josh wasn't aware of all the details that happened after Tyler had said "Hi," to Jenna in the eighth grade, but he does know that they've been dating ever since.

He looked farther up the road to see Tyler slowly decreasing his pace. Josh slowed down as well and moved towards the side of the road.

By the time they stopped, Tyler zipped open his backpack and grabbed two water bottles. He tossed one to Josh when he was removing his helmet. The boys were sweaty and sore but they still had an attitude as bright as day.

The leaves rustled against the wind. The sun was just setting and very soon at the town, fireworks would begin. "Why did we stop here?" Josh asked. He wasn't complaining about the break. But he was curious as to why this spot. It was beyond him and Tyler's usual locations.

Tyler continued digging through their backpack as Josh took small sips of his water. After a while, Tyler resorted to just dumping out all the contents. When Josh looked over he saw a compass, granola bars, a knife, SpongeBob themed band-aids, Tyler's beanie, a notebook, and a pen. Josh looked over at Tyler with a strange look, "Tyler, why do you have the oatmeal raisin granola bars? Those ones are gross!" He said with disgust dripping from his words.

Tyler shrugged, "It was either oatmeal raisin granola bars or bananas." He stuffed everything, except the knife, back inside his bag. The two sat down by a tree stump as the sun started to sink lower into the horizon. "You ready?" He asked. Josh nodded nervously and gripped the knife tightly and cut a small line into the palm of his hand. Tyler followed along in cutting his palm as well. The two friends nodded at each other with a determined stare. As the red color of blood started to come up, they pressed their palms together and held their hands.

"Thank you, Tyler for being my best friend. You're someone I've looked up to since fifth grade and I can't believe you're still hanging out with me five years later." Josh spoke softly, Tyler smiled. "I can't imagine being happy with another best friend other than you."

Tyler gripped Josh's hand a little tighter, "Thank you, Josh, for being my best friend. You've always been there to push me out of my comfort zone. Since fifth grade you've taught me so much that a life without you seems nearly-" the moment was cut off by a sound resembling a 'snap'. The two boys stared into the deep woods. The shade from the trees and the darkening sky made it nearly impossible to see.

"Tyler..." Josh whispered, "I think we need to go-" another is 'snap' was heard. Like the crackling of a fire or a twig.

"We need to go," Tyler said quickly. The two let go of each other and Tyler took out the band-aids in his backpack. Josh splashed water on both of their cuts and quickly dried them off with the hem of his shirt. Tyler put a band-aid on his hand and gave one to Josh. "Hurry!" They both yelled when they heard another 'snap'.

Their hearts laid heavy in their chest as they snatched their helmets from the ground and ran in different directions to their bikes. "Where are you going?!" Tyler yelled.

"I'm going to the bikes, you idiot!" Josh retaliated.

"They're this way!"

"No, they're this way!"

The two ran around in circles in the pitch-black darkness. Their footsteps crunched on the foliage below them. They stopped hearing the sounds. Once they thought they were safe, a small light flickered. "Ty-Tyler!" Josh whispered loud enough for his friend to hear, "We need to get away from that light. Hurry!"

The two went running off again and slowly trying to recognize their area. "Josh this is useless! We're never going home!" Tyler cried. Josh was quick to grab his best friends arm. "Listen up, we will not die tonight. We just need to calm down and look for the road to lead us home. Alright?"

Tyler wanted to nod but his body was shaking in fear. Josh held out his hand and tried his best to whisper sweet words. "We are going home. We are going to sleep. We will wake up in the afternoon. You're gonna call Jenna and ask how her vacation is going. Then you and I are going to hang out. I think we've had enough biking for a while, want to go to Taco Bell for breakfast or lunch? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Josh's words sounded a bit unsure as to if he was trying to convince himself that they will be alright.

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard. The two dropped down to the ground, scared as if they just dodged a bullet. But when they saw the colorful display of colors above them in the night sky, fireworks, they knew they were getting close to home. The two scrambled up from the ground, hand in hand they ran. Out of breath and exhausted, they pushed on.

After another bang of fireworks. Tyler felt something push him forward and lose his grip with Josh. He rolled over to his side to suddenly see Josh nowhere near him. "Josh!" He hissed, "Josh!"

His blood ran cold when he stopped to hear a scrambling sound of footprints and something heavy being dragged against the dirt. When another bang was heard, he could swear he saw a shadow look him in dead in the eye. "JOSH!" Tyler ran towards the footprints, not caring at all about who might be causing them. He just needed his friend. 

Tyler ran and ran until his foot hit something hard his body fall forward. Gravity pushed down and fast enough to hit is head hard on a rock.

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