Midnight Trance: Revival

It felt different...

Accelerating out of a tight turn, I began weaving my way past traffic. In spite of running at the same insane speeds that I used to, I can still see them, each car, van or truck, clearly. Whereas before they would have already become blurs. And every dash, slide, turn and maneuver was literally effortless...

And very natural...

I once again carry my personal color. The color which I was identified with from the start. The very same color that I carried during my days as a knight in the service of a queen. But while my ride still bears my color, it is vastly different from the one that crashed - and it had no doubt improved from the time I first saw it. From the time I got my new mount, there was in fact, much to think about. And for a brief moment, I was lost in a flash of light...

Just like the black color that came before it, the silver that covered the frame of my mount disappeared, slowly giving way to a very shiny shade of red. The mechanics make their way around my steed, carefully and gracefully applying each coat as if they were renaisannce men, wroking on a masterpiece; their airbrush was the paintbrush and the metal frame their canvas. Watching the procedure, I slowly recalled each event, every moment that led to this. Remembering. Contemplating. And learning. A distant voice breaks my silence.

"Sir, the masterpiece is complete."

Another flash of light brought me back to my earlier trance. A trance wherein I was gainin more speed than ever before... The road ahead is long, filled with large, gentle and sudden curves - but also filled with obstacles, mobile and otherwise, that leave little or no margin for error. The citylights flash by. I'm once again back to my senses. I see a pair of trucks ahead, side by side, with a little space in between, just enough for me to pass through. 

Impossible?...

While it does take a lot of un-salted nuts to pull off such a trick, the thrill and the challenge beckoned to me. Unknowingly, a faint smile formed on my face as I shifted to a higher gear and floored the accelerator, racing towards my doubts, my fears and my dreams.

Difficult. But not impossible...

 

 

*Revisiting the Midnight Series.

Midnight's End: Love to Rise in the Summer Morning

"You overdid it." the mechanic said as he finished fine tuning my car. The evil black color is gone. It was replaced by a silver paint scheme.

"I overdid it?" was the reply.

"Yes." He stopped to look at the young racer, seething with anger, straight in the eye. "I told you to change. Not to destroy. you went beyond that by making her cry. By destroying her. Now you don't have any chance for reconciliation."

"Not that I would care."

"Idiot! What about the years that you've shared with her?! What if you need something from her in the future?!?"

"I couldn't care less. She treated me like a toy. She would dump me in one corner while she went her way and toyed around with other people. She didn't value me the way she should! I was just a thing to her! Her own shadow! Someone she just runs to when she can't find anyone to please her!"

"And what you did makes you any better than her? Anyway, she had it coming to her. You're focus now is yourself. Be a better man. You don't have to be a nice guy all the way. And you're in no way a nice guy. You are a GOOD man. And your existence is living proof that good men still exist. Let go. Let the wounds inflicted heal. If reconciliation comes then it will. Move forward and be a better man. You are not a Dark Prince."

The flashback ended and the young racer found himself inside his car once again, driving his steed. Driving down the highway, he saw the sun rise in the east. It was morning. On his side mirrors, he saw a group of cars approaching him. Bracing himself for a race against people out to get him for what he has done, he was surprised to find his friends from the past. The people he intentionally ignored just to be with his former queen. They are still there, coming to his aid even after what he had done.

A smile formed on his face, knowing that he still has his friends to rely on - even after all that he had done.

And with that, he and his group ran down the highway and into the summer morning.

 

*Thank you for reading the "Midnight Series".

Midnight Rage: Dark Prince

Midnight. Countless citylights. Speeding down the highway with my new steed, the vehicles that I onced weaved through are now making way for me, finally aware of my presence. An smile manifested itself on my face as I was happily getting a feel of things. My new ride is way different - and better - from the last one. It's blistering acceleration puts the devil to shame. It's handling is superb; very responsive and light to the touch. And it has a shiny black color that exhibits sophistication and authority. I have never felt so new in my life.

Flooring the accelerator, my mind flashed back to the time I was tuning this newfound treasure with the help of a friend:

The mechanic, tinkered on the engine block. Working under the hood of the car, I marveled at his skill as he worked his magic on my new mount while he gave me his two cents worth on what happened to me in the past.

"It's a good thing you found this new ride of yours. Your last ride had superb acceleration but it was lacking in top speed. It was rather sluggish, heavy and friendly. Just like you. You were too kind. You thought of others too much. You let them weigh you down. It's time to think for yourself. Leave everyone in the dust. Reach for your goals and dreams alone. Don't you ever let anyone take them away from you. Don't you share it with anyone ever again. Let other people come to you. Your crybaby days are over. It is now you who makes other people cry. You are no longer the Red Knight. You can no longer return to being the Red Knight."

Ending my flashback, I saw a familiar white car up ahead. This wouId be the ideal place to start. I flashed my lights to signal a  challenge, even as I closed the gap between us at an alarming rate. I knew the white car's rider was surprised. I did not wait for a response.

You only know of the sweet life and nothing else. You don't know pain as much as you claim to. Allow me to demonstrate it to you once and for all.

I blew past her, giving her little time to recover. And in my rear-view mirror, I saw that she crashed into the guard rails of the highway. In the midst of the smoking wreckage of her car, I saw her. She was crying once again. I can remember her telling me that she still wants to remain friends with me. But when I asked her about it, she made no effort to reply. I realized that I'm not important to her as she would like me to think.

My heart was berating me, raging against me and at what I had done. My conscience tried to kill me. But it no doubt felt good to finally release the evil inside me. To cause pain rather than to just take it and roll with it. And as I roared down the highway alone, rain began to pour from the midnight sky as if to cry. I couldn't care less - even as the heavens, my conscience and my heart are crying. My friend was right. I can no longer be the kind, chivalric and gentle Red Knight.

The Red Knight is dead. The Dark Prince has been born.

Midnight Crash: Acciaccatura

As he increased the distance between himself and the fork on the road that he had just passed, he felt his heart slowly disappear. He was all alone. A solitary red comet smoothly finding it's way past numerous vehicles blissfully unaware of the events that had just happened.

My way, on my highway...

Tunnel vision begins to set in as he shifted once again to a higher gear and floored the accelerator. Gaining more speed, he noticed the vehicles that normally appeared to be blurrs have been transformed into shapeless shades of colors.

Vertigo...

In spite of the acceleration, he felt slow. His crimson ride is no longer enough. It is essentially part of the past that he has left behind and, whether he liked it or not, is weighing him down. The steering wheel has become stiff. The accelearation is not what it used to be anymore. And it's handling felt heavy.

What is wrong with me?!?!?

Distracted by his thoughts, he came back to his senses in the last second to see that he is about to enter a very sharp curve. Stepping on the brakes and turning his car into the direction of the curve, he lost control as he and his mount slid sideways, helplessly towards a wall. Darkness consumes him.

DANG IT!

Waking up, he was surprised to find himself still among the living. Except for a few bruises here and there - and an almost non-existent heart - he was ok. Taking a deep breath to savor the joy of living, he opened the door and stepped out of his car. Examing what was left of it, he found his once proud steed to be nothing more than a collection bent metal and rubber tires.

So much for that...

Like magic, a gold car stops beside him. It was a friend of his. A dangerous rival but a very good friend nonetheless. His friend offers him a ride home and tells him that there is a new selection of cars to choose from at the nearby junkshop...

For whatever it's worth...

Morning saw him at the graveyard of many a broken mount. He looked around the graveyard and was disappointed at not being able to find anything useful to him. He walked further into the graveyard and something unexpected caught his eyes...

What the?...

 

acciaccatura – crushing; i.e., a very fast grace note that is "crushed" against the note that follows and takes up no value in the measure

Midnight Dash: Requiem

Speeding down the highway, rushing past traffic that only sees me as a red blur, I saw a very familiar sight, not too far away. I blinked my eyes in disbelief. It was my former queen. Still regal in white and as lovely and as lethal as ever. The Red Knight is with his former queen once again.

Could it be?...

I knew that she had seen me. Slowing down to let me catch up with her, she flashed her lights saying: "Come on, let's race again." I smiled and I flashed the lights of my car in return as an acceptance of her invitation. Flooring on the accelerator, we dashed together into the night.

Is this for real?

I was overjoyed to be racing with her again. I was more than happy that she was racing with me again.

Is there still a chance?

But I felt something different about her. Something about her has changed in the same way that I had changed. Making our way past clueless vehicles, I saw that her movements, while similar to how she raced with me in the past, had also changed.

Would our race still continue with you as my queen?

Weaving past more traffic, we saw a fork on the road. To the left was an empty highway. To the right was a pair of cars racing together as if in a dance. And I suddenly had this feeling that this will become the final turning point for both of us.

Or will you be just another character, friend or rival the next time we meet?

I signaled to my companion that I would be taking the left turn. She did not respond. I signaled to her again, hoping that she would follow. As we closed the distance towards the fork on the road, I took the left turn. Looking back at her, I saw that she took the right turn. Before we entered our respective lanes, she flashed her lights as if to say: "We are two very different persons now. We can no longer race the way we used to. We had a good race, we had a special bond but I cannot continue with you anymore. Goodbye. See you again sometime."

My former queen, the woman and friend that I fought for and raced with for so long, had made her choice. And her Red Knight had made his. Deep inside, I knew that we would still be crossing each other's racing lines again - but in a very different light.

Good-bye, take care and good night.

She took off after the pair of cars that we saw earlier in the lane that she chose. With a heavy and resigned heart, unbelievably mixed with a sigh of relief, knowing what the real score is, I shifted to a higher gear, floored the accelerator, and flew down the path that I took alone into the night - finally free of the past.

To be finally free...

Midnight Run: Cadenza

Running at speeds that people usually avoid, he smoothly weaves in and out of traffic. The seeming stationary vehicles transform into blurs as he was undoubtly to them, he was sure - a red blur. Racing alone on this long and lonely highway, a slight smile formed on his face. He was alone. And he was enjoying the very essence of it. Of not looking after someone. Of not worrying about someone. Not even sharing his dreams with anyone. The night, the citylights, the highway, are all his tonight. But shortly, his smile disappeared. Something was still missing.

From the corner of his eye, he saw, through his side mirror, a pair of headlights approaching him fast. Then it slowed down to match his speed. Glancing to take a better look, he was surprised to see a Black Beauty. The lady racer was, without a doubt, pretty. She has this strong but melancholic air about her. She was lethal, she was lovely, and like the lady that came before her, she also knew it. And her steed also reflected her character with a beautiful and shiny shade of black.

She flashed her headlights, inviting and at the same time challenging him to a race. Flooring the accelerator and shifting gears, they accelerated together, side by side, into the night - A Red Knight and a Black Beauty. Stealing another glance at her, he saw a smile manifest in her lonely but otherwise graceful face. Little did he know that smile began to form on his face again. Flying by clueless vehicles, they began a dance that no one can disturb - unless they're inviting a accident upon themselves. Unfortunately, the reality is not what he thinks it is.

From afar, he saw another solitary pair lights that were different from the ones that he and his companion passed. And when they got closer, they saw a Blue Streak. The Black Beauty then made her way to the Blue Streak's side and flashed her lights to invite the Red Knight to join them. It was clear to him that he was nothing but a companion to her - a very close companion or friend if it's any consolation. It was also evident that the Blue Streak is the more important person in her life.

He replied by flashing his lights as if to say "Thank you but I must decline." He knew that it's not his place to steal the time that's meant for them to be together. And with that he floored the accelerator again and began to run his own course. Taking a last look, he saw Black Beauty and Blue Streak flash their lights saying "Do join us again soon."

Running again, alone in the night, holding back rage, trying to ignore the emptiness inside, he focused on the road ahead. And as he streaked past many more vehicles, far ahead a familiar sight caught his attention...

 

*Another take at literary frustrations..

Midnight Race: Codetta

We rode together into the night. A pair of very fast blurs: one is colored red, the other is white. Weaving through traffic, racing together towards an unseen goal.

I glanced at her while keeping my line. I couldn't help but smile. She was my queen. My Undefeated of the Highways. She was my partner. She complemented who I was on the speedways. She was simple yet sophisticated and she knew it.

Then came something unexpected. Another car appeared. Challenging us. No, inviting my partner and challenging me. I did my best to keep up and almost crashed into a truck in the process. To my surprise, she was already racing with the challenger and didn't even bother to look back to see if I was alright.

With the eyes of a wounded wolf, I raced after them, caught up and regained my place. I was able to defeat my rival. Good times followed but it was soon cut short.

Again, with much less surprise - and much to my dismay, my queen raced ahead of me, trying to catch a group that she spotted from afar. She left me eating her dust. It was as if she's saying that I'm no longer needed or even wanted.

So I took my cue and raced as well, showing her that I can stand alone. And just as I was about to pass her, she crashed. Questions rang inside my head: Should I stop for her? Should I even look back? Did she stop or look back at me when I almost met a similar fate? The answer to all these was a resounding NO.

I raced on, pursuing dreams that I knew from that moment on are mine and mine alone. I didn't look back. Entering a corner, I slid my crimson ride. Setting it for a straight exit, I suddenly had the urge to take a look at what I left behind.

There she was, crying. And then a car or two decided to stop by her and help. Seeing this, I knew she would be alright - she's finally found what she was looking for. And with that, I continued racing into the night - alone.

 

* Just letting out some pent up literary frustrations.