Chapter 980: Ash On Wheels
Having Ash as a passenger, the risk of getting into an accident skyrockets to about, roughly, a million percent.
I thought I understood the big risk it was taking her along with me for a ride. After all, I've had her as a passenger before. No biggie.
Except, it seems I've underestimated just how much more bubbly and mirthful Ash would be from blazing down the street with the roar of an engine more vigorous and potent than it's ever been.
It didn't take much convincing to get her on board with this whole thing either. I mean, it was either this or going around the house hunting for some obscure corner or spot she hadn't already polished to perfection.
The choice between watching her lively expression or keeping my eyes on the road was a tumultuous struggle of discipline, focus, and ultimately great sacrifice that would go down as a legend that people from eons ahead would sing ballads about in honor of my legacy someday.
Having no particular destination in mind, I just set us down on the widest, emptiest stretch of asphalt I could find in town, and with barely any cars in the way or old ladies crossing the street, I was free to speed up to her heart's content.
To a certain extent, at least; that extent being the local speed limit. Though I have no interest in getting pulled over and explaining to some officer why I was reenacting the latest Fast And Furious flick, it surely wouldn't hurt if I twisted the handlebar a little further for a little longer, right? Just for a couple of seconds or so.
"So?" I asked, our wild ride momentarily impeded by the bright red of a traffic light. "Scale of one to ten, Ash. Best day of your life or what?"
Ash needed a second to catch her breath, temper her excitement. From the rear-view mirror, I could see the unmistakable glimmer of bright green piercing through her helmet's visor.
"I dare not make any sort of declaration, Master," she said, her hold around my waist clinging just a little tighter. "You may just surprise me yet."
That's when I had an idea. Admittedly, not really a smart idea—but it's potentially a fun idea. And going by the unshakable decree of rock, paper, scissors, fun trumps smart every time.
There was an abandoned lot close by. I've seen it a fair few times while I was still using the bus to commute around town. All I knew about it was that it was supposed to be a parking space for some kind of grocer that's long been defunct way before I even got here.
As far as I'm aware, it's just been sitting there all this time vast, barren, and deserted. In other words, perfect.
"Master?" I heard Ash say, the confusion prevalent in her tone as I drove up and through the long empty row of overgrown weeds and faded parking lines. "I… presume you've brought us here for a reason?"
"Oh, yes, a very good reason, actually," I said matter-of-factly. "It's a whole lot safer than out on an active road."
"Safer?" She asked, her smile seemingly frozen on her lips. "Safer for what?"
"Safer for you to learn how to drive this thing."
It must have taken a couple of hours—a good one-fourth of it dedicated solely to just getting her to come around to the idea before finally getting her to wrap her fingers around the handlebars. After that, it was just a matter of building up her confidence.
"You've driven a car before. Kinda," I said, trying to quell her reluctance. "This is just the next logical step to that, y'know? Besides, say another emergency happens and you need to get to me quick. I'm far away from you and, uh oh—no cars. Luckily, you see a bike. And even luckier, you happen to know how to ride one. Unless… you think that you shouldn't. Do you?"
"I see the point you are making, Master," Ash said, sitting so stiffly in place she looked more like a toy figurine than an actual living being. "Rest assured, I am not completely averse to the notion. Yet, as imperative as it is for me to learn… I just… well…"
Her gaze sank, and I saw the way they fell, the way they looked; staring down at the bike with so much apprehension, hesitance… as if under the strain of having to put down a beloved pet that's gone rabid or something.
"Are you scared you're going to scratch the bike?" I asked.
"It's perfect, Master," she said, sighing a long sigh of deep love and admiration. "I would prefer if it were to remain as it is."
Any ordinary would probably be more worried about their life during their first ride. Ash is just different in that regard, I suppose.
"Follow my instructions, and you won't have to worry about that at all," I told her. "Promise."
I went and taught her the basics, and her being her, she only needed a single lecture before quickly being able to put theory into practice. I started her on straight, slow lines at first before eventually moving on to driving faster, steeper curves. It didn't take long before she was taking full-on turns around the lot.
At this point, I wasn't even shocked at how rapidly she was getting the hang of things. Give it a few more days, and we'd probably have her doing drifts and flips that'd make Vin Diesel jealous.
From afar, I watch her speed off; a swirl of dust and smoke chasing the flutter and sway of her long white locks. Watching her felt like spectating a professional. Her posture, her turns, everything.
Usually, with her feet on the ground, Ash carried a mesmerizing air of dignity and grace. But seeing her now, streaking away, almost as if she was flying, she looked… cool.
I blinked. Once, twice. Before I even realized something had interrupted my train of thought, I was already reaching into my pocket and pulling out my phone—tapping the screen and putting an end to the ringing that was rippling echoes across the vicinity.
"Yeah?" I said, putting the phone to my ear.
"Oh, you picked up. Thought you might have crashed and died," spoke the rude, callous voice on the other end. "You realize you left me home alone in the house with the spooky necromancer? Rude. Very rude. And very irresponsible too. Where the hell are you?"
"Out. We're out, Sammy," I said. "That's where we are."
"No kidding," she said, and I could almost hear the eye roll in her tone. "Like out on a date or something?"
I took a glance at Ash, and did I just see her do a wheelie just now or am I seeing things? Nope, wait, she did another one. Wow, that's a long one.
"Not exactly," I answered.
"Good, great. Means I'm not interrupting anything important. Do me a favor, I need a ride back to our hotel. Mom wants me back."
"Me? Can't you just call a ride?"
"You have a bike," she said irritably. "And since according to everyone I'm not allowed to just simply teleport there, well… wouldn't you rather I stick to that by doing this one thing for me? You know, positive reinforcement. Or are you going to make me call a ride after all?"
"Fine, alright," I complied. "We'll be back soon. Play nice with Sera until we do."
"She took the bowl of cereal I made for myself," I heard her huff bitterly before she dropped the call. "Play nice? Yeah right."
I glimpsed at my phone again. At the top right revealed the time being at just a little over two in the afternoon. And hovering to the far left of that was a small icon indicating a message I apparently missed.
It was from Irene, and it read, <<Finishing work early today. Pick me up at the station at 3. Park somewhere less obvious this time. Thanks.>>
A loud rumble approaching close drew my gaze back forward. Ash came to a stop, a foot on the ground and her hands still clutching tightly onto the handles. When she turned to me, her expression was practically the textbook definition of pure ecstasy.
"How…" she heaved, her breath wavering slightly. "How did I do, Master? A scale of one to ten?"
I snorted. "Scale of one to ten what? Million? Billion? Because that's roughly the score I have in my head."
She hopped off the bike, reverting once again to her demure, proper self from the rambunctious daredevil that I was seeing just a couple of seconds ago.
"Truly, this has been an enlightening experience. While I understand the intent was to familiarize and train me, I cannot deny it has also been tremendously—"
"Fun?" I suggested. "Then it seems you have stumbled upon my secret intentions all along."
"Ah, alas," she said, giggling quietly, a softness to her eyes aimed squarely, deeply into mine. "However could I have guessed?"
"Unfortunately, that will be that for today," I said, blinking and snapping out of her trance. "Time to go home."
"Oh," thanks to her helmet, the downward tilt of her head showed much more prominently. "I see."
"You sound disappointed," I noted, walking past her and mounting myself onto the driver seat. "Why? Wanted more time to do a couple more laps around the lot?"
"Perhaps so," Ash said, the smile remaining on her face as she hopped back on and clung her arms once more around my waist. "A bit more time would have been nice."