"BZZZT!"
"BZZZT!"
"BZZZT!"
The alarm continued to pierce the air,its incessant ringing echocing through the silence,unanswered and unattended.
"BZZZT!"
"BZZZT!"
"For Pete's sake, shut it off!" A deep male voice bellowed from the other side of the door.
The alarm's insistent wail continued unabated, a lonely sound that reverberated through the stillness, unanswered and unrelenting.
"Come on, Daniel can't you hear that?" The man said, walking into the room and switching off the alarm.
He turned towards the bed, and his gaze fell upon Daniel's peaceful form, fast asleep and emitting soft, rumbling snores that seemed to reverberate through the air. The room was still shrouded in darkness, despite the fact that daylight had already broken outside. The bare windows, devoid of curtains, stood like empty frames, allowing the shadows to linger within.
The only sound was Daniel's gentle snoring, a soothing melody that seemed to defy the passage of time.
"Daniel!" he called out, the curtains now hung, allowing a warm flood of sunlight to pour into the room.
Daniel stirred, rolling onto his side and burying his face in the pillow.
Daniel groggily opened one eye, then the other, before rolling onto his side and pulling the pillow over his head. "Just 10 more minutes, man," he begged, his voice muffled by the pillow.
The man stood in the room, his eyes fixed on Daniel's sleeping form, his expression a picture of exasperation. His arms were crossed, and his jaw was clenched, giving away his frustration. For a moment, he seemed to be waiting for Daniel to stir, but when that didn't happen, he let out a deep sigh.
"Have it your way," he muttered, shaking his head in resignation. "I'm off to work." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving Daniel to his slumber.
Daniel slowly came to, his senses foggy and his body heavy with sleep. But as he tried to drift back into unconsciousness, the harsh light streaming through the open curtains pierced his eyelids, making it impossible to ignore.
He let out a deep, rumbling sigh, his frustration evident in the way he tossed his arm over his eyes, as if trying to block out the offending light.
"Fuck" he said softly.
Daniel's voice was hoarse as he called out,
"Crystal!"
He slowly sat up in bed, his head spinning with a dizzying intensity. The memories of the previous night's festivities came flooding back, and he winced, realizing he had overdone it on the drinks. "Crystal!" he called out again, but the only response was silence.
Groggily, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet firmly on the ground. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering fogginess, and stumbled into the living room, searching for any sign of Crystal.
The apartment was a humble bachelor pad, perfect for those living on a shoestring budget."
The living room was a testament to the bachelor's thrifty lifestyle. Four sofas, each with its own unique character, lined the walls. One, in particular, seemed to be holding on for dear life, its cushions flat and its frame creaky. It sat proudly beside the old record player, a gift from the kindly elderly couple next door on the day they moved in. Miraculously, the record player still worked, a nostalgic reminder of better days.
At the other end of the worn-out sofa, a small TV sat perched, its screen flickering with the only two channels it could muster: News 12 Hudson Valley and News 12 Westchester. The TV's limited offerings were a constant source of amusement and frustration for the bachelors.
Crystal and Daniel lived in Nyack, a charming town perched on the western shore of the Hudson River. Their cozy apartment was just a short walk from the town's historic downtown area, where they loved to grab coffee and browse the local shops.
On sunny days, they'd often hike along the riverfront trail or visit the Nyack Beach State Park, taking in the stunning views of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Daniel's voice echoed through the house once more.
"Crystal!" But instead of a verbal response, he was met with the clanging sound of metal on metal, followed by the rattling of pots and pans. The noise was coming from the backyard, and Daniel's curiosity was piqued.
He made his way to the back door, wondering what Crystal was up to.
Daniel pushed open the creaky back door and stepped out into the crisp morning air.
"Crystal!" he called out once more, but this time he was met with the sight of Crystal hunched over the bike they had won in the impromptu street fight in Piermont the night before.
The bike's chain was off, and Crystal's hands were covered in grease as he carefully tuned the gears.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're tuning the bike again? What's the plan?" he asked, walking over to examine the bike more closely.
Daniel yawned, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"It was in perfect condition last night when I tested it," he said, his voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.
Crystal looked up from the bike's engine, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"A bike you tested after taking four bottles of beer," he replied, his tone dripping with skepticism. He shook his head, returning his attention to the bike's mechanics.
"No wonder you didn't notice anything wrong with it."
Daniel plopped down on a stool nearby, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was celebrating, celebrating our victory," he said, his voice laced with a hint of swagger.
"You know you need proper motivations during those fights."
Crystal raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Celebrating when I haven't even gotten into the ring yet?" He asked, his tone tinged with amusement.
Daniel waved his hand dismissively.
"It was certain," he replied, his confidence unwavering. "We were going to win this bike, no question."
Crystal stood up, a sly grin spreading across his face as he prepared to start the bike.
"It was certain I would beat that guy, even though he was 7 ft tall and built like a freaking dinosaur," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Daniel chuckled, his eyes shining with admiration.
"Come on, Crystal, he's 6'8ft, you're 6 ft, he's built like a dinosaur, but you're stronger than a freaking Autobot! Even Optimus Prime wouldn't be a match for you," he exclaimed, his voice filled with exaggerated praise.
Crystal laughed, the sound husky and confident, as he turned the key and the bike roared to life.
Crystal swung his leg over the bike, settling onto the seat with a confident smile.
"Fuck off," he said jokingly, tossing Daniel a playful glance.
"Are you coming?" He asked, his tone turning serious.
Daniel's eyes widened in surprise. "Coming?" he repeated, as if he hadn't expected the question.
Crystal nodded, his expression impatient.
"Yes, coming! We're late for work already. It's past 10 am "
Daniel shouted, "Shit!" as he dashed back inside to grab his jacket and toothbrush.
"Just use whiskey instead!" Crystal yelled from outside, his voice laced with amusement.
Daniel's response was immediate and predictable. "Fuck off!" he shouted from inside the house.
He reemerged, jacket slung over his shoulder, and jumped onto the bike behind Crystal.
As they roared off, Crystal's voice carried over the wind.
"I'm stopping at the junkyard, and you'll have to go to work first without me," he said, his words punctuated by the rumble of the engine.
Don't sweat it, man, just go easy on Derry," Daniel said, his voice laced with concern.
Crystal's response was firm, his voice tinged with a hint of steel. "Of course, he's our friend, but we need the cash. One way or another, we're going to Downstate New York."
Daniel could sense the stiffness in Crystal's voice, the unyielding determination that brooked no argument. He knew better than anyone that when Crystal set his mind on something, he would stop at nothing to achieve it. And in this case, that something was getting the money, no matter what it takes
The silence between them was comfortable, a familiar companion to their rides. But as they approached the junkyard, Crystal's demeanor shifted, his focus narrowing.
He brought the bike to a stop, killling the engine.
"I'll check where Boss Mendez keeps the keys today," Daniel said, his voice low and even.
"He doesn't get to work before 12, and it's Saturday, so it's lesser traffic at work. Most of the guys have gone to the site." He added.
Daniel watched as Crystal rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a mask and a knife. He felt a flicker of unease, but said nothing.
"See you at work," Crystal said, his eyes glinting with a hint of determination.
Daniel nodded, his throat dry. "Be careful," he said, but Crystal was already gone, disappearing into the junkyard's maze of scrap metal and wreckage.