Part I: Prelude
In a thrilling summer joyride, Derek and Rich push his modified Toyota MR2 to the limit in Coal Creek Canyon, but a daring speed run takes a heart-stopping turn, hinting at a mysterious force that might just save them from disaster.
2002
2 min
After high school graduation, Derek and his friends spent their last summer together cruising around and modifying their ‘90s Japanese sports cars. Rich had just finished installing lowering springs on Derek’s beloved signal yellow Toyota MR2. They both hastily decided to take the first test drive northwest of Denver into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where they had attempted a top speed run on a stretch of back road during a previous escapade.
They raced into the open air of Coal Creek Canyon with the MR2’s windows down and t-tops stowed. Derek arrogantly built up speed, screeching the tires through the canyon into an unanticipated sharp turn. Panic-stricken, he locked the brakes, sending the MR2 into a skid-marked slide straight through the canyon’s turn, where a head-on pickup truck was traveling. Derek locked eyes with the woman sitting shotgun and could hear her inaudible scream as they missed colliding by a mere Planck length just before the MR2’s wheels lost contact with the ground, launching off the canyon road.
Time slowed before ceasing to exist while the world grew serene. Derek began to ascend into a Portal of Bright White Light as a lifetime of memories flashed before his eyes. Early memories arose that he consciously wouldn’t have recalled, but their remembrance evoked instantaneous emotion filled with love and celebration. As the Portal of Bright White Light came into panoramic view, Derek’s ascension was abruptly halted as he was slingshot backward, returning him to the physical plane.
The principle of time re-emerged and fast-forwarded back to the present moment. Derek found himself breathlessly gripping the steering wheel at the height of the launch. The MR2 miraculously sailed through the surrounding trees before crash landing in the vegetation on a makeshift landing pad.
Derek and Rich checked themselves for injuries: nothing broken, no bleeding or bruises. They unbuckled as if they were getting off an amusement park ride and made their way up to the canyon road. The pickup truck was pulled over and the passengers stood by. Their wide eyes stared in bewilderment as they were certain Derek and Rich’s fate lay elsewhere.
Shiyleah, one of Derek’s main Arcturian Spirit Guides, put into service a red orb to surround Derek and Rich in a “bubble shield” for protection. The MR2 was then safely guided to a parallel landing among the steep descent.