This story took first place in the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge of July 26, 2014.

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Doug insisted we all do a ten-mile bike ride over the wilderness trail. As always, he was way ahead of the pack, even though the rangers told us to stick together. Doug should have listened to the rangers.

***

My calves cramped as I panted and pedaled over a steep hill on the wilderness trail. I’m getting too old for these corporate retreats and team-building exer — “Crap!”

Doug’s motionless body lay face-down next to his bicycle. I flung my latest team-leader prize — a lame baseball cap with Bruce embroidered on the peak — dropped my bike, and raced to Doug’s side. His pulse was strong. “Doug, are you all right? Doug!”

I retched from the bugs I’d swallowed during Doug’s latest “trust challenge.” Or maybe it was from the sight of the deep red seeping into the soil.

The other riders caught up. Whispered words of shock echoed around my head. Gasps. Rustling. A muffled scream. Yet nobody dared say what we were all thinking. Would our glorious leader live?

I grabbed the first-aid kit from my bike. “Charlie, call 911!”

Charlie grimaced. “Doug took away our phones, smart ass.”

“It’s over five freaking miles back to the hotel. Give Jenna and me room to work. We’ll figure out how badly he’s hurt.”

Jenna dropped to her knees. We checked for injuries. Nothing. She stared at the crimson staining her fingers. “Weird — lots of blood, but no obvious trauma.”

I frowned. “I don’t think that’s blood.”

Doug’s eyelids quivered. A slight tremble of his lips turned into a smile, and he burst out laughing. “Good job, Bruce and Jenna. Your sales team passed the emergency-response challenge. Are you ready for the next group activity?”