FORTY-THREE : REFRESHING & THREATENING

The air around the field of Domicile of Racers gave me a nostalgic feeling in the form of inviting goosebumps and unending joy. I would be lying if I say that I didn't miss this, my home. The air was crisp with a tinge of excitement and nervousness, the usual. 

I was leaning against my bike recalling Mr. Heath's words, the most cunning contractor and an experienced dealer of DOR. And what I have heard of him, he was known to dig his way out from the hell if needed. It was my first time with him. He invited me to race in the leverage of sixty percent of the total amount collected. I agreed in lieu of sixty-five percent and I was satisfied after all I would be racing and he would be just munching on a bar while watching me.

But today's race was different in many ways. Firstly, because I was going to race against Damien Russell only. This had never happened before, at least not with me. And I was kinda nervous, I have to admit. I had a strong urge to deny but again my self-respect was speaking volumes.

Secondly, because there were just a few people which consisted of the authorities, contractors and Damien's friends plus the competitors that were us. It was gravely weird, giving me bad vibes and making my heart sink with uncertainty. I was out of a plan. And it worried me a lot. If I died, the words would be buried here without a second thought.

I heard a whistle from the right side and I had to turn around to find the source of this roadside low life behavior. I wasn't even surprised when it was one of Damien's friends, teasing gazes and flirty winks. Rolling my eyes, I turned away.  

The air was silent and chilly and my ears perked up when they heard the rumbling of footsteps against the rough concrete. This was the thing with racing, all your senses had to be in their best of the abilities to grasp the skidding of tires against the gravel road or to spot your enemy. The sound was becoming more distinct and I waited patiently not giving up on my guards.

"Long time no see beautiful," he purred behind me in the throaty voice of his which unknowingly sent shivers down my spine. His ample breath was ruffling my strands and I pulled myself up from the bike. Tuning around with my hands locked in front of my chest, I gave him an irritated look. 

"What?" I vocalized with my confidence on the point. His lip turned up into a lopsided menacing grin. He had a sparkling golden canine, I noticed. 

"Looks like you missed me," I scoffed with a taunt and he didn't let his act down too. He looked prepared.

"Or did you miss losing to me?" I further pushed when he looked up and down over my body. His gaze was filthy and I knew exactly how to deal with it after all he wasn't the only guy. I kept my expression stoic.

As soon as he registered what I said, his facial expressions dropped and I took an encouraging step, I provoked him more.

"You must have missed cheating no? The way you did with me in my last race?" I said in a voice which made him think deep before a grin spread on his bearded face . 

"You mean when you were not able to handle a mere over-attack?" His voice was teasing with a dangerous edge. His eyes glinted under the headlights.

"No, I mean you are breaking rules for which your license could have been seized," I stated sharply, warning evident in my voice. I knew illegal acts as such happened here but I was hoping he'd give up.

"Oh baby girl, this is an illegal racing club for a purpose. No rules apply here. Those rules are just meant to be kept on a useless sheet of paper," he said the last part in a whisper voice by leaning towards me. His eyes rolling around the surrounding just in case someone might have overheard it.  

"And after all, everything is fair in love and war." He winked, his signature expression. 

"So, this is a war?" 

"No, its love." I furrowed my eyebrows in absolute confusion as his voice registered in my brain. 

"My love for racing which you have been conquering over with your luck. Else you're no one in  front of Damien Russell." He said his name with utmost pride as if he took himself to be God. 

I scoffed mockingly and said, "Well I can't help if you're that bad. And moreover neither can I help when you are feeding yourself all the sweetest lies. I pity you from the bottom of my heart." I faked in a sympathetic voice and he clenched his jaw square. I knew I hit the right target then. 

"Why not then just prove it today?" 

"We are doing exactly that," I reminded him sharply. 

"Let's bring a twist to make the win sweeter. Will see if it was a lie or…" he trailed.

My mind started running a mile per second at his suggestion and I blurted out a 'what' unknowingly.

"Let's put our personal money, you can decide the amount. Whoever wins gets the sum of both plus the money our contractors offer for today."

It took me a moment to digest the offer. He must have seen my mind flooded with uncertainty for he provoked by saying, "What are you already wet between your pants? Are you so unsure of yourself?" He scoffed daringly and examined my face for any clue. 

I was kind of blank but I agreed nonetheless. "Luck for the rightful winner," he uttered with a taunt before winking at me. He left right after that taking away my doubts and I refilled the space with a hunger to prove him wrong. 

I guess I finally had a plan. They said it right - you have to break to put yourself back together with your own might and confidence.  

.

"Three, two, one! Go!" 

One million from me and another one from Damein were handed over to Charles, the mediator. He was a young and trustable man for he always held up with these personal bets. I don't recall a single day he was absent from this place.

I warmed my engine twice before letting go of the brakes and speeding behind the red bike of my opponent. 

Today my mind didn't open up to feel the soothing and caress of the breeze against myself rather it was burning with hunger for revenge. I could feel the fire burning it's way up till the tops of my fingers so I shifted gears and enhanced my speed. 

Damein was on lead and things were according to my plan.

 My plan was simple and effective but I was still not taking the chance for overconfidence. It was destructive and the fact that if I thought that my opponent was weak my planning would have been less matriculate. And for a fact I knew that Damein had massive strength but no strategies at all. 

I speeded up with my adrenaline on its wake. Once I was just behind him I brought my plan to work. Hitting his back tire with mine with slight force, I took off for the next step immediately. I tried to leave no holes for him to dwell and interpret about my plans. He was definitely taken off guard because I saw his fingers lingered with uncertainty around the brakes. I kept a watchful eye on all his little gestures, my neck and forehead under the helmet was beading with sweat and excitement.

Sucking in an immediate breath I applied a sudden force on the throttle to collide my front tire with his front one. Sparks came out at the friction. His eyes shot towards me with shock and a heavy dose of anger and pinch of confusionsion. It wasn't long before he started hyperventilating due to the gravitational pull of the bike towards the other end. 

Securing one leg firmly on the gear, I pulled up my leg before slamming it right against his knock which rested on the throttle. I brought back my leg as quickly as I could and regained my balance easily. It was nothing in front of the fact that I had done stunts over the bike at many moments.

The throaty growl mingled with the sounds of the engines as he lost his balance. His hand was snatched away from the handle as it was on fire and the bike began leaning to the other side. He was trying with all he got to bring it back on the track with a desperate look in his eyes, his hands were fumbing and trembling.  

But I wasted no more time to reverse back and do my master stroke by knocking off his bike with my front tire. His red dragon bike skidded on the road with an ear splitting, tumultuous screech. A surge of achievement and pride coursed through my veins on cue. 

Pulling back, I pressed the gear under my left ankle as incessant clouds of smoke bellowed out from behind and all I could hear were his coughs and grunts.  I raced off with no pity or even a tinge of pain for a fellow human. Supremacy and fulfilment was what I was famishing for and I bragged exactly that. 

I felt the rage inside my bones subside. It was almost soothing.The finishing line was graced under my tires in not a long time interval. A few faces lightened up while many fell. The count of sadness was overpowering.

The authorities and the contractors faded into a distance to get me my cheque. Charles was running towards my direction with appreciation on his face. I took the cheques and nodded with a smile. He was kind of taken back with my smile but he returned a million dollar one anyways. Congratulating me, he was off. 

Damein had still haven't arrived and I could see his friends wearing a worried anxious expression. They were roaming around their vehicles with a look of expectation crossing their eyes every time they looked at the finishing line. After some time I saw two out of six men rushing to the tracts on their jeep.

The money was handed to me and I secured them inside my leather jacket. 

While going back to fetch my bike I could see Damein in a compromising state - torn jeans with blood and scratches, brown silt slathered on his jacket and a black face with blood running from the side of his head. Debris was embedded in his bush beard.

His gaze snapped to me as if sensing me and I casually pulled out the envelope from inside my pocket and examined the white paper. Setting them between my fingers, I raised it upwards and teased him with a smirk plastered on my face. His eyes narrowed into slits and he was about to lounge onto me. 

Sucking in a sharp breath I step back as his friends began to pull him back with difficulty. His eyes were furious with rage and teeth seehing. 

I breathed deeply when I realized that any kind of physical violence wasn't permitted in the vicinity of the field. And he could have been banned from this area if he violated any rule.

"Bitch! I'm going to kill you!" 

Flashing my middle finger, I ignored his frustrated screams and dashed away into the roads with the vroom sound of my engine bursting in the misty night air. 

I was ultimately feeling free now.

***

Give your soul
To a wanderer
Who found your soul
And called it home.

***

Hi5 to those who loved racer Lia✋