Chapter 46: I Am That Guardian Angel
I had the whole morning off, but Cozen ate up most of that.
I can't complain, though. ԅ(≖‿≖ԅ)
I even managed to sell her on one of my apartments with the caveat that she promised to stop scamming people.
I know she won't.
But I tried, and that's as far as my moral meter goes. ¯\\_( ◉ 3 ◉ )_/¯
I am once again sitting in the crowd of a sport that sport only in name. Huh... I'm a real pessimist, aren't I? Maybe I should try to enjoy this.
The family beside me looks like they won a million bucks, it's not just the kids that are excited, even the parents seem to be giddy.
"When I grow up, I want to be a racecar driver!" The kid cheers.
"Then we'd better start your driving lessons now." The dad chuckles.
"John, he's seven. At least wait until he gets his permit."
The three laugh with wide smiles.
I must have missed a joke, cause there was no punchline.
I always thought those cheesy ads were unrealistic... are there people out there that are actually that happy?
Or do they just fake it like me?
Alright, that will be today's goal...
Be happy.
Simple enough.
I spend the next 30 minutes trying to think of what happy people do and coming up empty.
Smile :)
Finally, the race starts. The metal stands are filled with excited fans. They buzz with excitement as they cheer for the afternoon to come.
At the starting line, a group of fast looking cars with their narrow bodies and halos. Sounds like I'm describing an angel.
The surrounding screens blabber about fancy car info and names of the drivers that go through one ear and out the other. Two women come onto screen; lights flash them as microphones surround them. This looks more like a boxing match as the two women glare at one another.
*Today's race will determine the true victor of racing legends!*
The crowd erupts.
*Renna vs Tina, a rivalry going back to the founding of racing itself, back when we used to race with horses and wagons.* The announcer chuckles at his own joke.
*Any words for the camera? Tina?*
A pompous looking woman walks up to the camera. * You all know who I am, my loyal fans, we are the real racers. Renna's methods are barbaric and uncouth. So today, I race for the sake and honor of maintaining racing itself. I will destroy your uncivil and deceptive racing! So wish me luck and show me your support."
The crowd cheers for the golden suited woman.
*Oooh! Those are fighting words. Renna, surely you have something to say after being called out?*
The camera pans over to a woman wearing a red and black racesuit. She has black hair with red tips and her bangs are carefully swept. Even through the digital screen, her red eyes glisten like rubies.
The woman remains silent, her expression cold with her crossed arms. After a few moments, she finally speaks. *"The sounds of my engine roaring past her will muffle out whatever she says. So there's no reason for me to respond. Because..." Her eyes narrow as she glares directly towards the camera "I... will... win."*
The crowd erupts once more, but it is not all cheers, hatred vibrates through metal of the bleachers as people scream at her.
So that's Renna, it seems like she has two halos today, one on her car, and I shall prevent the second head piece from ever being placed.
The drivers walk over to their cars. At the starting line, there twenty different cars, each covered in an array of marketing and brand stickers.
With a siren screech, the rubber tires scrub the asphalt before sling shotting them forward.
*And they're off!*
The timer has begun.
This is stupid, you can't even see the cars half the tim-
I deeply inhale.
Optimistic! Stay optimistic Graves!
I mean... it's very interesting how this raceway is set up. I am curious to know as to why I am unable to see the show half the time. It is thrilling to think of all the things I still have yet to learn about such an awe-inspiring sport.
This optimist thing is tiring.
So, for the next hour, I watch the cars zip past. It's like watching ants, it's interesting the to see them march for the first minute, but it gets boring real quick.
Shit.
...I can't even think of anything optimistic to say about this boredom... I genuinely want to go home. (T_T)
The sound of their engines ripping past like a metronome. Flags wave as the crowd jumps on top of one another to get a better view.
Finally, the race is coming to a close, lap 77.
Turning to the family next to me, they are somehow still on the edge of their seat, cheering just as loudly as they did for the first lap.
"Renna has taken the lead! Victory seems inevitable for this champion! What can stop her?"
Woo-hoo! ٩(¬_¬)و She drove in a circle for the 70th time, who else could have done it? It seems tennis has competition for the most boring spo-
"What's this?! It seems Renna's car has lost control!"
In the next moment, her car makes sporadic movements, suddenly swerving. It begins to skid along the metal barrier.
My eyes widen as I jump up.
Catching an edge, it flips, rolling like a slow-motion scene. The car rolled...
no...
and rolled...
Stop
and rolled...
Stop, please!
and rolled...
With a thud, the car slams down, landing upright on the grass.
The crowd around me goes silent with a collective gasp.
Some people begin to scream.
The panic and disbelief cause me to freeze.
A woman screams. "Somebody do something!"
Somebody?
"What the hell are we supposed to do?" Some guy shouts.
I see...
The couple beside me whispers. "Do you think she's dead?"
I am that somebody.
An orange flicker emits around the car.
My eyes widen as the vehicle begins to glow an ominous orange.
I am the Guardian Angel.
The metal stairs of the bleachers rattle as my legs throw me forward.
Before the incident even proliferated, and before I'm even conscious of it, I am already running down the stage.
Unlike the incident with Lulu, there's a cage wall blocking the track and the crowd.
Getting a running jump, I cling to the cage.
Now the flames have begun to grow.
Clawing my way up to the top, I jump over.
My knees absorb all the impact, sending a shiver through my body. Straining my leg muscles, I can feel the injury heal.
Looking both ways, I look for oncoming cars. It would do nobody any good if I ended up like Jansen Vuuren.
A fleet of cars rips past, narrowly missing me.
My heart is violently beating, but for whom, I could not know.
No, I can't hesitate any longer; I break for the opposite side of the track.
The flames are beginning to rage.
I'm not going to make it.
If only I were faster.
No...
I must be faster!
Concentrating the power in my calves, I feel the muscles grow, causing a sudden burst of speed. The wind rips past as I bolt toward the car.
"This won't be the end!"
Parts of the car have been thrown off, the car is now engulfed in flames.
Making it to the ignited car, flames have encircled it...
Was I too slow?
No.
Running to the window of the car, I step through the flames. I cry out as the skin on my legs burn as my clothes catch flame.
Once I'm close enough to see through the window, I see her. Renna is in the car unconscious.
She's alive!
I attempt to open the door, but these fucking racecars don't have any!
Reaching in through the window, my stomach presses against the heated metal. The heat transfers, using my flesh as a conductor, melting the skin off my body.
Scorching every pain receptor into suicide, I can't help but cry out.
If this is what I have to do, what I have to feel, to save her...
I'll do it.
Craning my body inside the vehicle, I try to pick her up, but she has fucking six point seatbelt!
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"
My body is screaming at me.
This really hurts!
Biting my cheek to the point of pulling the flesh of my cheek off. I gather my strength, gasping for what little oxygen exists in the fireball of a vehicle.
Grabbing the knob on the seatbelt, I twist; it spring releases the locks.
I can't do this with one hand anymore. Pressing my forehead down on scorching frame of the car, I use it to stabilize myself.
It hurts! It hurts!
Reaching down, I free her from their grasp of the seatbelts. Reaching under her, I scoop her up. Like playing surgeon, I prioritize her safety over all else, careful to not let any part of her touch the burning metal frame.
Once I get her out, I jump back. I try to run away from the car. The rubber of my shoes has melted, and the skin on my legs has been disintegrated down to reveal the bone. The grass touches the exposed nerves. The once playfully cool grass now scrapes against the exposed skin on the soles of my feet, causing me to cry out as I fall to my knees.
I need to keep going.
Using this anger, pain, I give what could only be called a battle cry.
It's too dangerous here.
Standing on my knees, I trudge forward.
I can do this!
After getting her at least twenty - five feet away, my vision begins to blur, my thoughts become hazy.
Two guys in red jumpsuits come running over with wide eyes. "Are you alright?!"
"Sir!"
One of the guys takes Renna from my charred arms. The other crouches down next to me with a look of panic.
"Stay with me!"
Mission accomplished.
"Dont close your eyes!"
I'm tapping ou...t...