Page 110 of Cross the Line
But he’s behind me, and all that matters is staying ahead of him.
As the lights come on one by one, I inhale slowly. Waiting. Ready. And then it’s lights out.
I’m off the line quick, close on Otto, but Thomas is squeezing me. I grit my teeth and hold tight through the first series of corners. When the second straight opens up in front of us, I edge ahead of Thomas, still defending from Reid in the back and watching for an opening to present itself.
When it does, I don’t hesitate. I slot in just inches from Thomas’s front wheel, forcing him to brake to avoid the collision into the next turn. It’s shitty of me, sure, but it’s legal.
Our encounter is nothing, though. The real drama is happening ahead in what appears to be a three-way battle between Zaid, Axel and Lorenzo. I’m just far enough back to watch, knowing I need to react quickly if I’m going to stay out of it. And that’s my plan, because Lorenzo is a terrorist on the track, and it looks like—
Fuck.
I blink. That’s all it takes. A split second. A tagged back wheel. A 360-degree spin. A swerve. A reaction just a hint too slow.
A flame.
A blaze.
I see it all happen before I hit the wall.
My ears are ringing. My neck’s aching like it’s almost been snapped clear off. My hands are still on the wheel, shaking, adrenaline hitting in an attempt to help me block the pain.
I blink again, slower this time, my conscious brain trying to keep up with its subconscious actions. But it’s the acrid smoke that has me turning my head to look in my one unbroken mirror.
I don’t even need to see it. I can feel the heat of the fire. But I force myself to look. To count.
One. Two. Three.
Three cars. Mangled messes. The risk we take on full display.
‘Dev.’
There’s a voice in my ear, calling my name. It takes a second to realize the person isn’t beside me.
‘Dev, are you okay?’ Branny says, his tone urgent, like he’s asked this question more than once already. But this is the first time I’ve truly heard him.
There’s panic in his voice. There’s never panic in Branny’s voice. He’s calm and cool and collected. He’s my captain on these stormy seas.
‘Dev, talk to me,’ he pleads. ‘I need to know if you’re okay.’
I swallow, tasting the smoke in the air, trying to remember how words work.
‘I’m fine,’ I choke out. ‘I’m okay.’
And I am. Just rattled and disoriented from the force of the impact. My thoughts are jumbled as I try to get them out through my mouth. ‘But Zaid. And . . . and Axel.Lorenzo.Are they – What happened?’
The world around me spins. There’s a track marshal leaning over me now, shouting, wanting to know if I’m hurt. I can’t make out what my race engineer is saying. I tell the marshal I’m fine, to go help the others.
The fire burns brighter in my mirror.
‘Branny, tell me what’s happening,’ I demand again, the burn of acid creeping into my mouth as I fight to undo my seat belt with trembling hands. ‘Is everyone – Are they okay?’ My voice cracks. ‘Branny, you’ve got to tell me. Please.’
There’s more silence as the smoke grows thicker. Cold horror settles over me.
‘It doesn’t look good, Dev,’ he finally says. ‘It doesn’t look good.’
Willow
I’m going to be sick.
