mutated

chapter twenty one: run, devil run run, devil run run

"At your lanes, little phoenixes! This race will, in some confusing way that I don't really get either, place you in which rounds you will fight in for the Quartz tournament. If you win only one of your fights, you will be able to rank up to Ruby, and even get some more weapons of your own." Lily said, casually lounged on a massage chair in the corner as we lined up at the starting line. 

Today was the day. The day that the tournaments begin, when climbing up the ranks didn't mean passing an exam, but getting your hands dirty and winning a fight. This was our first official day of legitimate fighting, not the brawling or training that happened in the gym.

This was legit.

An airhorn beeped in the background, probably pressed by Chase, who was on the other side of the tracks in a similar massage chair. The track was only 200m, not the standard 100m I was used to, or a 400m round track-and-field track. "On your marks!"

"Get set!" Lily said, fiddling with a stopwatch.

"Go!" They both yelled, and we all set off.

I set my eyes on the black and white checkered flag, making sure not to turn to look at the others. That would only slow me down and distract me. Feeling the artificial wind flowing through my hair as I ran, I imagined that there was giant walking land-shark behind me and I was running for my life.

Run, me, run.

Yup, too much Flash.

I ignored my fantasy-crazed my mind, and continued to sprint forward.

I could see Elliot, Evan, and another boy already zooming (my Flash-mind muttered that he always made Zoom quotes but I ignored it) ahead (fück his long legs and his fücking 180cm tall height) and I tried to catch up.

Too slow, Flash.

Shut up, brain, shut up. My pacing quickened, briskly overtaking Evan's bulky frame. He may be buff, but he wasn't light enough. That rhymed. And my psychic brain was probably being very loud right now.

How do you have the energy to think so loudly and be running in third place at the same time? Lily asked in my head, and I shrugged mentally. 

Welcome to my hectic obsessive mind. I replied.

No need to welcome me, I was always in here like a cockroach. She laughed. Good luck.

Squash. I muttered darkly, tossing her mind out of mind, and focused my mind back on the race.

I could hear Abby (I think it was Abby, the footsteps sounded like her) closing in on me, so I shut off my mind, my body going into autopilot as it found a fast-paced rhythm for my legs to run at. I closed in on Alpha, still conscious of the fact that people were catching up, and as Elliot crossed the finish line first, I managed to trip on the last second.

I struggled to keep my balance as I crossed the finish line, a hairs-width behind Alpha, and I trod across the ground in what seemed like slow motion as I attempted to regain balance. After a painful 3 seconds, I slammed onto the ground on my knees, not even wincing at the abrasions that scraped my legs, and sighed.

I glanced at the black pants, holes torn at the knees, frayed ends flaring from the shredded fabric. As Abby, who had come right after me, gave me hand to pick myself back up, I glanced at the ruined pants. So entirely like me. Screwing up at the very very end.

"The winners are Elliot, Alpha, and Jade. Congratulations to all three of you, please come up to the podium to receive your pass. The pass will allow you to enter some special restricted rooms that only you three will have access to. And Jade?" Lily gave me a sly grin, "change your pants. Ripped jeans were the fashion years ago, not now."