Kelsey
“He’s just trying to get under your skin.
Ignore it.” I know Jessie is trying to reassure me, but he seemed too serious.
He spoke as if he knew what was coming, and I can’t shake that fear.
After we left the vault, we came straight home, where I lit a joint and finally called my parents.
I decided to tell them about my abduction, and that went as well as I thought it would.
My parents were never ones to curse much when I was growing up, but damn if they didn’t rain it down on me when I was explaining it all to them.
I didn’t mention Lilith, out of fear of worrying them too much.
I figured them learning that their daughter was abducted a week ago and just now finding out about it would be more than enough stress on one’s parents in one sitting.
I still have this gut feeling that I need to ask them about her, and soon.
“Are you wearing that to the race?” Jessie asks, eyeing me up and down with a look of disapproval.
I look myself over and raise a brow, “What’s wrong with it?” Since when was a band t-shirt, sweats, and Vans frowned upon for a race where we’ll all leave smelling of exhaust and burned rubber?
Her lips twitched, flashing a frown, “Nothing.”
My eyes narrow, “What are you wearing, then?” Knowing Jessie, it’ll likely be something over-the-top slutty. She lives for attention and will undoubtedly bring a random dude home with her.
Jessie storms into her closet, tossing garments onto the floor like a tiny tornado ransacking the intricately packed layers of clothes. My closet is bare compared to hers.
“I’m thinking this with this and maybe some lacey heels,” She proceeds to hold up a jean mini skirt and a deep V backless camisole covered in silver sequins. She is dressing for a nightclub, not a race.
“Uhh, yeah sure,” I say, sucking air through my teeth and collapsing flat on my back on her bed.
“We should grab food on the way. What’re you wanting?”
Hell, food was the last thing on my mind. Between worrying about fixing shit between Hayden and Ryder and figuring out what Lilith wants with me, but being too chicken shit to ask my parents about her, I haven’t had much time to consider anything else.
“Whatever you wanna get is fine with me.”
“I didn’t realize this many people came to these types of races,” My eyes bounce around the buzzing crowd, nervously.
“Oh, it gets much busier. The show hasn’t even started yet.
I look around at all the unfamiliar faces.
Everyone seems so happy and full of life.
Life, I was robbed of a week ago. I take a steadying breath and stick right behind Jessie, who’s almost broken out into a sprint to get across the track to the starting line.
She starts to get ahead of me, weaving through a group of spectators who were in a heated discussion about who would win tonight, so I fist the back of her skirt waistband and hold on for dear life.
I’ll be damned if I get separated and kidnapped again.
God only knows who’s here and watching us.
By the time we made it to the starting line, I had a steady drip of sweat along my forehead and temples.
I wipe it away with the back of my hand.
As the minutes tick by, more and more people line the bleachers around the oval track, snacks and drinks in hand, while they laugh and carry on with their friends.
What I’d do to go back to a simpler time.
Too much silence leaves my mind wandering, and my thoughts become invaded by Rocky and his bullshit scare tactics.
You. You. You.
Over and over. His final word before my departure haunts me on end.
I have constant flashbacks from over fourteen years ago, of Lilith sitting in our living room in my father’s favorite chair.
I remember how she curtly sipped the mug of hot coffee my mother made for her, and her prudish demeanor—sitting on the edge of the cushion, regarding us as she would the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.
“Lucius, Lucius.” Lilith tuts. “You know I can’t let you do that.”
“J-j-just one more month, please,” my father begs, stuttering over his words.
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours or else I’m revoking your title.”
The memory swept through me, leaving a chill in its wake.
Title of what? Is that why my parents were so devastated after she left?
I do remember shortly after her visit, life became slim for a while.
Groceries were minimal, and I remember making a few trips to our local church’s food bank just to survive.
My father was home a lot for a while, until he got a new job as a mechanic.
It was usually just me and my mom at home, and my father would pop in for a couple of nights in a row before heading back out again.
However, I don’t remember ever hearing about his previous job.
“Kelsey! Come on!” Jessie hollers from the center of the track.
I rush over to join her, but a darkness catches my attention from the corner of my eye.
Dressed in all black, per usual. Black distressed jeans, a black leather jacket, and a black undershirt.
His helmet is black with a skull on it. The skull’s eye sockets are painted around his visor, creating one large skeleton head effect.
“Staring’s rude, you know,” Jess sasses from beside me, cocking a knowing smirk.
“And if y’all make me roll my eyes any more today, they’re going to roll right out of my head.” That earns me a nudge to the shoulder.
“So what’s the deal with you two, anyway?”
Damn, Jess. Way to get right to it. I don’t know the answer to that question myself, so how could I answer her?
Things have been peaceful between Ryder and me, but I’ve also tried distancing myself since the motel incident.
Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I feel like if I choose Ryder, I’m betraying Hayden and vice versa.
Not that Ryder’s given me a choice. In fact, he’s claimed me like livestock without any regard to how I feel.
“I don’t know,”
“You don’t know?” She gives me a look of disbelief as if she already knows the answer, and maybe she does, but I don’t care to hear it.
“Nope. So, when’s the race actually start?” That was my poor attempt at deflecting the current track of conversation.
No sooner than I asked did the Starter fire the pistol, and the bleachers roared with fans. Tires screech for traction as they speed off down the track. I train my focus on the two cars taking the lead as they easily dodge the other six, weaving in and out to get in first.
“Shadow, Shadow, Shadow,” Chants the crowd.
“Is there a nickname for Hayden?” I ask Jessie curiously. If there was one, I hadn’t heard it yet. I only knew of Ryder’s because, well, it’s used pretty often.
“Havoc,” She answers absentmindedly, her entire focus on the race. Specifically, the same two cars I’ve been eyeing.
“Why Havoc?”
She glances at me, smiling fully, “Because he wreaks Havoc.” The cars buzz around the track, any faster and they would be airborne. Jessie cheers them on as they pass, cupping her hands around her mouth to amplify her wooing. “Kick ass, boys!!”
“How many laps will they go?”
“Sometimes a hundred, but tonight only fifty.”
“Why only fifty tonight?”
“Vipers aren’t here, and they’re the only ones who root for a hundred laps. They think that would give them a chance at winning.” Now it’s her rolling her eyes.
Tires squeal and metal crunches as debris flies with a plume of smoke.
“Holy fuck!” My eyes fly wide as saucers. “Who was that?” I ask, but my heart is beating in my throat. I search for my boys. Wait, my boys?
The Starter speaks, panicked, to the crowd. “Fellow racers, proceed slowly behind the safety car to your designated pit stalls.”
“Fucking Hell, that was Japan.” When she sees my face of confusion, she explains. “That’s Japan’s squad, and that car was their leader.” She points to what remains of the car, now engulfed in flames.
Ryder had told me there were four other competitors, but he never elaborated on who, so that’s something I will need to take the time to learn.
Lights and sirens blared around us. People swarmed around the car with extinguishers, doing their best to tame the flames.
The stadium was in complete turmoil as the events unfolded before us.
All I can think is if Ryder and Hayden are okay, which is utterly selfish of me, while another man just burned to death. The most torturous way to die.
After the debris was swept away, the Starter declared the race was to resume.
After that atrocious accident, my heart beats out of rhythm as I watch Ryder and Hayden like a terrified mom.
Something hits my thoughts like a train—is this what love feels like?
As if a piece of me is risking its life on those tracks.
I say a silent prayer for their safety. Ryder continues in the lead, while Hayden trails behind, forcing the other racers to stay behind.
It’s a genius tactic, and I imagine they have done this every race, hence why they’ve won every single time.
A waft of something delicious breezes by me, making my mouth water.
All this time, I hadn’t been hungry, but that smell could make anyone feel starved.
I look around for the source of the smoky goodness and find a flow of smoke that dissipates the closer it gets to us, coming from beyond the stands.
“You hungry?” A male voice asks behind me, jolting me from my food dream.
“Shit, you scared me!” Hand over my heart, “Where did you come from?”
“The race ended a few minutes ago.” Ryder’s hand wraps around my waist, pulling my back to his front. He’s warm, and I break out in goosebumps.
“Where’s Hayden?” I look up at his green eyes over my shoulder, finding a mischievous twinkle in them that makes my belly tingle.
“Handling the fans. I wanted to get back to you,” His fingers gently brush my brunette locks over my shoulders to cascade down my back.