Late night drives

LI: Forgive

Kim's POV:

Christmas eve, is one of the most festive times of the year, isn't it?
People are gathered here all in this joyful spirit. Shouldn't they all be a church by that time? Right. What am I thinking? Sinners don't go to church. Even if we wanted to, salvation is out of reach for people like us.
The temperature is slowly rising. My lungs are stretching to their maximum potential as people are getting closer and closer. The ground fills up at lightning speed.

This is it.

The match had been trying to avoid for years.

" Alright. Let's get over it."

" Are you ready for your final lost?"

" I am not losing."

" You don't have a choice. It's what you call a lose-or-lose situation. "

" I didn't want to come to this."

" You can't run away anymore. "

" I am doing this only to put an end to this crazy story. Once it's done you will be out of my life."

" Oh, I didn't know about your comedian talent. So let me ask you. You think that I will leave you alone just like that."

" That's what we agreed to. If I win you pack your shit and get out of my life."

" But Kim comes with Mr."

" He will not."

" How can you be so sure ?"

" He heard everything. As well as he doesn't trust me, he surely doesn't trust you anymore."

" I wouldn't be so certain if I were you?"

He waves his phone at me, a proud smirk on his face. I clenched my fists as hard as I could in order not to punch him straight in the face. How could he dare text, Matthew? After all that. He puts his phone into his pocket and walks into his car. The monitor of the race has arrived. I enter my call as well. People start to scream and cheer so loud that I can hear them through my glasses. Where are they always that loud? Our engines start at the same time. We wait for the last seconds. The flag is down. It's the signal. The race begins.

This has to end now.

The last minutes of the race. Everything is under control. I have raced him countless times. I know all his moves to the point I can nearly predict them all. However, there's something about that race. Is he seriously taking off with Matthew if he ever loses again? Or was it all just a treat? Usually, I would think he's bluffing. Nevertheless, he's been more persistent this time, more persuasive. He's desperate to win. I can't quite understand his real motive here. Neither can I let him win or lose. I have worked my entire life and earned that title. Losing right now will be meaningless. So will be winning. It will be just one more victory and the vicious cycle we have been drawing to risk to never stop.

After a furtive glance to my left, I realize that Ash's been catching up. Slowly but surely. The word progress is not exactly what I would have used in this case. One thing was clear his motivations were different this time. Different and dangerous. His way of thinking was unpredictable. His movements were manifesting with so much rawness.
Suddenly a sudden movement throws me forward. He has already caught up with me and voluntarily bumped into my door. Yet I am not slowing down. what's the point? He wants this race. Then he will have it. I won't let him win. Much less let me do it so quickly. that will settle it forever. once and for all.
Progressively the distance between both our cars returns. Now it's not the time to raise my guard. So I will keep an eye on him regardless through the
rearview mirror. A few seconds later I can finally see the lights indicating the end of the race. It's only a matter of time before it ends. I press the accelerator and shift gears. I adjust my tempo before engaging in the curve of this winding road. The tires squeal on the asphalt. Then the editor hums louder. that sound is enough to send my adrenaline skyrocketing. The effect. My hair stands up on my skin as I watch the final line approach. It's this feeling that makes me love to win. which makes me love racing. I close my eyes for one second letting the car's pace take me wherever it wants. So many things are about control, however, this is not one of them.

Letting go. As if this was not a race. Just a fun late-night drive. I used to have a lot of them with Ricky. We always had fun. It was never about who will come first but who would have enjoyed it more. To the point, our blood was boiling in our veins. I wish I could turn back time to those good old days. I wonder if he ever regretted it once in his life. I mean everyone has some regrets about something at some point in their life. Nevertheless, things seem different for him. He never said anything about regretting, not even once. I guess he lived to the fullest. That might be the only way to shut that annoying little voice of regret for good. How peaceful would my head be? Light and empty.

I have already taken my decision. As soon as I win this game, I will quit the league. The higher-ups might not be the most enthusiastic about my sudden decision but it's non-negotiable. I have been thinking this through for a while now. The league certainly gave me an amazing family. I met people whom I can never forget. We have linked crazy bounds. O
But the other side of the coin is that it made me the most miserable I have ever felt. I don't know if it's only because of the league. At least it's partially involved. I can hardly recognize myself in a mirror as I pass before one, which is why I often avoid them. That ugly reflection I see scares me. Also, I doubt I can hold on any longer here. This place used to be my comfort zone. Head free with no worries. I came here to run from everything. It was my refuge. How ironic that right now, I am battling my life. All because five years ago I was a coward. A pitiful coward.
I am not running away this time.

Once again my head bangs violently against the steering wheel. The strike is even more intense than the last. This time I can't keep control of the car either, which suddenly derails to the left because of the impact.
That bastard.

It gives me a few seconds to regain my senses. but no sooner have I regained control of my trajectory than a second strike sends me even further. he becomes more insistent. I don't brake. I am very close to the white line. a few more meters. a final crash is heard. this time I press hard on the pedals. the tires squeak on the ground. a whirlwind of dust rises around us. I tried to drift around it to blur it a bit. if only this distraction could work. 1 chance in a thousand. but I take the risk. I'll try whatever it takes. I will not lose. I can't afford to lose him. Not again. Not this time.

The race ends.
I sigh in relief as I close the door. my heart is beating my record. I tilt my head back. I can finally breathe. my lungs fill with a very large quantity of air. I hope they are just as expendable. I'm a little worried they'll explode at some point. But it feels good. My blood is still boiling from the adrenaline. I haven't resonated with this for a long time. I close my eyes to savor these few moments. Until my silence is broken by a gunshot. The sound came from behind. I turn immediately.

He has lost it.

" WHAT IS FUCKING WRONG WITH YOU?"

I shout walking angrily towards him. I even forget that he's holding a gun.

" Have you lost your fucking mind?"

I glare at him. His eyes are bloodshot red. Ash gives me a fierce look. Slowly raises the gun in the air to fire a second time. he draws one, then two. around us, the panic spreads. people panicking screaming and leaving the track screaming. It's always the same reaction. I turn around. He is still standing in front of me and he has not approached although he no longer points the weapon toward the sky obscured by heavy clouds. He's now pointing it at me. His fingers are holding and pressing the trigger. My heart skipped a bit. I hear a noise behind me. It's a car. Not any car. I could recognize this sound among thousands of others. I take advantage of his slight moment of distraction- because he also had noticed the car. I run towards him to disarm him however a shot goes off.

_____________________________________

Thank you for reading !!!

Cliffhanger for what? Was that necessary?

Ps: There is only one chapter this week.

See you next week.

Vicky❤️