Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 60 | As The World Caves In

September 10, 2023

Fuck, my whole body hurt.

It felt like I'd been hit by a train, the pain shooting through my ribs and my head pounding. I blinked, trying to focus, but everything around me was a blur of flashing lights and muffled voices. It took a few second to remember where I was, and then it all came rushing back...the race, Max, the crash. I must have passed out when I hit the barriers.

My mind immediately jumped to Aria. God, she must be panicking. And my family too. I had to let them know I was okay, but every movement felt like agony. I could barely move, my muscles screaming as I struggled to get my shit together. I could faintly hear Xavi's voice calling for me through the radio, repeating my name, asking for my status.

I forced myself to reach for the radio button, my hand shaking as I pressed down. My throat felt dry, and my voice came out rough, barely audible. "I'm okay..." I managed to choke out, though I knew it wasn't entirely true. I wasn't okay, not really, but I had to say it. For Aria. For my family. They needed to hear that I was alive, that I was conscious.

"Mon coeur," I choked...struggling to get the words out. "I'm...I'm okay."

The pain was still overwhelming, but all I could think about was her. I knew she'd be terrified, waiting for any sign that I was alright. I couldn't leave her like that, not after everything. My heart ached, more from the thought of her worrying than the physical pain I was feeling.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, hoping that somehow this would all be over soon. But for now, all I could focus on was sending her that message. She needed to know I was still here.

I couldn't believe Max had been that reckless. The pain that had consumed me moments ago was now replaced by a burning anger. What the fuck had he been thinking, pushing me like that? It wasn't just aggressive driving, it was down right dangerous. My hands clenched into fists as the marshals helped me out of the wrecked car and towards the medical car, my body still aching from the impact.

I was fine, at least in the simplest terms. No visible bruises or cuts that I could see. But the force of the crash lingered, like a shadow over every part of my body, a reminder of just how hard I'd hit those barriers. As the medical car drove towards the tent, I could hear the race starting again in the distance, the sound of the engines fading as we moved further away.

Max was still out there, racing like nothing had happened.

My frustration built, a knot of anger tightening in my chest. How could he be so careless? It wasn't just about the race anymore...it was about respect, about understanding that we all risked our lives every time we got into those cars. But for him to drive like that, like none of it mattered...it was infuriating.

The adrenaline from the crash started to wear off, and exhaustion crept in. My eyes felt heavy, and as the car rolled closer to the medical tent, I let myself drift off slightly, my mind buzzing with thoughts of Aria, of the race, of everything that had just happened. All I wanted was to hear that Aria was okay, to see her and reassure her that I was fine, even if inside I was far from it.

But for now, I just had to focus on getting through this. One thing at a time.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"Charles? Charles?"

I heard my name being called faintly, pulling me out of the haze. My eyes fluttered open, squinting against the bright light shining in my face. It took me a second to realize where I was, and I felt groggy, like I'd drifted off into a dream. The medic was hovering over me, checking my vitals, making sure I was all right.