Grounded On Juniper Island

Bound For Glory

Oleg mustered the nerve to watch the finish of the Great Bound. Nine laps had passed. The final was about to begin. Kai led from the front in commanding fashion. His nearest adversary Petra, trailed five metres behind him. She was closely followed by Jaxson and Konnor, who were neck and neck with one another.

Kai didn't look exhausted. His breathing was rhythmic, fluid and precise. Each bound shot him further into the sky. The crowd were watching a possessed flea. The lineage of Great Bounders he came from already added him into the history books. Any soothsayer would have no trouble predicting a pleasing result.

For Oleg, he just grit his teeth holding true to his promise. The mantra of why can't I be Kai, pestered  his brain as he watched him take to the mud holes.

The first hole was avoided by Kai. It was a mere pothole. The second and third holes were a breeze. He even added a bit of pizzaz to it drawing more attention from crowd. The hearts of teenage girls fluttered at this display, blushing from cheek to cheek. He remained spotless, while the other bounders toiled through the mud with skin that resembled the darkness of the deepest caverns.

The last hole was a greater test altogether. Kai sprinted, the force of his legs pushed bubbles out of the mud. As he made his approach, he titled his head down leering at the obstacle in front of him. With a bend of his knees he leapt. What was to follow caused Oleg to let out an uncontrollable laugh. Ursula smothered his mouth, muffling his hysteria.

Kai was face first in the mud formed in the shape of a starfish. "Make it easy for yourself,"  she whispered into his ear. Her eyes darted around reassuring everyone that she had him under control.

Oleg straightened his face and continued watching the race. Inside he was laughing. He felt relieved knowing it would be over soon.

Petra had taken the lead. She skipped hesitantly over Kai astonished at what she had seen. He arched his neck up and saw her approach the sand pits. With a clenched of fist, he hurled mud into her direction. His lip was curled. His nostrils were flared. The shuddering of his body caused the slosh to bubble. Pressing down his palms, he made the ground look like it was trampoline. Kai rocketed to his feet. The hoarseness of his scream momentarily stopped Petra in her tracks.

A Bounder tried to pass him, but the swing of his arm knocked him to back first next to Kai's mud angel. Kai pointed his finger and bounded towards Petra with a new found aggression.

"Oh m,"  muttered Petra as she tried to ignore her pursuer. Her heart raced. He was closing fast. The gnashing from his mouth frightened her into a sand pit.

She was covered all the way up to her calves. She could only manage a slowwalk; a victim hit by the oncoming freight train.

Kai hopped around the pits from feet to feet.

The bindi traps were no problem to him. A bindi did manage to graze skin but it didn't matter as the logs were suddenly beneath him.

In the eyes of Kai, the logs turned into twigs. No matter how far they were, the confidence that had helped lead for most of the race urged him towards the finishing line. No one could stop him, perhaps even the Gods themselves.

The crowd, including Oleg, were silent with anticipation. Konnor had slipped through unnoticed. He was only a few metres behind him. Petra however waved her fist in rage. She was  unable to move through sand traps with any threatening speed.

The first log was cleared, then the second. Plumes of dust blurred the view of the spectators. Out of the haze, Kai found himself neck and neck with Konnor. He had followed him like a shadow all the way. Oleg turned away. He knew that Konnor was a challenger who was there to make Kai look even more heroic. The spectacle was a splitting image of a dream he had a few nights before. He could sense it. Despite his instincts telling him not to, he couldn't help but to have a peek. His dream became reality.

Kai stumbled, losing his footing but managed to continuing bounding. For a brief moment his arrogant smile was wiped away with a panic. The sight of this made Konnor eyes light up sensing he could win the race. With his arms outstretched, he reached for Kai. It was a chance to legally pull past him. Unfortunately, he would be the one to fail.

An unexpected rock caught his toe causing him to somersault head first into the last log. Konnor was out cold. His head slumped to the side nestled on the log as if were a pillow. It was sweet revenge for Lior who awoke at the news.

The finishing line was in Kai's grasp. He licked his lips salivating the banquet that awaited him. Petra was too far behind. Jaxson had given up after being pierced in the eye with a dozen bindis.

Kai bounded over the last log, landing on the ground with a triumphant thud. His leap was met with screaming girls, men and women chanting his name.

"KAAAIIII! KAAAIIIII!"

It was torture to Oleg. The fingers jammed in his ears didn't muffle the silence. Kai could simply waltz over the finishing line at his own pace.

Kai came to complete stopped looked back at the ruin he left behind him. With one last bound he was over the line. The crowd bursted for joy and ran towards him as if he set them free. People embraced one another. Babies were lifted to the sky. Ivan and Ursula sprinted towards Kai's parents congratulating them on his victory. They exchanged words and chuckled together like they were best friends.

Frangipanis fell from a net hanging above the finishing line. They flooded the ground pervading the nostrils of everyone- a scent that grew the crowd's frenzy. Kai took in a deep breathe savouring the smell of victory.

Matilda pushed her way through the commotion. With a small smile, she handed Kai his trophy. His eyes were fixated on it. 

"What beauty", he said to himself. "I am never letting you go". For moment he forgot he was surrounded by hundreds of people. Once he had broken out of his trance, he held the trophy high for everyone to see.

The man that adorned the trophy epitomised what a Bounder should be. They could jump at the greatest of heights; the closest anyone could be to the Sun God, Pyra. For a year, Kai would be treated as a demi-god. For a year, Oleg would have to endure his splendour.

"Cursed de ja vu," Oleg muttered to himself. He had been abandoned by everyone around him. If only he could shift the earth to make a refuge in a hole.