BAD BLOOD: The Murder Of Heather Banks

CHAPTER ONE (JACE)

He let his palm rest on the wheel and let out a deep breath. All the noise from the cheering around him went almost mute as he felt his entire body ease into the seat. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow... steady. He opened them to face Johnny who stood by the side lines. Johnny nodded, he nodded back and turned right to look at his challenger. Six foot tall, football jock and bodybuilder Ricky Maguire. He was shouting madly in his Hellcat™ V8. The car was powerful, very powerful compared to his Chevy Camaro ZL1, but he'd seen Ricky race before. The guy pushed too hard each time. His one weakness.

"Ready?!" shouted Tanya, the brains behind the whole event and the one practically in charge. Ricky revved his engine and yelled madly, "You're going down Sloe! That seven grand's mine!" Jace smirked and revved his engine as well. The bastard had a big mouth but got distracted easily. The race wouldn't be simple, but it would be easy. Tanya raised the 9mm above her head and smiled, then fired. The vehicles blasted off on either side of her.

The track would go on for a few hundred yards first before diverting into the city, then turn towards an old abandoned railroad where a large enough dirt path would lead them to the city's industrial area. After that, they would have to maneuver their way out back to a road where they would race back to the start; in that case, the finish.

Jace shifted gears hard as he rammed the gas, now closing into a hundred and twenty miles per hour. They started off in line for a while, but he gained the lead eventually. It was not very necessary to be in the lead at the time, but if he let Ricky get to the dirt path before he did, he would not pass him. He made a hard right into the city, slowing down now that there were more vehicles on the street. The Hellcat™ V8 caught up quickly and was side by side with the Camaro. That was dangerous, but Ricky was an idiot.

He hit the brakes to avoid a civilian vehicle that got onto the street and went behind Ricky, maintaining a steady speed right behind the Challenger. Up ahead, a trio of Tanya's crew was waiting by the intersection that would lead them to the railroad. They were the checkpoint markers, ensuring none of the racers would move out of the track. The Chevy swerved to the left hard and accelerated fast. "C'mon baby, c'mon." he pushed the car hard, but it was necessary at that point. He had to get to the dirt path first. Ricky though, noticed Jace's intention and floored it, sending the Challenger ahead of the Camaro.

"Damn it!" he eased up on the gas and let Maguire get ahead of him. They turned right into a single tarmacked road that faded into the dirt path. The railway was on their left, but now Jace had to stay behind Ricky. Luckily, the path was not at all dusty, meaning Ricky would not be able to blind him with dust. It was a bit muddy after the rains from that morning. Unfortunately, that meant he'd have to wash mud off the undercarriage for at least a few hours. He could hear Ricky hooting madly in the car ahead.

Sick ass punk.

He floored it when they got to the industrial area, the Challenger giving him a run for his money. Literally. He made a sharp left, shifting gears quickly after braking then flooring the gas almost unconsciously while turning. He had become one with his car, driving since he was eight had its privileges. The turn made Ricky lose a bit of speed, enabling Jace to catch up to him, pulling up slowly beside the Challenger. Another checkpoint sent them into an abandoned factory where they would have to work hard to get out of the building using the other exit, leading them back to the main road.

The Chevy roared and advanced forward, now nearly passing the Hellcat. The latter's power however made it push forward harder with minimal effort. "That's right Maguire, keep pushing." He braked and made a hard right, shifting down and flooring the gas. Ricky had missed that, slowing down and turning to catch up with Jace. Jace kept it at a steady 90. Inside the factory, that was very high, but he could manage. Up ahead, was the exit; several yards off. The Challenger pulled up next to him and was overtaking. He saw how hard Maguire pushed the car. Shifting gears higher and higher. Sadly, his only had a 8-speed gear system. Too bad, he didn't consider that.