Dust. Kevin spit it out as he regained consciousness. He tested his body as he stared at a pillar of flames a few yards away. The source was from a partially wrecked building. He loosened his shoulders and approached the fire. The origin of the ignition was none other than Kevin’s bike, bellowing flames like a prideful teenager giving unsolicited advice.

  Three children were clustered around the bike. One was attempting to put out the flames by emptying his water bottle on it. The oldest of the 3 was a girl in a pink dress and a purple flower in her hair.

  “Water won’t put out that fire” stated Kevin. The children recoiled at hearing Kevin’s voice and stepped away from his bike. “Sorry for startling you.”

  Kevin crouched down next to his bike and placed a hand onto it. “These are RAD fires. The only way to put them out is to be cool.” As Kevin relaxed, the fire died down. “Its easy once the race is over.”

  Upon finally admitting it, Kevin sank. The race is over. He fell onto his ass and stared into the fire. Any hope he was carrying left him. “What time is it? How long was I out for? A few hours?”

  The young girl responded by sticking her tongue out. “I'm not gonna help you”

  “Ok” Defeated, Kevin laid on the ground.

  “Did you see my brother?”

  Kevin shrugged. “Probably not, what was he riding?”

  The girl proudly exclaimed “He's riding my bike.” She put excessive emphasis on `my`. “Its a cute pink bicycle built for a princess, and hes going to win riding it for me.”

  “Yea yea” responded Kevin. He was preoccupied with determining the current time based on the position of the sun.

  “And hes gonna kick your fucking ass.”

  “Yea… huh?” Kevin was shocked out of his train of thought. “Who taught you that word?”

  There was a faint screaming in the distance, but no one near Kevin’s bike was able to hear it.

  Kevin picked up his still flaming bike and walked back to the road, cooling off the bike as he went. He recreated his final shot in his head, the way the bow felt in his hand. “How could I have won?” he mumbled.

  “You kids know what your signature weapon is yet?” asked Kevin. They all shook their heads. “Pray you don't get one like mine.” Kevin mounted his bike but found he had no energy for petaling. He let himself flop onto the pavement and laid there, enjoying the warm pavement like a lizard on a rock.

  “KKKEEEEEVVVIIINNN”. The screaming in the distance was recognizable now, and Kevin perked up as a result. There was one lone rider coming furiously towards him. He was in stand up petaling mode, and riding so fast the gravel created a dust storm behind him.

  The lone rider started skidding to stop hundreds of feet away, eventually resting a few feet away from Kevin. The dust cloud hit immediately after, enveloping all in dust and soot. A helpful gust of wind blew the cloud away.

  “You certainly got here in a hurry, is there a date you are late for again?” teased Kevin between coughing fits.

  Oswin stared at Kevin with a look of confusion, still panting from how hard he rode to get here. “What the hell are you waiting for?”

  “What are you in a rush for?” shot back Kevin.

  “Dude, it's been like 5 minutes! We gotta go.”

  Kevin exploded into action. The adrenaline re-entered his veins. “Thats my bad.” he gasped. “Lets win this race”

  Kevin and Owsin stayed neck to neck, matching each other's pace as they zoomed through the terrain. A giant screen came to life projected by a hovering drone.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  “Hello. This is the announcers. We have a report that there are still some racers in the first half of the track. I’m not sure why you would be there at this point.”

  “Brenna don't say that it's negative” Annie quipped.

  “Yea.. right.. “ Brenna hesitated.

  “If you are lost. There are signs that point the right direction. They are bright yellow and they say ‘right direction’ on them.” Annie interrupted.

  “Also if you can hear us. You are far enough from the city that Class 2 abilities are allowed. Class 3 abilities will be allowed at the halfway point. Class 4 and above are restricted since this is a beginner friendly race. I think that's it”

  “And remember to have fun!” sung Annie. The broadcast ended.

  Kevin and Oswin listened intently to the broadcast as they caught up to the person who was 3rd to last. He was wearing a full suit and tie, along with a very fashionable fedora. His massive stomach which spilled out from under his dress shirt.. As Kevin and Oswin approached, he met their gaze and pushed up his glasses. “Heh” he smirked. “Another group of suckers” The man extended his thick arms. “Welcome foes, for we are about to do glorious battle. It will be my intellect, vs your determination. No one can predict who will win.” He smiled, His silver tooth reflecting the sunlight. “My name is Main, and I will be the one who beats you here today”

  Both of Main’s opponents ignored him and attempted to bike past him. Unfortunately, once they were not dead last, the rule of cool no longer boosted them. Moreover, a force field prevented Oswin and Kevin from approaching Main. Oswin and Kevin were utterly dismayed at the thought of interacting with him. Mouth agape, they look at each other with soulless eyes, each hoping the other had a plan to get out of this.

  “Heh,” Main let out again. “Do not look too excited, for this will not be a battle of

  strength. I have the power to see your motivations in life. And then I will explain to you how winning this race will not improve your life circumstances. Lacking motivation, your very heart will crumple beneath me.”

  “I assume most things crumple beneath you” retorted Kevin. Oswin chuckled.

  “You underestimate my power” Main responded. “Heh” he re-adjusted his fedora. “Prepare to fall just like all the others.”

  “In case you have not noticed, we are in last place” said Kevin.

  Main pointed at Oswin. “You, I can see your true goal is for a loving community of friends. And you yearn for a stable relationship that you cannot achieve. Proceeding further in this race will not win you any of this. In fact, losing will take you closer to what you wish.”

  “Are you reading my mind? That's an automatic class 4 ability. You are really breaking the rules in an entry level ranked race” growled Oswin.

  As Main was indeed breaking the rules, his bike slowed down further. Already he was sweating and struggling to keep ahead of Oswin and Kevin, and it continued to get more difficult. The force field could only help him so much.

  “So you now see my true power” Main started inhaling.

  “Don’t” yelled Kevin.

  “Heh”

  Kevin sighed.

  Main pointed at his remaining foe. “You” He paused. The silence that followed was long lasting. Main brought down his hand slowly. “You only care about winning this race. That's really sad. You need to get a life.”

  “Whatever man” grumbled Kevin.

  “You don't even have any talent. Like anyone could do what you do. You are gonna try your hardest and no one will even know who you are.” Kevin gritted his teeth and a vein started pulsing on his forehead. Upon seeing this, the anger spread to Oswin as well.

  “Seems like I have only made you mad. Sorry you feel that way. I just tell it how it is.” Continued Main. The pressurized veins started spreading to Kevin’s neck. Main’s force field expired, and he laid on the brakes to fall behind his foes. “Since I have failed to demotivate you, I lose this battle, but the war will be mine. I always come back stronger.”

  Oswin shook himself, controlling his anger. “I'll take a card out of your deck. Digest the anger and turn it into motivation.” He smiled at his friend. He is always able to keep his focus on the race, and I think it's finally starting to rub off on me. Thought Oswin.

  “I’m gonna break his fucking legs man.” shouted Kevin, and he too laid on the breaks.

  “Attacking me like this is a fearrhic victory” declared Main.

  “Its pronounced Pyrrhic.” corrected Kevin as he summoned his bow and began beating Main with it.

  “Ow, Ow, Ow”

  After some hesitation, Oswin joined in as well, summoning his signature weapon: a sock filled with quarters. His weapon loudly jingled as he swung it at Main’s head.

  Between grunts of exertion Kevin mocked Main. “Thanks to my ability, I know that losing this race will help you piss blood.” Kevin backed off and fired an arrow into the back wheel of Main’s bike. It caught, and Main crashed. Kevin made sure to get one last hit off with his bow before Main hit the ground.

  “Damn right” shouted Kevin in victory.

  “Wooo” said Oswin somewhat enthusiastically.