Burning the Race Car, Reborn Speed

The day before the race, I torched my ride and announced I was quitting.

My fan club went ballistic, unsubscribing faster than you can say sellout, and the casual followers turned on me like a pack of wolves.

Even Derek The Devil Davison, the guy who saw me as his only real competition, had the nerve to play Mr. Sympathy.

"It's gonna be lonely at the top without him. I really hope he gets back on the track. I need him to push me."

I just laughed.

...

Last time around, my custom-built speed demon ended up looking identical to his.

No matter how many videos I posted showing every step of my build, he just had to cry to his fans, "Let Riley have it. He needs it more. I can win on skill."

And just like that, I was the bad guy.

Then, the minute I turned the key, my car blew sky-high, turning me into a freakin' vegetable.

His fans were all over it, saying I got what I deserved.

Even as my fiancee pulled the plug on my life support, I couldn't wrap my head around it.

How did everything that was mine, my career, my girl, become Derek Davison's?

Then, I woke up on the day the race schedule dropped.

"Fifty-something test run, and we're still killing it!"

Leo, my best friend, smacked me on the back, nearly sending me sprawling!

I wasn't a freaking vegetable anymore.

I was back!

"You earned it, man!"

Leo thought I was stoked about the car's performance, laughing and telling me to get ready for tomorrow's race.

"Hold up!" I stopped him short. "Don't submit the data yet. I wanna take one more look."

I sprinted to the garage while pulling up Derek Davison's specs.

They were a million miles away from my car's, which is why I didn't see it coming last time.

But the second I got to my baby, the page refreshed.

"Riley! What the hell! Davison's updated specs are a carbon copy of ours!"

Leo, looking like hed seen a ghost, came running, ready to call lawyers and scream bloody murder.

I felt like I was going to throw up, but I held up a hand to stop him. "Data submission isn't due until midnight. Chill."

Last time, Davison "accidentally" leaked the matching data, siccing his rabid fan base on me.

All over one minute.

When I tried to prove I built it myself, they snarked, "Nice CGI, dude. Even I can fake a video."

"Everybody knows racing is about the mods, you might as well steal Davison himself to drive."

"Davison has put his whole life on the line to win. Now you are trying to oppress him with power, it's simply ridiculous!"

My team got harrassed so bad, they got egged, their family was in danger.

All I could do was prove them wrong with my skills.

But the second I started the engine, it detonated right there on the track!

Only Derek Davison, unscathed, drove away with the trophy and all the glory!

But when the pros went over my car, they couldn't find a single thing that would cause an explosion!

So, of course, Davison's fans said it was divine retribution for my shady ways.

Deserved to die.

Even as a vegetable rotting in a hospital bed, I was tortured every damn day!

I couldn't even scream, just pray for someone to put me out of my misery.

Then my parents were driven to suicide.

My fiancee, Sarah, hooked up with Davison and pulled my plug, claiming I killed myself out of guilt.

I died with my eyes wide open, filled with hatred and regret.

If I was given a second chance, I would make them all pay.

"This race is like, once in a lifetime. You've been waiting for this. You can't let this jackass ruin it!"

"Forget Davison! Check the car, whatever it takes, we're racing!"

Leo ripped my phone out of my hand and locked me and the car in the garage.

I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached, checking every single part of the car.

Even if someone leaked the designs, even fractions of an inch would cause huge issues!

How did Davison get parts identical to mine?

And even if he got it all, why did my car explode?

I racked my brain, trying to remember everything.

Davison had a wall of fans around him, no chance to touch the car.

But who was he holding close?

Sarah!

My heart clenched.

Eight years together, I was sure she was the one, but she was there, arm in arm with the guy who framed me.

Screw it!

I shook off the memories.

Tore the car apart, piece by piece.

Three years of prep went into this machine, I loved it, but I remembered my parents jumping out the window.

I tore it faster.

Once I finished, I went to the storage room and found my other gear.

This was my first speed demon.

It was perfect, but out of passion, I wanted something even better.

So I had something more dangerous in mind.

Davison may have stolen my upgrades, but he couldn't steal my skills!

I built my own racecar.

The result was much better than before, a fierce beast!

I sent the data to Leo and sat back.

This time, I was alone, and there was no way he could match me now.

I had barely relaxed when Leo showed up, looking paler than a ghost.

I braced myself, Leo said:

"Davison has published his first draft. The data...it's the same as yours."

"No way!"

I grabbed the phone.

Davison said regretfully:

"I liked it this way, but someone stole the key component. So I had to improve it."

Then, Davison's final specs were published.

I felt the blood drain from my face.

How...

That part was from back home!

You can't buy that anymore.

I worked on it for months, polishing, until I got one perfect one.

And it was worn down by the rain, perfect for machines!

That was impossible!

But Davison had my best one, the most perfect one, the data was identical!

I looked at the part and slowly took it out.

It was small but so important.

The time spent working and the curse in the hospital all flowed back.

I slowly went to the furnace and tossed the piece inside!

Then I went back to the garage!

This time, I would always put myself first!

Leo saw everything and nearly cried.

Now, both of the gear were gone.

"Riley, what do we do now?"

I got the phone, and the fans were attacking me.

"Thought you were good? Show us the data!"

"This nobody is just copying Davison! He is scared of releasing the data!"

They already have the charge.

Then, my fiancee texted me:

"Stop working and come out and have fun."

She never did that.

She knew to leave me alone before a race.

But now, she was insistent, practically begging me to leave the garage!

She sent a voice message with a whimper: "Riley, give up, you will die!"

I tossed my phone aside and said to Leo:

"It's alright, let's build another one."

Deep breaths, phone on mute.

I went back to the drawing board.

It was the easiest one I have ever done. In two hours it was done.

I sent the data while I started smoking.

On the surface, it was beginner level. For rich kids to try out.

But the key part was different, with my help, it would skyrocket.

This was my idea from the hospital, where I suffered.

It was dangerous but amazing.

Davison would never know the truth.

Then I saw what happened.

Davison's team published a "special sale."

"Recently we heard that Davison's fans want to try racing. So he has a special beginner set!"

I started shaking.

Leo was yelling too.

How could that happen?

Davison was out having fun, now he was building the same car? It even has the same strengths?

Clenching my fist, I got the data.

The same.

The same.

Everything was the same!

But I still had hope.

If Davison didn't figure out the key part, if he went out there with my old car, I could prove myself innocent!

I went to the website.

It flashed before going down for maintenance!

"Damn it! Davison!"

Leo punched the wall.

"He is scheming again!"

"You can't change anything after you submit, why do they keep making exceptions for him?! I will go punch him!"

I looked up from the mess.

"No, I will go to the organizer."

It was 10:24.

To race, I needed to fix everything in ninety minutes and sign up.

Contact the organizers, fix the site, prove Davison stole the data, demand justice, it would take time!

But the race cannot wait for me!

I got in the racecar and turned it on.

I had to gamble.

Davison couldn't steal everything.

If I won, I would prove my skills.

Before that, I had to remove the possibility of explosions.

I bit my lip and floored it!

I was instantly on edge.

No.

The slightest feeling made it obvious.

The car was pulling to the left.

This was the worst.

The front wheels were sparking.

I cursed and opened the door at the last second, then leaped out.

The explosion sent me flying.

I rolled several times and got up. I looked to see...

My car - it's on fire!