Chapter 7: The Race Before the Storm
School ended, but no one was going home.
Students flooded toward the sports field.
The news of the $500 race had spread across the entire school.
Some students were even recording videos on their phones.
"This is going to be crazy!"
"I heard Brian challenged the new guy!"
"Who do you think will win?"
At the edge of the field, Timo paced nervously.
"I don't like this," he said.
Sam sat calmly on a bench, tying his shoelaces.
"You've said that ten times already."
"Because it's true!" Timo replied. "That guy is definitely planning something."
Just then, someone approached them.
It was Aisha.
She looked serious.
"Sam," she said quietly, "be careful today."
Sam looked up.
"Why?"
"I overheard Brian talking to his friends earlier," she said.
Timo leaned closer.
"What did he say?"
Aisha shook her head.
"I couldn't hear everything… but he sounded very confident."
Timo sighed.
"See? Even the smart people are worried now."
Before Sam could respond, one of Brian's friends walked over carrying a box of drinks.
"Free energy drinks for the runners," he announced loudly.
Students cheered.
He handed one to Sam.
"Good luck."
Then he walked away.
Timo looked at the drink suspiciously.
"Bro… do you trust this?"
Sam looked at the bottle.
Then he shrugged.
"It's just a drink."
Before Timo could stop him—
Sam opened it and took a sip.
Timo froze.
"Oh no."
"What?" Sam asked.
"My survival instincts just screamed."
Aisha frowned slightly.
Something about the situation felt wrong.
Across the field, Brian watched from a distance.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"Did he drink it?" one of his friends asked.
Brian nodded.
"Yep."
"How long before it kicks in?"
Brian glanced at the track.
"Soon."
Back on the bench, Sam suddenly blinked.
Then he rubbed his head.
Timo noticed immediately.
"Bro?"
Sam stood up slowly.
"You okay?" Timo asked.
Sam hesitated.
"My head feels… strange."
Aisha's eyes widened.
"What?"
Sam shook his head.
"Probably just tired."
But as he took a step forward…
His vision blurred slightly.
Timo grabbed his arm.
"Sam, something's wrong."
Across the field, the coach blew his whistle.
"Runners! To the starting line!"
The crowd roared with excitement.
Brian walked confidently toward the track.
Meanwhile…
Sam tried to focus his eyes.
The ground felt slightly unstable beneath his feet.
Timo whispered urgently.
"Bro… I think they did something to you."
Sam looked toward the starting line.
Brian was already there.
Waiting.
Smiling.
The whole school was watching now.
Phones recording.
Students shouting.
If Sam backed out now…
Everyone would say the trenches boy was afraid.
Sam took a deep breath.
Then he started walking toward the starting line.
Timo grabbed his shoulder.
"Sam… are you sure?"
Sam didn't stop.
"No."
Timo stared at him.
"Then why are you still going?"
Sam stepped onto the track.
Because some battles…
You don't walk away from.
Across the track, Brian smirked.
He could already see Sam struggling to stand straight.
The trap had worked.
The coach raised the whistle.
"Runners… ready!"
Sam's vision blurred again.
The crowd screamed with excitement.
Timo clenched his fists.
Aisha's heart started beating faster.
Something was terribly wrong.
The runners bent down.
"Set!"
Sam tried to steady himself.
But his legs suddenly felt weak.
Brian smiled wider.
The whistle lifted toward the coach's mouth.
And just before the race started…
Sam's knees suddenly buckled.