Racing Hearts
Since I don't update this anymore. I'm just going to start posting my story in here. If you're reading it, please leave a comment. I would love some suggestions. I'm going to post one page at a time, so I'll have weeks worth of update material. :)
In the dark basement of an office building, 50 people stood stiffly. There were muffled whispers between couples, passing comments to each other, but even for a large group as this, the room was quiet. Claire Ziegler wrapped her arms tightly around herself and surveyed the competition. Everyone in this room knew why they were there. That was why the only sound that could be heard was the rumble of the ventilation system. No one had to question, and no one wanted to create alliances that hadn’t already been made.
Claire jumped when a door slammed. She wasn’t the only one to be suddenly startled by the noise. Two men walked to the front of the group. The older of the two had a white beard, speckled with black, and smiling old eyes. He was wearing a suit and tie, quite a contrast between the jeans, baseball caps, and jackets of most of the crowd. Claire already knew who he was, but the other men and women in the crowd did not know him personally, only knowing that he was the one that called them there. The man was the director of this building, and the sponsor of the competition. Claire turned her attention away from him, and to the younger man. She glared at him as he followed the other man to the stage. She knew who he was too, though she wished she hadn’t.
Adrian Drake looked across the crowd with a smug look on his face. The Director, Matthew Clien, stepped up to the podium and smiled at his audience.
“You all know why you are here, but most of you do not know how you were chosen.” He said loudly.
When Claire had first arrived, she had noticed the variety of people that were there, from all walks of life. She knew why she and Adrian were there. They had competed against each other before, in this, and elsewhere.
“Everyone in this room has one thing in common, and that is the passion for speed, and for racing.”
A low murmur of agreement spanned across the group. Claire narrowed her eyes when Adrian spotted her. He gave her a nod in acknowledgement, mocking her. Claire and Adrian competed against each other in the Indy Racing League. She was on a limited schedule, racing only when she could get away from her college education long enough. Adrian was a full time driver, and had been for many years. Claire was rookie of the year last year, giving Adrian a run for his money in the league. Both were sponsored by Matthew. He was the ideal version of a motor-head. He was a millionaire, a well respected citizen, and had no greater thrill in life than watching cars go lap after lap, at 200 mph.
He had an even greater thrill watching his cars beat and bang against each other. He was a very different kind of man. Most people that decide to sponsor more than one driver, put drivers that are on the same team, or at least get along with each other. Matthew saw no excitement in that. He picked the two drivers that he thought could get him the most money, and the two with the most well known rivalry.
“So here is the proposition. A race across the country. Only a $50 entry fee, but a $100,000 dollar prize. There are rules to make this an even race. No radar detectors. If you are pulled over by a cop, you are disqualified. You may speed, but it is at your own risk. You may have a passenger in your car, but only one person is allowed to drive the entire race.
“Every person is required to stop. The time you choose, and how long you choose is up to you. This is to eliminate people falling asleep at the wheel. No intentional accidents.” Matthew looked pointedly at Adrian and then at Claire. They had wrecked, and disqualified each other last year, when Claire slowed down in front of Adrian on a one lane road. Adrian tried to pass her, and almost hit another car. He swerved in front of her, and took both of their cars out. In retaliation, Claire did the same thing at the next race she ran.
“Now you can take any way to get to your destination, but there are check points you must go to. These check points are my way to keep tabs on who is obeying the rules. At each check point you will get the location of the next stop.”
Claire’s eyes unfocused, and she started to turn out Matthew. She had heard this speech before. She knew how these things ran. It was about endurance, money, sense of direction, and who could plan their time the best.
“Now that we’ve gone over all the rules,” Matthew said grinning, “let’s get down to the business part. All expenses are paid out of your own pocket. All expenses are paid out of your own pocket. If you finish the race, your gas money will be compensated to a certain amount. You have one week to decide to enter or not. You will receive a paper with a list of everything you will need, and the location and time of the race in the mail. If you do not plan to enter, shred the envelope immediately.” Matthew looked down at Adrian. “Did I miss anything?” Adrian shook his head.
“Alright, you all may leave.” Matthew stepped off the podium and walked towards Claire, with Adrian in tow.
“Hello dear,” he greeted, shaking her hand. “Are you ready to race?”
“Of course,” she told him, smiling brightly.
“Good.” Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and nodded at them. “If you can excuse me for a second dear.” Matthew walked away from Claire, talking quietly to the man who stole his attention. Claire watched him leave, and turned her head back to Adrian, who was still standing in the same spot, looking at her.
“Hello.” She said uninterested in anything that he had to say.
“Still sore about the last race?” he asked smugly. She narrowed her eyes.
“No.” But she was. She just wouldn’t admit that to him.
Adrian took in the young girl’s appearance. She had her hair pulled back, and was wearing her twill drivers jacket. Her heeled boots made her look taller than she really was. Though she was small, and looked delicate, Adrian knew better. To be able to handle those Indy cars as well as she did, she had muscles. Adrian found out how strong she really was when she punched him in the jaw after the Pike’s Peak race. She was fined $1000, but as she told the press, it was worth it.
“How is college?” He asked, trying to make conversation.
“Good.”
“Your last year?”
“Two more.”
“Are you going to be able to take the week off to do this?” He asked, hoping the answer would be no.
“Spring break. I have two weeks off.”
“Oh.” Adrian looked around. “Well it was nice talking to you.” He nodded at her and walked away. Claire glared at his retreating form. She hated him so much.
In the dark basement of an office building, 50 people stood stiffly. There were muffled whispers between couples, passing comments to each other, but even for a large group as this, the room was quiet. Claire Ziegler wrapped her arms tightly around herself and surveyed the competition. Everyone in this room knew why they were there. That was why the only sound that could be heard was the rumble of the ventilation system. No one had to question, and no one wanted to create alliances that hadn’t already been made.
Claire jumped when a door slammed. She wasn’t the only one to be suddenly startled by the noise. Two men walked to the front of the group. The older of the two had a white beard, speckled with black, and smiling old eyes. He was wearing a suit and tie, quite a contrast between the jeans, baseball caps, and jackets of most of the crowd. Claire already knew who he was, but the other men and women in the crowd did not know him personally, only knowing that he was the one that called them there. The man was the director of this building, and the sponsor of the competition. Claire turned her attention away from him, and to the younger man. She glared at him as he followed the other man to the stage. She knew who he was too, though she wished she hadn’t.
Adrian Drake looked across the crowd with a smug look on his face. The Director, Matthew Clien, stepped up to the podium and smiled at his audience.
“You all know why you are here, but most of you do not know how you were chosen.” He said loudly.
When Claire had first arrived, she had noticed the variety of people that were there, from all walks of life. She knew why she and Adrian were there. They had competed against each other before, in this, and elsewhere.
“Everyone in this room has one thing in common, and that is the passion for speed, and for racing.”
A low murmur of agreement spanned across the group. Claire narrowed her eyes when Adrian spotted her. He gave her a nod in acknowledgement, mocking her. Claire and Adrian competed against each other in the Indy Racing League. She was on a limited schedule, racing only when she could get away from her college education long enough. Adrian was a full time driver, and had been for many years. Claire was rookie of the year last year, giving Adrian a run for his money in the league. Both were sponsored by Matthew. He was the ideal version of a motor-head. He was a millionaire, a well respected citizen, and had no greater thrill in life than watching cars go lap after lap, at 200 mph.
He had an even greater thrill watching his cars beat and bang against each other. He was a very different kind of man. Most people that decide to sponsor more than one driver, put drivers that are on the same team, or at least get along with each other. Matthew saw no excitement in that. He picked the two drivers that he thought could get him the most money, and the two with the most well known rivalry.
“So here is the proposition. A race across the country. Only a $50 entry fee, but a $100,000 dollar prize. There are rules to make this an even race. No radar detectors. If you are pulled over by a cop, you are disqualified. You may speed, but it is at your own risk. You may have a passenger in your car, but only one person is allowed to drive the entire race.
“Every person is required to stop. The time you choose, and how long you choose is up to you. This is to eliminate people falling asleep at the wheel. No intentional accidents.” Matthew looked pointedly at Adrian and then at Claire. They had wrecked, and disqualified each other last year, when Claire slowed down in front of Adrian on a one lane road. Adrian tried to pass her, and almost hit another car. He swerved in front of her, and took both of their cars out. In retaliation, Claire did the same thing at the next race she ran.
“Now you can take any way to get to your destination, but there are check points you must go to. These check points are my way to keep tabs on who is obeying the rules. At each check point you will get the location of the next stop.”
Claire’s eyes unfocused, and she started to turn out Matthew. She had heard this speech before. She knew how these things ran. It was about endurance, money, sense of direction, and who could plan their time the best.
“Now that we’ve gone over all the rules,” Matthew said grinning, “let’s get down to the business part. All expenses are paid out of your own pocket. All expenses are paid out of your own pocket. If you finish the race, your gas money will be compensated to a certain amount. You have one week to decide to enter or not. You will receive a paper with a list of everything you will need, and the location and time of the race in the mail. If you do not plan to enter, shred the envelope immediately.” Matthew looked down at Adrian. “Did I miss anything?” Adrian shook his head.
“Alright, you all may leave.” Matthew stepped off the podium and walked towards Claire, with Adrian in tow.
“Hello dear,” he greeted, shaking her hand. “Are you ready to race?”
“Of course,” she told him, smiling brightly.
“Good.” Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and nodded at them. “If you can excuse me for a second dear.” Matthew walked away from Claire, talking quietly to the man who stole his attention. Claire watched him leave, and turned her head back to Adrian, who was still standing in the same spot, looking at her.
“Hello.” She said uninterested in anything that he had to say.
“Still sore about the last race?” he asked smugly. She narrowed her eyes.
“No.” But she was. She just wouldn’t admit that to him.
Adrian took in the young girl’s appearance. She had her hair pulled back, and was wearing her twill drivers jacket. Her heeled boots made her look taller than she really was. Though she was small, and looked delicate, Adrian knew better. To be able to handle those Indy cars as well as she did, she had muscles. Adrian found out how strong she really was when she punched him in the jaw after the Pike’s Peak race. She was fined $1000, but as she told the press, it was worth it.
“How is college?” He asked, trying to make conversation.
“Good.”
“Your last year?”
“Two more.”
“Are you going to be able to take the week off to do this?” He asked, hoping the answer would be no.
“Spring break. I have two weeks off.”
“Oh.” Adrian looked around. “Well it was nice talking to you.” He nodded at her and walked away. Claire glared at his retreating form. She hated him so much.