Warning: This chapter is pretty violent.

Chapter 3: Traumatized

All the race cars were off the track and on the route through the woods trying to catch up to Speed who was way ahead of them. Back at the stadium there were large screens showing the race now that the cars weren't visible on the track. The cameras that were up above in the helicopters were bringing them the live coverage of the race.

Pops and Mom Racer were sitting with some other important people in the racing world, while Sparky and Trixie decided to stay in the Go Team Pit. The two of them were watching a TV Sparky had brought. They were prepared to have a good time cheering for Speed. They had snacks, drinks and chairs to sit on. It was so different, especially for Trixie since she was usually in the race with Speed.

"I wish they would show Speed," she said holding a big cup in her hand that was filled with a cold drink as she sat comfortably in a chair in front of the TV.

"I bet you wish all they would show is Speed," Sparky said with a laugh.

"Sparky," Trixie said doing her best to ignore what he meant. "I just want to make sure that Speed is still in the lead."

"No doubt he is," Sparky said very confident in his friend and the Mach 5.

Suddenly coming on to the TV screen was Speed but he wasn't behind the wheel of the Mach 5. He was just standing on the side of the narrow street in the woods.

Trixie, Sparky, the people in the stadium and the people home watching the race in their living rooms wondered why Speed was out of the Mach 5.

Looking at the man who looked like him, Speed wondered what the look alike meant when he said he was going to need help. Speed had no idea that millions of people were watching him at that very moment - that all of the TV stations were covering him even though they didn't know what was going to happen. The stations just loved a good story and this could be one considering it was covering Speed Racer.

Racer X, who was more than just your average racecar driver, had his radio on tuned to the race. He heard that Speed was out of his car and he wondered if the Mach 5 was giving him problems. With that in mind, the Masked Racer knew he had to catch up to his little brother so he could help him. "Damn alarm clock," he said still furious at himself for not getting to the race on time. He decided his alarm clock was going into the trash as his car finally started to pass some other race cars.

"I want to know what's going on," Speed said staring at the look alike in the pick up truck.

The look alike then started his truck and shouted out of the window, "Look, Speed. You're on TV."

Even though Speed knew very well that the helicopters had cameras filming the race, he didn't know they were filming him now. His head automatically lifted up looking for the helicopter that he could hear coming closer. For a second he thought it would be cool if it was Trixie up there.

"It was too easy to get you to look up," the look alike whispered as he pushed down on the gas pedal of his truck without hesitation and headed right at Speed.

Speed heard tires and was surprised that one of the racers had caught up to him already. He looked down from the helicopter but to his surprise it was the pick up truck headed directly at him and not a race car ready to pass him up. Unfortunately, it was way too late for him to even try to jump out of the way.

"That truck is going to hit him!" Trixie screamed as she stood up dropping her drink on to the ground. It seemed to splatter everywhere in slow, slow motion as Speed was thrown back a few feet from the truck striking him. The truck then stopped before it could do anymore damage to Speed because the look alike didn't want the young racer dead - just yet.

Getting out of the truck, the look alike proceeded to take his time as he walked over to Speed.

Speed opened his blue eyes in disbelief at what just happened to him while he looked up at the crystal, blue sky, glad that he had his helmet on because of how hard his head hit the ground after he had been thrown. He slowly began to sit up but the pain in his abdomen, where the truck had hit him, made him lay back down.

"Can't get up?" the look alike asked standing over Speed. He didn't wait for an answer as he leaned over and yanked Speed's helmet off, causing him to gasp. He then grabbed Speed by his shirt collar and began to pull him across the rough ground.

Speed felt the mud, dirt, and rough rocks digging into his back as he struggled to free himself from this man. However, still somewhat dizzy from the truck hitting him, Speed knew his struggle to be free was useless. The look alike then suddenly lifted Speed up by the collar of his shirt to a standing position and then slammed him against a tree.

"What…what are you doing?" Speed asked trying to gain his composure. He had just gotten hit by a truck and knew he needed serious medical attention. With his strength temporarily gone, he was in no condition to fight back like he normally would.

Making sure that Speed wouldn't even be able to attempt to fight back, the look alike punched him hard in the abdomen where he was already in pain.

Trixie and Sparky were practically on top of the TV now. "Speed's already hurt! What is that man doing!" Trixie cried out with obvious fear and panic in her voice as she watched the look alike tie Speed's arms back behind a tree.

"If the damn camera people would stop filming and help Speed..." Sparky began to say but became speechless as he helplessly watched the look alike make a fist and punch Speed across the face.

The people in the stadium also watched as the look alike punched Speed more than once. Some couldn't continue to watch as they sadly turned away from the screens.

Mom Racer was hysterical as was Pops, who was cursing at the man. Not being able to stop himself, Pops started to run to a car, any car so he could go to his son.

The police and emergency crew that were at the race had already headed to Speed but it would be awhile before they got to him. Unfortunately, Speed didn't look like he had time.

His face ached as he finally managed to say again, "Why...why...are you...doing this?"

The look alike didn't answer as he then leaned down and picked up a very heavy branch, which might as well have been a bat.

Racer X was in a panic as he heard what was going on. He had the pedal as far down as it would go as he started to pass just about all of the drivers and it was amazing that he kept the Shooting Star from violently sliding off course.

The look alike took the heavy branch he had picked up and swung it as hard as he could into Speed's right side causing the racer to scream out in pain.

Trixie was crying uncontrollable in Sparky's arms, not able to look at the TV any longer. "This isn't happening!" she cried and then pulled away from Sparky. "I have to get there!" Feeling sick to her stomach, she grabbed her purse but then dropped it. Falling down onto her knees down on the ground, she began digging through it for her keys. With tears streaming down her face, she looked back to the TV screen.

The look alike was now ready to attack Speed's left side with the heavy branch.

After taking the hit on his left side, Speed's head hung down and he looked lifeless. There was total silence in the stadium till Speed ever so slowly lifted his face to look at the horrible man. Relieved breaths were heard throughout the stadium, till the look alike punched Speed in his abdomen yet again.

"I have to get there before he kills my brother," Racer X said just before seeing the pick up truck ahead in the distance.

When the look alike saw Racer X coming, he stopped punching, grabbed Speed's head in both of his hands and said, "Don't worry. I will kill you soon…if you don't die today." He then slammed Speed's head back hard against the tree and ran off into the woods leaving the pick up truck behind. Since I stole the truck, no one will be able to figure out who I am, he thought happily. He also knew it would be too hard for anyone to find him in the woods. The helicopters couldn't see down through the trees and that was why he hurt Speed by the street since he wanted everyone to see.

"Please. Please still be alive, Speed," Racer X said cursing the Shooting Star for not going even faster. When the car finally got to Speed, it almost slammed into the Mach 5 just before Racer X stopped it in time. The Masked Racer jumped out and ran over to his younger brother as fast as he could. He didn't have to wonder if Speed was still alive, because of hearing his loud, heavy breathing.

It hurt tremendously for Speed to breathe - taking all of his energy as he gasped for air while he wondered how many of his ribs were broken.

Racer X moved quickly to Speed's figure that was tied to the tree. "I need to get you out of here," the Masked Racer said and then he put a hand on his brother's jaw and lifted his face up slowly. It was even worse than what Racer X had expected to see. One of Speed's eyes was swollen shut from the punching he received and the other eye was just barely open and blood shot. His nose was probably broken and there was just too much blood. Racer X felt as if he had been punched in his stomach himself because Speed looked to be only holding on by a thread. He knew it would be hard to keep his brother conscious after the beating he had taken. "Speed. Please just stay awake. Please."

Speed sounded as if he was going to try to say something but only coughed up some blood causing even more horrible pain.

"Speed. Don' talk," Racer X said trying to keep his voice from shaking. "I'm going to untie you and lay you down as easily as I can." The Masked Racer knew it might not be wise to move his brother but he couldn't just leave him hanging onto that tree.

With his hands now shaking as well as his voice, the Masked Racer wished he had help. Seeing his little brother like this was just way too hard. Soon and still with shaking hands, he managed to get Speed's hands untied. Not being able to help the Masked Racer at all, Speed was dead weight because he was just too weak from the pain his upper body was going through. It was increasingly becoming harder and harder for him to breathe. As slowly and gently as possible, Racer X laid Speed onto the ground.

Suddenly Speed started to shake a bit as if he was cold and Racer X realized that he was going into shock. The Masked Racer worried even more because he didn't have anything to keep Speed warm.

Soon a couple of other drivers were heard pulling up. Not caring about the race, they stopped to help because they had been radioed about what had happened.

What was happening was still on the screens in the stadium. Some people were praying while others were just upset and quiet as they watched, hoping Speed didn't die right there in front of their eyes.

One of the racers said to Racer X, "An ambulance should be here in a minute."

"Why won't one of the damn helicopters just land!" Racer X demanded furiously.

One of the racers took a breath before answering. "They're too big to fit on the narrow street. Luckily some ambulances and fire trucks were standing by and left for here as soon as the truck...hit Speed."

Racer X looked back to his brother and saw that he still had that one eye open as his breathing became even louder. Taking his brother's hand, the Masked Racer said, "It's going to be alright, Speed. Please, just hang in there. Pops, Mom, Spritle, Sparky and Trixie need you. I...I...need you."

Unfortunately because of the pain, Speed had been thinking that it would be better if he was dead before he had heard Racer X pleading to him not to give up.

"You're strong, Speed. If anyone can hang in there, it's you," Racer X said forcing confidence into his voice.

More drivers had stopped now and even though Racer X figured no one would, he asked is anyone had a blanket.

To his surprise, one driver did and ran to get it.

Racer didn't want to know or even cared why he had a blanket in his race car, but he was grateful.

Once the blanket was covering Speed, the racers could only hope Speed's shaking would stop. They were sincerely upset over what had happened and wouldn't have wished the pain Speed was going through on anyone. "The ambulance should be here soon," one of them said.

"Yeah," another agreed. "I still need another chance to beat you in a race, Speed."

Speed couldn't really comprehend what they were saying. At the moment he could only hear Racer X's voice in his head saying over and over to just hang on.

Finally the ambulance got there and the paramedics told everyone to move away from Speed.

Racer X watched ignoring the other racers around him as the paramedics put an oxygen mask on his brother. One of the paramedics said Speed needed an IV to get fluid into his body because he was in shock. Sadly Racer X noticed that Speed didn't even seem to feel the needle going into his arm for the IV probably because of the tremendous pain he was already in.

Ever so slowly and carefully the paramedics began picking Speed up to put him on a stretcher.

After Speed was in the ambulance, Racer X tried to go with him but the paramedics explained that there was just no room. There really wasn't any room because of the amount of paramedics whom jumped into the ambulance just after seeing that Speed had been hit by the pick up truck.

A policeman now there got in touch with Pops by radio and told him to meet them at the hospital.

Racer X watched the ambulance drive away and as he turned to jump into the Shooting Star to follow, he saw the Mach 5. It still looked ready for Speed to take it on its next victory.

Racer X leaned on the Mach 5 doing something he hadn't let himself do in years. Even though the other racers couldn't tell, tears started to soak his mask. After a couple of seconds, he opened up the door to the Mach 5 as the other drivers watched. He got in and then put his hands and then his head down on to the steering wheel. He couldn't leave his brother's car in the woods because it was so much a part of Speed. Making himself sound as if he hadn't been crying, Racer X lifted his head and said loud enough so that the other drivers could hear him, "Please call someone to drive the Shooting Star back. I have to bring the Mach 5 back to Speed's family." He didn't admit to them that being in the Mach 5 was a way to be close to Speed.

Racer X then took off, hoping and praying that Speed would make it.

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About twenty minutes later, Speed's family, Trixie and Sparky were waiting for him to arrive at the hospital. They just stood by the doors eager for the ambulance to pull up. When the ambulance got to the city, policemen on motor bikes escorted it straight to the hospital the quickest way possible.

After it made it to the hospital, Mom Racer broke down at seeing the condition of her son was in, making Pops grab her into his arms to hold her as he turned a pale himself. The injured person didn't even look like Speed but the white pants and blue shirt gave away that it was.

Trixie had been watching Spritle but she gently pushed him to Sparky as she walked along with the nurses and doctors who were now quickly pushing Speed towards the emergency room.

His face was pretty badly swollen with dried blood, and his body was in obvious pain. Trixie wrapped her fingers around his hand and ever so gently squeezed them. "Speed," she said keeping her voice strong. "We're all here for you. You're going to be fine." She didn't expect a reaction from him but was surprised to feel his fingers very, very slowly close around hers just before she had to release his hand so that he could be pushed into the emergency room.

After, she watched through the emergency room doors as the nurses and doctors started to work on him. Only a few seconds later, she couldn't see Speed anymore because of all who had surrounded him and wanted to help him.

Turning to walk back to everyone else, she saw Mom Racer crying as Pops tried to be strong. A couple of Speed's relatives had shown up and were now taking care of Spritle. Sparky was sitting with his head hanging down. That was it. Trixie wanted to scream that this wasn't happening. She buried her face into her hands and began crying once again and she cried like she never remembered crying before in her life. "Please. Don't die, Speed," she said between gasps for air.

When Racer X pulled up to the hospital, he jumped out of the Mach 5, ran into the hospital and stopped when he saw his family crying in each other's arms. It was a horrible scene and he feared for a minute that they had lost Speed. "Sparky," he said walking over to him. "What did the doctor say?"

Sparky only shook his head that he didn't know anything yet, and it was easy to see that he too had been crying. "They just started working on him," the young mechanic said looking towards the emergency room doors.

Racer X turned to the doors to Trixie who was shaking from her crying, her face in her hands.

Slowly he walked towards her, put a hand on her shoulder, and then just barely said her name.

She instantly recognized the voice even though it didn't sound as tough as it usually did. As she turned around, they hugged and she cried into his shoulder. "Please tell me he's going to pull through this, Racer X."

"He will," he said hoping with all of his heart that he was right.

"I…I don't understand what happened! Why did that man torture Speed? Nobody deserves that."

"I know. I know, " Racer X said trying to console her.

"He's still out there too," Trixie said sounding scared.

"Believe me," Racer X said with anger. "I swear I will find him if it's the last thing I ever do."

Sparky watched the two hugging as tears kept filling his eyes. He couldn't get the sound of Speed's heavy breathing out of his mind. "Hang in there, Buddy," he said sadly.