Back a bit sooner than I expected, following the huge cliffhanger swiftly with a new chapter! Hope you're ready for this next exciting installment, and have shifted to the edge of your seats! Will Vanessa win first place? Read my friends, and find the answer! :D
Mr. Kingsley watched anxiously, biting his lip and hoping that whatever happened, Vanessa did not win this race. She was, to his dismay, proving to be doing just the opposite of that, neck and neck with Taryn, the two shooting each other nasty glances.
"You just don't know how to butt out of other people's business, do you, loser?" Taryn said, gritting her teeth.
"Speak for yourself!" Vanessa replied before they made the first hurdle.
"So Vanessa, how in the heck did you get out of that locker, huh?" Taryn shouted.
"I have my ways! That's all you have to know!" She shouted back as they jumped another hurdle.
Sonny was announcing the race, his voice flowing smooth like a liquid through the mic. "Aaand lap one is just about finished! They still have three more laps to go and all the racers are going strong!"
Taryn grunted, trying with all her strength to keep up with Vanessa, with Candace and two of the opposing school's racers right behind them. "So, let me guess..." She said, panting quite a bit as she ran. "It was lover boy that got you out, huh?"
"No... Gregory didn't get me out of that locker... but he did have something to do with it!" Vanessa replied as they jumped another hurdle.
"Wait, what did you say?" Candace cried, but her surprise distracted her, and she ran straight into her hurdle, toppling over and the other racers sped ahead of her.
"Oh, we've got a racer down! Looks like Smithtown will have to depend on their two remaining top racers to take the win!" Sonny announced.
Vanessa grit her teeth then. "I've had enough talking to you! I'm here to win a race, not to gab about your business!" She then started to move ahead, and Taryn was not going to have this.
Meanwhile, one of the opposing school's students twisted their ankle, taking them out of the race.
"Wow, this sure is an intense race today! We are now down to our top four racers as we approach the third lap!" Sonny commented.
Taryn, who was now neck and neck with another opposing student tying for second, managed to get just a hair ahead, and upon jumping the hurdle, kicked it at the last second so that the opposing student stumbled over it, putting them in last place. "Pigs will fly before you beat me, VonStark!" She shouted to Vanessa who was just ahead of her. However, Vanessa didn't even hear her. She was in her zone, and focused fully on winning first place.
The other opposing student grit their teeth, angry by what Taryn had done. She caught up to her, and when they were about to make the hurdle, she whipped her long braided ponytail around, causing Taryn to get distracted, stumbling over the hurdle mid-jump. She stumbled and fell, and despite scrambling to her feet, she still fell behind, and she growled in frustration as she was now in third place.
"Alright, this is the final lap, ladies and gents! All or nothing here, so give it your best shot! Vanessa from Smithtown still has the lead, but she's got competition not far behind!" Sonny exclaimed.
Vanessa momentarily glanced behind her to see the student come neck and neck with her before staring back ahead.
"Coram's won for nine years in a row, kid, and this year's not going to be any different!" She shouted.
"Well, hope you can deal well with change!" Vanessa shouted back, gritting her teeth. She could see the finish line, licking her lips as she remembered Ralph's advice, concentrating her energy and giving herself one last burst. "Come on, Vanessa... you can do this... you can do this!" She jumped the final hurdle, using her momentum to speed ahead and past the finish line. She slowed to a stop, gasping for air. When she heard the bleachers roar with applause, her eyes widened, looking around.
"And the winner is Vanessa VonStark from Smithtown high! Not only that, according to the big timer, she's made a brand new record for her school!" Sonny annouced, giving Vanessa a thumbs up.
Vanessa looked around her in shock as people began to chant her name. "I... I won..." Her shock quickly turned to happiness, a smile stretching across her face. "I won! I did it!" She ran her hands through her hair, rejoicing. Sonny came up to her with the first place medal, placing it around her neck. The opposing student earned a second place medal and Taryn earned third place.
"Congratulations Smithtown high! Your team will have all their expenses paid for next year so you have another chance to bring the championship home!" Sonny exclaimed.
Vanessa walked up to Taryn, who was glaring at her.
"Go ahead." Taryn said. "Take it out on me. Say whatever you want to rub my face in your win."
The raven haired girl shook her head. "No, Taryn. I'm not going to do that."
"Why, huh? So you're going to be a good samaritan after all the trouble I gave you? I don't want your pity!"
"No, Taryn, because I'm not like you. I came over here to say it was a good race. Maybe if you stop concentrating on being so mean, you could win next year. You're a good racer Taryn, but being so mean-spirited won't help you." Vanessa replied.
Taryn's expression softened, blinking. "You think so? I- W- Well of course I'm a good racer!" She pouted, sighing a bit. "But... why would you want to be nice to me? We hate each other's guts."
"Like I said, I don't care who wins or loses. I just want to have the right to run and be on the team like everyone else. That's all I ever wanted, to do what I love and be good at it." She held out her hand, smiling. "So... are we a team?"
Taryn looked down at the hand and back up at Vanessa. She looked behind her to see Candace and the other kids in their hang out group watching closely. Taryn turned back, smiling lightly. "You know... maybe you're not such a loser, after all." She shook Vanessa's hand. When the crowd started chanting her name again, Taryn joined in, smiling as she signaled for Candace, Randy and Simon to come over, the four of them lifting her up in the air and carrying her around for a bit. When she was put down, Gregory stood before her, smiling bashfully.
"Hey... that was an awesome race, Vanessa." He smiled.
"I couldn't have done it without you." She replied, and the two hugged warmly. "Okay okay, I'm gonna get you all sweaty and gross!" She exclaimed as the two laughed. Their fun moment would be broken when Mr. Kingsley approached Vanessa, clearing his throat.
"Vanetha... I... I'm very happy you won the rathe. But you need to come with me, immediately. There ith thomething I need to dithclothe with you-"
"Mr. Kingsley, come here a minute, we got photos of Vanessa for the paper but we need one with you!" Sonny said, putting an arm around the principal and leading him away.
"N- Now wait jutht a minute, there'th thomething I need to take care of- oh alright, jutht a few and that'th all!"
Vanessa shook her head, smirking. "I just don't get that guy..." She turned to Gregory, about to say something when she noticed Mr. Turner standing by the side of the bleachers, looking around. "Hey, I'll be right back." She said, heading over to him and smiling. "Hey Mr. Turner! Did you see me race?"
Bo turned, smiling lightly at Vanessa. "I sure did... you did a heck of a job out there, Vanessa. You should be proud."
"Yeah! Now I'm a record breaker like you were!" She smiled. "I always wanted to be like you... I'm glad I could give our school something to believe in again."
"Indeed..." Bo said, glancing behind her for a moment before returning his attention to her. "Say, you looked pretty wiped out. How about we take a ride downtown, get some ice cream? Always loved that after a race."
"Really?" Vanessa beamed. "Sure!" she exclaimed, and Bo gently pat her shoulder, glancing behind him as the two headed for his car. He started it up, heading off towards downtown. "This sure is a nice car, Mr. Turner. Say, I haven't got any money with me."
"Not to worry, I'll pay for everything." Bo smiled.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course... winners always get the best, Vanessa. And you were a winner today." He nodded, parking the car at the ice cream shop and brought her back some ice cream.
"Aren't you going to have any?" She asked.
"Oh, maybe in a little while. I have to stop somewhere for an errand first, if you don't mind." He replied.
"Not at all." She smiled as she ate her ice cream.
Bo drove further downtown around the less developed area, turning into a dirt parking lot. "Ah, here we are."
"Huh? The metal shop?" Vanessa tilted her head. "Hey, why are we here?"
"Oh, I come here a lot." Bo smiled. "See, this is where they mold metal into parts for cars. I always like to see how they're made, where the parts for the best cars on the market come from. It's amazing to see how it all starts."
"Huh. I'm not old enough to drive yet... so did you come here to pick up some parts?"
"Yeah... wait here a moment, I'm going to talk to my pal here. They know me well here, so I'll ask them if I can show you around." He got out of the car, heading towards the back entrance. Vanessa hummed to herself, smiling as she noticed Bo talking and laughing with a welder inside, and she saw Bo pat him on the back before taking out his wallet, paying him money.
Meanwhile back at the school. Mr. Kingsley finally finished taking photos with Sonny before heading back over to the track. He looked around, furrowing a brow when he didn't see Vanessa around. "That girl... where did she go...?" He noticed Gregory nearby, going up to him. "E- Excuthe me, mithter Orville... have you theen where Vanetha went?"
Gregory turned, blinking. "Oh, yeah... she was talking to Mr. Turner earlier and then I think she walked with him down the field."
Mr. Kingsley's eyes widened for a moment before he gritted his teeth angrily. "She what? Tell me where they went! I want that girl back here immediately! She ith in big trouble!"
"W- Wait, why is she in trouble?" Gregory asked, becoming angry. "Why do you hate her so much?"
"I have no time for your quethtionth, you are to come with me now and tell me where they went!" Mr. Kingsley growled, and Gregory reluctantly listened to him as they went to his car. "If she doethn't get back to thith thchool she will pay dearly for her actionth!"
Back at the metal shop, Vanessa headed in through the gate to the back area with Bo, and the employee he had spoken to earlier gave Vanessa a nod. Bo nodded back at him as he shut the gate, and he smiled at her. "So Vanessa, do you want to see how a car is made?"
"Sure, Mr. Turner." She smiled.
"You know... I do wonder how you managed to get the principal to support you. I wonder if he finally came to his senses." Bo asked.
"Well, it wasn't easy... I could tell you but it's really complicated."
"Everything with that man is complicated, I'm afraid." They stopped near a metal liquidation pit, and Bo rummaged for something in his pocket. "Oh... did you get a program, Vanessa?"
"No, I didn't... oh, you have one? Thanks!" She smiled. Bo handed it to her and her eyes widened a bit. "Wow... Mr. Kingsley had my name printed in it... I had no idea he'd do that."
"I think we were all surprised by that, Vanessa." He sighed lightly, walking around the pit, looking inside and taking a piece of scrap metal on the ground, tossing it in the large container the metal was melted in.
"Hey, these have the sponsors too!" Vanessa exclaimed, smiling. "You're the first one on here, Mr. Turner! Wow, that's so cool that you sponsor the team!"
"Oh, always. Since I came back here as a teacher after I graduated, I have made it a priority to be the number one supporter to the very thing I loved."
Vanessa was reading more of the program, pacing around when she stopped suddenly. A light breeze swept through her hair as she furrowed her brow a bit.
"Okay. First thing we need to find out is who the sponsors ARE. I mean, I remember Mr. Kingsley saying something about how the first sponsor won't pay because of you... someone doesn't like you, Vanessa."
"The first sponsor was..." Vanessa whispered to herself, glancing over at Bo.
"Hm? What was that, Vanessa?" He asked.
"O- Oh, um, nothing. Say, what do you say we head back to the school?"
"But we just got here..." Bo smiled, chuckling lightly. "I've got much to show, and tell."
"M- Mr. Turner... look... I... I really-"
"Really what...? Ah, yes, I'm sure you're dying to get back to your... adoring fans. After all, you're the star of the school now... I remember what it was like to be on top... I never wanted that feeling to go away. But I graduated, and newer, younger students were ready to take my place. But that's the thing about true winners, Vanessa. They want to keep winning. The only way they stay a winner, is that everyone else loses." His smile darkened in nature, and she backed up as he walked towards her. "Do you think that happy idiot of a principal would have banned you from the team if someone hadn't suggested it? After all, you've never been in any trouble, have you? Do you think he would have singled you out because he felt like it? Do you think he would have just decided one day to change Gregory Orville's schedule if someone else hadn't made him?"
"No... no, it can't be..." Vanessa breathed. "I... I trusted you-"
"You think he would have spoken to your little friend in the woods if I didn't find out from my lackeys about him, Dennis and Wyatt? Oh yes, they overheard that conversation. Do you think he would have bribed your classmates to lock you in the changing room if I hadn't told him to do it?"
"Why?" Vanessa cried. "I looked up to you, I wanted to be like you!"
"Oh well poor little Vanessa! Well what about me, huh?" Bo growled. "I was the champion, I broke the records and make the headlines! And now that's all changed because you couldn't keep your nose out of my business! I tried to keep you away, and now you're REALLY in it!"
Meanwhile, Mr. Kingsley sped into the metal garage, slamming on his breaks. "Gregory, sthtay here. Do not leave thith car, underthtand?"
"What are you going to do? What are you going to do with Vanessa-"
"I thaid sthay here, Gregory!" Mr. Kingsley cried, getting out and slamming the door. He went over to the gate, quickly picking the lock and flying it open, looking around. "Mith VonSthtark! Vanetha!"
Vanessa bit her lip, looking around. "Okay, I... I promise, I won't let people forget you, I, I'll-"
"I'm afraid it's too late for you, Vanessa. You ruined my record, it's nothing now. The only way the old days where I was champion will return to glory is if something really, really big happens to cast a shadow on your win." Bo said, narrowing his eyes.
"Okay, I'll do it! Just, don't hate me anymore, okay? Please don't try to hurt me anymore!"
"Oh, it will only hurt a short time, I promise." He growled, grabbing Vanessa and she cried out as he dragged her over to the metal pit. The two struggled, Vanessa screaming for someone to help before Bo shoved her back, and she shrieked, falling in, her hand catching the edge and she held on, grunting as she tried to pull herself up.
"Please, please help me!" She screamed.
"There can only be one winner..." Bo smirked darkly, lifting his foot to step on her hand when he was suddenly pulled back by someone, gasping in surprise."
"Get off! Get off of that child you, you monthter!" Mr. Kingsley shouted, gritting his teeth. "I should have thtopped lithtening to your horrible worth long ago! You've gone too far, Bo! You were onth thuch an enthusiathtic child, but now you're horrible!"
Bo narrowed his eyes. "Give it up, old man." He chuckled. "I'm glad you're here, anyway. When it makes news that little Vanessa met her tragic end, I'll make sure the blame rests on YOUR head!" Bo went over to the large metal melting container, chuckling as he started it up.
Meanwhile, Gregory heard Vanessa screaming in the distance, gasping as he got out of the car against the principal's demand, peeking around the gate. He gasped when he saw Vanessa trying to crawl out of a hole, Bo trying to push her into it and Mr. Kingsley grabbing Bo, the two fighting each other. Gregory's heart pounded in his chest, fearing for Vanessa's life. He knew the only person who could help, and he wasted no time running towards the forest to seek him out.
Ralph smiled, hoping Vanessa would come soon to tell him the news of how the race turned out. He heard footsteps approaching, looking down. when he saw it was Gregory, he frowned lightly, hopping down behind the large boulder. Before he could even question Gregory, he called out to Ralph.
"Vanessa's in danger! Please, wherever you are you have to help!" He cried, his voice shaking.
"How is this possible? She was supposed to race-"
"She did! She won, but Mr. Turner is trying to hurt her! Please, you have to help!"
"Where is she? Tell me quickly!" He growled.
"She's at the metal shop! You have to hurry!"
When those words met Ralph's ears, he gasped, remembering the metallic clicking and grinding of the mechanical insect he saw in his dream, Vanessa being devoured and crying out as she turned to ashed.
"No... I will not let the monsters take her!" He shouted, and he moved swiftly through the trees towards her location.
Back at the shop, Bo shoved Mr. Kingley off of him, smirking darkly as he wiped his face, his nose bleeding. "That metal's nice and ready now... I can smell it." He went over to Vanessa, nearly out of the hole before he stood over her. He growled, kicking her square in the face and sent her back, and she cried out as she fell into the hole, hitting her head harshly when she hit the bottom, knocked out immediately.
"V- Vanetha!" Mr. Kingsley cried out, gritting his teeth. His eyes widened in horror when Bo went over to the lever, about to pull it. "Are you out of your mind? Bo, thtop thith!"
"She's going to burn to a crisp once this boiling hot metal touches her. I WILL be the champion again, just like the old days, and there's no one who can stop me!" Bo laughed, about to pull the lever when he was yanked up, and he flailed around angrily. "What in the- what's going on? What in the heck is going on-... here...?" His eyes widened when he was suddenly face to face with Ralph. Mr. Kingsley stared silently as Ralph stared at Bo darkly as the man began to scream fearfully, and Ralph inhaled sharply before emitting a loud roar. Bo looked around, shaking his head.
"No! I will be number one! I will! You can't stop me!" He glanced down at the lever, smirking as he kicked it forward with his foot. "Say goodbye to your little friend, you big ape!"
Ralph gasped, looking from the metal melter, the top opening like a large mouth, jagged edges like teeth. He widened his eyes in horror as he saw his nightmare about to come true when he glanced into the hole, seeing Vanessa down there. He tossed Bo aside, crying out as he rammed all his weight into the metal melter, pushing it back so it could not pour the molten hot metal on Vanessa. He pushed against it with all his strength, grunting as he managed to get a part of it jammed so it wouldn't move forward. He then hurriedly hopped down into the pit, breathing heavily as his heart pounded in his chest.
"Vanessa... Vanessa please, you must wake up now!" He shook his head, furrowing his brow deeply as he traced a finger over the side of her head where she was bleeding. The blood was traveling down the side of her face, and he noticed her legs were heavily bruised, blossoming in blues and purples from being broken by the fall. "No... no, I thought I had prevented this... I thought I had stopped this!" He began to weep, holding the girl close to him. "Kira... I'm so sorry, Kira..."
Ralph.
The large man gasped, getting up and turning to the source of the voice. He saw his Kira, smiling lightly as she walked up to him. "Kira... you're here..."
I have always been with you. I will always be with you. In each life you live I will appear in small traces. You will find me wherever you know to look. You have not failed me, or her.
"But Kira... she is broken!" Ralph wailed.
Yes... unfortunately, she is in this life. But there will come a time where you will remedy all who have been wronged in this life.
Ralph nodded, looking up to the surface. "We will meet again... I know we will." He smiled as his vision of Kira faded, holding Vanessa in one arm and climbing out of the hole with another.
Bo growled, running over to the machine to try to fix the jam, but Mr. Kingley pulled him back. "I will not let you harm that child anymore!"
"I've had about enough of you, old man!" As Ralph crawled out with Vanessa, he screamed in anger, about to punch Mr. Kingsley in the jaw.
"Leave him alone!" Gregory shouted, having returned. "I called the police, Mr. Turner... they're gonna come and arrest you for hurting Vanessa!"
"Oh... is that... so?" Bo growled, rolling up his sleeves. He went to attack Gregory when Mr. Kingsley tried to stop him, the two fighting harshly back and forth as Ralph grunted, shoving the machine forward so that its contents now spilled into the pit. However, Mr. Kingsley was much older, and had already expended much energy from fighting Bo. When the molten metal was poured, Bo smirked. "Guess you won't have to worry about your little secret getting out, old man... it will be buried with you!" He shouted as he shoved Mr. Kingsley back.
"No! NO! MR. KINGSLEY!" Gregory screamed, but it was too late. Bo had pushed him right into the pit, the last thing that one could hear of him was his screams of pain. In anger, Gregory lunged for Bo, but he wasn't as strong as he would have needed to be in this situation. Bo picked him up by his shirt collar, shaking him.
"Don't worry... I'll make sure you see your little girlfriend real soon, kid." Bo smirked, about to shove him into the pit when Gregory was dropped, landing on the ground and he looked up, widening his eyes at the huge man lifting Bo into the air.
"You... you're him..." Gregory breathed, widening his eyes.
"N- No, please, let me go!" Bo cried. "I won't hurt anyone else, I swear!"
"No... you will not. But I shall grant your last request now." Ralph replied darkly, and he held Bo over the pit, releasing him from his grip. Bo emitted a haunting, fearful scream as he fell into the boiling metal below, and Ralph watched him burn as the light from the metal illuminated his face, the light like a flickering candle in his dark eyes. When the end had come for Bo, he turned, Gregory backing away from him in fear. "No not be afraid, young human boy. I will not harm you." He gently placed Vanessa down, where Gregory grunted a bit as he picked her up. "Get her to safety. I leave her fate to you now. Forget my face." Before Gregory could say anything, Ralph was gone, already buried in the trees in the forest. Even when the wail of sirens neared in the background, he still stared in both shock and awe at the forest, having been face to face with its keeper.
Wow. What a twist this was, readers! Take a few moments to let this all digest in your brains, and then please leave more of your lovely reviews! Don't worry, this story is close to its end but it isn't over yet! See you next time! :D