Chapter 40: Tactics

CRASH! The glass shattered around me. The health bar went a quarter bit down. And then, I realized how stupid I had been. I HAD REVIEWED ALL THE MAPS WITH IVY! Ah, man! I wish I had remembered that sooner. Perhaps anxiety got me. All those hours of revision got wasted. I am damn sure I saw two underground tunnel entrances near this area. There's no crying over spilled milk I guess. I speeded towards the exit. It was a bit hard to find. I crashed my way out through the door.

The health notification popped up and I was down by yet another quarter. I loaded my gun and double-checked to see I had my helmet on. A little peek at the map and sulk the next moment to find that I'm on twelfth now. As usual, unlocked the super-high rocket engine and went speeding across the alley. I spotted one of the two riders who tried to shoot me. Apparently, he had teamed up with someone else now. I eyed them as they took down one of the riders. When the business was done, he shot his partner too. And I paid him back generously. Most likely he shot the player he teamed up with previously. Merely thinking of that made me smile. How funny is it that people stay with you so long as they need something? Or to enhance their own power. People simply have the extraordinary talent to put their trust in the wrong person. That's the bitter truth. I learned the hard way. I grew up like that.

I recall many times that some of my classmates wanted to be friends with me. And I, raw and oblivious always welcomed them. Only to help them cheat or let them copy down my answers on the test. At one point, even willing to do their homework. All for what I ask? They left. One day we were siblings and the next day they wouldn't even sit next to me. They'll pretend that nothing ever happened between us. If someone said I should've confronted them, then tell me, what good would that do? Would it make them care about me or miraculously make them come back huh? That's all just the sad reality of life and the quicker you swallow the bitter truth, the better.

Oh, how I wish all these players were my classmates. I would blow them up passionately. After some twists and turns. I somehow made it to the fifth position. I could now spot Arson being in the first place, his features all obvious even from the distance. We still had one lap to go and that was my chance to beat him. This time, I would make those cheaters pay back. I'll shoot Arson, and make sure I send his body like that to his Leader. I wonder what he'll make of that...

I called Jorge. He was currently in tenth place and definitely on another route.

"Overtake him I tell you" he shouted

"NO! It's better to lie low for now. I'm gonna tail him closely then get him near the finish lone." I shouted back

"And how the hell are you so sure that everything would go as planned? C'mon, you're smarter than that. What if he cheats? What if he gives you a distraction? There's no guarantee of how much they're capable of. I suggest you take a different route. He'll be able to spot you on the map anyway but I think that'll work. OH SHI-"

And the call ended. Definitely got shot. I didn't really like his suggestion much. I wanted to keep an eye on Arson. And hence, I'll do what I intend to do.