Stormy Times

My feet pound the track. My breath comes in heaving gasps as I force my body onward through the stormy summer wetness. Rain lashes against my skin and wind throws my body off balance. My hair is soaked, and my muscles burn with lactic acid.

I keep running.

This is not an official race. This is me racing against the fastest runner on the team. I cannot let him lap me. That is the deal. No more rules. I keep running.

I'm on the third lap. I want to slow down. I want to speed up. I want to stop. I want to die. I force air into my lungs. I keep running.

The rain shoots down in heavy sheets now. I can only see about ten feet ahead of me. My heart thunders in my head. I slip and nearly fall to the ground. I wonder if I've already been passed. It doesn't matter. All I do is keep going.

Thunder booms ominously close.

I pass onto the fourth lap. I can vaguely make out the hulking field goal post to my left. My legs are frozen numb. I chance a glance over my shoulder. Can't see anything.

I keep running.

Nothing could be harder. My mind screams at my body. My body screams at my mind. My gut screams to keep going.

I think I'm past the 200 meter mark.

I look over my shoulder again. And my heart nearly jumps out of my panting mouth. My opponent is no more than 50 meters behind me and sprinting on strong.

I don't stand a chance. I'm gonna die.

I go for it.

My legs rage in protest as I fire into sprint mode. I'm flying down the track with no hope but to die before I lose. My whole body is soon in complete numb exhaustion. My lungs are ashes and everything is a blur. Thunder blasts my entire world. I thunder on down the last straightaway.

Footsteps thunder behind me. I pour the last ounce of my soul into the race. Bright colors sway across my blackened vision. I vaguely think that I'm about to pass the mile mark.

Lightning splits open the sky and crackles through my body, catching me mid-stride. I realize I am falling into a deep soothing blackness before I go blank.

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Somehow, I get magic racing powers. I don't want to write it out. It's a cool idea anyways.