Ride To Riches

CHAPTER FIVE: The Girl Who Changed the Race

Night took over Lagos covering it in a blanket of darkness except for the lights and the sound of roaring engines.

The underground racetrack was electric with thousands of people packed into the arena hidden beneath the industrial district. Music blasted through speakers and luxury cars lined up on the glowing track looking like predators waiting to strike.

Smoke filled the air and people were exchanging money quickly. Cameras were flashing all the time. This was not a normal race. This was war. It was disguised as entertainment.

Tunde stood near the area where the cars were being prepared watching the mechanics work on machines that were worth more than entire neighborhoods back in Abuja. The Ferrari engines were. The Lamborghinis were shining under the neon lights. Professional racers were moving confidently through the crowd while armed security guards were watching every entrance.

Everything about the place was screaming power and danger.

Victor Blanco stood beside Tunde looking calm.

“You are nervous " he said.

Tunde kept his eyes on the track.

“No " he replied.

Victor smirked a little.

“That means you are terrified " he said.

Tunde finally looked at him.

“What happens if I lose?" he asked.

Victor remained silent for a seconds.

Then he said, "In the Black Circuit losing is the thing you should fear."

Before Tunde could respond a loud voice echoed through the arena speakers.

“WELCOME TO THE BLACK CIRCUIT!" it said.

The crowd erupted instantly. Fire burst from the sides of the track and giant screens lit up the stadium. The racers stepped forward one after another as their names appeared on the screens.

There was Ghost, Viper, Rico Blaze and Antonio DeLuca. Each introduction triggered a reaction from the audience.

Then finally they announced, "TUNDE ADEYEMI… THE STREET DRIVER FROM NIGERIA!"

The crowd reacted with curiosity than excitement. Most people had never heard of him. He was the racer, the poor boy from the streets the outsider.

Tunde walked toward the lineup calmly while cameras flashed toward him. Some racers smirked at him mockingly while others ignored him completely. Ghost just stared, cold and silent like he already knew something terrible was waiting ahead.

The announcer’s voice thundered again.

“TONIGHT BEGINS PHASE ONE!"

The massive screens displayed the rules immediately.

PHASE ONE: THE DEVIL’S TURN

— 12 LAPS

— LAST THREE DRIVERS ELIMINATED

— NO RULES

Tunde’s eyes narrowed a little. No rules that explained the ambulances positioned around the arena.

Victor stepped beside him one time.

“You still have a chance to walk away " he said.

Tunde looked toward the racetrack toward the screaming crowds, toward the men preparing for battle. Then he remembered his mother selling food beside Abuja roads Femi sleeping hungry and Savage hiding tears behind sarcasm.. Suddenly walking away no longer felt possible.

“I did not come here to quit " Tunde said.

Victor studied him carefully then nodded

“Good " he said.

A minutes later Tunde entered the garage area assigned to him. A matte-black Nissan GT-R was waiting beneath lights looking low, aggressive and beautiful.

Tunde walked around the car slowly studying every detail. One of the mechanics handed him gloves.

“You are lucky " the mechanic said.

Tunde frowned a little.

“How?" he asked.

“The GT-R survives longer than cars here " the mechanic replied.

He lowered his voice.

“This track destroys machines " he said.

Tunde opened the driver’s door slowly. Sat inside. The interior smelled of leather and petrol. The steering wheel felt perfect beneath his hands. For a moment everything outside disappeared. The crowds, the fear, the pressure. Only the car remained.

Then suddenly a female voice said, "Interesting choice."

Tunde turned immediately. For a brief moment the noise of the arena seemed to disappear.

She stood near the garage entrance wearing a leather jacket over dark jeans her long curly hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes carried intelligence and confidence at the time and she looked beautiful, but also dangerous like someone who understood this world too well.

Tunde stepped out of the car slowly.

“Who are you?" he asked.

The girl crossed her arms calmly.

“Kasey Morgan " she replied.

Her accent was foreign, American. Tunde remained cautious.

“You work here?" he asked.

“Something like that " she said.

She glanced toward the GT-R.

“You drive aggressively " she said.

“You have watched my races?" Tunde asked.

“Everyone has " Kasey replied.

That surprised him. Kasey walked around the car slowly studying him carefully.

“You are not what I expected " she said.

Tunde frowned.

“What did you expect?" he asked.

“A street racer desperate to impress people " she replied.

“. Instead?" Tunde asked.

Kasey looked directly into his eyes.

“You look angry " she said.

The words unsettled him immediately because she was right. There was anger inside him years of it buried beneath silence and speed.

Before he could answer one of the race officials entered the garage.

“All drivers to the starting grid immediately!" he said.

Kasey stepped backward slightly.

“You should focus " she said.

Tunde folded his arms.

“Why are you helping me?" he asked.

A faint smile touched her lips.

“Because I know what happens to drivers who enter this competition unprepared " she said.

Then she. Walked away into the crowd.

Tunde watched her disappear between mechanics and flashing lights. Something about her felt different, real and for reasons he could not explain that made him nervous.

Moments later engines roared violently across the starting grid. Twelve cars lined up beneath floodlights while thousands of spectators screamed from the surrounding platforms.

Tunde adjusted his gloves tightly. Beside him Ghost sat inside a silver McLaren with eyes fixed ahead.

The giant countdown screen illuminated above the track.

10

9

8

The atmosphere became electric, engines screaming louder smoke filling the air. Tunde’s heartbeat accelerated.

7

6

5

This was it, the beginning.

4

3

2

Tunde gripped the wheel tightly.

1

GO!

The track exploded into chaos, cars launching forward violently tires screaming against the asphalt engines roaring like monsters escaping cages as racers fought aggressively for position through the corner.

Tunde accelerated hard the GT-R surging forward immediately. Two racers collided near the turn crashing and exploding into sparks. Crowds screamed wildly.

Tunde drifted sharply around the wreckage narrowly avoiding disaster. The race instantly became brutal no hesitation, no mercy cars slamming into one another at speeds drivers fighting aggressively through every corner.

Ghost pulled ahead quickly smooth, controlled and terrifyingly calm. Tunde followed behind weaving dangerously through traffic while adrenaline surged through his body.

Then suddenly a blue Ferrari slammed into his side spinning the GT-R before regaining control. Tunde looked toward the Ferrari driver the man smiling mockingly Viper, the African champion targeting him deliberately.

Tunde’s jaw tightened, fine if they wanted war he would give them war. The GT-R exploded forward Tunde shifting gears aggressively drifting through the corner at impossible speed.

Crowds erupted instantly "He is insane!" "How did he make that turn?!" Even Ghost glanced briefly into his mirror the rookie keeping up.

Lap after lap the race became more violent smoke filling the track metal colliding endlessly one driver losing control and smashing into the barriers flames erupting from the car immediately. The audience screamed, medical teams rushing forward while the remaining racers sped past the burning wreckage without slowing down.

Tunde’s breathing became heavier this was not sport this was survival. By lap eight seven cars remained, sweat dripping down his face while the GT-R growled beneath him like a living beast.

Suddenly Ghost’s voice crackled through the radio frequency all drivers shared.

“You are talented, Nigerian " he said.

Tunde frowned slightly.

“But talent is dangerous without discipline " Ghost said.

Before Tunde could reply Ghost slammed his brakes unexpectedly the drivers behind him panicking instantly two cars colliding violently one flipping through the air the crowd exploding into chaos.

Tunde reacted instantly the GT-R drifting sideways between flying debris missing destruction by inches people rising from their seats screaming. Victor watched silently from the VIP platform even he looked impressed.

Tunde stabilized the car. Accelerated again but now something had changed the racers were no longer simply competing they were hunting one another and Tunde had become a target.

Lap ten five cars remained, Ghost leading, Viper following Tunde staying in place the next corner approaching rapidly.

Then suddenly a loud warning flashed across Tunde’s dashboard, BRAKE FAILURE his eyes widening, "What?" he exclaimed, pressing the brake pedal again nothing fear slamming, into him at this speed losing brakes meant death.

The next turn approached fast crowds screaming as the GT-R continued accelerating uncontrollably "Tunde!" a mechanic shouted through the radio "Your brake line is damaged!”

Was the car damaged?

No it was not damaged.

It was sabotaged.

Someone had messed with the car.

The wall in front of Tunde was getting closer and closer.

His heart was beating fast.

He had to think.

He really had to think.

Then his instincts took over.

Tunde pulled the steering wheel hard. Hit the emergency brake at the same time.

The GT-R spun around fast.

The tires were making a lot of noise.

Smoke was everywhere on the track.

The crowd was going crazy.

The car was really close to the wall before it hit the barriers hard.

It made a noise.

Tunde's shoulder hurt a lot because of the crash.

The car stopped moving. It was quiet.

The car was filled with smoke.

Tunde's ears were ringing.

Then the crowd started screaming

They were not screaming because they were scared.

They were screaming because they were amazed.

Tunde had survived the crash.

Tunde got the damaged GT-R back on the track.

The front of the car was touching the ground. Sparks were flying everywhere.

Tunde kept driving.

The crowd was cheering louder.

Ghost was looking at Tunde in his mirror. He could not believe what he was seeing.

Even Ghost did not think Tunde would survive that crash.

The last lap was starting.

There were three cars left: Ghost, Viper and Tunde.

The GT-R was not doing well. Smoke was coming out of the engine.

Tunde would not give up.

His shoulder hurt a lot. There was blood on his forehead.

He kept his eyes on the track.

The finish line was getting close.

Ghost crossed the finish line first.

Viper was second.

Tunde was third.

The race was over. The crowd was cheering really loud.

Tunde leaned back in his seat. Was breathing heavily.

He was alive.

He was barely alive.

A minute later the mechanics came to the damaged GT-R and cameras were taking pictures everywhere.

The people were saying that Tunde had survived because his brakes had failed.

They were saying that the way he drove the car was impossible.

They were asking who Tunde was.

Tunde got out of the car slowly.

His legs were weak.

Then he saw Kasey again.

She was standing near the pit lane.

This time she looked worried.

She was really concerned about Tunde.

She walked towards him quickly.

"You are hurt " she said.

"I am fine " Tunde said.

"No you are lucky " Kasey said.

Tunde wiped the blood from his forehead.

"Someone touched my car " he said.

Kasey's eyes got darker.

"I know, " she said.

Tunde looked at her.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Kasey looked around carefully before she spoke softly.

"This competition is not clean " she said.

Tunde frowned.

"Do you know who did it?" he asked.

Kasey did not say anything for a moment.

Then she said: "Vipers team."

Tunde got really angry.

"They tried to kill me " he said.

Kasey said yes.

The way she said it was scary.

It was as if death in the Black Circuit was normal.

Kasey looked into Tunde's eyes.

"You need to understand something, Tunde " she said.

The noise of the arena was around them and ambulances were coming towards the damaged cars.

"People here are not just racing for money, " she said.

"What are they racing for?" Tunde asked.

Kasey did not say anything for a moment.

Then she said softly: "Power."

That word stayed with Tunde.

Power.

Not fame.

Not glory.

Power.

Then Victor came towards them with some security guards.

He looked very serious.

"You should come with me now " he said.

Tunde frowned.

"What happened?" he asked.

Victor looked at Kasey briefly.

Then he looked at Tunde.

"One of the drivers who was eliminated died during surgery, " he said.

There was silence.

The world around Tunde felt really cold.

The crowd screams.

The flashing lights.

The engine noise.

Everything felt away.

Because for the time of death, the Black Circuit felt real.

It was not a rumor.

Victor spoke softly.

". The witnesses said..."

His eyes got harder.

"...That the driver crashed because he was trying to avoid hitting you."

Tunde froze.

Kasey's expression got darker.

Then Victor said the thing.

"The police are investigating the race now.”