Heiress (Hanazono Series #2)

Heiress 10: Race To Hell

Chelsea’s POV

I woke up early and sat up. Today is the Race to Hell, Jess will participate so I prepared a meal.

“Good Morning, Chels.” I smiled and nodded at him

“Good Morning, Jaxith. Did you have a good night sleep?” I asked and he laughed

“I can’t believe how scary Irene is when asleep.” He said and I laughed

“You’d get used to it.” I said and later on Lavalee went here and after her Jess arrived.

“Jess, Lavalee, you should eat now, your challenge is today.” I told them

“Isn’t your Chess competition held today too?” Irene asked while walking downstairs

“Walang naiiwan sa taas?” Jaxith asked and I shook my head

“Wala. Minsan si Lavalee ang naiiwan kapag siya ang bantay but most of the time we eat meals together.” Sabi ko at umupo na rin sa upuan.

We ate in silence. It’s still early since it’s just 5:45AM and the first challenge is this 10AM. Jess was the first one who went upstairs because she needs to move fast.

After eating, I washed the dishes while Lavalee toured Jaxith around the vicnity.

“I’m going.” Paalam ni Jaxith at niyakap ako

“Can you go by yourself?” tanong ko sa kanya

“If I didn’t have Alisha and if I didn’t know you have Ethan, I would’ve think we’re a good couple.” Sabi ni Jaxith at hinalikan ako sa pisngi

I shook my head and chuckled.

“Send Jaxith off, Chels. You need to get out once in a while.” Lavalee told me from the earpiece

“New order. Pinapahatid ka ni Lavalee.” Sabi ko at lumabas kami ng front door

“Bakit hindi nag-activate yung traps? Did you temporarily close it because you’re going?” He asked and I shook my head

“I’m registered at the system so it sets an exemption for me.” I replied

“Paano yun? What if someone pretends to be you?” He asked and i shook my head

“It won’t work. It runs a full system scan on my IQ, DNA, and well skills.” I replied

“You made a system that protected?” he queried and I shook my head

“Si kuya Frost ang gumawa. He said it’s better na ako ang naka exempt because I’m the shadow of the group remember? Kahit myembro ako, I prefer to work from behind.” I said and looked at the sky

“Miss mo na siya?” he asked and I smiled

“Siguro kung nasagot ko agad ang tawag niya noon – Chelsea.”

“Chelsea.”

“Enough.”

“Chelsea.”

Natawa ako dahil sabay sabay pa silang apat na sumaway sa akin. Sila na talaga ang pinakamabubuting kaibigan. Best friends a person like me could ask for.

“I know. Don’t worry I’m not blaming myself anymore but I’d be lying if I say I’m no longer guilty. I can never forgive myself but I’ll stop blaming myself dahil yun ang gusto niya.” Mahina kong saad

“Sige na. Ihahatid na kita.” Sabi ko at nagpatuloy na kami sa pagpunta sa center. We stopped walking when we reached the hotel.

“Pasok ka?” alok niya at umiling ako.

“Hindi na, Jax. Babalik na ako. I still need to prepare.” I told him and I walked back to our base.

I was blocked by a group of guys. They smirked at me. Here we go again.

“Anong ginagawa ng isang anghel dito?” the guy who is positioned at the middle asked. I sighed and shook my head

“I’m part of the Callous Exam. Talia Go.” I said and fixed my eyeglasses

“Isang nerd? Nagbibiro ka ba?” the guy asked sarcastically

“Don’t hold back.” Lavalee told me so I took out a shuriken from my pocket and threw it.

They didn’t notice what I did so it was too late for them to dodge it.

I continued targetting the critical and vital points that I can see. A little later all of them were lying on the ground, lifeless.

I took my shurikens and looked for a place wher I can cleanse my shurikens. I didn’t fail because I found a fountain on the back of the hotel. I cleaned my shuriken there.

I went back to our building and silently walked up to the security room. I tightened the security and then went to our room. I took a bath and pressed my scar.

According to Jess, it looks like butterfly wings so I didn’t undergo any surgery.

These scars signifies the day I stepped into the dark side. The day I did everything to pull myself away from the hands of death.

I wore a coquelicot t-shirt and a bistre colored pants. I tied my hair in a messy bun.

“Ganda.” Jess commented when I arrived outside the building

“Tara na?” I asked

Lavalee’s not here because Irene and Lavalee chose to stay at the building to stay on guard while we’re out.

“Jebal josimhae, Jess.” I told her and she smiled

(Korean: Please, take care of yourself, Jess.)

“Dangsindo, tallia jasin-eul dolbwajuseyo. Saranghae.” She said and hugged me

(Korean: You too, Talia, take care of yourself. I love you)

“Sweet eh? Sana all may ka-saranghae.” Irene teased from the other line

“Then date that Alpha.” Jess retorted

“Adik mo, Jess! There’s no way I’m dating that police officer. Rules are rules.” She said I remembered what I heard the other day.

Lavalee got her first warning. She didn’t tell us but she’s the most vulnerble right now. The Imperial Council’s eyes are hot on her.

I have a hunch what that could be. It involves Jace and the police officers who are assigned to guard us.

“Natahimik ka, Chels. Bother sharing your thoughts?” Irene asked

“No thanks. Nag-aasaran lang naman kayo so I don’t have to speak.” I said

“GOOD DAY, RFA STUDENTS!” the facilitator announced.

“As you all know, today is Race to Hell. Whoever wins the race, will rank up to the first place. I wonder if our Death Maze Champion Blare Jang really won’t join.” He said

“Racers! Scan your bracelets.” The facilitator anounced so I Jess scanned her, she’s on the 15th rank and we can see Irene’s cover name at the top.

“Looks like Blare really didn’t show up. RACERS! Each of you will be given a chance to get a vehicle here through accomplishing different challenges.” The facilitator said and Jess was lead to a field.

Looks like she’ll be exercising hard today.

“So here is our pointing system! 10 points for every push-up, 20 for every lap and 20 for every curl ups. It’s up to you on how you’ll save up points within an hour. On your positions. GO!” when the honk was heard I saw every participant started to run while Jess started to do some push ups.

While she was doing the push up she was acquiring points faster than those who are actually running so I pressed the side of my eyglasses and I saw why.

How witty of you, Jess. Impressive.

“You saw it too, Chels?” Lavalee asked from the other line

“Affirmative. I saw it too.” I replied and watched the whole event.

Jess was ahead of her fellow participants by 70 points already when she decided to do some curl ups. None of the other participants noticed it because they were busy competing with those who are running with them.

When the time’s already up. Jess acquired a matter of 6,920 points. Quite stamina she has there.

The participants didn’t notice that the oval they run in measures 2km per lap because of the competition so it really took quite their time.

Jess’ POV

“Racers! You can now choose your vehicles. Each vehicle has an equivalent points you must have to use.” The facilitator said.

This is what I call fun! Hindi kasi sila nag-iisip.

They don’t know how to observe and use their minds because they are too competitive and they think highly of themselves just because they belong to the ranks.

Iginala ko ang tingin ko sa mga vehicle and I noticed something. All of the vehicles have a small screen on the top.

I  chose the Tesla roaster that has an equivalence of 5,000 points.

I opened it and my forehead knotted when I saw that there’s no key.

What? How do they think we can race kung walang keys and mga car?

Suddenly a scanner appeared so I scanned my metal bracelet and the car’s engine roared.

COOL! SO our metal bracelets will serve as our keys.

“Racers! On the track.” The facilitator said and we drove to the starting line.

“This race is not you’re ordinary drag race because it will not be that easy. You will face different challenges like the traps and DECEPTION! May you see clearly.” The facilitator said and suddenly I heard a small beep. There’s a phone and a g*n with magazines in here.

“3.”

“2.”

“1.”

*BANG

When we heard the loud gunshot I drove fast and passed the others but I lessen my speed when I saw that the screen on top of our cars are different colors.

I opened the phone with one hand while my other hand is holding the steering wheel and saw that there are different numbers in the contact.

#02

#14

#03

#13

#04

#25

#16

#09

#05

#11

...

What?

I’m confused. I don’t know what the numbers meant so I drove moderately  and I saw a car pass and I saw one of the numbers.

It’s our car numbers!

A car drove beside me and I saw that it’s number #2

I saw my phone beeping so I answered it and saw the same number.

I get it! This is what they meant by deception and see clearly.

Deception because we don’t know if a person is lying or not. Hindi namin alam kung sino ang kakampi at kaaway dahil anytime during the game ay pwede nila kaming ipahamak. And see clearly because we have to shoot targets too.

[Let’s pair up!] I heard her say

“Okay.” Maiksing sagot ko at ibinaba ang bintana.

Another number joined in the call which she accepted.

[Sabihin mo yung color ng akin] the one with the number 19, according to her contact number asked

Napairap naman ako.

Who is she to order me? Duh!

I should be prioritize dahil ako ang pinakamaganda!

“Byzantium.” I replied when I saw the color on the screen

[Adik ka ba? Anong pinagsasabi mo?] asar na tanong niya from the other line

What? Hindi niya alam na color yun?

What kind of mind does she have? Even a toddler knows what a byzantium is!

[Violet.] sagot ni #2

[Makatawag na nga lang sa iba!] Biglang na clear yung #19 kaya kami nalang ang natira ni #2

“What’s mine?” I asked

[Auburn.] she replied and I looked at hers

“Amber.” I replied

Suddenly, the call ended and the track turned into a different color so I went to the red track and shot the targets on the side.

After several laps, only 7 cars we’re left from almost 30 plus participants.

It’s also smoky na rin dahil yung mga hindi nakapunta sa right track on their color nag-explode. Some survived but most of them we’re badly injured.

I’m not surprised, though. This is a test of trust and wittiness. If you’re too gullible you’ll be the first to die and if you’re too doubtful you’ll be the best target.

“What’s mine?” I asked #2

[Pink.] she replied making my forehead knot then suddenly my heart began pounding.

She’s stupid! What did she think?

She thought na maloloko niya ako?

Think again, stupid!

“What shade?” I asked her sternly

[Heliotrope. Bakit mo tinatanong?] she asked and I smirked then raised my window

“You’re is onyx.” I replied then sped ahead of her I went through the track that says VERMILLION

[Black it is.] she replied

May mga nakasulat na label na sa mga track so that you can’t use the alibi that it looked like this, or it looked like that. I applaud the one who made this race track it’s hard and tricky but you’ll be really proud of yourself after seeing this.

I continued and maintained my speed and it made it harder because it’s making my time to figure out the color on my screen and shooting the targets harder. There’s only few laps left and it’s getting more complicated because it’s not just asking the common color but instead it’s asking the shade and the targets are also moving on the opposite direction of where I’m heading and I also need to change magazine.

I’m in deep trouble because I don’t know all the shades. I’m only familiar with the shades of red, orange, yellow and white but the rest nah. That’s also how I knew #2 was lying to me.

It’s impossible na pink ang lumabas dahil it’s following the color spectrum and I realized the pattern in my colors. It’s following the shades of the rainbow, ROYGBV, though indigo’s not included.

I run on the track that show’s the lightest shade of white. Mahirap alamin ang pinagkaiba-iba, added that there’s also daggers and arrows coming from all the sides of the track.

I sped up very fast and almost reached the maximum speed of the tesla roaster and at last I was near the finish line when there was a sharp turn! The one who was in front of me slowed down so I overtake and now I’m leading.

“Jira Han is now leading but she’s near the sharp turn! Will she survive?” I heard the facilitator said

I thought of how I’m going to do this then I tried Lavalee’s move. The one she would always use after overtaking, indolence glide.

I manipulated my steering wheel and my grip is getting harder because of the tension and nervousness I’m feeling.

Oh yeah nakikipaghabulan ako kamatayan tuwing nakikipaglaban but never ako nag risk ng ganito in a drag racing unless si Lavalee ang kalaban. I never won against Lavalee but I can be in par with Irene and Chelsea.

I increased my speed until I’m already driving at the maximum speed. When I crossed the finish line I sighed and wiped my forehead.

“Congratulations, Jess.” I heard Chelsea congratulate me

“Thanks.” I replied

“Gaya gaya ng move but you did great, Jess.” I heard Lavalee commented

“Yeah, thanks. I thought I’m going to die.” I said

“Masamang d**o ka, Jess, You won’t die that easy.” Irene said and I shook my head

I inhaled a large amount of air before exhaling. That was tiring but fun actually.

Pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan halos mabingi ako sa lakas ng ingay. Cheers and claps of congratulations greeted me.

I went up the stage and I was welcomed by the facilitator.

“Congratulations, Ms. Jira Han. You acquired 10,000 points now that you’re on the first rank. We have a question though, why didn’t you join on the first event? Or did you but lost?” the facilitator asked

“I didn’t join because I’m planning a game tactic.” I replied

“Will you join the next challenge too?” he asked so I smiled mischievously while shaking my head and went down the stage I saw that Irene’s cover name went to the second rank.

If Irene’s the one who raced today, she’d win easily. With her tricks I doubt the race would even take about two hours. Good thing Irene doesn’t know what I’m thinking because for sure she’ll tease me endlessly.

“And now for our second event today! THE CHESS OF LUCK! It will commence in an hour so all the participants must register before the event. GOOD DAY, RFA Students.” The facilitator announced and I saw Chelsea stand from her seat and went to the registration area.

“I’m coming to bring foods.” Irene said

“I’ll meet you, tell me when you’re near.” I said and walked out

I walked to a place where I can move unnoticed then a little later Irene arrived. She gave me a bag then left again.

I met up with Chelsea on the place and we ate on the side. It’s already 11:50AM so we’re eating lunch.