Page 80 of Runner 13
The door, to my surprise, isn’t locked. It swings open with an ease that makes me scared, not relieved.
Suddenly I don’t want to go inside.
I take a deep breath. Step into the darkness. Fumble at the edge of the door for some kind of switch. My fingers find one and the light flickers on.
‘Oh shit,’ I say.
The trailer is completely empty.
33
Stella
Seven years earlier
Ibiza
‘Another glass?’
Kacey – or is it Keri? I can’t remember – waves the bottle at me from across the dining table, her black-dyed hair let loose from its ponytail for once. My cheeks already feel like they’re on fire and I know there’s an unsightly blush spread over my neck and chest, but it always happens to me after a few glasses of champagne. A few more and it goes away again. Better to push through.
‘Please.’
She grins and tops me up.
I smile back, clinking her glass. For most of the group this is their last night. They don’t know that Glenn has invited Yasmin to stay for extra coaching. They’re not the chosen ones. They’re not stuck here for a few more days.
Neither am I – not that Yasmin knows that yet. But if she’s going to ditch our vacation plans, I’m not going to feel any guilt. My flight leaves early in the morning, but what the hell? I need to do what I want for a change.
I knock back the fizz, then hold out my glass again for a top-up.
Yasmin’s sitting across from me between Coach Glennand Adrienne. She’s glowing in the soft fairy-light flicker of the restaurant terrace. The patio juts out over the water, waves crashing beneath our feet. An idyllic setting.
Glenn leans forward. ‘Tell me something, Stella. Has your dad ever spoken about an “ultimate race”?’ He uses his fingers to shape air quotes around the phrase. As always, he answers the question himself before waiting for me. ‘I heard him in a rare interview saying that’s his grand plan. To host the race to end all races – the one to truly test what humans are capable of. Any idea when he’s planning it?’
‘Where did you hear that? From the Boonesdogs or whatever they call themselves?’
‘Well, is it true?’ Glenn probes.
‘No clue. I’m sceptical. Boones wants every race he hosts to be the greatest test. He always wants to know what people are capable of enduring. Already he’s gone too far, and people have been hurt.’
‘Not on purpose, though,’ Yasmin adds.
I shrug. ‘I mean, he’s not going to set the trail on fire or anything but he expects people to take responsibility for their own actions and choices. That’s important to him. You enter one of his races, that’s your choice. You shouldn’t expect to be rescued if you need it, like if the weather turns on you or you get lost while navigating.’ I take another gulp of champagne.
‘So no “ultimate test” then. Big & Dark is as hard as it’s going to get.’ Glenn’s voice is full of scepticism.
‘Like I said, you’d have to ask him.’
‘Can’t you? You’re his daughter, after all.’
‘Is that supposed to mean something?’
‘It should. Children should keep in touch with their parents.’
‘How would you know?’
I must have touched a nerve. His eyes glint with anger but he laughs to cover it. ‘No matter. Big & Dark is our target. We’ll be ready for whatever Boones will throw at us. Right, ladies?’ He raises his glass, clinks it against Yasmin’s, then reaches across her to the other women.
