Chapter 251
At the referee's signal, all racers shot forward like arrows loosed from a bowstring. Kellan's gaze shifted to Allison, who surged alongside him with fierce determination. He hadn't pegged her as someone who enjoyed the thrill of speed, but remembering the night she effortlessly pointed a gun at him, he realized Allison was anything but predictable. She was exhilarating, like the rush of wind on a speeding track, full of surprises.
At that moment, Allison's attention was entirely on the race. The cold wind whipped past her ears as she leaned into the speed. It wasn't just the competition that thrilled her; it was the velocity itself. Her eyes locked on the mysterious figure racing ahead, and she muttered, "Is he trying to confuse us?" Allison wasn't fooled. As an endurance racer, she knew the real sprint didn't begin until the final laps. Travis's early lead signaled a strategy—one designed to trick others into burning out too soon.
In no time, she matched his pace, her movements fluid and relentless. The crowd watched, stunned, as they quickly left the pack far behind. "What in the world? Is someone keeping up with Travis? Are they even human? It's already the third lap, and they're still this fast! Oh, look! That girl—she's about to overtake him!" Colton's expression shifted to shock, his mouth parting in disbelief. "Whathow is that even possible?" It defied all logic. Typically, skaters conserved energy for the final burst, but Allison and Travis were defying every rule. If this was a plan, Allison's pace was outrageous.
Grinding his teeth, Colton shook his head. He had expected her to burn out before the final laps and fall behind. Kellan, catching sight of Allison's bright red suit flashing nearby, smiled. He increased his speed, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It had been years since he'd felt this kind of competitive fire. Allison wasn't just fast; she was highly trained. He wondered what other surprises she held.
By the fourth lap, she was even with Travis, but something felt wrong. A frown creased her brow as she noticed two skaters closing in from either side. If she tried to evade them, she'd crash into the advertising board. Speed skating was ruthless; one mistake could send her flying, risking injury or worse. Allison's instincts kicked in. "Don't even think about breaking the rules!" she snapped. But they weren't listening; if anything, they sped up, their intentions clearer than ever. They weren't here to race; they were here to take her out.
Kellan noticed the shift in the two competitors. Something was definitely wrong. This wasn't just aggressive skating. Why would two random skaters target Allison so blatantly? They didn't know her, and there was no pre-existing tension. Without hesitation, Kellan closed in, ready to remove the rule-breakers if necessary. But Allison, sharp and quick, didn't wait for help. She deftly maneuvered out of the trap. Stopping suddenly would have been suicide; the only option was to push forward—faster.
In a breathtaking display of speed, Allison accelerated, leaving her would-be attackers and the rest of the competition in her dust. The crowd gasped, their excitement palpable. "Is she a professional? At this rate, she could take on the Olympics! I never thought I'd see the day Travis gets left in the dust by a newcomer! But hold onsomething's not right. The refs are heading over! Look! It's those two skaters—they're breaking the rules on purpose!"
The first skater accelerated sharply, aiming to collide with Allison. The second cut in from the side, blocking any exit. It didn't matter if she slowed down or sped up; a crash was inevitable. They were doing this on purpose! This wasn't about knocking her out of the race; they wanted her gone—maybe even dead.
A familiar paranoia pricked at her. Could these men be tied to the assassins she'd faced in the Burned Islands? But no, those people wouldn't resort to such clumsy tactics.
In a split-second decision, Allison surged forward, weaving impossibly between the two skaters, disrupting their formation. Travis, as if reading her mind, accelerated, cutting off their attempt to follow. The two saboteurs, thrown off balance, collided with each other and crashed into the advertising boards, sending a loud crash through the arena. The crowd erupted in disbelief.