Bo walks along the cliff edge, as close as he dares with Hana on his shoulders. The street around them fill with people from all across the city as they make their way closer to the center. The day is bright – the sky a brilliant blue streak above them and golden sunlight fills the stone canyon. The smell of street foods drift through the air and the sounds of music and laughter ring across the walls. Colorful flags and streamers hang from every low ceiling and drape between every building. The air buzzes with excitement.
The Never Edge Festival, a week-long celebration that happens twice a year, together with the Never Edge Races - a death defying foot race along the edge of the canyon, and the greatest source of entertainment and money between the canyon walls. Hana's sparkling laugh drifts through the canyon when an acrobat flips past on his hands, twisting through the air, as the siblings make their way through the festival. |
...
Bo wakes up to a fever hot body next to his and the sound of ragged breathing. With rising panic, he lifts his baby sister in his arms and rests his forehead against hers.
Oh no. She's so hot. Her breath comes out in small white puffs, visible even in the rabidly warming room. Her cheeks are flushed and her closed eyes are tight with pain. No. Bo gathers Hana in his arms. She doesn't wake up. He wraps her in a thin blanket and runs out the door. |
...
Bo stands in front of the Boss; the man who controlled nearly all criminal activity in the canyon, and the only one who could possibly help him now.
Head lowered, Bo describes his sister's condition, the medicine she needs, what it will cost, and what he's prepared to do. “Anything,” he says, voice trembling, “Please.” He falls to his knees. “There is something that might work...” The Boss replies. "... the Race is in a few days.” He doesn't need to say more. Bo understands. The Race. How could he have forgotten? Somehow in his desperate state he had failed to see an answer that was right before his eyes. The Never Edge Race. The Death Race. The single biggest source of black market gambling in the Canyon. Racers often died - Hana had made him promise that he'd never get desperate enough to enter, as tempting as the money would be. But in Bo's mind he didn't have a choice. If it was between his life or his sister's the answer would always be her. “I'll do it.” The Boss levels his gaze at Bo, “The prize money for first place alone isn't enough – you'll have to collect the winning bets. My people will be placing our money on your win. If you win, you'll have enough. Understand?” Bo takes a deep breath, getting to his feet, energy humming in his veins. He nods. The boss looks him in the eye. “Can you win?” Bo holds the crime Boss's eyes. “YES.” |
Bo takes off, the sound of the gunshot still echoing through the canyon walls. He bare feet fly across the hot dirt; his arms slice through the air. Around him, the other racers are vicious, pushing and shoving each other forward, each of them desperate to win.
The group of a dozen racers can only barely fit on the track; some are forced to fall back as the group approaches the first narrow ledge, Bo along with them. 8th place. The path widens. He pushes forwards, overtaking the boy in front of him and dodging a hard shove meant to send him over the edge. 7th place. He's still mid-pack, but he's not worried. There's still time. Bo's breath comes out in controlled puffs - he isn't winded yet. His body is built for this. All his years on the streets, racing the canyon walls and buildings, had made him strong. He slices through the air with nearly no resistance. A sharp curve in the path causes the boys in front of him to slow down. Bo speeds up, taking the corner at nearly top speed. He takes a few jumping leaps off the opposite wall to correct his momentum. 5th place. He can see the leading pack. A quick lithe red haired boy is in second place, a few steps behind a large boy with a furious pace. They shove against each other as they round another bend in the path. Bo forces all thoughts from his head. No mind. Only body. Balance. Breathe. Foot strike. Breathe. Pump arms. The path around him starts to crumble, become thinner and more precarious. Again, the boys around him slow. Bo does not. He eyes the side of the canyon wall – noting the notches and holds. Up ahead the boys have slowed considerably, jumping lightly between the few patches of solid ground – trying to knock each other off balance. Bo vaults up the side of the wall – his toes finding notches, allowing him to sail over the path. He can barely keep his momentum long enough before finally drops back down, rolling to break his fall, and flowing easily back to running. 3rd place. Up ahead, the path takes a sharp turn around the corner, and then continues on the other side. The two boys in front of him turn the corner – but Bo eyes the distance. He takes a deep breath and starts to pump his legs faster. Faster. He leaps across the gap. His legs pin wheel through the air until he slams back down – rolling with his momentum – just ahead of the two leads who each wear twin expressions of shock. 1st place. Now he just has to hold it. Keep as much distance between him and the rest as possible. Keep running. Stay ahead. Feet pound behind him and Bo risks a glance back. The furious one. Gaining on him. Ahead is another turn in the path, another jump he could take. He pushes himself. Faster. Must widen the distance. He takes the jump. |
And falls. His foot slips against the rock and he goes down, his fingers barely gripping the edge of the cliff. Above him the boy lands perfectly and continues running. NO!!
Bo wastes precious seconds staring after his retreating back before another body slams into him, nearly knocks him loose, before sliding down the wall. Bo catches a flash of red hair. The boy lands twenty feet below Bo – holding on by the tips of his fingers. He looks up, his previously arrogant face showing only blank terror. Bo stares into his eyes – wasting more time. Get up. Run. For Hana. But he can't look away from those eyes. Blue. Like Hana's. Bo lets go of his grip, sliding down the cliff face – rocketing faster by vaulting off the narrowing sides. He reaches the boy seconds before his hands slip. Feet braced on either side of the narrow walls, Bo holds the other racer over empty space. With a roar of effort Bo pulls him up – enough for him to grab the ledge and pull himself onto a stable portion jutting out of the cliff face. They both breath hard. Bo glances up to the cliff edge above him. It seems to get farther away and he grits his teeth in frustration. Hana... |
The red haired boy catches Bo's eye, takes a deep breath and braces himself against the wall, cups his hands and shouts, “Go!”
Bo wastes no more time. He places his foot in the offered step and the other racer catapults him upward. He grabs the jutting edge of rock and he claws himself up the rest of the cliff. He jumps over the edge, his feet already moving as he hits the ground. He doesn't bother looking back. Last place. He runs. |
Faster. Faster. Faster. Bo's bare toes tear into the rocky earth. His arms pump through the air. His fingers claw at the wind. He flings himself headlong around tight corners, jumps across wide chasms. He ducks between, above and over racers. 10th place. 8th. 7th. 6th.
The halfway mark comes into view – a narrow part in the canyon where the distance between either side is wide enough to jump across. The finish line is on the other side. Bo continues running towards the gap – he takes a running leap off the side of the wall, over the head of another runner. 5th place. He weaves and dodges between another pack. 4th place. He ducks an elbow shoved in his face. 3rd place. Bo leaps across a smaller gap – landing on the other side of the canyon a few inches ahead of another racer. 2nd place. Ahead of him, Bo can see the last boy sprinting ahead. He pushes himself harder – gaining more speed. Faster. Faster. Bo cuts every corner – pushing himself dangerously fast on the thin path. He jumps over every obstacle. He can't slow. The distance is closing but not fast enough. He has to win. Faster. Faster. For Hana. Hana. Hana. He chants her name. Bo sees a sharp turn ahead in the path – another chance to jump and close the distance – if the boy decides to take the safer route and turn the corner. But the other boy plows ahead, sailing over the gap. Bo leaps off the edge, seconds behind. He flies through the air. And lands, feet stinging. He needs another chance to close the gap. Shorten the distance. As he rounds a corner the finish line comes into view on the other side of the canyon. The first racer is still several yards ahead, nearing the final jump. And – there. Bo sees his chance. A protruding ledge– yards ahead of the other. The height difference between the ledge and the opposite path is too great -but if Bo could jump far enough, he could land on a thin ledge running parallel above the main path – he follows it with his eyes, mentally tracing a the route. It could work. Bo takes deep breaths. His mind focuses. The world fades away. Hana. His baby sister. He approaches the edge. And leaps. The wind whips past his ears. The crown roars. The canyon floor below him blurs. He flies. |
Bo crashes onto the narrow ledge, his momentum slamming him against the rock wall. He pushes off and turns in one movement. He runs.
He's above the boy – who doesn't notice him. The top path is small, thin and Bo uses every ounce of his skill to keep moving along its edge. The finish line approaches. Bo passes the other runner. 1st place. The ledge he's running on thins and disappears. Bo drops. He lands in front of the other racer. Bo doesn't see his face. His entire attention is on the line. Crossing the line. His lungs ache. His arms tremble. His hands tear at the air. His vision blurs, he has to be fast enough. Faster. Faster. Faster. The crowd screams. |