Chapter 8: The Fall of the Trenches Boy
The starting line was chaotic. Students were shouting, phones recording every move.
Sam's legs felt like lead. His vision blurred. He stumbled.
Timo ran up beside him.
"Sam! Are you okay?"
Sam tried to speak, but his throat felt dry. His body was weak.
Across the track, Brian's smile grew wider.
"Perfect," he thought. "Just as planned."
Aisha, standing with the other students, frowned. Something didn't feel right.
"Sam!" she shouted. "Wait!"
He tried to lift his head. But before he could take a step, his knees buckled completely.
He fell face-first onto the track.
The crowd gasped. Phones fell. Shouts erupted.
Timo panicked.
"BRO! Stand up!"
Sam groaned. His hands pressed into the ground, but his body refused to obey.
Brian laughed loudly, pointing at him.
"Looks like the trenches boy can't even walk!"
Aisha clenched her fists. Her heart pounded.
She pushed through the crowd. "Sam, are you hurt?"
Sam tried to lift his head. His eyes met hers.
"I… I'm fine," he whispered, but his voice was weak.
Timo shook his head furiously.
"Fine? Bro, you just collapsed!"
Aisha knelt beside him. Her eyes darted to the drink bottle in his hand.
"You didn't—"
She stopped herself. A thought hit her like a lightning bolt: Brian must have tampered with it.
Brian, standing near the finish line, smirked confidently.
He didn't notice Aisha's eyes on him, cold and sharp.
Something had just changed.
Aisha's lips pressed together. She knew she had to act fast, but she wasn't sure what yet.
Timo grabbed Sam's shoulders.
"Sam… you've got to fight this! You can't let him win!"
Sam slowly lifted his head. He blinked against the sunlight.
His body was weak. His mind was dizzy. But one thing remained strong: his determination.
He gritted his teeth.
"No…" he whispered. "I'm not giving up… not today…"
Brian laughed again, thinking the race was over.
But Sam's eyes suddenly sharpened. A spark appeared.
The crowd held its breath.
Something inside Sam refused to accept defeat.
And just when Brian thought he had won…
Sam pushed off the ground.