Chapter 12

In the evening of the first day, I gathered with my friends in our room to discuss our strategy for the relay race tomorrow. We needed to decide on the distance each of us would run. After some deliberation, we settled on a plan: Jenny would start with the first kilometer, followed by Tom, then Alexa, and finally Karl. I would take on the anchor position and run the remaining distance.

Feeling a strong connection with my teammates, I invited them to join me for a night walk. We strolled to an open space in the organization, where we gazed at the sky filled with shimmering stars. The tranquility of the moment brought a sense of peace, and we couldn't help but laugh and enjoy each other's company.

The night passed with a calm sleep, and in the morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. After waking my friends, we all had breakfast together. I took a moment to inspect the track field, knowing that preparation was key.

The clock struck 9:30, and we headed to our respective positions for the relay race. As I made my way, I noticed Anna standing at the starting point. She tossed a sports drink towards me, saying nothing more than "For you." I took it, unsure of her intentions, and proceeded to my position.

At 10:00, the race began, and my teammates and I ran with determination. Jenny followed my advice to keep a steady pace and stay in the last five positions until the final 100 meters.

Next was Alexa's turn, and she ran alongside another athletic girl named Emmy. Their friendly rivalry made the race all the more amusing to watch. As I monitored their progress on the big screen, I suddenly felt a bit dizzy. Blinking to clear my vision, I tried to shake off the sensation.

As Alexa handed the baton to Karl, the race continued, and a new competition unfolded between Karl and Jazz. Their past rivalry added spice to the race, and I couldn't help but smile at their determination.

When Karl passed the baton to me, I felt a strange constriction in my abilities. I realized what was happening – someone had slipped a drug into my sports drink, likely trying to level the playing field against me. The realization hit me – it must be Anna, now the head of the organization.

Despite the drug's effects, I knew how to mitigate its impact, but time was of the essence. I had to complete this race within twenty minutes or risk collapsing. I took a deep breath and focused on pushing through the challenges ahead.

As I ran, the constriction was evident, but I refused to be defeated. I had trained hard for this moment, and I wasn't going to let anyone stop me. My determination soared, and I kept pushing, knowing that my team was relying on me to bring us to victory.

With each step, the finish line drew nearer, and I gave it my all. I could see my teammates cheering me on, and that fueled my determination further. Finally, as I crossed the finish line, I felt a mixture of exhaustion and accomplishment. We had secured our position, and I couldn't be prouder of my team.

Despite the challenges thrown our way, we had faced them together, and that unity was our greatest strength. As I caught my breath, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends and teammates who had stood by my side. The competition was far from over, but together, we would face whatever came our way.

In the race, I realized my situation was dire, and I needed to reduce the effects of the drug quickly. I took off my ring and bit it between my teeth while punching my head as hard as I could. The pain diverted my brain's focus from the drug, and the teeth-biting helped lessen its impact.

Despite my efforts, the drug still took its toll. Max was now ahead of me, and Michelle, from my school, was in the lead. Determined to push forward, I increased my pace, running with all my might. My speed left everyone shocked, and I saw the surprise on their faces.

As Max and I neared the finishing line, I felt my vision blacking out, but I refused to give up. We both raced towards the end, the victory within reach. However, the drug was taking its toll on my body, and I collapsed just milliseconds after crossing the finish line. The cheers from the crowd faded as I lost consciousness.

When I woke up in my room, Karl was there, worried and asking questions. He told me that I had won the race by a narrow margin but had collapsed right after crossing the finish line.

My memory was hazy, but I thanked Karl for filling me in. As I lay there, I couldn't help but marvel at the unity and strength of our team. We had faced challenges together, and the trust we had in each other had led us to victory.

Though the competition was far from over, I knew we could face anything that came our way. Our bond was unbreakable, and with that, I closed my eyes and rested, ready to face whatever the organization threw at us next.