Chapter 14 The Flying Explorer
The mountain road entrance was crowded with expensive SUVs and people dressed in designer outdoor gear. Chase's friends formed a tight circle around him as I approached with Sterling Huxley.
The stunning blonde draped over Chase's arm looked me up and down. "Another girl trying to get Chase's attention? God, your technique is pathetic."
"This isn't the fat kid camping area," a guy added with disgust. "Leave before you embarrass yourself."
A guy stepped forward. "Look, maybe this isn't—"
"Sterling, let her stay," Chase interrupted, pushing the brunette away slightly. "I'm curious what she thinks she can do."
Chase turned to me. "I'll still give you the twenty-second head start as promised. Though it won't make much difference."
"I don't need your charity," I replied evenly. "Let's race fair and square."
Chase laughed, his friends joining in. "Suit yourself. Your funeral."
He looked me up and down with contempt. "Just getting your fat ass into that Explorer was probably a workout. Don't cry when you lose."
I kept my face neutral, but inwardly I was coldly amused. I'd outdriven military pursuit vehicles through mountain passes much more treacherous than this.
At the starting line, Sterling Huxley stood between our vehicles.
"The rules are simple," he announced. "Follow the marked trail through the mountain range. Six checkpoints must be passed, and the first to reach the summit campsite wins."
"Jade goes first," Chase called out. "Give her the twenty-second head start. She'll need it."
The crowd laughed. My rental Explorer looked pathetic next to Chase's vehicle with its massive off-road tires, custom suspension, and powerful engine.
"She's going to flip that thing in the first gully," someone muttered.
The Uber driver who'd dropped me earlier leaned against his car. "I'm putting twenty bucks on her," he called out. "Just for her guts alone."
I slid behind the wheel and took a deep breath. Sterling raised his arm, then dropped it. "Go!"
I punched the gas and the Explorer lurched forward. Twenty seconds wasn't much considering Chase's vehicle advantages, but I'd worked with worse odds.
The mountain path quickly turned treacherous. I kept the Explorer in a lower gear while navigating the difficult terrain.
In my rearview mirror, I saw Chase's Wrangler burst from the starting line, closing the gap quickly. He caught up within minutes, his Jeep effortlessly powering over obstacles. He pulled alongside me, the blonde now in his passenger seat blowing me a mocking kiss as they passed.
Chase's driving was good—confident and aggressive. But I'd driven getaway vehicles through active war zones. This was practically a Sunday drive.
Half a mile ahead lay the first major obstacle—a river crossing that recent rains had turned into a churning flow. Chase approached cautiously, choosing a narrow section where the water ran relatively clear.
Instead of following, I veered toward a deeper section. The blonde in Chase's passenger seat pointed at me, laughing at what seemed like a terrible decision.
I hit the water at the perfect angle. Water splashed over my hood as I maintained steady throttle.
"She's going to get swept away!" someone shouted.
For a moment, the current pushed against the Explorer's side, threatening to flip it. Even Chase paused on the opposite bank, concern briefly replacing his arrogance.
I adjusted the wheel with micro-movements. The Explorer lurched sideways, then began to tilt alarmingly.
Just as the tilt approached the point of no return, the front tires found the submerged exit ramp I'd spotted. With a surge of power, the Explorer climbed out ahead of Chase, water cascading from its undercarriage.
The next section featured a steep climb up loose shale. Chase was right behind me, his superior vehicle closing the gap again. He tried to pass on a hairpin turn, but I blocked him.
"Get out of the way!" Chase shouted, his face contorted with frustration.
Chase accelerated hard, bringing his Jeep alongside mine. As we approached the next turn, he deliberately edged closer, his bumper scraping against my door.
"Chase! Slow down!" The blonde's panicked voice carried through their open windows. "This is too dangerous!"
I held my line, refusing to be intimidated. When he tried to force me toward the edge, I tapped my brakes just enough to make him miss the optimal turn-in point.
The path widened into a muddy plateau, giving Chase the opportunity to pull ahead. His Jeep's tires were made for this terrain, while my Explorer struggled for traction.
Chase extended his lead, navigating through the mud with ease. In my mirror, I could see him flashing a triumphant grin.
As we approached the final stretch, the trail narrowed dramatically into a single-file path with a steep drop on one side and a rock face on the other. Chase reached it first, effectively blocking any chance of passing.
Instead of following Chase into the bottleneck, I suddenly swerved toward what appeared to be a dead end. But I'd spotted a natural ramp formed by erosion, angled just right against a rock outcropping.
I floored it, pushing the Explorer to its limits as I aimed for the ramp. The engine screamed in protest as the speedometer climbed.
Then, suddenly, I was airborne.
The Explorer sailed through the air, directly over Chase's Jeep. For a fraction of a second, our eyes met—his expression pure shock as my vehicle passed overhead.
The landing was rough but controlled. The Explorer slammed down on all four wheels, and I accelerated immediately toward the finish line.
I crossed the finish line and executed a perfect handbrake turn, spinning the Explorer to face the path just as Chase's Jeep emerged. Dust swirled around me as I stepped out.
Total silence greeted me. Every jaw had dropped. Sterling Huxley and the gathered students stared in disbelief.
"What the fuck?!" Sterling finally broke the silence.
Chase jumped out, face flushed with rage and disbelief. "That was—that was—" he spluttered, unable to form coherent words.
"Impossible," someone whispered. "She is flying."