The Rotting Flesh Book 1: Escatology
Chapter 3: The Tournament

"Hey man I'm headed to work don't forget to leave the keys with Mrs Wilson on your way out" Tristan said as he took his flash from the table

"You know for a receptionist you sure do overdress" Tommy teased his brother who was wearing a black expensive looking suit, a silver Rolex wrist watch and shiny black shoes.

"Soon to be accountant bro stop hating" replied Tris boasting

"Whatever man I'm going to chill and go out later, today is the big day" replied Tom

"Okay I love you man" said Tris

"Argg noo man don't do that what is wrong with you" Tom said irritated by his brother's words

"Get used to it I'm not afraid to show my love like you" said Tris defending himself "bye man see you later" he said and left the house

"Tris sometimes you can be one hell of a creep" he said and sighed lying back into the couch

He stayed for a few more minutes then took his gear and left for the tournament. He passed by Mrs Wilson's house on his way and dropped the keys off.

Tom twisted the right throttle grip and his bike roared. He was so nervous he could hear his heart beating in his chest. This tournament would decide the direction in which his life would go from there. All that clouded his mind was his brother's voice telling him dirt biking was not career for responsible people any child would want his father to do, it had no me he said. Winning this tournament was going to help him prove his brother wrong so losing was not an option.

He twisted the throttle once more preparing for the gunshot. He had a red tracker dirt bike 2015 model which he had been given on his birthday by his late uncle. He wore a complete Fox motor cross gear which consisted a red jersey which was complimented by a neck brace and an adult roost deflector for extra chest protection. A red flex air union pant with sheen pads on the knees was what he wore at the bottom and completing his outfit were his red and royal blue Fox Instinct boots.

"Alright ladies and gentleman...... and bikers this race decides who goes and who stays so make it count" the master of ceremony Jonathan yelled through the speakers

There were thousands of people watching. The young and the old all were here to witness this great event. People from all over the country had come, Cyna motor cross was fortunate to be hosting the 2020 Motor cross tournaments which were held once in five years. It had taken a lot for Thomas to get to where he is, in order for someone to qualify they had to have won all the smaller dirt leagues held in Cyna region and he had managed to accomplish it all and was the one representing his region. There was one biker from each region making the total racers 10. In order to proceed to the International dirt bike races you had to come out number 1,2 or 3.

"On your marks" Jonathan said and there was utter silence "Get set"

There was a short pause and the gun was shot. The bikers took off into the valley of bumps, lumps and a lot of dirt. Tom started out on number eight and slowly made his way to the top three. The race was intense for him because five of the people he was racing with were trained by the best since they were related to some racers who had made it to the international games. At number one was Ryan Grey known by the title Lord Ryan, he was the younger brother of motor cross champion Shane Grey then behind him was Nicholas Cash then finally Thomas Staedler. The trio had already created a great gap between them and the rest of the racers.

Thomas rode extremely fast and was slowly gaining on number two. He surpassed Nicholas and was tailing Ryan

"Look at him go people, Thomas Staed people Cyna's racer" Jonathan said with so much joy in his voice

Multitudes cheered for him which made chills go down his spine, he did not want to disappoint them. He caught up to Ryan and they were left with one turn. It was a tie as their bikes raced at maximum speed. The turn was a sharp curve which was of Thomas' weaknesses. They hit the curve and Thomas lost his speed making Ryan go in front then Nicholas and from out of nowhere Tricia from the Mikirei region female racer. People's cheering reduced and there was silence on the Cyna region's side. Now he was on number four as they faced the finish line. One more hill and the race is over. Thomas cranked his throttles and increased his speed until he clocked his guage. He passed Tricia and went up the hill into the air.

The only way he was going to win this was by performing a stunt which killed over 10 bikers and injured over 20, the Devil's throw. He threw his bike forward holding on to the throttles, horror filled the faces of everyone watching. It was like had slowed down for Tom, it was a do or die and any wrong move was going to end him. The bike pulled him since he was holding on to it boosting him with 10 meters causing him to pass Nickolas and Ryan in mid air. The landing was what killed many, so what would be the point of winning if you are dead. As his bike began to descend he pulled himself to it and sat just as it hit the ground. It bounced past the finishing line and it lost balance, for a moment he saw his life flash before his eye just before he was thrown of the bike by the landing force. It went and crushed in another direction as his body flew and tumbled elsewhere. Silence prevailed as people looked at Tom's body which lay a hundred meters from the finishing line. The camera moved to him and he was on the big screen lying face down. As the ambulance was being started and medics rushing to where he was, he slowly lifted his right hand up and made a thumbs up. People roared with joy cheering for him including the ones he raced with.

The medics ran to him with a stretcher and he stood up on his own. Fans rushed from the terraces and lifted him up cheering his name.

"Give it up for Thomas Staed the one and only DIABLO" Jonathan yelled and everyone began chanting Diablo which seemed to officially become his biker name from that moment as Thomas went to get his medal and price money.