Chapter 5 Chapter 5: The Globe of Death

Mary's warning kept haunting my thoughts.

Bruno had sabotaged Ferdinand's motorcycle.

It wasn't an empty threat or an attempt to frighten him during the competition.

If that information was true, the man who had caught my attention from the very first moment was about to enter a structure where any malfunction could cost him his life.

We had to do something.

The problem was Bruno.

He was close enough to notice any suspicious movement, and after what had happened earlier, I had no doubt he was looking for an excuse to take his anger out on me.

"We have to warn Ferdinand," I whispered.

"I know. We just need to find a way to reach him without your husband noticing," Mary replied, quickly glancing in Bruno's direction.

The competitors were preparing for the next round. Ferdinand was among them, talking to the other riders as if nothing were wrong.

He had no idea someone had tampered with his motorcycle.

Mary tried to approach him, but Bruno stepped into her path. He was talking to one of the group members, his arms crossed and his expression grim.

My friend changed direction, pretending to look for something among the people.

I also tried to get Ferdinand's attention, waving my hands desperately.

He looked in our direction for a few seconds. My heart raced.

I tried pointing toward his motorcycle, but I didn't know if he understood.

Before I could repeat the gesture, an event staff member called him over to line up with the other competitors.

"He didn't notice," I murmured.

"I'll try something else."

Mary headed toward the judges' area. I thought we'd finally found a solution, but when she got close to the table, she stopped.

I saw her shoulders stiffen. She looked at Bruno, then at me. Mary was afraid. She returned without speaking to anyone.

"Why didn't you tell them?" I asked, trying to keep my voice under control.

"Because he's watching us. If I report it and Bruno finds out it was me, you could end up paying for it too."

"But Ferdinand could die!"

"I know, Cristina." She squeezed my hand tightly. "I know."

There was no time to argue.

The organizers began announcing the final round, and the crowd responded with cheers and applause.

The metal structure of the Globe of Death looked even larger up close. It was an iron sphere made of bars, with an opening on one side.

Bruno walked toward his motorcycle. Before putting on his helmet, he glanced in our direction.

My stomach tightened.

He looked pleased, as if he already knew the outcome of the competition.

He simply gave a crooked smile and turned his attention back to the track.

"Don't look at him," Mary whispered. "Don't let him notice."

Ferdinand approached the entrance to the Globe. The fluorescent green of his Harley stood out among the other motorcycles.

I wanted to run over to him, tell him everything, and beg him to withdraw, but the security guards and the crowd made it impossible to get close.

The announcer declared the start of the competition.

The three finalists I was most worried about were there: Ferdinand, Bruno, and competitor number 009, Nicholas.

Two other riders completed the group. All five waited for the signal to enter.

The five motorcyclists went inside. Once the last bike had crossed the entrance, the crew closed the access point and moved away. Then the engines roared.

The motorcycles began circling inside the sphere. At first, they moved at a moderate speed, as if the riders were measuring the space and calculating each other's movements.

Then they accelerated.

The sound of the engines mingled with the crowd's shouts, and the motorcycles began crossing the metal grid at different heights.

I could barely breathe.

"How can they do that?"

"I don't know. And I don't want to find out," Mary replied.

One motorcycle climbed along the side while another crossed the lower section.

For a few seconds, their movements seemed coordinated. Then everything happened far too quickly.

Two riders approached from the same side. One tried to change direction, but couldn't avoid the collision.

The impact produced a metallic crash that made the crowd scream.

The motorcycles lost their balance, and both riders fell.

"My God!" I screamed in desperation when I saw the accident.

The staff rushed toward the entrance.

The competition was temporarily stopped, and the crew went inside to remove the injured riders.

I tried to see through the bars, but there were too many people standing in front of us.

One of the men was carried away, supported by two staff members. The other didn't seem able to get up on his own.

"Do you think they're alive?" I asked.

"They'll take care of them. Look at the ones still inside," Mary said.

The competition continued. Ferdinand, Bruno, and Nicholas remained inside the Globe, along with the other rider who hadn't fallen.

Now only three remained: Ferdinand, Bruno, and Nicholas, competitor number 009.

The engines accelerated again. The riders resumed their maneuvers, now with less room and even greater caution.

Each lap seemed more dangerous than the last.

Ferdinand passed close to the upper section of the grid, and my entire body leaned forward as if I could protect him through the power of my thoughts alone.

Bruno came right after him. His motorcycle crossed Ferdinand's path for a moment.

I held my breath, expecting another collision, but the two managed to move apart.

"He's trying to get close to him," I said.

Mary didn't answer. Her eyes followed every movement, and her hand tightened around my arm.

The roar of the engines seemed to announce a tragedy that was about to happen.

With every turn, I imagined Ferdinand's motorcycle failing, losing power, or slipping out of control.

If Bruno had really sabotaged that bike, we didn't know when the defect would appear.

Maybe it was already happening.

Maybe Ferdinand was struggling to maintain his balance without understanding why.

"This is going to end badly," I murmured.

"Don't say that."

"Mary, I think this is going to be the end for that rider."

"We can't do anything else now. Just... just wait."

But I couldn't wait. The noise inside the structure grew even louder.

One motorcycle passed so close to another against the metal grid that the crowd let out a collective scream.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push away the image of Ferdinand falling.

When I opened them, he was still moving.

That small confirmation brought no relief. On the contrary, it made my fear grow.

I knew I couldn't keep watching.

Every second felt like an eternity, and my hands were so cold I could barely feel my own fingers.

Then came an enormous crash.

The impact echoed through the venue and seemed to silence even the crowd.

Some people screamed. Others jumped to their feet all at once, blocking my view. I covered my face with my hands and squeezed my eyes shut.

"No," I whispered. "No, please..."

Mary was beside me, but I couldn't hear her response. I tried to breathe, but the air seemed trapped in my chest.

I didn't want to look. I didn't want to see anyone else lying on the ground, especially not Ferdinand.

I also didn't want to discover that Bruno had managed to turn a competition into a death sentence.

"What happened, Mary?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I don't want to look. Tell me... did someone die?"

For a few seconds, she didn't answer.

"Mary?"

I felt her fingers tighten around my shoulder. When she finally spoke, her voice came out low, almost breathless.

"My God, Cristina. You don't want to see this. Two more motorcycles have collided."