A Broken Promise

“You can’t — You can’t do this!” Ginger panted in defiance as she rushed after the race manager.

“You can’t! You gave me your word. Mallo! Mallo, tell him!”

The ork, troubled by the whole affair and even more so by her friend’s distress, caught up to the pair as she continued fixing her suit tie. “Sir, you should reconsider,” she reasoned far more calmly than the red head jogging to keep up. “You promised Miss Hazard a spot in today’s race two months ago.”

“I recall the discussion, Miss Mallo,” the elf responded as he turned down the hall that led them towards the B-class racing garages. “I also own Gig Harbor. Plans change.”

“Mr. Carro, this isn’t a hand shake. You signed the girl’s contract!”

“You can’t renege on me!” Ginger spat. “Do you know how long I’ve worked for this?!”

“I am all too aware.”

“You can’t keep me from this race!”

Mr. Carro shot an irritated glance out of the corner of his eye. “Miss Hazard, when the second largest syndicate in Seattle tells you to rearrange the roster you don’t–“

“You tell THEM NO!”

Ginger’s furious shout still echoed down the corridor as a garage door three stalls down rolled open with a clatter. The stall sign ‘1378’ flickered to life, and four thugs strolled out, one a raceway security guard, and the other three wearing Koshari Syndicate colors.

Mallo’s tusks protruded as her lip curled in a silent snarl. She reached for Ginger but the young woman had moved beyond her reach.

“G-Gin — Gin!”

Ginger sprinted past Mallo and Carro, and past the gangsters to skid into her garage. The sight that awaited her made her heart drop, and sickening burn crawled up from her gut.

“Wha… what….” Words of rage and despair caught in the back of her throat. Gin stumbled in, only to drop to her knees in the puddle of engine oil that shone red in the neon lights.

Mallo stopped beneath the door. Her shoulders sagged. “Oh… Gin, honey….”

Mister Carro adjusted a pair of spectacles over his nose as he paused behind the ork. “Hmm. A shame. One cannot race without a bike. Perhaps another time, then.”