Pitbabe S2, Chapter 20 pg 5

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 20 pg 5

   “And I know some of you might think this could be staged, that Jinny might be my niece hired to act and fool everyone. So, what happened was just a test round. Since you all took the time to come here, it wouldn’t be fair to let Jinny have all the fun.”

   The crowd buzzed with chatter the moment I finished that sentence. They weren’t the only ones excited—I was standing on stage feeling just as thrilled. This wasn’t about giving a speech or showing off minor senses like before. This would be the first time I’d create an illusion to control the perception of hundreds of people at once.

   I’d never done it before, but I was confident it would work.

   “It’s similar to what Jinny experienced. For those who want to try, I ask you to close your eyes. Don’t think about anything—just let your mind go blank, let your body relax. That’s all. Leave the rest to me.”

   Everyone closed their eyes as I instructed—Jinny and her brother, even Jeff, my little brother, and our crew all followed suit. The atmosphere fell silent again, leaving only me with my eyes open. I took a slow, deep breath and exhaled, repeating this three times. Then, I let the energy coursing through my body take over. I could feel it surging from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head and back down again. The crowd’s reactions began to shift. They grew calmer, as if letting their spirits drift out of their bodies. No thinking, no doubting, no shock—just silence, still at work.

   I was the last to close my eyes. Closing my eyes in the real world meant opening them in the world of imagination. I was still standing on the stage, and the same group of people was gathered in front of me, but our surroundings had changed. We were in a vast, blindingly white space—no trees, no grass, no bizarre sculptures, no dirt, no sky. Just a radiant white enveloping us all. Everyone looked around, confused, asking each other, “Do you see this too?” “Where are we?” “How is this possible?” or even, “Is this an illusion?”

   I didn’t plan to explain anything, letting them experience the illusion themselves without any guidance. After a moment, I decided to add a small twist. I subtly flipped my hand, which had been resting naturally by my side. Instantly, the pristine white transformed into pitch black. It was as if we were standing in the middle of vast space, seeing only ourselves and those nearby, everything else swallowed by darkness. No external sounds seeped in—just the buzzing excitement of our own voices.

   By now, I figured no one had any more questions.

   As I was pondering what the next scene should be, the sensory space I’d created suddenly felt off. It wasn’t calm like before. A strange sound crept in, not human. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, but as it grew louder, it became unmistakable.

   It kept getting louder, and the more it did, the more familiar it felt. This sound… I’d heard it almost every day for years.

   Snap!

   The black space vanished, as if a giant cloth covering the sky had been yanked away in one go. Everyone snapped out of the illusion, disrupted by that damn sound. No, the truth is, I was the one who lost focus and couldn’t control my power.

   I locked eyes with Dr. Chris. He was holding a walkie-talkie, pressed close to his ear, as if waiting for an update. Within seconds, a crackling sound came through, followed by Phii Touch’s voice, mixed with heavy breathing.

   “Team X… they’re right next to us.”

   I couldn’t say I was shocked. Honestly, I’d already guessed it when I heard the engine roar—not the sound of a regular car. Just by listening, I knew it was a racecar. And a racecar revving its engine that loudly around here? I don’t want to point fingers, but come on, how hard is it to guess?

   “Babe is with them too.”

   Phii Touch’s next sentence made it impossible for me to stay still. I handed the mic to Dr. Chris and bolted off the stage without even explaining to the audience below. Just hearing that name told me I didn’t have time to waste.

   

   BABE:

   Today was the most invigorating day I’d had in weeks. The thundering engine noise rattling my eardrums made me feel alive in a way I can’t describe. North took his beloved car for a spin, drifting in circles in the wide-open lot, kicking up clouds of dust. The crowd around clapped and cheered with delight. Then Dean, whose skills had improved astonishingly, followed with a performance that held its own against the veteran North. But the most thrilling show was from a racecar the audience wasn’t too familiar with. It carved sharp, precise corners, its engine roaring fiercely. The young men and women by the track—and even some team members—were screaming themselves hoarse. It was the first time in years that the “Captain” of Team X Hunter had brought his prized car to show off in public.

   Of course, the star always comes out last. I took my trusty “son” for a spin in the wide lot, transformed into a makeshift racetrack. I couldn’t showcase speed here, but when it came to technique? This space was more than enough. The screech of tires against concrete and the tight, powerful hum of the engine were music to my ears. Seeing how excited the crowd was only made me want to empty my entire bag of tricks. It’d been so long since I had this much fun. I’d almost forgotten how much I loved driving.

   After showcasing my skills with my son through every move, all four wheels came to a complete stop. I stepped out of the car to thunderous applause and cheers of praise. Honestly, I really missed this feeling. It was like going back to the old days, when life was all about racing, filled with freedom, and carefree fun without limits. Thinking about it, I don’t even understand how I gave up this kind of thrill. I must’ve been cursed or lost my mind back then.

   I blew kisses to the crowd as a thank-you for their amazing response, but that couldn’t compare to the front-row spectator standing with arms crossed, glaring at me.

   “Whoa! Papa, surprised I came to watch too?”

   I feigned surprise, leaning my hip against the car’s hood, my eyes locked on my super-hot ex striding toward me with a less-than-pleased expression. What’s his deal? Did he not like my performance just now?

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