“You idiot,” Kaelen laughs, crying. “You could have won.”
They cross the finish line third—not first, but free (third place still pays the debt). Medics swarm. Soran collapses. Kaelen crawls off Vespa and lies beside Soran in the dust. Insex - Remastered - Cowgirl - Marathon 1- 4
“Still think I’m scared?” Kaelen asks. “You idiot,” Kaelen laughs, crying
They enter the final canyon 20 miles from the end. Vespa is exhausted. Kaelen is feverish from an infected bite. Soran could take Vespa and win alone—his old champion instinct screams for it. ” Kaelen laughs
Soran turns his head. Their noses touch. “I did win.”
That’s the first time Soran laughs in a year. It’s ugly, rusty—but real.