Run, Tyger, Run
by M Howard Sewell
Erica “TYGER” Raines dreads the agony she will endure as she warms up for her comeback race in the Dead End Mountain 50 Ultra Race. As Raines obtains her race tracker, secretively, an explosive device has been installed. A mysterious male voice says, “win this race or die.” After passing the threat as a prank, TYGER sees evidence of the villain’s presence. Suddenly, this race is no longer a course to get back in shape, but a race for her life. As TYGER runs the course, the villain that identifies himself as “DUKE” maintains communication. As TYGER struggles on the climb, she engages DUKE to try and figure out who is this person and why he has a vendetta.
DUKE counters by probing TYGER’s life and why she carries the symbol of her namesake. TYGER looks for opportunities to obtain help and alert authorities, which is met with swift and lethal force. The two foes play off each other throughout the race, trying to exploit weaknesses and dive into past events, to try and gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, the grueling race has TYGER using every ounce of strength and cunning to move to the front. As the race moves to a conclusion, puzzle parts fall into place for both TYGER and DUKE. There is a clear understanding of what drives each person and TYGER knows her pursuer. Using her wits, TYGER finds an opening to elicit help, but totally blind to whether her helper’s successful as she sprints toward the finish line in victory or death. TYGER leaps at the tape, just behind the number one ultra runner in the world. As she falls forward, expecting an explosion, TYGER’s surprised she’s still alive. Sports reporters and police converge on TYGER for different reasons as she stands tall - literally running the race of her life!
