The Last Chance

In the third, his stride shortened. By the end of the fifth, his breathing had grown heavy, sweat seeping around the edge of his brace. The media area began to murmur. The livestream comments were more direct. "See? He can't hold up." "First drill and he's already breaking down?" "Send him back to Riverbend." Brooks sprinted past him and, when he stopped, turned deliberately. "Need the doctor?" Mason bent with his hands on his knees, sweat dripping onto the grass. He looked up at Brooks. "Run your run." The seventh set began. Mason fell half a step behind. In the eighth, he was a full step back. In the ninth, everyone expected him to stop. He did not.