Chapter 2: Racing Fate and Broken Rules

I made a face at the air, which probably looked crazy, but I didn’t care. I was too tired to fight back.

“What? The punishment’s this twisted and I can’t even complain?”

I muttered under my breath, pulling the covers over my head. Daisy gave me a sympathetic lick.

I rolled my eyes and decided I needed a walk.

The room felt like a prison, so I forced myself up, wincing at the ache in my stomach. I needed fresh air more than anything.

After lying around so long, my legs barely worked.

I hobbled down the hallway, Daisy trotting beside me. The world felt heavy. Everything did, lately. But the cold air was a relief. I stretched my arms, taking in the sharp scent of pine and snow.

Passing the barn, I heard voices inside.

Laughter, shouts, and the familiar twang of my brothers’ voices carried through the open doors. I paused, curiosity getting the better of me.

I wasn’t planning to meddle, but the system popped up again.

[Congrats, host, on triggering a hidden task—prank. Complete it for a bonus reward.]

The words flashed in neon, tempting me with the promise of something extra. I snorted, unimpressed.

A bonus?

Heh, I didn’t care.

But thinking the task probably involved Zach, I still walked over.

Despite myself, I found my feet moving toward the barn. Daisy barked once, as if urging me on.

There were a bunch of people inside: my brothers—Jake, Tyler, and Mason—Zach, and their buddies.

The barn was alive with energy—boots thudding on the hay-strewn floor, horses whickering in their stalls, and boys jostling for position. You couldn’t miss the excitement. The smell of leather and sweet feed filled the air.

Maybe my last episode had worked, because none of the staff gave Zach trouble now.

I watched from the shadows, relieved to see Zach laughing with the others, no longer the outcast. Even the stable manager seemed to treat him with respect.

He wore new jeans and a clean flannel, hair brushed, posture straight. Even as a kid, he looked calm and steady.

He looked right at home in those boots, his hands steady on the reins. For a moment, I saw it—the man he’d be someday.

The stable manager announced the boys were racing horses.

His voice boomed over the crowd, outlining the rules. My brothers whooped, already sizing up their competition.

That reminded me—

In the original, my brothers pranked Zach during the race, making his horse throw him. He broke his leg. It healed, but it ached whenever it rained, and he turned gloomy and cold.

That scene had always bothered me—how easily a single cruel prank could change the course of someone’s life. I felt a knot of determination form in my chest.

“Horse racing sounds fun. Count me in.”

I flashed my best troublemaker grin, earning eye rolls from my brothers. Daisy barked, as if in approval. Typical.

This time, I was going to protect Zach’s leg no matter what.

No way was I letting history repeat itself. I straightened my shoulders, ready to play big sister for real.

I figured, as the oldest, my presence would make them drop the prank. But instead, when they heard I wanted to race, they laughed even harder.

Jake snorted, "You sure you can keep up, Ria?" Tyler elbowed Mason, and the whole barn erupted in snickers. Typical.

[Host, your riding skills are average. Maybe sit this one out.]

I ignored the system’s fake concern, rolling my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain.

I rolled my eyes and told the manager to saddle me up.

He grinned, clearly enjoying the chaos, but did as I asked. Daisy wagged her tail, ready to chase after us.

“They’re up to something. Stick close to me,” I whispered. Zach’s surprised look made me frown. “What? You think I’d hurt you?”

He hesitated, then shook his head, eyes wide. "No, Sis," he said, voice earnest. I ruffled his hair, trying to reassure him.

They had two traps for him: drugged feed for his horse, which I swapped out, and a tripwire at the far end of the field.

I made the switch when no one was looking, then checked the field for anything suspicious. Sure enough, I spotted the thin wire glinting in the grass.

During the race, I kept an eye on my brothers.

Every time they exchanged glances, I tensed, waiting for the moment they’d make their move. My heart pounded in my chest.

When they gave each other the signal, I knew it was coming.

I gripped the reins, adrenaline surging. Daisy barked from the sidelines, as if cheering us on.

I yelled, “Jump!” to Zach, squeezed my horse’s sides, and we both cleared the wire just in time.

The horses soared, hooves thundering over the trap. My brothers’ jaws dropped, and for a second, I felt like a superhero.

I gotta admit, riding is a rush.

The wind in my hair, the pounding of hooves, the thrill of outsmarting my brothers—nothing beat it. I let out a whoop, grinning ear to ear.