''The Ultimate Race'' by Tara Devlin | EPIC POST-APOCALYPSE HORROR STORY

what would you do to get something that you wanted how far would you go to get something that you felt you really really needed is there anything you wouldn't do are there any lengths you wouldn't go to interesting question isn't it and one that's the focus of today's story now this is a fairly classic concept and one you may be familiar with but it's done in a really nice way a story I really really enjoyed reading one given to me via dr. creepers vaults the subreddit I opened so that you could share your stories with me so my dear dear friends Friday is rolling around again it's time for you to sit back and relax with your favorite drink and listen every year in our town there is a race but it's not just any race in this race anything goes and the winner gets to have their deepest darkest desire film he'd like someone dentists they'll hand you the gun or do it for you wanted million dollars it's in your bank account before you even get home not only that look during the race all bets are off within the confines of the racetrack anything and everything becomes legal whatever it takes to win competitors aren't allowed to bring any weapons with them but if you manage to kill someone on the racetrack to get ahead you'll never be held accountable it's considered a part of the risks for the incredible rewards and so year after year people sign their lives away to take part sometimes literally this year I was one of those people my family is small just myself my younger sister and our mother she's been raising us alone since our five had died of cancer when I was only 5 years old my sister was too young to remember it but I remember watching him fade away and died before my eyes now our mother is sick too and she needs a heart transplant of all the things I sometimes wonder if we're cast of course you can't just come by a free heart and that's why I signed up for the race if I could win I could get my mother to the top of the transplant list I could save her I could save both myself and my sister the pain of having to watch another parent die I didn't care about the free-for-all that many people used the race as an excuse for I just wanted to win and get that heart I just wanted to save my mother and be the hero oh how stupid I was the competitors gathered at the starting line and the morning of the race as in previous years there was close to perhaps a hundred runners or more it was like those marathons you see on TV where a giant group of people move on mass like a giant wave of ants moving to devour a carcass only these people were even deadlier a good number of these ants weren't likely to make it to the finish line and that was exactly why a lot of them were here a chance to kill with impunity it attracted a surprising number of people hey oh hey it was my friend Joe my heart runs why was he here you're racing too this year huh he asked I pointed to the race number displayed on my chest and shrugged yeah me too he laughed and slapped me on the shoulder so what's your deepest darkest desire was big enough to carry you out here with all these crazies Oh a heart transplant for my mother I replied Joe nodded and mouthed like like it all suddenly made sense you perhaps not as dire or as noble as your clothes just money he shrugged Jove also had a younger sister and although our family was far from well-off Joe's family seemed to struggle even harder he came to school without lunch more often he did with it and he'd been wearing the same shoes for the last two years now and I'm pretty sure that he was using the same school back he got in the second grade of elementary his family certainly could benefit from the money there was no denying that competitors to your starting position an announcement blared across the track from the speaker said of either side of the road the course changed every year this year we taken them through the mountains down past the local River around the school and finally ending at one of the biggest parks in town it wasn't a terribly long race all things considered but you tell that to a hundred people trying to kill each other for that grand prize good lucky Joe smiled again how could he be so happy he was surrounded by people who for the next hour or so will be trying to kill him may the best man win um yeah I smiled neatly if life works out that way we wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place the starting gun went off fan like murderous lemmings the crowd of races searched for I wasn't even 10 meters down the track when already I had to jump over fallen bodies and dodge projectiles coming my way I've seen the race enough times to know how it begins every year it's always the same a rush of bodies the initial thrill of the chance to kill a good number of people go down and for them the race is over before it even began ambulances and cleanup crews stood nearby ready to pick up the pieces once the rush was over my plan was simple stick to the back of the pack initially let the lead runners pick each other off maintain a good pace and is the finish line drew closer I make my move mm-hmm whatever that move needed to be in the week leading up to the race I questioned myself often over whether I could do it could I kill a person if it was for my mother for my sister could I kill another human being what if it was just me and one other person drawing in on the finish line would I be able to take that person's life with my own hands in order to save my mother's honestly I didn't know I wanted to believe that I couldn't but who really knows what dark horrible acts a person can commit in the heat of the moment whew that was close it was Joe he kept a steady pace beside me as we followed the violent Stampede up the mountain bodies continued to drop like flies I jumped over a man with his skull crushed in a bloody rock lay beside him discarded like he was I remembered him from the front of the pack hmm that's why you never started the front few spectators lie in the mountain road most of them will be waiting near the finish line where all the real action was nobody cared about the insignificant ants who died earlier it was the furious battles near the finish line that people camped out for days to secure their spot for that was what the crowd really wanted blood not just any blood but the kind of blood that could only be spilled by those on the verge of having their biggest wish granted or about to have it taken away so your parents agreed to you're doing this I asked Joe as you reached the top of the mountain and gave us a view of the race ahead they were probably 20 maybe 30 runners ahead of us a few bodies lay by the side of the road not the biggest starting race Massacre ever but it still wasn't pretty the lead was about 300 meters down the road a physically imposing man with something large in his hand probably the rock that had taken down at least a few of the bloody bodies lying nearby they don't know that I'm here Joe replied leaping over a hand and grasping for his ankle they don't know no Joe smiled as though it was all a big game who are they probably doing that are you crazy maybe did you ask your mother first well not in so many words no it was true I mentioned the race to her at mutts never specifically said I was taking part but I think she knew deep down that was why I brought it up anyway and she never objected that was permission enough for me look out Joe grab my shirt and yank back something whizzed by my head and landed by the side of the a knife competitors weren't allowed to bring knives it was strictly what you found on the way a woman coming down the track behind her spotted the knife and slowed down to pick it up she turned to us and smiled it was a feral smile like a starved animal about to take down its first prey in wigs it was also the last smile that would ever touch her lips ma'am I winced after she picked up the knife a rifle sounded and the woman's head split open the knife hit the ground followed by her crumpled body the sound of a Taser drew my attention from the sight before me one of the few spectators on the mounting dissent was twitching as he hid in the grounds a man in raid gear spoke into his mic before the body was dragged off Joe and I looked at one another and started running again just need to keep moving hey you've got some blood on you Joe pointed to my face his hand was shaking I just kept running it was all I could do we reached the river by now maybe 10 people were in front of us we'd reached the part of the race where most of the runners were spaced out enough just to keep running other than the sound of our breathing our feet hitting the dirt and the trickle of the river everything was quiet I was ok with that quiet was nice the side of that one's head exploding haunted me she broke the rules she picked up a weapon tossed onto the track by a spectator everyone knew what happened when you blow the rules but I couldn't get the image out of my head it was like a header just exploded blood and bone showered in every direction uh I don't know if I can do it I mustn't do what Joe's feet continued to hit the ground in sync with my own kill a person I don't think I can do it you don't have to kill anyone to win the race stop thinking about it I know but you saw that guy about do you think he's just gonna let us peacefully pass him take the first place mm probably not now a scream sounded ahead of us another competitor down what are you gonna do with the money if you win I asked Joe didn't seem the type to really care about material possessions why with a million dollars in front of you well that could change a person send dad to that training course he needs to get that promotion to work finally you know they've skipped him over three years in a row now simply because he can drive the forklift and that you scummy to pay for his license hmm I didn't know that I'm sorry oh and it'll let mom quit a night job and I want to get Marie some new clothes and such for school she doesn't say anything but I know the other kids teased her mate he's me I didn't know what to say I just nodded as we ran we're about to lose the house too joe said after a few moments we have nowhere else to go I don't know what to do even if I get another part-time job another five part-time jobs it wouldn't help this is our last chance no one can do this but me Joe hit the ground in front of me sending me tumbling over the top of him boohoo what a sad story let's all have a pity party about it one of the runners were standing above us with a large thick tree branch in hands he must have been hiding behind one of the trees I turned over and saw a body lying in the river that must have been the scream we heard the Browse connected with my torso and pain exploded throughout my side another strike this time is my shoulder his aim was getting higher another hit and Joe's foot connected with the man's jaw and sent him flying Joe scrambled for the branch before the man caught his bearings and before he knew what was happening it was all Joe battered his face in over and over the branch came down so there was nothing but a pulpy bloody mess in the mud Joe stood up and turned to me his face and upper body were almost entirely red I opened my mouth a few times but Joe just dropped the stick and held out a hand come on we're not winning this race sitting around here I swallowed my words and looked at his bloody hand still in shock he'd just murdered a man right in front of me he was about to kill us sure but I'd known Joe since we were 5 years old we grew up together he was always so sweet and kind to everyone the Joker who never took anything to hurt their getting hit come on they get him further ahead of us I shook my head and took his hand he was sticky Yeah right sorry come on let's go I took one last look at the body and started running again the longer I ran with the gel the more I realized that things were gonna get very complicated only one person could win it may not be either of us but if it came down to it what would we do I needed that heart transplant for my mother he needed that money for his family to survive it wasn't like either of us could just give up the other one we neared the school there were a few more spectators here we were closing in on the end do you hear that hear one listen there was a fight up ahead it was the big guy who'd been in the lead a woman and two men was circling him his brow cut and dripping blood into his arm one of the men tall skinny had something small and sharp in his hand the woman was swinging a chain she probably lifted from the trash cans Joe put her hand across my chest and brought a finger to his lips he pointed through the middle of the school leave them be if we go this way we can avoid them it's a bit longer but hey yeah the big guy saw us and called out oh you got to deal with them the tall man said the smaller one started running towards us he had a baseball bat in hand it appeared to be wrapped in something show about wire where did he manage to steal that from Ron Joe and I took off at full speed I was tired the run itself was wearing me down but the rise and fall of adrenaline was taking its toll on me as well I didn't know how much longer I could keep doing this my legs burned like molten lava and my chest heaved like it was going to explode aah Joe fell to the ground once more the back of his head was bleeding the man had thrown the baseball bat at him it was quickly closing in I picked it up there was no time as the man got closer I swung with all my minds the sound of his jaw cracking was a sound that I'd remember for a long time Joe had saved me before now we were even are you okay yeah I think so I'm just bleeding come on let's keep moving I held out a hand and helped Joe back to his feet he was a little wobbly but we pressed on before the others get far once we clear the score we'll be in first place there's only 500 meters between here and the finish line we'll make it Joe smiled but more and more blood was pouring from the back of his head are you sure you're okay stop asking me and keep running we cleared the school gates when we heard it it was an almost inhuman growl I turned it was the big guy covered in blood he was holding the woman's chain in one hand and what looked like a steel pole in the other he hurled it towards us and was moving before it even hit the ground the finish line was straight ahead the park at the end of the street spectators line the road and while cheese went up it would appear we were the final three and the last leg was about to begin the crowd wanted blood they always wanted blood it was only another 500 meters I kept thinking to myself just keep moving nothing else matters just keep moving he can't touch you once you past the finish line nothing else in the world matters bit being the first to cross that line then everything would be okay my legs pumped across the hard asphalt it was awkward running with the bats but I refused to let it go Joe was not far behind me I couldn't turn to look it would be precious wasted time he's gaining Joe screamed so run faster it was all I could get out my entire body and mind were focused on moving forward and nothing else 400 meters already I was slowing down I could feel it I couldn't keep up this pace much longer not anymore but shears of the crowd were drowned out by my heartbeat throbbing in my head and chest and throat 300 meters Joe caught up to me the Curran his head was still bleeding a scary amount of blood but it didn't appear to be holding him back sweat poured down the side of his face mingling with the dried caked-on blood his face was sickly pale but he didn't say a word we just kept running 200 meters I could hear the footsteps behind us he was closing in I could almost feel his breath on my neck I could hear the chain hitting the ground as he ran for such a big guy he sure had some stomach the finish line was inside people were standing up and cheering urging us on and not to win but to find blood they wanted more blood 100 meters I tasted asphalt so close it's so far I don't remember exactly what sound I made is my face planted into the ground at full speed but I'm sure it wasn't dignified the baseball bat flew out of my hand and clattered nearby oh this is it I thought it's all over I'm a dead man and right before the finish line how fitting I'm sorry mom I tried a huge weight suddenly pressed down on my back our almost maniacal laugh sounded near my ear the crowd grew even louder I didn't have to turn around and lo it was I braced myself for another impact the last one of my life no doubts just what the audience wanted a grand finale the impact never came there was a third followed by cursing I turned to see Joe kickin the man in the face again the finish line was right there and yet here he was helping me out once more the big guys face turned murderous he swung the chain over his head and then towards Joe's side he couldn't get out of the way in time and crumpled to the ground you think you little shits are gonna keep me away from my prize think again hain exploded through my head once more as his fist connected with my cheek he grabbed you and yanked him out by his t-shirt delivering a swift punch to his jaw as well Joe just smiled at him oh you like that do ya you some kind of sicko kid is that why you're here Joe said nothing I wasn't sure he could his lip was busted in his jaw bruised he just kept smiling he then held up his other hand he was holding the other end of the chain before the big guy knew what was going on he wrapped it around his neck planted his feet against the guy's chest and pushed with all his might he grabbed feebly at his neck the veins popping out in his face rapidly turning red Joe kept pushing against him with his feet and pulling on the chain not letting go even as the body slid off me to the ground he just kept pulling tighter and tighter the big guy's eyes bulged his breath I asked the crowd cheered even louder he was going to kill him I looked over my heart drops my mother and sister were in the crowd oh why why was she here why did she bring my sister here she was only 12 years old too young to see any of this I didn't want them to see any of this my heart dropped even further next to her was Marie Joe sister his parents were nowhere in sight presumably at work Joe I called out that my voice refused to work my throat was so dry I could barely swallow my head was spinning I got up to my hands and knees and try it again Joe the big guys stopped moving Joe kept pulling the chain like his life depended on it ha ha I put a hand on the back of his leg he looked down at me eyes full of fear and confusion and adrenaline he was like an animal cornered with nowhere to go he looked awful Joe you can let go now he's he's not breathing Joe turned back to the man and after a few more moments he dropped the chain he fell to his knees beside me it's just us now it is what are we gonna do we need to finish this race I stood up on wobbly legs the finish line was just there 100 meters ahead of us I put an arm of a Joe shoulder and we stumbled forward together the crowd was cheering it was no finale they'd ever seen before I could hear voices calling for blood calling for one more bloody finish I could hear my name coming from somewhere I turned back and my family were gone did I imagine them it didn't matter forward we kept moving forward step after step blood run down my face and dripped onto the road below Joe was silent one arm across his battered side and the other helping to hold me up what a sight we must have be we reached the finish line and stopped we'd made it one of us was about to win and that's when it hit me again one of us only one person could win Joe smiled again hell of a racer hmm hell of a race I agreed this is it yeah the silence fell between us is the crown God even loud I could hear one of the race commentators blaring over the loudspeakers but I had no idea what he was saying I've been doing a lot of thinking Joe began I opened my mouth to reply when he let go of me and shoved me over the finish line I hit the ground hard I'd won I looked up confused Joe was still smiling but it no longer reached his eyes your mother and he said ha I can't keep that from her she was one of the few people who was kind to me growing up you know she never said a word but she always gave us extra food when we came over to play or touch a few bills into our pocket when we weren't looking I didn't know what to say tears filled my eyes I was so confused I took out an insurance policy before the race just in case he gave a small laugh even if I didn't win well I wanted to make sure my family would be okay what I don't this is the only way both of us wins hey watch out for my little sister for me will you and give your mother my regards her pain is gonna be over very soon he looked around as though for the last time it's so cold he whispered it was the last thing he ever said everything afterwards was a blur ambulance officers rushed towards Joe while I was picked up and put on a stretch of myself the race organizers were congratulating me at the same time medics were plugging a drip into my veins they told me later I was suffering from blood loss and heat exhaustion they were amazed I'd made it to the finish line at all my mother got her heart transplant hmm turned out the big guy was a perfect match Joe's family also got their money unbeknownst to them he'd taken out a life insurance policy on his own life before the race a sort of backup measure in case he didn't win Joe bled to death from his wounds he was dead before they reached the hospital I never got the chance to say goodbye to him to say thank you because of Joe my mother is still alive because of Joe I'm still alive Marie got her new clothes and books for school she hasn't been the same since the day of that race though she doesn't speak very much and just spends all her time running [Music] [Music] so quite a classic concept you know the ultimate race what would you do to win how far would you go but I like the way that was done I felt it was a really nice take on me classic trope tell me what you thought in the comments section below you liked that one I hope so anyway if you've got stories to share please do so on dr. creepers vault I'm always on the lookout for new stories can't promise I read it but I will do my best to get around to it I'll definitely give it a look whatever so my dear friends it's Friday what are you doing listening to me you haven't you got anything better to do get out there and have some fun ok everyone that's all from me for this evening back in on Monday but for now sweet dream you

Channel: Dr. Creepen

Views: 69,544

Rating: 4.8891687 out of 5

Keywords: post apocalypse horror stories 2017, best creepypastas of all time, best horror stories of all time, scariest horror stories of all time, scariest deep web stories of all time, scariest body horror stories of all time, scariest lost in the woods stories of all time, scariest true stories of all time

Id: ihEHvUFEfis

Length: 35min 10sec (2110 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 22 2017