A shot rang out in the empty desert. Jackal whipped their head around in the direction of the noise - this may be the desert, but Idols were known to hang around here.
"Come on, fit...!" Jackal whispered to themself as they tried to get the last few bolts on the spare tire to tighten properly. Normally Jackal wouldn't be worried about any number of Idols, but their gun was left at home - Jackal had to win that bet against Eli that they could go a whole week without a gun.
Jackal could hear distant engines, and they were getting closer. Those Idols might be out here getting high on Loa Dust and riding the dunes (a pretty fun time Jackal had to admit) and that was a recipe for a (great) fight. As Jackal was musing the merits of the fight, the lug wrench slipped from their hands and tumbled away from them. The sound of the engines was almost upon them and there wasn't much time left - closing their eyes hard and holding the bridge of their nose for a moment, Jackal kicked the jack out from the car and leapt into their Hammerhead to start it. They'd have to stay in a low gear for the desert driving, but the fact that that tire wasn't fully tightened worried them too.
The engine roared as Jackal pressed on the accelerator just as a band of Idols crested a nearby dune and spotted them. Like a scene from a movie, a rusted old muscle car sped through the dusty plain being chased by a group on several dirt bikes and a dune buggy. Two of the dirt bikes accelerated up and flanked Jackal on either side; seeing some rando the Idols shouted something about teaching a stranger not to intrude, though it was hard to make out over the sounds of engines and through the car. As bullets peppered the Hammerhead, Jackal mused about these "anarchists" enforcing private property.
The chase was creating a huge swirl of dust behind them, a miniature dust storm racing through the desert heading towards Santo Ileso at mach speeds. Without a gun, Jackal kept their head low and pushed the Hammerhead into 3rd gear, trying not to overdo it as the Idols were in vehicles betrer suited to the terrain.
Suddenly, the Hammerhead hit a huge dip, and as the back tires hit, Jackal felt a lurch forward as the spare tire popped free. As if time were moving in slow-motion, through the rearview mirror Jackal caught a glimpse of the tire sailing through the air and catching one of the Idols on a dirt bike square in the face.
When the back hit the ground with the missing tire, the Hammerhead bounced uncomfortably, and twisted. The car began to roll, and Jackal braced as best as they could. The car skidded on its passenger side for 20 or so feet, before it began to roll over onto the roof - though it had lost enough speed that it hit a large rock and rested against it instead of fully tumbling over.
Jackal was sore over their chest and torso, getting thrown about like a ragdoll in the car, seatbelt cutting in to their chest. Groaning, they pulled themself up, and managed to crawl out of one of the busted windows. The Idols were circling and laughing maniacally as Jackal stumbled to their feet.
"Alright guys -" Jackal coughed as they tried to speak, "you're about to lose me a bet, so you'd better be ready to go."
annaxmalina
jacobvanloon
janainaart
stormborns
germansingergirl
