CELERITY

Speed Kills

Celerity usually comes in second at UCLA track—the first loser, her coach would say. But she is encouraged by her father, a botanist, her only parent, and her biggest fan. Then he dies unexpectedly. Now she is alone.

While wrapping up his affairs, she learns about his expeditions of discovery to the Darién jungle and a plant that transforms indigenous tribesmen into prolific hunters ... and extraordinarily fast runners.

She takes a sabbatical from college and follows his work. After weeks enduring the tropics, she finds the plant—it's fifty feet tall and carnivorous. She returns with its extract.

Training at her local high school, her speed is increasing, and people notice. A student times her in the 100 meters—she breaks the women's world record—videos go viral—and life will never be the same.

Approached by a flamboyant sports agent, he has a plan; there's no money in track … try out for the Chicago Bears as a wide receiver. Nobody can touch the world's most famous female athlete.

Then the side effects kick in.