Miles eased his car to a slow crawl along the moonlit avenue, the hum of the engine soft against the night's stillness. The glowing skyline of Star Harbor shimmered in the rearview mirror, a peaceful reflection of the calm he was heading home to—until everything changed in an instant.
From both sides of a narrow street, black heavily-tinted sedans surged forward, cutting him off and forming a ring around his vehicle like vultures encircling prey. Tires screeched, engines revved, and headlights flared, forcing Miles to slam the brakes. The car jerked violently to a halt—then crack!—a sharp jolt hit from behind.
The impact wasn't serious, but enough to crack the rear license plate and dent the bumper.
