The night in Ridgehaven felt alive.
The lights along the main avenue danced on the warm asphalt, reflected in puddles left behind by the afternoon rain. A crowd packed the sidewalks, murmuring in low, anxious voices. Every gaze was locked on the street, waiting for the second competitor.
Leaning against a red coupe with silver accents, Henry Fischer—tall, athletic, jaw outlined by rough stubble—watched the street calmly. One arm rested on the roof of the car, his sleeves swaying gently in the breeze. He raised an energy drink to his lips, but was interrupted by a sound he knew all too well.
The roar of an engine. That roar.
It came deep, like thunder trapped in steel. Each note of the sound clawed at the pavement, making the air hum and hearts pound.
Then it appeared.
A beast on wheels.
A muscle car with an overwhelming presence—wide, low, and menacing. Its lines were sculpted like a blade, aerodynamic with a balance of brutality and grace. The black paint shimmered like liquid obsidian, swallowing the surrounding light. The crimson LED headlights stared into the crowd like a predator locking onto its prey.
At the rear, a wide functional spoiler sealed its identity as pure performance. The raised hood promised more than just horsepower—it promised domination. The engine's growl snapped and crackled like the snarl of a creature barely held in chains.
Henry smirked.
"Here comes the infamous Noah Reyes…" he murmured, eyes narrowing as the car rolled up. "And the Exorix ZR1. Hell of a combo."
The car slowed to a stop beside his.
The passenger door opened, and under the glow of a streetlight, a young woman with striking blue eyes and her hair tied in a firm bun stepped out. Her gaze scanned the crowd with composed grace.
Moments later, the driver's door opened—and Noah Reyes stepped into view.
Unlike his younger brother Adam, Noah didn't radiate arrogance or mischief. His presence was quiet, almost noble. Short brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a calm confidence in every step. His clothes were understated—black jacket, gray shirt, dark jeans. Simple, but striking.
He approached Henry with steady steps and offered a handshake with a soft smile.
"Let's have a good race, Henry."
"As always, Reyes," Henry replied, gripping his hand firmly.
Without another word, the two men returned to their cars.
Henry slid into his seat, where his red-haired partner—lips painted in deep scarlet—waited calmly. Noah climbed into the Exorix, where his girlfriend had already returned to the passenger seat. She looked at him with serene eyes.
"We're in this together," she said with a confident smile.
"Thanks for always being by my side, sweetheart," Noah replied, gently taking her hand.
The tense silence of the crowd shattered as both engines roared to life.
Their growl was a symphony of chaos—raw, thunderous, visceral. The scent of burned rubber and gasoline filled the air, mixing with the heat rising from the pavement.
Noah's hands gripped the wheel. His eyes were calm, unwavering. On the outside, unshakable. On the inside, his pulse raced.
Between the two cars, a girl in a short dress with flowing hair raised her arms high. And then, with a flick of her wrists, the signal dropped.
When her arms came down, the monsters were unleashed.
Wind from their wake whipped her skirt into the air and sent her hair flying, but she smiled.
This was Ridgehaven.
This was the race.
The Exorix surged ahead almost immediately. Its engine didn't just roar—it screamed, like it hungered for the road. Noah's gaze stayed locked ahead, hands adjusting the wheel with near-surgical precision.
His girlfriend held onto the seat with one hand, her lip caught gently between her teeth. Her eyes sparkled.
"I never get used to this…" she said, voice trembling with thrill.
Inside the red coupe, Henry pushed his car harder, trying to keep up.
"So this is what it's like to race against Noah Reyes…" he muttered, a nervous grin forming.
"She's incredible…" the redhead beside him murmured, her eyes fixed on the rear of the Exorix.
Henry nodded. For the first time, he truly understood what everyone had been talking about.
"This guy… he drives like he was born with gasoline in his veins."
At the first turn, Noah twisted the steering wheel with precision. The Exorix responded instantly, gliding into a perfect drift. Clean, smooth — as if the car and driver were one.
Henry's eyes widened, his face a mix of awe and admiration.
"Damn… what a drift."
Noah counter-steered effortlessly, the car stabilizing without losing speed. He took a deep breath, calm and collected. In that moment, victory seemed inevitable — and he knew it. But unlike his brother, there was no arrogance in his smile. Just quiet pride. Love for the race.
"Just another win in the books…" he murmured to himself, a small smile playing on his lips.
But then… something changed.
As he turned the wheel into the second curve, he felt it. A strange resistance. The steering locked.
"What…?" he whispered, his eyes widening.
The world seemed to slow down. He tried to shout, to warn the woman beside him — but there was no time. The Exorix lost control and veered violently toward the side of an abandoned building.
The impact was brutal.
Metal screamed.
Glass shattered.
The crowd let out a collective gasp.
Henry, who was just behind him, slammed the brakes hard. His car skidded and stopped in the middle of the street. He was out of the vehicle before it even fully stopped.
"NOAH!!!" he shouted, sprinting toward the wreckage.
As he neared the crushed car, he saw twisted metal, shards of glass, blood. Noah was still conscious, barely. His face was pale, his mouth dripping blood. He forced his arm to lower the already-cracked window.
Beside him, his girlfriend was motionless.
"Hey… Henry…" Noah's voice was weak, trembling — but still carried that gentle tone.
"Stay with me, man! I'm calling an ambulance, just hang in there!" Henry said, phone already in hand.
Noah closed his eyes for a moment. A faint, broken smile appeared on his bloodstained lips.
"There's no time, brother…" he whispered. "Just… tell Adam… I'm sorry, alright?"
With one final breath, he turned slowly to the woman beside him… and wrapped his arm around her.
Then, his body went still.
Henry dropped to his knees, fists clenched.
"NOAH!!!" he roared, voice cracking with pain.
The crowd was silent.
The roar of the engines was gone.
But the echo of tragedy still hung in the air like smoke.