Smallville – Night
VRUUUM!
The roar of engines filled the air as cars lined up at Smallville's abandoned airport. Neon lights flickered, illuminating eager faces. The crowd grew by the minute, forming a circle around the makeshift track.
A black car with tinted windows parked near the betting area. The engine fell silent.
The door opened slowly. Ivan stepped out, adjusting his leather jacket. His gaze sliced through the crowd like a blade. He walked to the adjacent vehicle, where the betting manager awaited, flanked by two guards.
The window lowered a few centimeters. Just enough.
"Ivan. Always punctual."
"Business is business."
Ivan pulled a thick envelope from his jacket's inner pocket and handed it through the window's gap.
"200 grand on Blaze's victory."
The manager took the envelope, feeling the weight of the bills.
"Confident."
Ivan smirked.
"I like to secure my investments."
The manager glanced at the guards beside him. None questioned. None needed to.
Ivan shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, observing the cars at the starting line.
The track lights flashed, signaling the race was about to begin.
The manager stashed the envelope and glanced at Ivan.
"Hope your money's well-placed."
Ivan merely chuckled.
---
Pete gripped the steering wheel, feeling its rough texture under his fingers. The engine growled, impatient, as if sensing something big was about to happen. Dante leaned against the car window, his gaze calculating.
"Listen, Pete. Don't mess this up. You know what you have to do."
Pete's eyes shifted to the rearview mirror. The crowd, the lights, the smell of gasoline in the air. Everything seemed distorted, as if time were slowing down.
'This is wrong.'
Dante's voice pulled him back.
"Lose at the end. Nothing obvious. Just a small mistake. A skid at the right moment. Blaze wins, and everyone leaves happy."
Pete clenched his teeth. His stomach churned.
"Everyone except me."
Dante chuckled low, tapping his knuckles on the car's body.
"You'll leave with money in your pocket, Pete. Much more than you'd earn winning honestly."
Blaze's engine roared beside him. Pete turned his head, seeing the other driver. Dark sunglasses, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The smile of someone who already knew the outcome.
Pete's blood boiled.
THUMP.
His heart pounded. He looked at the surrounding crowd. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. 'If I lose, they'll never truly respect me.'
Dante walked away, heading to Ivan, who waited near the bettors. Pete took a deep breath, hands tightening on the wheel.
VRUUUM.
The headlights illuminated the figure of a woman positioning herself in front of the cars. Long legs, short red dress, black hair cascading in perfect waves. She held a black scarf between her fingers, twirling it slowly.
Ava Sinclair.
Her name whispered among racers. Always present at the most important races. Always at the center of the highest bets.
She cast a glance at Blaze, then at Pete. A provocative smile curved her red lips.
"Hope one of you is good enough to make my night worthwhile."
Blaze's grin widened. He leaned out the window.
"Don't worry, babe. I've already won this."
Pete closed his eyes for a second, feeling his fingers tingle on the wheel. The engine vibrated beneath him, awaiting a decision.
'I can lose. Do what Dante wants and leave here alive.'
He opened his eyes.
'But then what? Who will I be?'
Ava raised the scarf. The crowd held its breath.
"Let's see who's got the guts."
The scarf dropped.
VRUUUUUUM!
Tires screeched against the asphalt. Smoke filled the air. The cars shot forward like bullets, leaving the starting line behind.
Pete focused on the track. Every curve, every bump. He knew every detail of that road better than anyone there. Blaze tried to take the lead early, accelerating aggressively beside him.
"Not this time."
He shifted gears precisely, the engine roaring like a beast about to be unleashed. Blaze attempted to shove him aside, but Pete held his position, the cars lightly touching.
THUMP.
The impact jolted the car. Pete held firm, maintaining control. Blaze wasn't playing.
'He wants me off the track.'
The track lights blurred past. The finish line was still far. Dante's plan spun in Pete's mind. 'Lose at the end. Skid on purpose. Let Blaze win.'
He gritted his teeth.
'No.'
The speedometer climbed. Blaze noticed. Tried to block the path.
Pete smiled.
"Nice try."
He veered right, drafting behind the other vehicle. Blaze reacted too late. Pete floored the accelerator and overtook.
The crowd roared.
Ivan's eyes widened. Dante cursed loudly.
"He's not playing fair!"
Blaze slammed the wheel, trying to regain position. Pete saw the final curve approaching. This was the moment. Here he would decide.
The engine's roar was all that existed.
'If I lose now, I'll never forgive myself.'
The curve arrived. Blaze tried to pass inside, but Pete anticipated.
He turned the wheel at the right moment.
The car slid, tires burning against the asphalt. The rear swayed, but he held firm.
VRUUUM!
The finish line crossed before him.
First place.
The crowd erupted.
Ava smiled, biting her lip.
"Now we have a winner."
Blaze crossed the line seconds later, pounding the wheel in frustration. Ivan and Dante remained still.
Pete parked, breathing deeply.
'I did it.'
He exited the car, muscles trembling with adrenaline. The crowd surrounded him, chanting his name.
Ava approached slowly, eyes fixed on him.
"Impressive."
She stopped before Pete, her hand sliding smoothly across his chest.
"You like taking risks, huh?"
Pete tried to respond, but his voice faltered. Ava smiled, leaning close to his ear.
"I like that."
The crowd buzzed. Pete felt his face heat up. But before he could react, a movement caught his attention.
Dante and Ivan were walking toward him.
Ava's smile vanished.
Pete swallowed hard.
Ivan adjusted his leather jacket, eyes hard as stone. Dante walked beside him, expression grim. The chaos of Pete's victory didn't matter to them. Only one thing did.
"You played dirty, Ross."
Pete's blood ran cold. His fingers still trembled from adrenaline, but he kept his chin up.
"I just raced. And won."
Dante chuckled low, devoid of humor. Only something sharp, dangerous.
"You had a deal."
The crowd began sensing the tension. Whispers spread, and the more cautious started to back away.
Ivan narrowed his eyes.
"You know how much money I lost because of you?"
Pete felt a chill down his spine. He knew Ivan wasn't a man who accepted losses easily.
Ava stepped back, realizing the situation was no longer amusing.
Dante moved closer, voice low.
"Hope you enjoyed your victory, Pete. Because it'll be your last."
Pete's stomach churned. He had no time to respond.
VRUUUM.
The sound of an approaching car drew everyone's attention. Headlights illuminated the dispersing crowd.
Sheriff Ethan Miller stepped out, dressed casually, but his presence changed the atmosphere.
He walked toward Pete, ignoring the stares around him.
"Do your parents know you're here?"
Pete's heart nearly stopped.
Silence.
The crowd froze.
No one had seen the sheriff approaching. He had simply appeared, and now he was there, assessing the scene like a predator who had already chosen its prey.
Dante didn't back down, but his eyes darkened.
"Good evening, Sheriff. Off duty?"
Ethan ignored Dante, focusing solely on Pete.
"Come with me."
Pete hesitated. His instincts told him that the presence of an authority figure should scare him, but at that moment, Dante and Ivan were the real danger.
Dante exchanged a look with Ivan. Their fists clenched, but they had no choice. Ethan's presence ruined any chance of settling things here and now.
"This isn't over."
Ivan's threat came low, meant only for Pete to hear.
Ethan shot them a sharp look, as if he already knew what they were planning.
"If you two have something to say, I suggest you think twice. I'm not very patient."
Dante forced a smile, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.
"We don't want any trouble, Sheriff. Just business."
Ethan tilted his head slightly, evaluating them for a moment before turning back to Pete.
"Let's go."
Pete didn't argue. He simply followed the sheriff to the car, the weight of Dante and Ivan's stares burning into his back.
No one tried to stop them.
Many of the spectators began to disperse.
The night grew colder.
Pete got into the car, feeling a knot in his throat. Ethan closed the door, started the engine.
Silence settled in as they drove away from the illegal race.
"You're lucky it was me who showed up."
Pete didn't respond. He just stared at the road ahead, feeling the weight of everything that had just happened.
He had won.
But victory would come at a price.
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