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Chapter 15 - Quick and Angry

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Taquitofanfics[archiveofourown]:

Entonces sería una carrera al estilo Fast and Furious o Twisted Metal?? 

Se viene las carreras chidas ;3

Avip:

Everyone will race Fast and Furious... except for Marcus.

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[Edith Nivea]

I'm sitting on the couch, reading with a book open on my lap, trying to focus on the words dancing before my eyes, but my attention shifts to Carlie, who walks in with her head down.

"Edith... I wanted to talk to Marcus, but I don't know where he is," says Carlie, unable to look me in the eyes. "Shouldn't he have come back by now?"

I close the book on my lap and look at her.

After the initial shock of the day we met, Carlie explained her situation with her family and Marcus. Since I'm not currently pursuing Marcus romantically, I don't feel threatened by Tigress anymore and I even empathize with her story as I also have problems with family members.

"He said he was going for a walk and that we didn't need to worry, because he wouldn't do anything dangerous or attention-grabbing."

Carlie let out a discouraged sigh and continued speaking, crossing her arms.

"I'm going to try and talk to my mother today..." says Carlie in a melancholic tone. "I wanted to ask Marcus to go with me."

I understand Carlie's apprehension. Her posture, usually upright and confident, now carries an invisible weight. She seems smaller, more vulnerable. I close the book and stand, determined.

"I'll go with you," I say, getting up.

She lifts her eyes, surprised.

"There is no need, miss Nivea."

I step forward, my voice firm.

"Carlie, you're not alone. Marcus may be busy, and..." I pause, rolling my eyes. "Definitely doing something dangerous and drawing a lot of attention. But I'm here."

Carlie lets out a half-hearted laugh, shaking her head.

"He's not that bad…" says Carlie in an uncertain tone. "I bet he's doing something normal and not attention-grabbing at all."

[Drika]

When Marcus said he wanted to come to the oldest racetrack in Santa Francisca, I warned him the place would be closed since it was so late at night.

In response, Marcus smiled, saying that precisely because it was so late, it was the perfect time for him to visit. Afraid of being tortured again, I decided to obey the human and brought him here.

Now Marcus walks ahead of me, stepping firmly, as if each step were a declaration of purpose across the grounds of the place. He doesn't hesitate, doesn't look back. He moves as if he knows every corner, every shadow.

"Hey you fucking Diablo, are you sure you know where you're going?" My voice cuts through the silence, but he doesn't answer. He just keeps walking as I stare at his back with those broad shoulders, head held high.

After walking for a few minutes Marcus stops abruptly, I almost bump into him. He's standing in front of a large flower bed, well maintained, but with a somber air. The red flowers looked like they were made of fresh blood reflecting the moonlight.

"What happened here?" the human asks, pointing to the flowers.

I swallow hard, the bitter taste of fear in my mouth makes itself present as I remember the story.

"I think… more than seventy years ago, a tragedy happened here." My voice comes out hoarse, as if the words were resisting to leave my throat. "This used to be a big stable, but there was a fire. Many horses died trapped in the flames."

"Makes sense," Marcus murmurs. "Horses don't have a complex mind like humans, but they're still creatures with souls… with so many that died so tragically at the same time, it's no surprise there's such a presence here."

"Presence?" I ask, confused, only to be answered a second later.

As if in response a ghostly neigh echoed from all sides.

"HIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"

I crouch down, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it's going to jump out of my chest.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" The words come out in a desperate whisper. "Thats fucking great! Are ghosts real? Seriously?"

Marcus lets out a tired laugh at my reaction. The sound echoes through the abandoned racetrack, blending with the ghostly neigh still lingering in the air.

"Whoever planted this flower bed was very clever." He says, his voice steady with not a single trace of fear. "It calmed the spirits of the animals, but it wasn't enough to help them make their passage."

I lift my head, eyes wide as I ask:

"What do you mean, 'passage'? "

Ignoring me, the human crouches beside the flowerbed and sticks his hand into the dirt.

"What are you doing!?" I scream, frustrated and terrified.

Without turning in my direction, Marcus replies.

"I'm going to help them. The most tormented ones and those who yearn for rest will finally know peace," says the human in a calm and monotone. "But I'm going to propose a deal."

"To do what?" I ask confused

As if in response, the flowers lit on fire, the emerald flames licking the petals like ravenous green tongues. 

"Oh no..." I mutter with legs shaking.

The air fills with a pungent smell of burning blood and fresh meat, as the heat hits me in waves. I try to back away, but the ground beneath my feet shakes violently, throwing me back. I fell hard on my but, the impact reverberating through my body.

"What's happening?" My voice comes out shaky, fear tightening my throat.

In the middle of the flowerbed, the earth opens into a deep fiery chasm, as if hell itself were tearing open. The sound of rocks breaking and soil shifting is deafening. 

"Why is my life like this?"I whimper on the floor. "Was it because I stole church money as I brat?"

As if everything wasn't satanic enough, an equine figure emerges from the fiery chasm. It's clearly not a normal horse, it's something out of an insane nightmare. Its eyes blaze with an inner fire, and its neigh is a guttural, primal sound that echoes like thunder.

"HIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"

The demon horse's scream resounds, making the ground tremble even more. Its hooves pound the earth with supernatural strength, each impact shaking the ground. The fire from the flowers spreads, creating an infernal circle around the creature. The heat is intense, suffocating.

"O my goddess!" I scream, trying to get up, but the constant tremor of the ground keeps me pinned down. "What did you do?"

Marcus, unmoved, remains standing, facing the creature with disturbing calm answering me:

"Someone was interested in my 'deal'."

"You really are the diablo." I accuse him of finally standing up.

Ignoring my accusation, Marcus turns to me and says:

"His name is Blaze."

[Dominika Toretto]

Thanks to my reputation in the illegal circuits, I easily get a good position at the staging area.

I stop the car clothe to the starting line, as the engine's roar echoing through the streets of Santa Francisca, carried by the cheers of the spectators on the sidewalks. The city lights reflect on the wet asphalt, creating a sinister glow that matches my mood. This isn't just any race. It's not just another night of adrenaline and speed.

"If I lose, a lot of good anthros and humans gonna get hurt," I murmur apprehensively. "All because of that bitch Maestra."

The name sounds like poison in my mind. That ambitious and dangerous figure, who's been dominating Santa Francisca's underworld. To take over All she needs to do is deal with my family and the triad.

It gives me chills just to think about all the influence and resources of Shì Hún in Maestra's hands.

I need to stop this. It's not just for my family, but for the whole community. I don't know Maestra's ultimate goal, but I won't let that bitch do whatever she wants.

"Not in my city," I growl furiously.

I'm yanked from my thoughts by shouts and laughter, blending with the roar of engines. I look through the rearview mirror and see a strange figure approaching.

"In these races, I've seen everything." I murmur, confused. "Tuned cars, custom bikes, even an occasional modified kart. But this... this is new."

A man in a green mask riding a bizarre wild horse. The animal, muscular and imposing, trots gracefully along the asphalt, its horseshoes echoing against the ground, but what draws the most attention is the strange pair of horns protruding from its head toward its rider: a human wearing a green luchador mask.

[Image]

"What the fuck is that?" I murmur, unable to look away.

The rider stops next to my car, the horse snorting and tossing its head trying to stare at my direction. The man stares at me, eyes behind the mask glowing with an intensity that makes me uncomfortable.

The cocky smile and green eyes weren't enough for me to recognize him. But as soon as the figure greets me, it becomes clear.

"Hey Dommy."

"Marcus?" I raise an eyebrow, trying to hide my surprise. "What are you doing here? And what the fuck are you riding?"

He shrugs, the smile widening.

"Long story. You said you didn't want me behind a wheel, so I made this friend here to help me out."

I roll my eyes, but I can't help smiling at the absurdity as I ask him:

"You think you're cute, don't you?"

"Bitch, I'm adorable!" He answers winking at me.

"Hiiee." The horse neighs staring me down with a weird intensity, like it wanted something from me.

Marcus strokes the animal's neck, whispering something I can't hear. The horse calms down, but keeps tossing its head, the horns glinting under the city lights.

Marcus notices my curious look and leans in, resting his arms on the car window's ledge.

"Drika took me to the city's oldest racetrack. And like any place over a hundred years old, it's full of history and full of lost souls."

He pauses, his green eyes shining with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

"There, I performed a ritual to appease the spirits and also offered a deal to the lost souls that wanted to run again… and then this guy popped up," says the human.

"I have a feeling it wasn't as simple as you're making it sound."

"Meh." Marcus says shrugging in response.

"May I ask why your horse has horns?" I ask, annoyed.

"You may," says Marcus, nodding in agreement. "Now whether I'll answer, well…"

I huff, frustrated, a vein popping on my forehead at the human's antics.

"Stay out of the way during the race. I don't want any car running you over, or that... whatever that is." I point at the horse, who stares back at me with intelligent eyes knowing I was talking about him.

Marcus doesn't reply. He just smiles, a wild smile that makes the hairs on my neck stand on end. He strokes the horse's neck, eyes locked on mine. There's an irritating confidence in that gaze, a certainty that he knows exactly what he's doing.

"Are you listening to me, Marcus?" I insist, trying to stay calm. "You promised me you wouldn't get involved. These races are dangerous, and here you are, riding that... demon horse."

"First of all, you asked me not to get into a car." Marcus waves his arm as if presenting a horse at an equestrian show. "Second, demons don't exist, at least not the way you think."

"That thing has horns and glowing eyes!" I exclaim, raising an eyebrow, pointing at the horse he's riding.

"Blaze…" says Marcus in a drawn-out tone, presenting his mount's name. "He's a good boy."

I bring a hand to my forehead, massaging the headache Marcus is causing. 

"The fuck thats suppose to mean?" I repeat, grumbling the information.

Marcus just smiles, that infuriatingly confident expression that makes me want to strangle and kiss him at the same time. Before I can complain again, a loud female voice cuts through the air, catching our attention.

"Racers, get ready!"

Marcus and I turn to see who shouted in the middle of the street, holding a checkered flag. A man, wearing tight shorts and a colorful tank top, the flag raised above his head.

[Image]

"Why are there so many femboys in this world?" Marcus grumbles, frustrated.

The wind whips the flag, urging the competitors to rev their engines at idle, making them roar.

"Hey, masked loser!" shouts a cheetah Anthro in the car next to us, the engine growling under the hood. "You're in the wrong place. The kitchen's that way!"

She points behind her, laughing as the other Anthros around join the chorus of laughter and jeers.

"That's right, humie!" says a rhino Anthro in a red muscle car. "Go make us a sandwich. We're hungry!"

Marcus doesn't react. He stays atop Blaze, eyes fixed ahead, mask hiding any emotion. I don't know him well enough, but I bet he's boiling inside.

"Hey, dollface!" shouts a hyena Anthro, her car covered in skull and flame stickers. "You should be under a woman, not on top of a horse!"

The laughter swells, the sound echoing through the streets. I feel the anger rising inside me. I don't like seeing Marcus humiliated. But he doesn't flinch.

"Careful, Marcus," I murmur, trying to warn him. "These girls may be fooling around now, but they won't go easy on you when the race starts."

He looks at me, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"If they won't go easy on me…" Marcus replies, laughing. "I'll gladly return the favor."

The checkered flag drops, signaling the start of the race. The engines roar and the tires screech against the asphalt.

My car shoots forward, adrenaline pumping through my veins. But out of the corner of my eye, I see Marcus and Blaze. They don't move. They just stand still, watching the cars speed by.

"What is he doing?" I murmur, confused.

And then, when the last car passes them, Marcus nods. Blaze lets out a powerful neigh, rearing up on his hind legs.

"HIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"

After the neigh, the hooves come down, the animal's horseshoes sparking against the asphalt, causing an explosion of fire that engulfs the entire horse.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Worried about him I slam the brakes, making the car drift in a perfect slide. Tire smoke rises, creating a white curtain around me. My heart races, the adrenaline of the race still surging through me. But now, there's something else. Something that makes my stomach twist.

I get out of the car, eyes fixed on the spot where I last saw Marcus and Blaze. The asphalt is marked with sparks and fire, the flames still dancing in the air. 

"Marcus…" I murmur, voice trembling. "What did you do?"

My steps are hesitant, body shaking. I don't want to see, but I have to. I need to know what happened. The flames begin to dissipate, revealing the scorched asphalt. And then, I see something that makes my heart stop.

A dark, motionless figure in the middle of the fire.

"No…" I whisper, voice cracking.

The black silhouette, enveloped in flames, runs toward me. I take a step back, heart pounding wildly. For a second, I think I'm about to be trampled. I close my eyes, bracing for the impact. But it doesn't come. Instead, I feel a hot wind rush past me, and when I open my eyes, I see the dark figure leaping over me.

"HIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!"

It was Blaze, Marcus's horse, who leapt over me and my car, the flames still dancing around his muscular body. Marcus, riding him, turns to me, eyes gleaming behind the mask.

"On your left!" Marcus shouts from afar, speeding toward the other cars.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. 

Quickly I get up and run toward where the race is being broadcasted with help from camera drones on a big screen, the commentator narrating the events.

{"After exploding in a ball of fire, the Dragon Warrior overtakes Dominika, who seems to have dropped out of the race, and the human is already approaching Dirty Carter."}

I look at the big screen, confusion mixing with adrenaline. I don't know why the commentator called Marcus the "Dragon Warrior," but I don't have time to process that now. My eyes are fixed on the orange Bugatti ahead of Marcus.

"And the Dragon Warrior closes in on Dirty Carter! Will he manage to overtake the leader of the vermin tide?"

Suddenly, a dark figure emerges from the window of the car ahead of Marcus. A black-furred rat with red eyes, knife in hand, ready to strike.

The crowd reacts with applause and cheers at that anthro's dark intentions, but I scream desperately at the screen.

"Watch out, Marcus!"

The blade gleams under the city lights, dangerously approaching the horse's flank. But in the blink of an eye, a black chain wraps around the rat's arm. She looks confused, trying to understand what happened. The other end of the chain is firmly gripped in Marcus's hand.

With a sharp yank, he pulls the rat off the car, hurling her against the trash cans on the curb. 

CRASH!

The sound of crushed metal echoes through the streets, mixing with the spectators' screams and the roar of engines.

"What the fuck, Marcus!" I mutter, both impressed and worried.

Dirty Carter hesitates, the car slowing down for a moment. But then, with a roar from the engine, she changes direction, aiming the car straight at Marcus. The crowd holds its breath, the silence broken only by the engine sounds and the echo of Blaze's steps.

Marcus doesn't back down. Instead, he raises the chain in the air, the strange black metal shining under the city lights as if it magically stretched. 

With a shout, he slams the chain down onto the ground with all his strength:

{"SHATTER!"} He shouts in a supernatural voice. 

The asphalt cracks, chunks of the street flying in all directions. The impact is so strong that Carter's Bugatti is struck by a hail of debris. Her windshield cracks, the engine crumples, and the car skids out of control.

Carter struggles to regain control, but it's too late. The car crashes into the curb, the sound of metal against concrete announces her deaft.

TUCK!

The crowd erupts in screams and applause, the adrenaline of the race mixing with the shock of what they just witnessed. Marcus and Blaze continue on, leaving Carter and her car behind. My heart races, a mix of pride and concern making my head spin.

{"Unbelievable!"} the excited announcer screams. "Not satisfied with overtaking, the Dragon Warrior destroys Dirty Carter's car, knocking her out of the race in disgrace. But I guess that's what happens when unsuspecting Anthros face the strongest man in the world."}

"The strongest man in the world," I repeat in a whisper, finally beginning to grasp the scope of Marcus's power.

{"But the race ain't over, fuckers!"} announces the commentator, bringing my attention back to the race. {"Because the Dragon Warrior is on the tail of the last remaining competitors."}

At the screen there's Marcus, riding that hellish horse, closing in on the other cars. A green 2006 GT and a Black lamborghini Arkonian, both roaring down the asphalt.

"He's gonna win?" I murmur, eyes wide.

Marcus's horse speed is something out of this world. The beast runs like a blur, its hooves barely touching the ground. The flames around Blaze intensify, creating a trail of fire that lights up the night. The cars around it look like toys compared to that beast.

{"And the Dragon Warrior is closing in on the Kray twins and Mean Sarah!"} shouts the announcer, her voice full of excitement.

The Kray twins, with Reggie driving and Ronnie in the passenger seat, are cat anthros driving a green Ford GT 2006. One of them looks through the rearview mirror, her feline eyes shining with surprise and fear. She speeds up, trying to keep distance, but it's useless. Blaze is getting closer and closer, the fire around him creating a terrifying sight.

Mean Sarah, the mare in the black Lamborghini Arkonian, tries a desperate maneuver. She turns sharply, trying to block Marcus. But Blaze doesn't hesitate. With a powerful leap, the horse jumps over the car, its hooves barely grazing the Arkonian's roof before landing on the other side.

"Holy shit..." I whisper, stunned.

Marcus looks back and shouts loud enough to be picked up by the drones' microphones.

{"I'M NOT GONNA BREAK YOUR CAR BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THE BATMOBILE!"}

Marcus's sentence leaves everyone confused, but he keeps laughing, the sound echoing through the loudspeakers.

{"Will the Dragon Warrior continue his trail of destruction? Or will the feline twins finally put this man in his place?"}

The green GT makes a sharp turn, trying to shake Marcus off. But Blaze is relentless. He keeps right on their tail, the flames around him creating a spectacle of light and shadow.

{"You're so fucked, asshole!"} Ronnie screams, her voice full of rage as she sits in the car window.

In her hand, she holds a block of gray clay with an electronic component stuck to it, wires hanging down. My heart leaps into my throat. I know exactly what that is.

"Oh no." I whisper in fear.

I know what they're planning. The Kray sisters aren't just racers; they're bank robbers, experts in explosives. I've heard stories about their exploits, about how they manage to escape the most impossible situations using C4.

Ronnie throws the explosive onto the bridge. The C4 block rolls across the asphalt, the wires flailing like snakes ready to strike. Marcus and Blaze are only meters from the bridge, the horse running at full speed.

"MARCUS!" I scream, as if he could hear me.

The Kray sisters are already on the other side of the bridge, the green GT disappearing into the darkness. Ronnie turns in the passenger seat, a cruel smile on her lips as she raises the detonator.

Time seems to slow down. I see Marcus and Blaze approaching the bridge, the flames around the horse casting a surreal glow. Ronnie presses the detonator button.

KABOOOM!

The explosion is deafening, even through the stream. The bridge shakes, chunks of concrete and metal flying in all directions. A cloud of smoke and dust rises, blocking my view. My heart races, the sound of debris falling into the water below echoing in my ears.

"Marcus..." I murmur, my voice trembling.

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E ai gurizada.

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