The air was thick with tension as Zara stepped out of her car, her heart pounding in her chest.
The figure in front of her was none other than Riven "Rev" Calloway—the one person she thought she'd never see again.
The man who had disappeared without a trace after the accident that had changed her life forever.
He stood there, his eyes shadowed by the night, his expression unreadable. The faint flicker of streetlights reflected off his sharp jawline, making him look like a ghost from her past, haunting her every step.
Noor, who had been quiet until now, stepped out of the passenger seat and positioned herself beside Zara, her posture defensive. "Is this… him?" Noor's voice was cautious, wary of the man Zara had been chasing answers from.
Zara didn't immediately answer. Her focus remained solely on Rev. His presence in front of her stirred up memories she wasn't ready to face. Memories of betrayal, confusion, and the crash that had taken it all from her. She hadn't been prepared for this.
"What the hell are you doing here, Rev?" Zara's voice cracked, a mixture of anger and confusion surging through her. She hadn't expected this. Not in a million years.
Rev didn't immediately answer. Instead, he took a step forward, his posture rigid but calm. The years that had passed since they last spoke seemed to hang in the air between them, heavy and suffocating.
"You shouldn't have come here, Zara," Rev said quietly, his voice as familiar as it was distant.
Zara's fists clenched at her sides. "I didn't come here for you. I came for answers—answers to what happened that night."
Rev's eyes flickered, a hint of something vulnerable surfacing in their depths. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by the stoic exterior he had perfected over the years. "I don't owe you anything," he said, his voice hardening. "You left. You walked away."
"I had no choice," Zara shot back, her voice rising. "I had to leave. You—You—"
"I know," he interrupted, his gaze turning steely. "But that doesn't change what's happened. And it doesn't change the fact that you should never have returned."
Zara felt a rush of emotions—betrayal, frustration, and a sense of hopelessness. "You think I wanted to come back? You think I want any of this? I'm not the one who disappeared, Rev. You are. You left me with nothing—no answers, no closure."
Rev's jaw tightened, but he didn't speak. Instead, he motioned toward the darkened alley behind him, a silent invitation for them to follow. Zara hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to run, but curiosity and the desperate need for answers pushed her forward.
Noor's voice broke through her thoughts. "Zara, we don't have to do this. I don't trust him."
Zara shot Noor a look, her mind conflicted. "I know. But I have to know the truth."
Noor gave her a long, searching look, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But I'm right here. Don't forget that."
With that, they followed Rev into the alley, the darkness swallowing them as the noise of the city faded behind them. Zara couldn't shake the feeling that she was being pulled into something deeper than she was ready for.
As they entered the alley, Zara couldn't help but notice the way Rev's body language had shifted. He wasn't the confident, cocky racer she remembered. There was something about him now—something darker, more guarded. And it unnerved her.
"Why the games, Rev?" Zara asked, her voice low but steady. "Why drag me into this?"
Rev stopped in front of an old, rusted door, his back to them. "Because I'm trying to protect you," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Protect me? From what?" Zara demanded. "I've lived in the shadows for years, trying to forget what happened. And now you show up out of nowhere, pretending you're doing this for me? I don't believe you."
Rev turned to face them then, his expression pained. "You're right. I should have told you everything. But there are things you don't know, Zara. Things I couldn't say before."
Zara took a step closer, her voice trembling with the need to know. "Then tell me now. What happened? Why did you leave me?"
Rev's gaze softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he looked like the man she once knew. The man who had promised to protect her, who had stood by her side when everything else had crumbled.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way," he murmured. "The accident—the crash—it was all a setup. And you were the target."
Zara's breath caught in her throat. "A setup? But why me?"
Rev ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements. "Because you were the key. You were the only one who could stop what was coming. You still are."
"What are you talking about?" Zara asked, her mind racing. "What did I have to do with any of this?"
Rev took a deep breath before answering. "You were never supposed to remember the truth. But now that you're here, it's time for you to know. Time for you to understand why I disappeared and why I couldn't tell you before."
Noor's grip tightened on her side, her voice tense. "Zara, we need to leave. This isn't safe."
But Zara couldn't pull herself away. She was too far gone—too invested in the web of secrets Rev had woven. "I need to know, Rev. Everything."
Rev's face darkened, his eyes flashing with urgency. "You need to get out of here, Zara," he said suddenly, his tone urgent. "They're coming."
Before Zara could respond, a deafening sound echoed from the far end of the alley—a screeching engine, followed by the roar of tires on asphalt. Rev's face hardened.
"Get in the car. Now," he barked.
Zara didn't hesitate this time. She knew he wasn't just protecting her anymore. He was pulling her deeper into something much bigger, and there was no turning back.
As they sprinted toward the car, the black vehicle from earlier appeared at the end of the alley, its headlights blinding. Rev pushed Zara into the passenger seat, slamming the door shut before diving into the driver's side.
He revved the engine, tires screeching as they tore down the alley, away from whatever dangers lurked behind them. Noor was right behind them, the world a blur as they raced through the city streets, the weight of the truth crashing down on Zara like a ton of bricks.
Zara's heart raced. She could no longer deny it. This wasn't just about a crash or a race—it was about something much darker. And she was in deeper than she'd ever expected.