The classroom buzzed with restless energy as the last period of the day dragged on. Three students huddled together near the back, two boys one girl, barely paying attention to the teacher's monotone voice.
"You know this is the same classroom Night Rider went to, right? one of the boys, Leo, leaned across his desk with a grin.
"Really?." The girl, Hannah, perked up. "He's so cool though. I heard there's a party tonight. We should go!"
The other boy, Kenji, sat up straighter. "Yeah, we should. That'd be fun."
Leo smirked guess what else I heard?"
"What?" Hannah and Kenji said in unison.
"They're keeping it a secret, but Night Rider's supposed to be racing tonight. Like, actually racing."
Hannah's eyes widened. "Seriously? But I thought he never shows up to parties."
"Maybe before," Leo shrugged, "but lately? He's been at most of them. This could be our chance to finally see him."
Kenji slammed his desk lightly with excitement. "We have to go now! No way we're missing this."
Leo leaned back smugly. "Watch I'm gonna be a Fang one day. Riding with Night Rider and the Four Shadows. Just wait."
Hannah laughed, covering her mouth. "You can barely ride a bicycle. What makes you think you can handle a motorcycle?"
The boys burst out laughing, and Leo only laughed before saying. "I'll learn. Can't be that hard."
The bell rang, and the kids scattered into the evening, the buzz of their conversation following them out into the streets.
Across town, the cafe door swung open with a soft chime. Mira slipped inside, tying her apron as she headed toward the lockers. As she opened hers, something fluttered to the floor, a folded note. She bent down, unfolding it.
A street name. A time. And at the bottom, signed in sharp letters: Night Rider.
Mira froze, staring at the words. "What does he want..?" she whispered under her breath.
The door banged open again. Kai strolled in, casual as ever, and caught her startled look. "What are you doing?" he asked with a smirk.
Mira shoved the note into her pocket. "N-nothing."
"Uh-huh." Kai chuckled and walked past, grabbing his own stuff like nothing happened.
But Mira couldn't focus for the rest of her shift. That note burned in her mind.
Later, at home, Mira changed quickly into something casual but neat, tucking her helmet under her arm as she stepped outside. She hesitated, gripping the note.
"He probably just needs to talk," she muttered. Still, her stomach twisted with nerves.
Mounting her bike, she revved the engine and followed the directions.
When she turned onto the street the note said, her eyes widened. "What the..."
The road ahead blazed with light. Music thumped so loud she could feel it in her chest. Flashing colors, roaring engines, laughter, fire barrels crackling, she had stumbled into the biggest rebel party she had ever seen.
Mira parked and dismounted slowly, scanning the chaos. Wheelies split the street. Drones buzzed overhead. Crowds swarmed between cars, betting money, shouting, drinking. And above it all, Switch's voice boomed from a mic, hyping up the crowd like the star she was.
Before Mira could move further in, two figures approached her: a girl and a boy, both about her age.
"You're Mira, right?" the girl asked.
"...Yeah? Who are you guys?" Mira asked cautiously.
The girl grinned. "I'm Rika. This here's Taro. Night Rider told us to keep you company."
Mira blinked. "Why?"
"Because he's racing tonight," Rika explained. "Matter of fact he wants you to make some new friends first. You can't just hang around the Four Shadows if you're new, it doesn't work like that." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "You need to be at least a top scout to talk to them more than once a month."
Mira's brows rose. "I see..."
"Anyway," Rika said quickly, changing the subject, "enough about Night Rider. I'm in Switch's group by the way."
"Switch's group?" Mira asked.
"Yeah," Rika nodded proudly. "Each of the Four shadows has their own group they lead. A great Night Rider is he can't manage everyone himself. Taro here's in Ravens group."
"Sup," Taro said, then slowly pointing toward a guy standing off to the side, camera in hand aimed at parked bikes. "And that's our friend Nico. He's the only Fang who's directly in Night Rider's group. The best scout we've got. If Dax is Night Rider's right hand man then, Nico is his left hand."
"Wow," Mira whispered, realizing just how organized this whole thing really was.
"C'mon," Rika said, tugging her forward. "Race starts in ten minutes, but I'll show you around first."
They led her through a maze of lights and people until they reached a building where Switch streamed live. Screens filled the walls, each connected to drones circling the streets.
"She's amazing," Rika gushed. "She streams almost every big race."
Taro nudged her suddenly, eyes widening. "No way. Look!"
"What's going on?" Mira asked.
Walking down the streets came Morgan, leader of the Ram Riders, flanked by Dax and several other rebel crew leaders.
"Are those all the leaders?" Mira whispered.
"Most of them," Rika confirmed. "This race?" Everyone's watching. People have thousands bet on it.
Meanwhile, the three high schoolers from earlier wandered through the party, gawking at the wild scene around them.
"Whoa," Kenji whispered. "This is insane. Way bigger than I thought."
"I don't care who wins," Leo said, grinning ear to ear. "I just want to see Night Rider up close."
A sharp crackle rang through the speakers as Switch's voice rose above the crowd.
"Attention! Attention! The race is about to begin! grab your popcorn and get ready for the biggest showdown we've ever hosted!"
The entire street erupted with cheers.
Switch grinned from her platform. "First up, you all know him. Undefeated champion. The one, the only... Dax Calderon!"
The crowd roared.
"And his opponent, mysterious, untouchable, a legend riding among us... give it up for Night Rider!"
The cheers doubled, the noise deafening as Night Rider appeared behind Dax, his bike growling like a beast ready to hunt."
Dax smirked. "Don't back out now, pretty boy."
Night Rider tilted his head. "Don't worry. I'm not."
Switch raised her arm high. "Riders, are you ready?"
Both engines screamed.
"Three... two... one... GOOOOO!"
They shot off like bullets, Dax seizing an early lead. The crowd pressed toward the screens, watching the two blur through the streets.
Night Rider leaned forward, closing in. Dax caught his glance, just as Night Rider popped a wheelie, engine howling as he surged ahead.
"Show-off," Dax muttered, chasing harder.
The race cut through the veins of the city, tight turns, sparks from pegs scraping pavement, roaring exhaust echoing between walls. The crowd screamed as the drones followed every near-miss and burst of speed.
Finally, the finish line approached. Night Rider blazed past first, but instead of stopping, he kept going, vanishing into the night.
"What's he doing?" someone shouted.
Dax slowed, shaking his head. 'He's really serious, about it I guess."
Switch's voice came back over the mic, smooth as ever. "And in a close race, Night Rider takes the win! But circumstances mean out champion had to leave early. Party's still alive, though!"
The cheers continued, but Night Rider was already gone.
Far down the streets, the city lights blurred past him. He muttered under his helmet, "Let's see those new toys of yours, huh... cops?"
As if on cue, a new motorcycle fell into step beside him. Its rider gestured firmly: pull over.
Night Rider laughed under his breath." Who do you think I am?"
He shot forward, weaving between cars like water flowing through cracks. The cop fought to keep up but couldn't match Night Rider's precision.
The chase pushed past 180mph. The cop clenched his teeth. "Does this guy have a death wish?"
They dove into a tunnel, the walls screaming past. The cop tried to clip Night Rider's back wheel, but Night rider surged out of the tunnel.
Suddenly, the streetlights above went dark. Only Night Rider's bean remained... until it flicked off too, Plunging the streets into darkness.
The cop's heart pounded. Where is he?"
A rev echoed from the left. Then the right. Then behind. Then ahead. The sounds surrounded him.
"This guy's toying with me!" he yelled, gripping tighter.
But as he sped up, the road curved, and before he could turn. He flew off, slamming down a steep hill, wrecking against a tree. Pain seared his body, his vision blurring.
Through the haze, he saw a single light return. Night Rider, staring down from atop the hill.
"I win," Night Rider said flatly, before roaring off into the night.
The cop blacked out.
Alone again, Night Rider's thoughts darkened with the streets around him.
"It's not good to hurt others. But if it's for something greater... maybe it's fine. At least that's what I used to believe." His voice was low, almost bitter. "The truth is, in this city, the only way to get what you want is violence. That's just the reality."
He glanced down at his own hand gripping the throttle. "Crazy how fast opinions change."
The bike growled beneath him, carrying him into the shadows once more.