He awoke from the smoke. Glowing black, shining like a spark in the night, crawled up from his fingers to his forearm. In a blink they retracted back, unseen by the naked eye.
"A new power…" An unsettling temptation sunk in, as though he had wielded this before. The bleak ally stretched, coning like a colonoscopy, the wetter the deeper one peered. By the street lights two women stepped out of a chartreuse Audi Quattro. Thigh high boots, plaid skirt, ankle length white trench coat with a lace top, a heart choker, heart cut gloves. Her pink blush glimmered under the overhead light. Her dark set eyes held a tint of sadness, small hearts dotted her face like tears. A ruby red bow held her hair back enough to show her ears, whatever else covered her face was held gently by a simple pink headband.
"Let's hurry Lou," Janan, the driver, said.
"What's the rush sis? We have plenty of time," Lou retorted, with neutral makeup and a simple blouse, not nearly enough for the cooler night. She had a slight chill, but played it off as though it were no more than the welcoming gust.
"I told you to bring a jacket."
"Can it, I'm not cold."
Sigh. "Let's hurry…"
"Like I said, for what?"
"You will see."
Driving in his new quattro, El Koil sneered as he took over every corner in blinding speed. Licking his lips, he took to home. Exhausted, but filled with satisfaction, he dropped to the couch, without a second thought he spoke.
"Janan…I think we should split," El Koil said, looking up at the ceiling with cloudy eyes.
"Huh?" Janan responded, stunned as she stood with the fridge still open. "W-what? All of a sudden, where did this come from?"
"I've found a new love… I don't think I can love ya the same anymore."
"What! Who is this bitch?! Tell me!"
"Her name is Chartreuse."
"Huh…?" Her face went blank. "A color."
"No…"
"I'm…I…What do I even say, are you doing drugs again?"
"I'm sorry, but the air feels different when I'm with her. It's like I'm finally free…don't you see Janan. My life, what has it amounted to? No more than the same thing every day, but now I can finally feel alive. If that isn't love, then I know not what is. You…I'm sorry, but you don't provide me with the same. I hope you can understand. Don't worry I'll just stay the night, I'll pack up and leave in the morning. Goodnight," he said as he got up to clean up and then sleep.
Janan would cry her night away.
She looked upon the night sky. Two years, Janan thought. "Are you free?" Closing her eyes she opened the dusty doors of the cathedral. Her deep breath echoed as her boots clattered on creaky hardwood.
"Welcome Boss," said Lev, a flamboyant young man a head taller than Janan.
"Just give me the news."
"We have been challenged."
"By whom? For what?"
"The Azure Dragons, a new gang that recently cleaned up the Blue Needles of District 19. They are waging war with you, specifically."
"So they want District 16. Ambitious bunch."
"It seems they are taking you lightly as you were ranked below the Black Stallion."
"Seems so, but that can't be all. You're sweating, what else is there?"
"The Steel Hero has challenged the north, the Zeroes have been especially quiet, not a single gang member has been out on the night in any of their districts for the last four days. Though my most serious concern lies with the fact that both Grand Reo and the Motor Heads will be having their face off here. Directly in District 16."
Janan's face bursted with rage, a beautiful savagery marked her face, her nails digging into her gloves, a white pain pulsed up her wrist.
"These fuckers, they wanna play on my streets, then they'll play by my rules. Tell them dragon boys its game on. Set them the date on the same time and day as the Northerners' smooch-fest!"
Lou simply rolled her eyes as she began to call up her sugar daddy. Lev shot his arm up, a callous roar of authority rang off the holy walls for all to listen. "War! Lady Heart Attack demands blood, and we shall provide! Aye! In the name, HEART-BEAT!"
Dante slid a dry cigarette onto the brim of his lips as he looked at his leather soles conspicuously. A glance here and there, to the left and right, a slight brush of the toe, a quick light and pull. Smoke trailed above, a line thin enough for light to pass the opaqueness of grey. Scales, eyes like a cat's, a narrow tongue, glowing blonde hair reminiscent of a sea serpent. Where could this man's mind be headed? What forlongs his grand conquestial attempt? Is he aware that he has been clawing at the leash for them? Maybe so, and if so, why does he not challenge it? Destiny…he gazes fixedly on what he believes is writing his own thoughts. An aware one, chosen he may be, one of few who challenges the Authority. Depressingly so, escape is improbable, though a soul in the distance that he smells leads him to believe in such a future where escape is possible. The soul he wishes to capture is yet a seemingly inevitable bringer of downfall. A soul in similar scent to the one who will bring "salvation," but not the one.
"Your gaze is a strong one," said a man who dressed not of this century or continent.
"Ah…sorry, whom are you?" Dante reflexively asked.
"Hahaha! How could you not know me, the greatest swordsman to ever live, Sasa—"
Yanked by the collar, a short and gruff boy took the tall and lanky swordsman by the neck, dragging him away. "Deep apologies stranger, he's a real weird one, just ignore him, we will leave you alone now…" The boy ran off in a panic, reprimanding his partner. The swordsman's unwavering smile held a tinge of blood-lust as his gaze never left Dante.
"What was that?" Dante questioned as a tight knot bundled below his chest.
The night of the race was quickly approaching and Dante was adamant that Rad race at the week's end.
"I don't have a proper car," Rad said with an annoyed tone.
"I have offered over a dozen different rides and layouts, what even is proper at this point!" Dante said, slamming his fists on the coffee table.
"A Peugeot 306 GTI-6, matte, black. Finale."
"Fuck! How am I supposed to find something like that? I haven't even heard of that car before."
"Well then just figure it out or you'll be the one in front of the wheel."
"You can't be serious, what vice-captain doesn't listen to their captain?"
"Me. Meh, I never wanted to do this anyway, I've stepped away from racing."
"Stepped away, you don't even have a racing record, shit, you only have a motorcycle license."
"Point enough, why even bother trying to make me take on one of the best racers in the city when I can't even drive?"
"A statement, I'm more than expecting to race myself anyway."
"Then you don't need me."
"How many times have I explained, they only agreed on the terms, it's a tag duel, I need another racer."
"You wage war on them and yet you still follow their rules."
"It's not a real battle you idiot."
"What did you just call me?"
"An idiot, you dumb-ass, instead of being stubborn and questioning everything, maybe you could try and do your damn job!"
"Oh ya!" Rad stood up, his fists clenched with a black spark. "Shit I'll race, but not to beat them, I'ma crush you, lapping you till ya won't wanna turn the keys ever again."
"Fine by me brat!"
A sucker punch came flying as Dante sunk back into the wall, the two would brawl till midnight.
Twenty-six hours until the night of the race. The components for Rad's car have just arrived on the coast, will his ride be ready in time for the showdown of the month. Rad and Dante with a small crew hustle to get it up to par. Bodies glistening with sweat covered in grease and dirt can do nothing but push forward for the fateful night. How will it go? Will they even arrive to face their own declaration of war? Will the Heart-Beat gang and their plans succeed? Will the clashing of four powerful gangs rupture the status quo? All to be seen…next time on R. O. A. D.