Fluctuating Lights: First Stage

Chapter 15: The Red Devil Part 2

Chapter 15: The Red Devil Part 2

"Time to see how good Trent has gotten since we last raced." Jack says as both cars exit the first curve. Jack slams on the gas pedal going full throttle as they enter the first straightaway on Highway 57. "Here we go, here's where the race actually starts." Trent mumbles as he picks up the pace getting up to Jack's bumper. Both cars zoom down the highway instinctively dodging traffic. Jack presses down on the clutch and upshifts his car making blue flames come out the MR2's exhaust pipe. "Time to show Jack how I've improved. Let's put this battle to bed Z." Trent mumbles as a smirk comes across his face while he rubs his car's steering wheel. Trent puts more pressure on the throttle than he was seconds ago. "So you want to do it like that huh. Fine by me, let's see if you can keep up with my time attack speed." Jack says as notices Trent picking up the pace from behind him. Jack slams his right foot down on the accelerator. Both of them pass the second bridge going full throttle. "Damn, he's still on my bumper. He might have a higher top speed than me." Jack mumbles as he changes lanes to dodge oncoming traffic. Both of them approach the hardest curve on Highway 57, Jack lightly steers his car into the other lane while Trent gets side by side with him in the opposite lane of Jack. "Most noobs crash here because they don't steer their car because they think they can drive through it like a straightaway. Let's see how Trent fares against this curve." Jack mumbles as both of them enter the curve. Both of them are side, Jack slams on the throttle and out previals out in front of Trent. Trent gets into Jack's slipstream and gets his S30 Z right up to the MR2's bumper. "Not bad, not bad at all." Jack says as he cracks a smile. "It's time to finish this. You were known as the fastest racer here, but that title now belongs to me, Trent Akio." Trent says as he changes lanes while flooring the accelerator. Jack does the same and gets beside Trent as they approach the end of the Highway entering the final stretch. Trent passes Jack but as he does so his car starts to skid outwards towards the guardrail. "Shit." Trent mumbles as his Z slams into the guardrail. The car rebounds and slams into the guardrail on the other side of the road and continues the cycle until the car stops at the end of the highway. Smoke is coming out of the car's hood with the windows cracked. While this was happening Jack slammed on his car's brakes coming to a complete stop while pulling over. "Holy shit!" Jack yells out as he opens the door to his MR2 and runs towards Trent's Z. He gets to the scene of the crash and is greeted to Trent being completely unconscious inside his car. Jack opens the door to Trents car and pulls him out of it. "Hey Trent! You okay man?! I don't want to lose another person!" Jack yells out trying to wake up Trent who's still unconscious. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Shit! Fuck! I need to call 911 immediately!" Jack says as he pulls out his phone to call an ambulance. He informs emergency services of what happened. John sees them while going the opposite way and stops immediately to help. "You guys okay?!" John yells out as he runs towards Jack. "Who are you?!" Jack asks in panic. "The names John, I guess we haven't met yet. You're Jack correct? Honshu has told me a lot about you." "Honshu huh. I guess we're gonna have to wait until 911 gets here." Jack says, trying to calm down. "I guess we are, your friend here seems to be fine but unconscious from the crash." John says with determination that Trent is still alive. "Gah!" Trent says as he shoots up from Jack's arms. "Trent! I'm so glad you're ok!" Jack says as tears fill his eyes. "Yeah, I could've died from that crash." Trent says dully. The trio hears the sound of a loud engine making its way towards them. "That sound, it sounds like a V8 engine. A muscle car is coming towards us huh. I wonder who it is." Jack mumbles. The muscle car comes into view. 'A white Mustang, it can't be, can it?' Jack thinks to himself as sees the car pull over to the side of the road to allow an ambulance to come through. The ambulance stops where they are and a medic hops out. "Where's the injured?" A medic says coming out of the ambulance. "I guess that'd be me. I was the one in the car when it crashed." Trent says sitting up. "Alright let's see how bad your injuries are." The medic says. "Trent! Jack! Are you guys okay?!" Michelle says running towards the group. 'I knew it, it was Michelle. No one else has a white 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby that I know of in this area.' Jack thinks to himself. "I'm probably gonna be fine but my car is in simple words.... Fucked." Trent says with a slight chuckle. "I'm so glad everyone is okay. Especially you." Michelle says pointing to Jack. "Eh? Why me?!" Jack says with a confused expression. Michelle's face goes red upon him asking the question. "Uhhhhh. Forget I said that!" She says, looking away in embarrassment. 'What was that all about? Does she like that kid?' John thinks as he walks over to his FC. He opens the door and hops in. The 4 Rotor engine rumbles to life as the pop up headlights shoot up from the car. "A RX7?! Those cars are so cool!" Michelle says with excitement as she sees John's car. "So you enjoy RX7's huh." Jack says with a smile. "Hell yeah I do! They're engines may be crap but the sound of rotary engines is music to my ears." Michelle says with sparkles in her eyes. "I'm gonna get going since it seems like Trent is doing fine. Plus, I'm super tired." Jack says as he walks over to his car. "I guess I'll see you later!" Michelle yells out as Jack waves back to her. Jack turns on his car's ignition as it roars to life. The headlights pop out making the car seem like it just woke up from a nap. "That car is so tiny yet so fast. I think it's kinda cute how connected he is with that thing." Michelle says as she walks over to her Mustang. Jack speeds past her as she hops in and turns on her car's engine. The car makes a loud growl, 8 pistons being pushed up and down by explosions of oxygen and high octane gas fueled into the cylinders that house the pistons. The pistons turn crankshafts that repeat the cycle over and over. Michelle puts her right foot onto the throttle and drives off. She passes the ambulance and speeds down the highway. Her car's back lights disappear from view as she drives off into the night while her car's headlights illuminating the way forward.

"It looks like you have no major injuries.
Looks like from the crash you just got the wind knocked out of you. Thats why you were unconscious for a few minutes. So you're free to go." The Medic says to Trent as he steps out of the ambulance. "What about my car? What are we gonna do with it?" Trent asks the Medic. "You're gonna have to tow it but we are just here to help the injured." The medic says. The ambulance drives away from view. "Don't worry, I can get someone to tow it." John says out of his car's window. "Thanks, but you don't have to do that. That car is cursed anyways. It used to be my dad's car until he died while racing with it on the 24. It has a mind of its own. I think it's finally time to get rid of that thing for good." Trent says while looking at the absolutely destroyed car in front of him. "I see, I'll tell the tow truck to take it to a junkyard to be crushed." John says. "I kind of need a ride since my car has been completely destroyed." Trent says scratching the back of his head with a chuckle. "Alright, let's wait for that tow truck to get here though." John says with a smile. "Alright, I guess we'll wait then." Trent says as he leans against the guardrail with his hands in his pockets. The tow truck comes into view about a half an hour later. Trent and John walk over to help out with towing Trents car. John connects the towing hook to the car while Trent flicks the switch that moves it. The S30 Z slowly makes its way onto the platform on the back of the tow truck. "So you want me to take this to a junkyard?" The man in the tow truck asks. "Yes, it's too dangerous to keep on the road." Trent States. "Understood." The man in the truck says as he drives off. "Hey Trent, hop in. I'll take you home." John says as Trent opens the passenger side door and hops in. "Thanks, I appreciate all your help." Trent says as he looks out the window of John's FC. John gently puts his foot onto the gas pedal as they disappear into the night.

"This car, you carried me through every street race I've been in. Time to bring you back out onto the mountain as an unstoppable beast." Uncle Ryan says as he rubs the Trueno's carbon fiber hood. "So that's what you're up to huh." Nick says leaning against the wall to the garage. "What have I told you about sneaking up on people." Uncle Ryan says with a semi angered expression. "Sorry, just a habit I guess. So, how about we get started on making the already unbeatable Trueno even better than it already was." Nick says as Uncle Ryan pops the AE86's hood. "Right, let's get to work." Uncle Ryan says with a grin.