Teen Street Racers

Chapter 4: The Stakes Rise

The next few days passed in a blur of engine roars, tire squeals, and secret conversations. Jax found himself drawn deeper into Ava’s world, her quest for answers transforming into their shared mission. Every race now had higher stakes, every move felt like a step closer to something dangerous. It wasn’t just about speed anymore—it was about survival.

Jax sat in the garage, staring at the parts he had been installing in his Skyline. Danny had been going on about the next race, but Jax’s mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about Ava’s brother, Leo. If the underground scene was as dangerous as Ava said, then they weren’t just racing anymore—they were walking straight into a trap.

“Dude, you’ve been zoning out for days,” Danny said, tossing a wrench onto the bench with a clatter. “What’s the deal? You’ve been off since the warehouse meeting.”

Jax wiped his hands on a rag, his expression serious. “Things are changing, man. It’s not just about winning races anymore.”

Danny tilted his head. “What are you talking about? This has always been about the race. The thrill. The money. Why complicate it?”

Jax shook his head. “It’s more than that now. There’s a crew out there, bigger than we thought. And they’re not playing by the rules.”

Danny crossed his arms, frowning. “This about Ava? You’re getting in way over your head with her.”

“She’s looking for her brother,” Jax said, standing up from under the car. “He went missing in this scene, and she’s trying to find out what happened. And the people who run the races? They’re the ones who know.”

Danny went quiet for a moment, then sighed. “So, what’s the plan? You’re going to keep chasing these races until you run into these people?”

Jax nodded. “Something like that. Ava and I are going to get close to them. Once they trust us, we’ll figure out who’s behind it all.”

Danny ran a hand through his hair, clearly uneasy. “And what if this gets ugly? What if these guys don’t want to be found?”

Jax didn’t answer right away. He knew Danny had a point, but he couldn’t just walk away. Not now. “I’ve never backed down from a race before. I’m not starting now.”

Before Danny could respond, Jax’s phone buzzed on the workbench. He picked it up, glancing at the screen. It was Ava. The message was brief:
Race tonight. Same spot. Be ready. We’re making our move.
Jax stood up, grabbing his jacket. “I gotta go. Ava needs me for a race.”

Danny sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just… watch your back, man. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

Jax flashed him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

---

The night air was thick with tension as Jax pulled up to the starting line. The familiar roar of engines filled the air, but tonight felt different. The crowd was larger, and the racers looked tougher, more serious. These weren’t the usual street racers—they were professionals. And that only meant one thing: Ava’s plan was working.

Ava was already there, leaning against her Mustang, her expression unreadable. She glanced at Jax as he approached, her eyes giving away nothing. “You ready for this?”

Jax nodded, trying to mask the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. “Always. You sure this is the right move?”

Ava’s eyes flickered with determination. “It’s the only move. We win this race, we get their attention. Once we’re in, we can start asking questions.”

Jax looked around, noticing a group of men gathered near a blacked-out SUV on the edge of the crowd. They weren’t watching the race—they were watching the racers. His gut told him they were the ones Ava had been talking about. The real players behind the underground races.

“Who are they?” Jax asked, nodding toward the group.

Ava followed his gaze. “They’re part of the crew that runs the underground. If we win tonight, they’ll want to talk.”

Jax clenched his jaw. “And if we lose?”

Ava’s voice was cold. “We don’t lose.”

Before Jax could respond, the signal for the race was called. The racers climbed into their cars, the tension in the air palpable. Jax settled into the driver’s seat of his Skyline, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. He glanced over at Ava, who gave him a single nod, her eyes sharp and focused.

This was it. The moment they had been building toward. But something felt off. The crowd was too quiet, the night too still. As the countdown began, Jax’s heart pounded in his chest.

Three.
Two.
One.

The cars exploded off the line, tires screeching as they launched down the stretch of road. Jax’s Skyline roared to life, the engine growling as he pushed it to its limits. Ava’s Mustang was right beside him, moving with the same fluid precision she always had. But this time, the competition was fiercer. These racers weren’t here for fun—they were here to win, and they were willing to do whatever it took.

Jax swerved, narrowly avoiding a collision with a sleek black Camaro that had tried to cut him off. He grit his teeth, the adrenaline surging through him. He couldn’t afford to lose focus—not tonight.

Up ahead, Ava was holding her own, keeping the lead as they approached the sharp turns of the docks. Jax knew this part of the city well—the tight corners, the narrow roads, the sudden drops. It was dangerous, but it was also their best chance to outmaneuver the competition.

As they approached the first turn, Jax caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye—a flash of light, a figure standing on the side of the road. He didn’t have time to register it fully before a loud bang echoed through the night.

Ava’s Mustang swerved violently, her tires screeching as she lost control. Jax’s heart skipped a beat. Someone had sabotaged her car.

Without thinking, Jax swerved toward her, using his own car to block the other racers from overtaking her. He could see Ava struggling to regain control, her hands gripping the wheel tightly as her car skidded dangerously close to the edge of the dock.

“Come on, Ava,” Jax muttered under his breath. “You’ve got this.”

At the last possible second, Ava’s Mustang straightened out, narrowly avoiding a crash. But the damage had been done—she had lost her lead. Jax pulled up beside her, his mind racing. Whoever had tried to take her out wasn’t playing by the rules. This wasn’t just a race anymore—it was a setup.

“They’re coming for you!” Jax shouted over the roar of their engines.

Ava’s jaw clenched, her eyes blazing with fury. “Let them come.”

As the finish line approached, Jax could see the blacked-out SUV waiting. The men from earlier were watching closely, their expressions unreadable. This wasn’t just a race—it was a test. And Jax knew, win or lose, they were in deeper than ever before.

They crossed the finish line together, but the real race was only just beginning.