Japan, Tokyo - March '20

My head hurts. My body hurts. This is pain that I've never felt before. My eyes open to the world upside down. There's broken glass everywhere. My head hurts too much to even think as I try to recollect what had just happened. I can feel the blood rushing to my brain. Shit. I reach for the seatbelt and unclick it. I fall to the floor and let out a yelp as I land on glass. My eyes adjust to survey my surroundings. All I can tell is that it's dark. I recollect my thoughts in order to answer the first question; What the hell happened?

The last thing I remembered was turning the corner, cutting it short and sharp, then nothing. It's clear that I had a car accident. I crawl through the broken window and manage to stand up, my legs feel like they're about to give out. There's no one around. In fact there's nothing at all. I'm alone in a random street and despite the recent events, it's quiet. Too quiet. No witnesses, no police, no ambulance, just street lights. I finally evaluate my body from the damage. There's open cuts on my skin oozing blood, along with so many coloring bruises. One of my eyes feels like it's swelling up. My headache is only getting worse by the minute. I reach up to touch the side of my head and it hurts like a bitch. I redraw my fingers to notice dark liquid on them. Great, an open wound on my head. I look around once again to find nothing but silence. I don't like this.

I turned back to the car and analyze the damage. Completely tipped over with no signs of a single window intact. One side looks crushed as if a train had run into it, leaving metal sticking out in various places with multiple dents. Two tires are flat and one is missing. Airbags sit from where they escaped. If anything the car looks like it actually had been hit by a train. I was lucky to still be alive. I bend down to view the inside and see that it's also completely wrecked. I dig through the front of the vehicle to find my phone. The wreckage makes it almost impossible to dig through and my current state isn't helping, but I don't know where I am. I'm lost and need help.

"Everly" said a voice so low it was a whisper. I jumped up and turn so quick that I lose my footing, falling back. My head hits the ground sending sharp pain, I let out another cry. I need help NOW. I look up to a dark figure standing just a couple feet from me. I can't make them out. Obviously this person knows me, which means help. As they move closer to a street light I make out clear details. They're tall, broad shoulders, and pitch black hair. I notice tattoos on their arms but can't make them all out clearly. Except one. The alarm in my head jolts to life, telling me to run and get as far away as possible. Screaming at me to move, lift my legs, to stand, to run. But I can't. I'm frozen still and that's when it hit me. Why I was speeding, Who I was running from. How I crashed. It all came back to me at once. This could be my last night alive.

Jump Back: Everly {July '19}

"Here you go Kai," I say as I give him his usual bagel with cream cheese. He thanks me before leaving and walks out of the shop into the cold rain. It's early morning and the start of a new week. I take out the fresh donuts and bread, placing them in the display. I put water in the coffee machine and push the button to start it. I flip over the chairs from the table and wipe them down for a new day.

"Is your stuff ready for school Eve?"

I turn to see my dad pouring a cup of fresh coffee. His dark eyes are dim from the late night. He and my mom had another argument. This one kept going until twelve in the morning. They've become more apparent and last longer than usual. At this point a divorce is the clear solution, but I know it would never happen.

"Yeah," I reply. "And I just finished prepping the shop. I'm going up to grab my stuff."

I open a door on the side of the shop which leads to a stairway going up. I run up and open the door to our living room where I see my bag on the couch. Our home is a moderate size, although definitely bigger compared to the smaller ones in Tokyo. We live in a three story building, the first floor being the shop and the other two floors being the apartment. There's three bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. I live with my parents and my older sister Lola. My brother Samuel moved out two years ago, but he still makes the effort to visit every week.

"Have a good day Eve" my mom calls from the kitchen. I can smell the eggs and bacon, which only makes my stomach growl. I walk over to grab my bag and turn to head out.

"Bye Mama. Oh, and remember I'll be home late. I'm going to Victoria's."

"Okay, careful."

I run back down to the shop and grab a donut before I go. One of the perks of living on top of a donut shop. I walk out to the pouring rain and begin my journey to school.

The campus itself is an open grass area with multiple modern style buildings; along with some modern art statues, a gourmet cafeteria, and top of the line professors. Sakura is known as a top university in Tokyo, so of course the school has to live up to its reputation. It's a prestigious school for smart rich kids and the tuition is enough to pay a month's worth of my family's bills. I got lucky by getting a scholarship, but by no means was it easy. I had to go through difficult tests and endless interviews just to make it here. I'll be damned if I waste it. Any free time I get goes straight to studying, reviewing, and office hours. I work my ass off for my future.

The morning flies by and it's already my lunch block. I walk out to my designated eating area. I can already see my friends at the table.

"What are you doing for summer break?" Victoria says as I approach the table.

"I don't know. I honestly forgot it was coming up." which is true. I haven't had time to think about break. I've been so busy keeping up with school and other things…

"You know what she's doing Vic, working the shop." says Nathan as if it's the most obvious answer.

Victoria gives him a dirty look and opens her mouth to say something, but not before Ophelia.

"We're asking because my family wants to go to the Osaka house for summer. Not for the entire break but for the most part. I know how full your schedule can get so I wanted to give you a heads up." she says with a soft smile.

In all honesty, I love my friend group. Ophelia and Victoria are practically my sisters. We met each other in grade school and became close quick. Nathan and Leo came later during high school. One day after volleyball practice, Ophelia and I were collecting the volleyballs. The boys team was coming in for their practice so we were running a little behind on cleanup. Leo thought it'd be funny to make us targets during his serving warm ups. It was one ball after another, and soon the other guys joined in. It wasn't until Victoria spiked a ball at Leo's head, causing him a mild concussion. She then continued to cuss a storm at him; calling him an asshole, jackass, dick, and the list goes on. Nathan started laughing so hard he fell to the ground hugging his stomach. Eventually Leo apologized to us and offered to make it up by buying ramen for all of us. Of course we took up the offer and we've been a group since.

"Osaka actually sounds fun. I'll try and see if I can take some time off from the shop." I say hopefully, which gets a smile from both girls.

The rest of the school day blurs and the next thing I know it's the end of the day. I walk with everyone to the front of the school where we say our goodbyes and disperse. I wait until they disappear from my eyesight and walk the opposite way. It's at least a mile from school but I don't mind the walk. I end up in a parking garage and make my way up each level. I immediately see my baby. A black wide body FRS; accompanied by black gloss rims, a rear wing, and my favorite addition yet, a custom paint job of a white Japanese dragon on both sides. I hop in and turn the keys, bringing the engine to life. I speed out of the garage and head to the meet. It's only been three weeks since the last one and my patience has been slowly dwindling. I know the turn out will not disappoint and it only makes me push more on the gas.

I arrive after a thirty minute drive and it's already starting to get packed. I reverse into a spot and cut the engine. I get out and look around, taking in the scene. There's rows of custom jdm's and tons of people walking around. There's even food trucks, a small stage with a dj, and designated spaces; typically for car limbo, burnouts, donuts, and a starting line. I get something to eat and start looking for Leo. Out of everyone in the group, he and I share the love for cars. It's honestly what brought us so close. I eventually spot him in the crowd dancing to the dj. He's a lean guy at 6'2 with brown eyes to match his chocolate brown hair. I walk over and work my way into the middle. He turns and sees me making my way to him.

"EVE!" he yells, the music blasting in the background. The dj is playing a mix of phonk which is exactly what the night needs.

"LEO!"

I finally reach him and we share a quick hug. He has the brightest smile and his eyes are filled with joy. He's practically lighting up.

"You made it! I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show."

"Yeah right. I'd never miss a meet. Just took my time, that's all."

"I don't believe it." he says, giving me a sly grin.

I opened my mouth when a familiar voice came through the speakers. Everyone turns to the stage to see Sam and Charlie, giving them a roar of welcome. The guys were legends in the car scene, hell they created it.

"Drivers, welcome to SPEED WARS!!"

End of Ch. 1