Dante walked through the crowded school halls, his mind still buzzing from the conversation with Rico. His thoughts raced, but his body moved on autopilot, blending into the flow of students heading to their next class. He'd been running from his past for so long, keeping his head down, staying out of sight, and now, everything felt like it was unraveling.
They're coming for you. Rico's words echoed in his head, a warning that kept his nerves on edge. He had always known it was a possibility, but hearing it said out loud, knowing they were closer than he'd thought—it made it real.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. For a split second, his heart jumped, expecting another cryptic message, another sign that his time was running out. But it was just Emily.
Emily: Got extra practice after school. Catch up with you later?
Dante stared at the message for a moment, his fingers hovering over the screen. He needed to keep her safe, but he also needed to find out more. He typed back a quick response.
Dante: Sure. Stay safe.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and made his way to his next class. Everything around him felt like background noise—students chatting, lockers slamming, the faint echo of a teacher's voice calling out attendance. It was like he was living in a dream, disconnected from the world.
By the time the final bell rang, Dante felt like he was walking on a tightrope, his nerves stretched thin. The weight of his secret felt heavier than ever, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it together.
He made his way out of the school building, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might recognize him. He wasn't in the mood for small talk or friendly faces. Right now, he had only one thing on his mind: the meeting with Rico.
The track was empty when Dante arrived. The fading sun cast long shadows across the field, and the cool evening air felt like a welcome relief after the suffocating pressure of the day. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind, but it was no use. His thoughts kept circling back to one thing: the facility.
He hadn't thought about it in years. Not really. The nightmares came and went, flashes of the sterile white walls and the cold, clinical faces of the doctors who had worked on him. But now, it was all rushing back, like a floodgate had been opened.
Dante clenched his fists, trying to steady his breathing. He couldn't lose it now. He had to stay focused, had to figure out what was going on before it was too late.
A rustling sound broke the silence, and Dante turned sharply to see Rico approaching from the other side of the track. His usual swagger was absent, replaced by a more serious expression. Whatever this was, it wasn't a casual conversation.
"You showed up," Rico said, nodding as he came to a stop a few feet away.
"You didn't exactly leave me much choice," Dante replied, crossing his arms. "What's this about, Rico? What's really going on?"
Rico sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Look, I know you're freaked out, and I don't blame you. But you need to understand something—this is bigger than just you. These people, the ones who made you? They've got their hands in everything. Underground races, black market deals, even some of the legal sports leagues. They're everywhere."
Dante's stomach twisted. He had always suspected that the organization behind his creation was powerful, but hearing it laid out like this made it feel more ominous than ever.
"So what do you want me to do?" Dante asked, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. "I can't just go up against them."
"You're not going to," Rico said, his tone firm. "Not alone, anyway. There are people who've been watching, people who've been trying to stop them for years. I've got connections—people who can help. But we need you."
"Why me?" Dante asked, frustration seeping into his voice. "Why can't you just find someone else?"
Rico shook his head. "Because you're the one they want. You're their most valuable asset. And if we're going to take them down, we need someone who can get inside, someone who can beat them at their own game."
Dante clenched his jaw, his mind racing. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to disappear, to protect Emily by staying far away from all of this. But deep down, he knew Rico was right. If he didn't act now, it was only a matter of time before they came for him—and for her.
"What do I have to do?" Dante asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rico's expression softened, but there was still a steely determination in his eyes. "We start by gathering information. I've got people keeping tabs on their operations, but we need more. We need to know where they're moving, who their key players are, and what their next steps might be. And that's where you come in."
Dante frowned. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"You've already been in their sights," Rico said. "You've been running the underground races, getting close to their network without even realizing it. We use that. You keep racing, but this time, you're doing it for us."
Dante felt a surge of panic at the thought. He had barely managed to keep his abilities under control during the races, and now Rico wanted him to go deeper into the world that had already put a target on his back?
"I don't know if I can do that," Dante said, shaking his head. "What if I slip up? What if they find out what I am?"
"That's a risk we'll have to take," Rico said. "But trust me, you're not alone in this. We'll be watching your back every step of the way."
Dante's heart pounded in his chest. It felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, about to leap into the unknown. Every instinct screamed at him to walk away, to find another way. But the thought of Emily, of what could happen if they got to her—it was enough to push him forward.
"Fine," Dante said, his voice steady. "I'll do it. But if things go sideways, I'm pulling out. I'm not risking Emily's safety."
Rico nodded, his expression grim. "Deal. We'll take it one step at a time."
Dante felt the weight of the decision settle over him, but there was no turning back now. He was in this, whether he liked it or not.
That night, Dante sat alone in his room, staring at the message from Rico on his phone. His mind was still racing, trying to process everything that had happened. The decision to join Rico's fight felt monumental, like a door had closed behind him, locking him into a path he wasn't sure he wanted to take.
But he couldn't think about that now. He had made his choice. He just had to hope it was the right one.
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. Another message from Rico.
Rico: Tomorrow night. There's a race in the warehouse district. Be there. We'll start getting the intel we need.
Dante's stomach churned, but he didn't hesitate. He typed back a quick response.
Dante: I'll be there.
He stared at the screen for a moment longer before setting the phone down and leaning back against his bed. The room felt too quiet, too small. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him, but he couldn't back out now.
Tomorrow, everything would change.