The distant roar of engines echoed through the canyon, a symphony of reckless ambition and desperation. The night air carried the scent of scorched rubber and gasoline, thick with the sting of loss and the electric thrill of victory.
Streetlights flickered against the chrome bodies of two cars as they tore down the last stretch of Turnbull Canyon Road, headlights slashing through the dark.
A Nissan 240SX-beaten, but tuned with all the bells and whistles.
An RX-7-sleek, untouchable. A king's chariot.
The race had already been decided.
The RX-7 slid to a stop first, its engine purring like a beast that had claimed its prey. The 240SX rolled in seconds later, its tires kicking up rocks in protest, carrying the weight of defeat upon stopping.
The driver of the RX-7, Isaac, a man with sharp cheekbones and sharper confidence, reached out and snatched up the pink slip from the outstretched hand of his rival. He twirled it between his fingers, savoring the moment.
Tonight, he owned these streets.
"That was intense, Josh," Isaac said, grinning as he inspected the slip. "But your car -"
Josh scowled, yanking off his gloves. "-is still worth more than your rent."
Laughter erupted from the gathered crowd of twenty racers, engines still humming in the background.
The night belonged to them-adrenaline, freedom, the sheer rush of defying gravity and chance.
And then-the peace broke. A Plea for Help could be heard echoing in the distance
The first of the girls burst onto the road, gasping for air.
Her hoodie was torn at the sleeve, her chest rising and falling too fast, her body shaking. Her eyes were wild, flicking over the stunned faces of the racers.
"Help!" she sobbed, almost tripping over herself. "Please! He's-he's dead!"
Behind her, lexi, Natalie, and Carlos stumbled onto the pavement, their faces just as stricken. They had all run together.
The crowd turned, confused.
"What the hell?" Isaac muttered, stepping forward.
Josh asked cautiously. "You kids lost or something?"
Carlos's breath was ragged. "You don't understand!" he snapped, eyes darting back toward the trees. "Something-killed our friend! Lucas-he just -" His voice broke, as if the words themselves didn't make sense.
Some of the racers exchanged wary glances.
The girl named Sophie gripped her own arms, trying to steady herself. "We have to get out of here now!"
Josh sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen, you gotta be more specific. Who's dead? What happened?"
Natalie shook her head violently. "No-he's not just dead. There's a monster up th-"
And then-their friend finally stepped into the light.
Carlos's called out to his friend. "Holy shit Lucas, you made it?"
Lucas opened his eyes slowly, his eyes burned red against the blackened backdrop of the night sky.
His mouth stretched too wide, revealing sharp dagger-like teeth.
Josh took a step back. "No fucking way-"
Then Lucas moved.
Isaac barely had time to process before Lucas slammed into the nearest racer, his teeth sinking into the man's throat.
A wet, ripping sound.
A choked gasp.
Then-a scream.
Blood splattered across the pavement.
Someone shouted. Others ran.
Lucas lifted his head, grinning through the blood.
Alfonso convulsed violently on the ground, veins pulsing black. His limbs twitched, body spasming-before stillness.
For a heartbeat, the night was silent.
Then Alfonso lifted his head.
His pupils burned red.
Slowly, Alfonso turned toward Lucas. And then-he smiled.
" .... hey brother?"
Panic Spreads Like Fire
Engines roared to life.
Some of the racers scrambled to their cars, throwing open doors, slamming gas pedals, tires screeching as they tore down the road. Each corner taken faster and faster. Fear outweighing control, Safety was a forgotten luxury—only outrunning the nightmare behind them mattered.
But not everyone got away.
Sophie, lexi, Natalie, and Carlos sprinted toward the rx-7 parked near the edge of the lot.
Isaac was already inside his RX-7, gripping the wheel tight, engine growling.
"Get in! Get the hell in!"
Carlos bolted to catch up to the girls jumping in their only escape.
Lucas was closing in too fast.
Natalie turned, eyes widening as carlos finally caught up to her. "Carlos, what are you-?"
Carlos shoved lexi-hard.
She stumbled, falling onto the pavement with a sharp cry.
Natalie screamed, reaching for her-but Carlos was already diving into the racer's car.
"GO!" he yelled.
Isaac didn't hesitate.
The tires shrieked.
Natalie, bleeding from a bite on her arm, barely managed to jump in before the door slammed shut. She clutched her wound wincing in pain. Tears streaking down her face.
She turned, looking through the back window in horror.
Lexi, sprawled on the ground, looked up at the car leaving in shock.
Lexi's eyes met Carlos's through the tinted window.
Her lips moved, but no sound came.
Just one word.
Why?
She barely had time to react before teeth met her throat.
A strangled gasp-then stillness.
Carlos let out a shaky breath, gripping his seatbelt.
Natalie shoved him, hard. "You asshole! You left her!"
Carlos didn't look at her. His jaw was clenched.
"You would've done the same."
He said it once more to himself. As he turned away. Searching out the windows fogged from his breath.
The front door slammed shut behind Isaac as he stepped into the dimly lit living room of his apartment, exhaling sharply. The weight of the night clung to him—blood, adrenaline, and the sickening aftertaste of survival. The three remaining teens stood near the entrance, their eyes darting toward the windows, restless, searching.
"You can crash here till morning," Isaac said, tossing his keys onto the counter. "By then, hopefully, this whole thing will die down."
Carlos scoffed, arms crossed. "We need to get home. Our families—"
"Are in the same place those things are," Isaac cut in, his voice even but firm. "You really think running back there changes anything? This is the safest place you've got."
Silence stretched. The tension in the air was almost suffocating.
Sophie turned then, her voice sharp, trembling. "Carlos—"
He met her gaze, and for the first time all night, his bravado cracked.
"We're done."
The words hit harder than any wound.
Carlos bit his lip, his hands clenching into fists. "Sophie, come on—"
"No." Her eyes burned with something raw and unforgiving. "You threw Lexi to them." The weight of it settled between them, heavy and final. "She was your friend, our friend, and you left her."
Carlos took a step forward, anger flashing across his face, but Isaac's presence at her side made him stop. His hand brushed his jaw, teeth grinding.
"Fine," he muttered, turning away.
Carlos lay back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. His hands were still balled into fists, nails digging into his palms.
She was wrong. She had to be.
Lexi was dead, sure. But it wasn't his fault.
Was it?
He forced his eyes shut, but the image of her—crumpled on the pavement, eyes wide, mouthing that one word—Why?—played like an old movie behind his eyelids.
His fingers twitched. His breath came slower, heavier.
He felt warm. Too warm.
Isaac didn't say anything. he just moved to Natalie, who sat on the couch, silent and pale. Blood crusted around the wound on her arm, her fingers twitching slightly as she stared ahead, unfocused.
"You're burning up," Isaac muttered, kneeling beside her. "This'll sting."
Natalie barely reacted as he cleaned her wound, her breaths shallow. The room was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of alcohol-dampened gauze dragging over torn skin.
Sophie retreated into Isaac's room, slamming the door behind her.
Natalie turned onto her side, curling into herself. Her body trembled, an unnatural heat settling under her skin. The rain outside began tapping against the windows, soft at first, then growing heavier.
For a moment, the sounds around her felt distant—Isaac's voice, the hum of the refrigerator, even her own breathing. Like she was slipping underwater.
Then, in the dark reflection of the TV screen, her eyes flickered.
Red.