A few training laps flew by in a flash. I had already stopped feeling that I was sitting in a room with a VR helmet, reality dissolved in the glare of neon and the roar of engines.
The car listened better: every turn, every braking, vibrated in the body, and in the chest burned a fire that I did not know in myself before.
Akaha chuckled in the headphones:
— Not bad, little sister. You learn quickly.
I grinned as I caught the trajectory in another drift, but before I could respond, Akaha's words came with a special emphasis:
—But you know what? I have an offer for you.
—What kind of offer is that?
In response, Akaha stomped on the gas pedal. Her aggressively designed car shot forward like a wild animal. The roar of the engine shook her to the core.
—I've never played your Log Apofis, magic, bosses, curses… It's not my cup of tea. But! If you can win a race against me, I'll consider… and maybe I'll buy that disc. Then we can play your game together, too.
— What?! You've been skating for years! That's not fair!
My eyes widened in surprise. Akaha's laughter cut through the noise of the engines, ringing out boldly. Her words sounded so confident that I felt there was no way I could back down.
—There's no such thing as fair play in racing. It's all about the track, the speed, and your excitement.
—Come on, little sister. Prove that you can be not only a boss killer, but also a true racer.
The screen flashed with huge numbers: 3... 2... 1...
The neon blinked, the asphalt shimmered in the rain, and my heart raced as if it were trying to burst out of my chest. I could feel every drop of sweat, every tense muscle in my hands gripping the steering wheel.
It was even scarier than the boss fight in Log Apofis. There was strategy, calculation... but here it was all about one second of decision, one wrong move.
Just before the start, Akaha's voice came through my headphones, soft, almost a whisper, but all the more piercing for it:
—If you take a chance... you'll understand what true freedom is!
The traffic light turned green, and the world exploded with the roar of engines. I pushed the pedal to the floor, feeling the seat press into my back.
The car took off, and for a moment, everything around me blurred into the neon lines and the shine of wet asphalt.
—I won't give up without a fight today!
Next to her, Akaha roared louder, like a predator playing with its prey. She effortlessly steered the car into skids, as if dancing on the edge of speed.
At one point, her headlights flashed in the rear-view mirror, and I heard the editor's mocking voice in my headphones:
—Hey, writer! Are you coming up with a novel plot or are you finally going to overtake me?
Akaha deliberately honked her horn as she passed me, and her car slid forward in a perfect drift, as if mocking me.
I bit my lip, feeling a mix of anger and excitement run through my body. My fingers turned white from the force of my grip on the steering wheel.
—Wait until we reach the finish line... you'll end up in my book as a villain!
—Then I'll be the most stylish villain you've ever described!
Akaha laughed, a ringing, spirited sound that was both defiant and pleased. As she drifted so close to the guardrail that sparks flew from beneath her wheels.
On the last lap, the track exploded with neon lights, reflecting in the wet asphalt, as if the night itself had turned into an artery of a metropolis.
The cars roared at full throttle, the sound of their engines tearing through the air, and their hearts beat in sync, pumping blood faster.
I was as focused as if I were writing the final scene of a novel, where every line could turn the tide of history. Here, the turns were the words.
Every turn of the steering wheel was like choosing a word. Every press of the pedal was like placing a punctuation mark. Mistakes were not tolerated.
Ahead of her, Akaha's car was flying, her drift was flawless, precise, like a dance: smooth arcs of tires on the asphalt, confidently taking turns, playing on the edge of risk and skill.Even her voice carried a touch of mockery:
—Hey, writer, one more step and you'll be written off as a loser again!
Her hands were wet with tension, but her gaze remained steadfast. Suddenly, Akaha took a bold step during a sharp turn.
The wheels screeched, sparks flew from under the car, and it skidded slightly toward the fence. In an instant, it was losing its perfect trajectory. My heart sank, but at the same time, a flame ignited within me.
—This is my chance!
She stomped on the pedal. The car roared like a wild beast, and it seemed to catch the rhythm of the track on its own.
Akaha's instructions suddenly came back to me: let go of the gas, turn the wheel inward... and then stomp on it again.
The wheels made a perfect arc. The world seemed to slow down, the neon signs blurred into a line of light, the wind pushed me into my seat, and the engine rumbled like the heart of the track itself.
And in the next moment, I was at the finish line, and the screen was filled with bright numbers:
[Disava - 1st place.]
[Akaha - 2nd place.]
In the silence, my heavy breathing echoed in my ears, and my heart was still racing, as if it were its own engine. The world froze for a moment.
And then I heard a loud, genuine laugh filled with the excitement that drew people into this world of speed. Akaha laughed as if she had just been let off a leash:
—Damn! You've got me... And on the first try! What a plot twist!
I leaned back in my chair, exhausted but happy. A damp hand slid across my forehead, wiping away the sweat, as if I hadn't just been playing but had truly been driving at the limit of human capabilities.
—Well, now you owe me a Log Apofis Horizon. You promised.
—Okay, okay. I'll think about it. But you know what? Next time, I'll beat you so badly that you won't even be able to rewrite it in your book!