The woman waiting at the garage's threshold didn't belong to the streets.
She wore a coat stitched with high-tech thread, gold accents glinting under the fluorescents. Her hair was silver—not dyed, but natural, and her gaze sharp like it had seen a hundred races and won most of them.
"Name's Sabine Vale," she said, extending a gloved hand. "I represent the Spire League."
Reyna didn't take the hand. "You're far from the towers."
Sabine smiled coolly. "Exactly where I need to be. I've heard of you. The Neon Valkyrie. The girl who took down Valk's remnants with a garage full of misfits. We'd like to offer you a shot at the Ascension Circuit."
Avery stepped forward. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. Only stakes. The kind that can get you killed. Or make you immortal."
Reyna's jaw tightened. "I don't race for titles."
Sabine raised an eyebrow. "But you used to. Before the Council blacklisted you. Before they put a price on your head for breaking their rules."
Reyna didn't flinch, but Avery saw the flicker in her eyes.
"You enter," Sabine continued, "you get a clean slate. Council pardons. Corporate protection. Your garage gets a lift, your crew gets funding. You get power."
"And if I lose?"
"Then you lose everything. Including her." Sabine glanced at Avery, then back at Reyna. "They'll make her disappear. The Council doesn't tolerate time anomalies."
Avery felt her stomach twist.
Sabine left them with a sleek black data shard and a message: "Decision in 48 hours. The next slot is yours—if you're brave enough to take it."
That night, the garage buzzed with tension. Reyna stood on the roof, arms folded, staring out at the lights.
Avery joined her quietly.
"I know what you're thinking," Avery said. "But I'm not afraid."
Reyna looked at her, conflict carved deep into her features. "I am. I just got you. I don't want to lose you to their game."
"You won't," Avery said. She stepped closer, took Reyna's hand. "If we do this, we do it on our terms. Together. And if we fall, we fall holding on."
Reyna turned to face her fully, cupped her cheek. "You make me believe in the impossible."
Avery smiled. "Good. Because we've got a race to win."
And from far above, in the towers of the Spire, someone watched them through a screen.
And smiled.