"Hey, guess who's back?"

His voice rang in my ears and stuck itself on repeat. My breath hitched and my muscles tensed as he rammed me again, only this time with more force, causing my rear 2 tires to lose contact with the road. Before he had a chance to send me off the cliffside, I downshifted into 2nd gear, my tachometer needle leaping towards 6,000 RPM, and put the pedal down in hopes of creating distance. I surged away, but with all these corners he the vehicular arsonist kept pace in his modified race car.

I kept sparing glances towards my rearview, everytime in doing so my eyes feverishly dart back to the road, still in utter disbelief he broke jurisdiction and tailed me out of Rockport. His face kept bringing back old wounds. Mia's real identity as a UC, the bridge jump, and my initial encounter towards the top of the mountain where we nearly sent me into a shock induced coma. Nevertheless, I finally found a rhythm, and the tunnel vision warps around my peripherals as I continue widening the gap I just created between me and him.

Every motion was fluid, every gear shift through my straight-cut H-pattern shifter was seamless, every flick of the wheel my clammy hands brush against the alcantara adorning the circumference. My fine pedal work from right heel on the brake, toe on the gas, and left foot working the clutch was so effortless. High pressure situations are a commodity I've grown used to in Rockport. Everytime you pulled up at a red light there was always the sinking feeling you'd come face to face with a cop who recognized the heat level you and your car had garnered, and soon a pursuit was underway. Civic cruisers may as well have been Devil's children in my quest to reclaim my car.

A series of hairpins followed and a straightaway opened up and I let loose. A long sweeping right approached, and I kept my foot firmly planted on the gas. I made contact with a metal support beam and a bunch of warning signs. Thinking it was a pursuit breaker as I would in any other police scenario, I soldiered through it, in hopes this would total my pursuer's car and let me carry on.

Oh no. We couldn't have me getting away this time, could we?

Reaching the end of the site, an 18-wheeler bearing concrete pipes stood from lane to lane, blocking my escape entirely. I quickly on instinct whip the back end out into a 180, pulverised my transmission synchros in putting the car into 1st gear, and spun the tires in hopes of not losing any momentum on my exit.

Well it turned out those pipes were on the cop's side tonight.

My spoiler got caught on one of the cables tying down the pipes, and sheared it clean off, allowing a path for the pipes to freefall on top of my car. Hearing the impact and visualizing the dents a few of them made, I kept the tachometer needle at redline, the nylon tubes within my semi-slicks threatening to rupture under the heat and friction. Now I was seriously panicking for the first time in awhile. Just as I found a weak form of traction, the Corvette appeared in front of me, and I had no choice but to slam on the brakes entirely and stall out the car, just as the rest of the tower of concrete collapsed on every part of the car, effectively totalling it.

I undid the harnesses trapping me in the driver's seat, forgetting completely about my keys, not that it mattered anyway. I made a move to open the drivers door, and as soon as it hinged out ever so slightly, the man behind the chase ran up and slammed it shut, kinking my wrist back.

"SIT down!"

Oh shit. This is it. Everything is going to come crashing down on me at this very moment. All the bounty I've attained, the Cost to State I've racked up, the countless number of infractions I've caused.

Yep. I had one hell of a clean rap sheet to support my future court hearing. Can't wait for the newspaper headlines "Fugitive Street Racer Faces Trial for Limitless List of Infractions"

Fun.

"...How ya been?"

Yeah…... My heat level within the area made it so any and all safe spots were compromised ever since Mia had been the weasel behind my orchestrated downfall. Forced to flee back home where police activity is minimal and my wanted level may as well be non-existent.

So I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

"It's time to settle a little score from Rockport, you think?"

I suppose I had unpaid debts elsewhere besides home. Although in those cases I thoroughly thought I could outrun my problems. I guess not now. In my mini delusional state, I heard the sound of 2 engines roll up. I made one out to be a Jaguar XKR, and the other sounded like a Lambo V10, but I couldn't make out the make and model of the car; must've been a new release. 2 men in suits stepped out of the Jag, and the other was a face I never thought I'd see again.

Darius.

He's here to bail me out again. Great, another mistake to tack onto the bulletin board of fuck ups from the past. While this technically IS Silverton, no way he'd come up here for a cop chase and a bit of noise, unless he knew it was me, or someone else. He approached my assailant with a calm demeanor and relaxed posture, taking off his shades and scoffing in disbelief at the whole scenario. I found it confusing at first.

"I DON'T remember asking for your help, Croc."

"What makes you think you can bounty hunt in Silverton without my approval?"

Oh, so these 2 had history. And he didn't know it was me. At least not yet.

Well, at least some questions were answered. I suppose the former cop gave up his day job, seeing that my fortuitous capture would've been worth more than his current salary. But the sucky part on that end is me knowing he's going to stick around town if I'm staying, and that's a variable I don't need.

"It's Cross."

Ok, and their relationship isn't the greatest. Something to archive for later.

"...And THIS guy is from outta town!" He jerks his hand back, pointing directly at me in the driver's seat.

"Been a long time, kid."

Doesn't he know it. I can see Cross fuming over the events that are unfolding, probably pissed nobody asked him about the bounty he needs to collect. After all, it isn't charity work taking down a guy who single-handedly ran an entire police force through the industrial ridden town of Rockport. I guess he never REALLY recovered from that, his Post Bridge Jump Disorder kicking in.

"What's his bounty?"

God. Fucking. Damnit. Indebted to him yet again. He was going to bail me out. TWICE. How he's able to front the cash I have no idea. But I don't dwell on that, instead focus on Cross. Cross pauses for a sec, and says a number nowhere near my total cumulative bounty. But hey, at least I'm not paying anyone back 10 million dollars.

"A hundred and fifty K."

I'll take it. It's extremely low, probably figuring he can't extort much more from him. Just take what he can get and move along.

"David, take care of this guy."

Cross nods in approval, shaking his fist in pure exaltion as he moves to collect his earnings.

Darius approaches my car slightly, leaning down to peer into my open window. Shades still in hand, smartass smirk still plastered on his face. He knew I was cornered; he was always good at manipulating the playing field to which I CAN'T really fault him for. He had a knack for gaining the upper hand on any and everything, and it garnered him his wealth. Because of all the back pocket cash, I got my shot at making a name for myself.

"So…...that's what you've been up to?"

Give or take. I've only travelled cross country, nailed magazine covers, and had my trust ripped in half by someone who I thought I could hold faith in; all in separate towns. Yeah, nothing too serious.

Just then he flicks his head up, and looks in the direction of yet another car approaching. It's supercharged, definitely a V8, and it doesn't sound like redline is too high either. It pulls up next to the aftermath, and I see a kitted out Ford GT. I figure this is HIS boss, the one who calls his shots. I couldn't have been more wrong, although I sincerely wished I was.

"Nikki. This should be interesting."

It was her, and she's definitely changed. No longer were the bangs, instead a long, tight ponytail held up in the back. The casual baggy T-shirt and hotpants were replaced by a blue tank and beige shorts. All wrapped up in a leather overcoat with a callsign on the shoulder. Military? No way. Maybe an enforcer for a crew? That sounds more like her.

Although those contradict her personality. Nikki never fared well under pressure, evident at the race the night I took off. If she were to take on the role of an enforcer, that means her little girl personality had matured. And something told me the woman in front of me wasn't exactly keen on my arrival. Don't believe me? Look at her momentary pause as she opens the door, locks eyes with me, and stomps over to my side in a half-run, shouting profanities.

"How dare you show your face here!"

I flinched at her words. I hadn't done anything worthy of that, did I? Was there something I missed? She was coming closer, and I finally decided to face the music and step out of the car. Flexing my sore muscles under my signature leather jacket. That impact really winded me, and standing made it much worse.

Just in time, Darius swoops in and picks Nikki up by the waist and restrains her from whooping my ass; which I'm aware she is perfectly capable of doing.

"Let GO of me!"

"Woah woah woah, control yourself"

Nikki finally calmed down and began seething a few feet behind Darius, albeit very reluctantly, with folded arms and face locked towards the pavement. Eye contact after all this time apart isn't really fairing her well. Just then, Cross fires up his 'Vette, and peels off in the opposite direction, dodging the road signs I had moved. I did stifle a laugh seeing him knock over a road sign in the distance on his ascent up the hill. Once my little reverie was interrupted, Darius began once again;

"I still don't know what happened the night you took off, but I do know you're into me now for some serious cash." He paused for a sec, formulating a plan for me I'm sure. "Things have been getting a little too close for comfort around here with all these crews battling for new territory. I think I could use someone with your skills to help me out."

Yup I knew exactly where this was going. No transaction between Darius left out a condition, or a guilt trip into making you stick around. This time around was no exception.

"The way I see things, I've bailed you out of a serious jam twice now….time for you to return the favor." I listen intently to his proposition, but I can't help but sneak glances towards Nikki. Something isn't sitting quite right and I don't know what it is. Was she mad I never contracted her? Did something happen after the race I wasn't there to witness. I won't know.

"Nikki, what do you say you show your old friend the ropes?" Well there goes any sense of serenity in this scenario

And as she marches up on his left side…."You've gotta be joking right?" Yeah she was NOT having any part of me voluntarily.

"You got a better idea? Then lets get 'em started, right away."

After that, Darius had me extremely shook, and knew he had me trapped. He kissed Nikki. So now I have another mystery solved, albeit only partially. My emotions went haywire. My mouth hung agape, I tried getting in a single word, after a prolonging of pure silence. I couldn't seem to move, that one singular motion wrapped my body and my motor functions in paralysis and time seemed to stop. She seemed to enjoy my writhing as well, a very faint smirk appearing on her face.

"Don't disappoint, not again."