YEAR 2110
From the sky, the city unfolded like an ocean of bright lights and towering metal structures standing imposingly against the darkness of the firmament. The skyscrapers, with facades illuminated by thousands of flickering neon lights, formed a futuristic landscape where progress and chaos intertwined.
We descend between these colossi of steel and glass, navigating through the aerial traffic of floating vehicles speeding through the skies, leaving behind trails of multicolored light. The sound of their engines was a constant hum, an echo of the city that never slept.
We shift scenes. Among the older and more neglected buildings of the metropolis stood Aurora School, an institution with a history full of contrasts. Troubled youths mixed with brilliant minds there, though the latter were scarce. The building's walls were covered in graffiti of various colors—some simple gang signatures, others philosophical phrases or chaotic drawings. The broken windows, patched with plastic and adhesive tape, bore witness that this place was far from a temple of education and more of a concrete jungle where the law of the strongest prevailed.
We move through its hallways. The air smelled of dampness and rusted metal. The lockers were dented—some missing doors, others with padlocks precariously hanging. A few students ran through the corridors, pushing and shouting, while others leaned against the walls, watching indifferently or plotting who knows what.
In the midst of this chaos, a young man remained calm, organizing his belongings in his locker. Andreas.
He was a student known for his troublesome reputation. Outside of school, he had been involved in countless fights, accumulating a police record that any fugitive criminal would envy. However, within the school, he maintained a more controlled image, though his mere presence was intimidating to many.
His outfit was unmistakable: a sleeveless black shirt, dark pants reinforced at the knees, and heavy boots. A black hood covered part of his face, casting a shadow over his eyes. No matter the temperature, Andreas always wore that hood—a detail that sparked rumors among students. Some said he hid scars; others believed he simply enjoyed anonymity.
As he finished closing his locker, a presence made itself known beside him.
—Hey... —a voice said.
Andreas turned his head and smirked slightly upon seeing Gabriel, his only friend.
—Ah... Hello, Gabriel.
Gabriel was the only one who had dared to approach him. Most students avoided him, either out of fear or because they found him strange. If Andreas sat somewhere, others would move away. Always alone—until Gabriel came along. Since then, the two had become inseparable.
Gabriel slipped a hand into his pocket and murmured in a casual tone:
—Oh... I almost forgot. Do you have what I asked for?
Andreas raised an eyebrow, then turned back to his locker and pulled out a screwdriver.
—Here you go. I remembered you asked for it. —He said, handing it over.
Gabriel took the tool and nodded with satisfaction.
—Thanks, man.
Andreas crossed his arms with curiosity.
—So? What do you need it for?
—I’ll tell you later. Tonight, we’re going to the warehouse.
—Alright.
The two walked together through the hallways, avoiding unnecessary attention.
Four hours passed before the school day ended. When they finally left the building, they headed towards the back, where a series of metal staircases descended into the depths of the city. As they went down, the surface light gradually faded, and darkness grew more dominant.
Gabriel, leading the way, raised his left hand. A series of engravings glowed faintly on his palm, and a blue hologram emerged from his skin. He slid his fingers over the options until he found the function he was looking for: flashlight.
He tapped the holographic interface, and instantly, a black sphere emerged from his hand, floating in the air. In a flash, the sphere emitted a powerful white light, illuminating their path. Gabriel grabbed it with a swift motion and absorbed it back into his hand.
—That thing still impresses me. —Andreas remarked as they descended.
Finally, they reached an alleyway. The streets in this area were gloomy, covered in dust and debris. Fog drifted between the low, crumbling buildings. Occasionally, in the distance, the sound of cars crashing against the pavement could be heard, falling from unimaginable heights.
They walked through several abandoned streets until they arrived at a warehouse. The massive metal door slowly slid upward with a mechanical hum. Inside, the place was enormous. Hundreds of tools hung on the walls, and in the center, two vehicles were covered with tarps.
Gabriel stepped forward and, with a pull, revealed his car: a Tein Phoenix A-42 model, painted in red and black. Its design was aerodynamic, with an elongated front that ended in an aggressive diagonal line. Two small red flags adorned the tip of the car. On the sides, a thin strip of red neon ran across the chassis. At the rear, a square thruster awaited ignition.
Andreas whistled in admiration.
—A beauty... A Tein Phoenix A-42 with Krai styling... Didn’t you say you installed Tein capsules in the core?
Gabriel chuckled proudly.
—Heh... yeah.
Andreas approached his own vehicle and pulled off the tarp. His car had a similar aesthetic to Gabriel’s, but with blue neon details. Its front ended in three metallic spikes, and the rear thruster had a rectangular shape. At the back, a holographic screen projected an intermittent message: "SPEED!"
—Not bad... —Gabriel murmured with a smile.
—Heh... thanks.
They started their engines. A soft hiss escaped from them, barely perceptible. The warehouse door opened wide. Gabriel exited first, drifting on the asphalt before propelling his car into the air. In seconds, he climbed 800 meters, positioning himself between the buildings.
Andreas wasn’t far behind, catching up with him mid-air.
Through the car’s communicator, Gabriel spoke:
—Let’s go to the clan.
—I’m right behind you.
Both accelerated, flying between the skyscrapers and leaving trails of light.
That would be Andreas’ last night in the city.
The engines roared with a clean and powerful sound as Andreas and Gabriel accelerated between the gigantic buildings of the city. At full speed, they skidded through the air, dodging holographic advertisements and floating platforms, enjoying the vertigo and adrenaline of the moment. Reflections of neon lights glided across the bodywork of their vehicles as they chased each other as if they were in a private race, just like in the old days.
After a few minutes of pure speed, the two reached their destination: a huge modified industrial building, whose large metal door slowly slid upward with a mechanical sound. Inside, the HIGHWAY STARS base was buzzing with activity. Dozens of clan members moved among the parked vehicles, checking engines, adjusting suspensions and testing new acceleration systems. Others were simply chatting, laughing and enjoying the chaotic but familiar atmosphere.
Andreas and Gabriel turned off the engines of their cars and descended, exchanging glances with some members who greeted them with respect. Both were the leaders of the clan, the pillars that had built this place from scratch. However, each had a different view of what it meant.
For Andreas, HIGHWAY STARS was more than a group of racers; it was a family, a haven where everyone had a place, regardless of their past or their problems. Here, the rules of the outside world didn't matter so much. All that mattered was speed and loyalty.
For Gabriel, however, the clan represented something else: power. It was not just a refuge, but a platform to rise above others, to show dominance and respect on the streets. It wasn't just a community; it was a kingdom where he and Andreas were kings.
Without saying much, they both rode an elevator up to the roof of the building. From there, the city stretched out in an endless sea of light and shadow, with the overhead freeways and floating billboards twinkling like artificial stars.
Andreas remained silent for a moment, his hands in his pockets and his gaze lost in the vastness of the metropolis. Gabriel, noticing his attitude, frowned.
-Hey... What's up? -he asked, crossing his arms.
Andreas sighed before answering, without taking his eyes off the horizon.
-I'm leaving... I'm leaving town tomorrow.
The impact of those words hit Gabriel like a bolt of lightning.
-What? Why? -she asked incredulously, turning to face him.
Andreas pursed his lips before speaking.
-I need answers about my family, Gabriel.... I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, but I know it's not here. And besides... -he paused- I have to get over this. My fear of being alone.
Gabriel looked down for a moment. He knew Andreas had struggled with that fear for years, but he never imagined it would come to the point of leaving.
-“I don't know how the hell you plan to overcome that being alone somewhere else,” he said with a mocking tone, though his voice had a tinge of concern in it, “but if you think it's the right thing to do.... I'm not going to stop you.
Andreas smiled slightly.
-Thank you... I hope you don't mind if I leave the clan.
Gabriel shook his head and gave him a little punch on the arm.
-Don't be an idiot. It doesn't matter if you leave, you'll always have a place here.
Andreas felt a momentary relief. In spite of everything, Gabriel supported him.
They stood there in silence, watching the lights of the city, as if they wanted to engrave that image in their memory. After a while, they both came down from the rooftop and went back inside the building.
The next day
The first lights of dawn bathed the city in a golden hue as Andreas climbed into his car. At the entrance to the barracks, several members of the clan had accompanied him to see him off. There were no speeches, only pats on the back and silent nods of respect.
From the top of the building, Gabriel watched the scene with his arms folded, saying nothing.
Andreas started the engine and glanced one last time at the HIGHWAY STARS base. Then, without further thought, he accelerated and took off into the air, heading towards the horizon.
Gabriel followed him with his eyes until he disappeared between the buildings. Finally, he sighed and turned around, heading back into the building.
Andreas' era at HIGHWAY STARS was over. But his journey was just beginning.