The starter stepped onto the track, the green flag held high. The world went silent for a heartbeat as the two rivals waited for the drop. The green flag snapped downward, cutting through the tension like a blade. With a scream of tires and a cloud of white smoke, Bianca’s car shot forward. She was a seasoned racer, and she used every bit of her experience to tilt her car inward, instantly cutting off Clara’s path. For the first three laps, Bianca was a wall of steel. Every time Clara tried to peek around the corner, Bianca would swerve, her tires kicking up gravel and dust to blind the girl behind her. "Stay back where you belong, Lancaster!" Bianca hissed inside her helmet, watching her rearview mirror with a predatory grin. But inside her own cockpit, Clara wasn't panicking. She closed her eyes for a split second. Suddenly, the world changed. On the final lap, they approached a very sharp turn, so sharp and dangerous that most drivers apply their brakes when they g

The giant screens on the school field flickered with the image of the massive fireball. The black smoke rose like a dark tower into the sky. For a long, painful minute, the entire school fell into a silence so deep you could hear the wind brushing against the banners. Leo fell to his knees, his tablet sliding from his hands and clattering onto the grass. He buried his face in his palms, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed. Beside him, Maya was hysterical, her hands clutching her hair. "No! Clara! No!" she wailed. The teachers were frozen, and even the referee dropped his whistle. The anniversary celebration was over. The music was cut, and the principal stepped toward the microphone with a trembling hand to announce the tragedy and bring the event to a close. But then, a figure appeared at the edge of the track. The dust was still swirling around her, but she walked with a steady, rhythmic pace. Her racing suit was slightly dusty, and her hair was a bit messy,

The smell of hot beef noodles filled the air. Leo sat at the small kitchen table with his parents, slurping his soup while his father talked about work. Suddenly, his tablet—which sat next to his bowl—vibrated with a sharp, high-pitched ping. Leo frowned. It was an anonymous, encrypted message. He tapped the screen under the table. [FILE RECEIVED: 4.2GB] - "I know what you did to that car. Meet me in the school gym at 9:00 PM if you want the proof to save Clara. Come alone." Leo’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up at his parents, trying to keep his face calm. "I... uh... I forgot I left a project running in the school lab," Leo lied, standing up quickly. "It might overheat if I don't shut it down. I'll be back in an hour!" "At this time, Leo?" his mother asked, concerned. "It's worth a lot of credit, Mom! I'll be fast!" He didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed his jacket and sprinted out the door. At exactly 9:00 PM, Leo pushed open the heavy, creaking doors of the

Clara didn't look afraid; she looked exhausted. She rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "I knew it was you three. Honestly, don't you have lives? Don't you have hobbies? Why is it that every time I turn around, you’re in the dark somewhere causing trouble?" Bianca stepped forward, her heels clicking rhythmically. She held up a high-end digital video camera. "Oh, Clara. Still so arrogant. You have a real hero complex, don't you? Running into a trap just to save a little geek who doesn't matter." Bianca turned the camera on, the red recording light blinking like a predatory eye. "Tonight, the world sees the real you. By tomorrow morning, every student at St. Jude’s will watch a video of the 'Great Clara Lancaster' on her knees, crawling and begging for mercy. Your little win at the Grand Prix? It’ll be a distant memory once they see you crying on this floor." Clara actually laughed—a sharp, genuine sound that bounced off the rafters. "Is that what this is about? It really pained y

She tried to remember what happened last night but she couldn't The last thing she remembered was the race. Everything else was a terrifying, empty fog. "Why are you all laughing? Get out! Everyone, get out!"But the laughter only grew louder. The spell of fear she had cast over the school was broken. She didn't look like a queen, but an anker teenager who had spent the night in a gym closet.Clara and Leo stood at the very back of the crowd. Clara leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed and a small, knowing smile on her lips. She felt the pendant against her chest—cool, quiet, and satisfied.Leo leaned in, whispering so only she could hear. "They really don't remember a thing, do they? It's like someone hit the delete button on their brains."Clara didn't blink as Bianca’s eyes finally landed on her. The "Ice Queen" was shivering in her ruined uniform. Bianca pointed a shaking finger toward the back of the hall."You!" Bianca shrieked, her voice cracking in front of the ent