The night air still carried the acrid scent of smoke and oil where the crash had happened. Shards of motorcycle glistened faintly in the gutter, like the city itself was holding on to what had happened only hours before. The street was quiet now, but the damage lingered, bent railings, skid marks etched into the asphalt, the twisted wreckage of a bike carted away not long ago.
The police chief Mercer stood at the edge of the broken street, his heavy boots crunching against scattered debris. His jaw was clenched, the faint glow of a half-burnt streetlamp casting shadows across his face. He stared at the dark stretch ahead, a street with no working lights, a street where even the bravest didn't linger. His fist curled tight at his side.
"I swear." he muttered under his breath, voice rough with anger. "I won't let him get away with this."
Behind him, the hurried footsteps of a young officer broke the silence. "Chief!" the cop called, slightly out of breath. "He's awake!"
The chief spun, his expression shifting instantly. "Where?"
"At the ambulance, sir. They stabilized him."
The chief wasted no time. His long strides carried him quickly to the cluster of flashing lights where paramedics worked around the injured officer. The young man's uniform was torn, blood seeping through bandages hastily applied to his chest and leg. His breathing was shallow, labored, but his eyes flickered open when the chief leaned over him.
"Hey- hey, can you hear me?" the chief said firmly, gripping the officer's shoulder as if anchoring him to life.
The young man blinked. His lips moved weakly. "...Chief?"
"I'm here. Just stay with us."
The officer's eyes rolled, fighting for focus. "...Night Rider..." he rasped.
The chief's brows furrowed. "...So it was him."
The officer coughed, chest heaving, and tears suddenly welled in his eyes. "We... we can't win. Even with these bikes..." His voice broke, strangled with defeat. "I... I even tried to hurt the guy..."
A single tear slid down his bloodied cheek before his body gave out. The paramedics worked quickly, lowering him back onto the stretcher, checking vitals as his eyes drifted shut again.
The chief stepped back, his face unreadable but his fists trembling with restrained fury.
Morning at the station came heavy with tension. The chatter in the halls was sharper, whispers trailing like smoke, Officers clustered in corners, eyes flicking up whenever a door opened. The weight of last night's crash hung over everyone like a storm cloud ready to strike.
Kai leaned forward fidgeting with a pen. Eli sat across from him, flipping through a half-finished report. For a moment, it almost felt normal two rookies killing time in the lull before orders.
"Everyone-listen up!"
The station fell silent. Every officer's head snapped toward the front where chief Mercer stood, his expression carved from stone. In his hands was a fresh poster, the ink still sharp, the face of a helmeted rider's blur in all black.
"Officer Ross is in the ER right now," the chief said, his voice loud. He slammed the poster against the desk so hard to wood rattled. "Because of him. Night Rider."
The room stirred with anger, fear, and disbelief but no one dared interrupt.
"Night Rider has always been our main enemy," the chief continued, his voice deepening, shaking with restrained rage. "But never has he been this bold. Never has he done something this reckless. He's hurt one of out own. And we are not going to let him get away with it."
His hand slammed down again, palm flat on the poster.
"starting tomorrow, we're upping patrols in the central sector. Every street, every alley, every shadow. He won't have room to breathe. Dismissed."
The chief turned sharply, storming back into his officer. The echo of his boots echoed long after he was gone.
Kai leaned toward the wanted poster still on his desk. His usual smirk was gone. "Did he just say Night Rider sent one of out guys to the hospital?"
Eli nodded, his voice quiet, almost uncertain. "Yeah. I don't know how that's possible, but... I heard some guys talking about it when I came in today. Turns out it was real bad. Investigators said Night Rider led him straight into the broken street."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Broken street?"
Eli blinked at him. "How have you never heard of it? You live on the rebel side, don't you?"
Kai shrugged, though is eyes stayed locked on the poster.
"It's a street where all the streetlights are out," Eli explained, leaning closer like he was sharing a secret. "Most dangerous street in the whole city, especially at night. And what I think is... Night Rider used that. Used his knowledge of the streets to trap Officer Ross."
Kai's jaw tightened. "So he knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to hurt him. It's not like it wasn't an accident."
"That's what it seems like."
Eli glanced sideways at Kai. For a moment he caught something in his friend's eyes.. rage, maybe, something deeper. A storm churning beneath the surface, gone as quickly as it appeared.
Kai pushed back his chair, standing abruptly. "Mira might know something about this. She's gotten close to their crew. Let's go."
Eli blinked but quickly nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."
The cafe bell chimed as they stepped inside. Warm air filled with the smell of coffee and fresh bread wrapped around them, but Kai wasted no time.
"Mira," he called sharply the second he saw her. "Where were you yesterday?"
Mira froze mid-step, wide eyed. "I... I was at home. Why?"
"Did you hear what Night Rider did?" Kai pressed.
"No?"
Eli stepped forward gently. "He made one of our cops crash. On purpose."
Mira's lips parted, but before she could speak, the bell above the door jingled again.
Two figures stepped inside, one with sharp eyes and long purple hair, the other taller, broader, with a cool stare. It was Rika and Taro.
Kai stiffened. "Who the hell are you?"
Rika smirked. "I could say the same thing to you."
Mira's face paled. "Oh no... this is bad."
Taro tilted his head standing up for Rika. "Do we have a problem?"
Kai squared his shoulders. "I don't know. Do we?"
For a moment, silence burned between them, the four locked in a tense standoff. Then Rika's expression flipped in an instant.
"Mira!!" she cried, darting past the boys and wrapping Mira in a tight hug. "How you doing, girl?"
Mira stammered, "G-good."
Kai's brows furrowed. "You know these people?"
The girl shot him a sharp glance. "Yeah, she does. What's it to you?"
Kai smirked faintly. "Actually this is perfect. Maybe you can answer some of our questions."
The girl raised and eyebrow, half-curious, half-annoyed. "Depends on the question."
"Where were you last night?"
Rika grinned, amused. "Ohhh, I already know what you're trying to ask."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Oh do you?"
"But wait, are you a cop?"
"No. Just curious."
Rika laughed. "Please. I know you're a cop. I'm not stupid." Then she leaned back, shrugging. "But I'll tell you anyway. What difference does it make?"
Kai kept his voice calm. "What can you tell me about last night?"
"Well..." Her grin widened. "Me, Mira, and Taro went to the biggest rebel party of the year."
Kai's head snapped to Mira. His eyes narrowed. "You lied to me."
Mira looked down, voice small. I'm sorry..."
"Let's go, Eli." Kai turned, his tone clipped, and stormed out.
The walk to the car was silent until Eli spoke. "Why didn't we keep asking questions?"
Kai's eyes stayed on the horizon. "Because we already know the answers. The way that girl talked? It was clear it wasn't an accident. Night Rider wanted it. And he's gonna pay."
They drove through the rebel side until they pulled up to Scarlett's restaurant, a small place tucked into a side street. The sign flickered faintly, but the inside was warm and bustling.
"Scarlett," Kai said, stepping inside. "What were you doing yesterday?"
She looked up from behind the counter, surprised. "I just stayed in, watched a movie. I heard there was a big party, but it didn't last long."
Kai nodded. "What else do you know?"
Scarlett hesitated, then leaned in slightly. "Umm... I heard Night Rider planned that whole party for some kind of plan or whatever."
Eli frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?" He looked at Kai.
Kai's eyes sharpened. "maybe the party was just a decoy. To lure out the new bikes. Wreck them."
Eli blinked "What? How would he even know we had them?"
Both Eli and Scarlett exchanged a glance, suspicion flickering in their eyes, but Kai didn't notice.
"Okay, let's go, Eli." Kai waved casually. "Bye, Scarlett."
"Bye," she echoed.
Out on the street again, Kai muttered under his breath, frustration cutting through his tone. "It always fells like he's one step ahead. Always. I almost had him this time."
"What do you mean?" Eli asked.
"I almost figured it out," Kai said. HIs eyes glinted with determination. "The whole decoy. If I can learn how he does things, I can stop him. I just need to watch him more. Let him act. Then I'll know."
Eli shrugged faintly, though his voice softened. "Someone has to. Everyone's losing hope. We got these new bikes, and we still couldn't keep up with him. But I won't let that break us. I'll bring them back up. No matter what."
Eli smiled faintly, determination sparking in his own chest. "Then let me help you. I've got your back all the way."
Kai looked at him, eyes hard but grateful. "Let's do it."
Kai and Eli's voices faded into the night, their silhouettes swallowed by the cities restless glow.
But far from the noise of the station or Scarlett's warm little restaurant, Night Rider stood alone at the edge of the cemetery. His bike idled softly behind him, a low growl against the silence.
He stopped at a grave marked: Grant Herd.
Rain from earlier still clung to the stone, dripping down like the sky itself mourned. Night Rider rested his gloved hand on the cold surface, his helmet reflecting the faint shimmer of the moon.
"That was for you," he said quietly, voice heavy, strained. "Revenge. For what they did."
His hand clenched into a fist against the stone.
"I hope it was enough."
For a moment, the night seemed to answer only with silence. Then, as if the words themselves burned too much, he stood back up, swung back onto his bike, and disappeared into the dark streets once more, leaving only the grave and the faint echo of his vow behind.