The Mustang roared to life, e engine revving echoed around the garage. The garage door slowly opened, and Ian hit the accelerator. The car jerked forward, the growl of a powerful engine filled the night air as the Mustang rocketed down the dark, winding street. In the rearview mirror, a pair of black SUVs loomed closer, their headlights glaring like twin wolves on the hunt. “Step on it, Ian!” Alex shouted from the backseat, gripping the overhead handle as if his life depended on it. Beside him, Ivan was frantically fumbling with the seatbelt. “They’re gaining on us!” “I am stepping on it!” Ian snapped, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. The car bucked slightly as it hit a pothole, sending everyone airborne for half a second before slamming back down. “Maybe avoid the holes next time?” Ivan groaned, clutching his stomach. Ian ignored him, his eyes darting between the road ahead and the mirror. The SUVs were still closing in, engines roaring with menace. A sharp turn loomed up ahead. Ian swallowed hard and yanked the wheel, cutting the corner too wide. The Mustang skidded, tires screeching as the car fishtailed dangerously close to a row of parked vehicles. “You call that a turn?” Alex yelled. “Shut up!” Ian barked, wrestling the wheel straight. The Mustang lurched forward, miraculously still intact. “This isn’t a racing game, alright?” The SUVs followed the turn flawlessly, their sleek frames gliding through like predators. Ian’s heartbeat hammered in his chest. He had to shake them off, but the narrow city streets weren’t exactly a racetrack. Up ahead, the road split into two lanes separated by a concrete divider. Ian made a split-second decision. He veered hard left, slamming the car into the wrong lane, narrowly missing an oncoming taxi. Horns blared in furious protest. “Are you trying to get us killed?!” Ivan shouted, bracing himself against the seat. “They won’t follow us here!” Ian retorted. He was wrong. The SUVs followed without hesitation, their drivers weaving through traffic like professionals. “Great plan, Ian,” Alex deadpanned. “What now?” Ian spotted an open ramp leading to an elevated freeway. “Hold on!” he yelled, jerking the wheel. The car skidded onto the ramp at an awkward angle, clipping the guardrail with a metallic screech. Sparks flew. “Was that supposed to be cool?” Alex asked, wide-eyed. “It worked, didn’t it?” Ian shot back, stealing a glance in the mirror. The SUVs were momentarily slowed as they maneuvered onto the ramp, but they were still in pursuit. Up ahead, the freeway was littered with construction cones, and an unfinished section loomed ominously. Ian’s stomach dropped, but he didn’t have time to think. He gunned the engine, the Mustang shuddering as it climbed to a reckless speed. “Ian, that’s a dead end!” Ivan shouted. “Not if we make it!” Ian countered. “What does that even mean?!” Alex screamed. As the gap in the road approached, Ian swerved around the last cone and hit the gas. The sedan launched into the air, the ground falling away beneath them. Time seemed to slow. Alex’s scream reached a pitch Ian didn’t think was humanly possible. Ivan was frozen, mouth agape. The car landed with a bone-rattling crash on the other side of the gap, bouncing violently before leveling out. Ian let out a shaky laugh, adrenaline coursing through him. “See? Told you I could—” A loud pop cut him off as the Mustang rear tire blew out. The car swerved wildly, but Ian managed to wrestle it back under control, pulling into an alleyway just as the SUVs reached the gap. The lead vehicle skidded to a stop, tires smoking, while the other veered too late and plummeted into the void below. Ian killed the engine, and silence fell over the alley. Alex and Ivan sat frozen, faces pale. “You’re insane,” Ivan finally said. “And you’re alive,” Ian shot back, grinning despite himself. Alex groaned and slumped in his seat. “Next time, I’m driving.”

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