My name is Dax Calderon.
I'm nineteen years old.
I don't know my dad. Never will.
It's always just been me and my mom.
She owns a small business on St. Owen's Road, a tiny shop squeezed between a laundromat and an old corner store that probably should've been torn down years ago. The sign outside her shop flickers half the time, and the paint on the door is peeling, but she still opens it every morning like it's the most important place in the world.
She doesn't make much money.
But she makes enough.
Enough to keep both of us afloat.
Enough to make sure we always have food.
Enough to keep the lights on.
She refuses to let me help her pay the bills. I've tried. More times than I can count.
Every single time she says the same thing.
"Dax, focus on your life. I can handle mine."
She believes in doing everything by herself.
I guess we have that in common.
Still…
Sometimes I can't help but feel helpless watching her work so hard.
She wakes up early every morning, runs that shop all day, deals with customers, deals with suppliers, deals with bills, and then she comes home exhausted.
And what does she come home to?
Nobody.
Because I'm always out.
Always riding.
Always playing rebel.
I've got no other family besides my mom.
So what happens if she dies?
The thought hit harder than I expected.
If something happened to her…
I'd be alone.
And if something happened to me?
Would anybody even remember me?
I thought about that a lot.
Probably more than I should.
The thought usually put me in a pretty bad mood.
But whenever I started thinking like that…
Whenever my head got too heavy with thoughts like those…
He was always there.
Night Rider.
My best friend since grade school.
Basically a brother to me.
If anybody in this world would remember me…
He definitely would.
I knew that for a fact.
Back when we were kids, we used to watch the grown-ups protest in the streets. Crowds of people yelling, holding signs, arguing with cops. At the time we didn't even understand what they were protesting about.
To be honest…
As time went on it started to look like the adults didn't really know either.
Eventually we learned it all started because of some stupid new road law.
Some rule that got forced onto the city.
People were furious.
Protests got bigger.
Angrier.
And the cops?
They started pulling people over constantly.
Anyone.
Everyone.
If you lived on this side of the city, you were basically a target.
Why?
I'm still trying to figure that out.
Night Rider and I got caught up in it too.
Back before he was even known as Night Rider.
Before the mask.
Before the legend.
Before all of that…
He lost his cousin.
Shot during one of those protests.
A cop pulled the trigger.
From that day forward, everything changed.
Night Rider swore he'd fight back against the police.
Against the system.
Against everything.
And me?
I followed him.
Of course I did.
That's my best friend.
Back then I was just a dumb kid who thought rebels looked cool.
Didn't know any better.
Didn't think about consequences.
But then…
Something happened.
Something that changed everything-
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Aghh!"
Dax shot upright in his chair.
Across the garage Switch stood behind a large truck, waving her arms wildly while directing the driver backward.
"Easy! Easy! Keep coming!" she shouted.
The truck reversed slowly with a loud mechanical rumble.
Dax rubbed his eyes.
"Switch!" Dax yelled. "What the hell are you doing?"
She turned and grinned.
"I'm helping him back up! He's got all the equipment for tonight!"
The truck finally stopped.
The driver hopped out and began unloading large boxes.
Dax looked at the pile forming beside the garage door.
Speakers.
Lights.
Cables.
Decorations.
His eyebrows lifted.
"Do we really need all of that for tonight?" Dax asked.
Switch gasped dramatically.
"Yes, silly! Of course we do!"
She jumped down from the truck and spun toward Dax with excitement.
"We had to go all out for the special occasion!"
Dax blinked.
"Special occasion?"
She stared at Dax.
"…Did you forget everything we talked about?"
Dax scratched the back of his head.
"Not really. I'm just kinda in a daze right now. I was having a pretty trippy dream."
Switch rolled her eyes.
"Well anyway!"
She suddenly began air-drumming with her fingers.
"Drumroll please!!!"
Her voice echoed through the garage.
She raised her arms dramatically.
"IT'S NIGHT RIDER'S BIRTHDAY!!!"
Dax's eyes widened.
"Wait… really?!"
"That's what I just said!"
Dax jumped to his feet.
"How could I forget?! It's today! I need to get him a present!"
Switch burst out laughing.
"Relax, genius. His birthday is tomorrow."
Dax froze.
"…It's not today?"
"Nope."
"Then why'd you yell like that?!"
She shrugged.
"Because it's more dramatic."
Dax sighed and ran a hand through his short hair.
"Damn…"
Switch tilted her head at Dax.
"Dax… what's up with you today? You're acting really weird."
She thought for a moment.
"I've got an idea."
She snapped her fingers.
"Let's go to the supermarket!"
Dax blinked.
"…Why?"
"So we can get him a present and a card," she said proudly. "To show him how much we appreciate him."
Dax shrugged.
"…Yeah. Alright."
The supermarket was packed.
People moved between aisles with shopping carts, kids ran around yelling, and the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.
Switch walked ahead of me with way too much energy.
Dax shoved his hands into his pockets and followed.
As they passed a woman pushing a cart, she suddenly grabbed her child and pulled him closer when she saw them.
Dax frowned.
Jeez lady…
I don't want your ugly-ass kid.
Dax muttered it quietly to myself.
Switch suddenly pointed ahead.
"There it is! The card aisle!"
She sprinted toward it.
"Let's go hurry!"
Dax walked behind her at a normal pace.
"What exactly are we rushing for? I thought you said his birthday is tomorrow."
She turned while walking.
"Did I say it wasn't tomorrow?"
"…No."
"Then relax."
They entered the aisle.
Right then they heard someone say a name.
"Kai?"
Dax turned.
A girl and a guy stood a few steps away.
he'd never seen either of them before.
Dax looked between them.
"…Do I know you?"
The girl blinked awkwardly.
"Oh-sorry. I thought you were someone else."
Switch suddenly popped up beside him.
"Hey Dax! Who are these kids?"
"They thought I was some guy named Kai."
Switch looked confused.
"Do we know him?"
She thought for a second.
"…Doesn't ring a bell."
Dax shrugged at the strangers.
"You've got the wrong guy."
The boy's eyes widened suddenly.
He grabbed the girl's arm.
"Yes sir!"
Then they rushed out of the aisle like they'd just seen a ghost.
Switch watched them go.
"Wow," she said.
"You weren't mean for once to strangers."
She crossed her arms.
"That means there's definitely something wrong."
Dax sighed.
"There's nothing wrong. I'm fine."
"I'm just tired from my nap."
She studied me carefully.
"Jeez… and here I was considering you my best friend, and you won't even tell me how you feel."
"I am telling you how I feel."
"I just… don't know what to say."
She squinted at me.
"…If you say so."
Then she smirked.
"Honestly though, you look so scary and act all tough, but you're just a soft little boy, huh?"
Dax stopped walking.
"…What did you say?"
She ran.
"HEY!"
Dax chased her down the aisle.
Just as he almost grabbed her-
She spun around and shoved a card into his face.
It popped open with colorful paper effects exploding outward.
Switch peeked around the card.
"I think this one is perfect!"
Dax stared at it.
"…Is that a unicorn?"
She nodded proudly.
"Do you even know the boss?" Dax asked.
She shrugged.
"That's why I brought you along! I figured you'd know what he likes."
Dax sighed.
"Let's just get him that."
"He's not picky."
"He might even think it's funny."
She grinned.
"Then it's settled!"
After paying, they walked out of the supermarket.
Switch looked up at the sky.
"The boss is turning nineteen, huh?"
"How time flies."
Dax glanced at her.
"You haven't even known him that long."
"And aren't you younger than him?"
"Only by a month!" she argued.
She pointed at Dax.
"You're still the youngest member of the five of us." Dax said.
"So what?" Switch said.
"I'm still the cutest," she replied proudly.
"…Yeah whatever."
She gasped.
"You agreed!"
"Wow! THE Dax Calderon just said I'm the prettiest girl in the world!"
"This just made my year!"
"I did NOT say that!" Dax shouted.
"Stop putting words in my mouth!"
She laughed.
"I'm just messing around. Take a chill pill."
She tilted her head with puppy eyes.
"Do I really embarrass you that much?"
"…Yeah actually."
"All these people walking by probably think you're a weirdo."
"Well who cares about them?" she replied. "Only the most miserable people would care about what I'm doing in my life."
Dax looked at her quietly.
Then said,
"…We should get out of here fast. You might get recognized."
She smirked.
"Hey! I'm not the only one known around this city. You are too, Mr. Calderon."
"Shhh," Dax muttered.
"Let's just go."
They drove back to the shop.
The building was quiet as always.
Switch stepped inside and stretched.
"It's always so dead in here. Feels like you and me are the only ones around."
A voice came from the shadows.
"I'm here."
Someone stepped forward.
Zane. One of the Four Shadows.
Switch lit up.
"Zane! What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd take a break from torching cops for a bit," he said casually.
Dax leaned against the wall.
"Your crew going to be good without you?"
"Obviously," Zane said. "Everyone knows my crew is the best."
Switch jumped in immediately.
"No! My crew is!"
"We've got the north side locked down!"
Dax sighed.
"I'm not participating in this argument," he muttered.
Zane looked at him.
"What? Not pleased with your crew's performance lately?"
Dax shot him a look.
He didn't back down.
"I heard what happened," he said calmly.
"One of your guys got caught."
"…Shame."
"He was a good rider."
"Just not good enough."
Dax's jaw tightened.
"Don't worry about my crew."
"Just worry about yours."
Zane smirked.
"I'll try."
"But no promises."
Dax turned and walked out.
The next morning…
Sunlight slowly filled Mira's room.
She stretched and yawned before heading to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Her phone buzzed.
The notification appeared again.
Party Tonight – 8:00 PM
"Oh," she said.
"I forgot about that."
She stared at the screen.
Then walked to her closet.
"I should figure out what to wear."
She pulled outfits out, thinking.
"If I go early… maybe I can meet some important people while they're setting up."
She smiled slightly.
"Yeah… I'll go early."
Hours later it was 6:55 PM.
Mira finished her makeup, fixed her hair, and checked her outfit in the mirror.
"…Alright."
"I should leave now."
She took a bus as far toward the rebel area as possible.
Then she walked.
The streets became quieter the farther she went.
Streetlights flickered on.
A cold breeze passed.
"I should've grabbed a jacket…"
Finally she reached the location.
Her phone read 7:47 PM.
The open space was empty.
No music.
No lights.
No party.
Then she heard voices.
Police officers.
She quickly ducked behind bushes.
"Looks like another fake party," one officer said.
"Tires blown out again, damn it!"
"Good thing we brought a spare."
"Yeah, right."
Mira looked beside her.
The spare tire.
She tried to move-
CRUNCH
The bushes rustled.
"HEY!"
Flashlights pointed at her.
"Come out!"
She slowly stood up with her hands raised.
"I'm sorry! I got lost while walking!"
One officer laughed.
"Lost? While wearing all that?"
"Yeah right."
"You're a rebel."
They cuffed her hands.
"You're coming with us."
She sat on the ground for while they fixed their tire.
Finally one officer got into the car.
"Let's load her up."
Just then-
ZOOM!!!
A black motorcycle blasted past.
The officer inside the car shouted.
"THAT'S HIM!"
"Night Rider!"
Both cops jumped into the car and sped away.
Mira blinked.
"…What'd they say?"
She stood up awkwardly.
Still handcuffed.
"I'm in the middle of nowhere."
"And there isn't even a party…"
"I'm so dumb."
She started walking back the way she came.
Then, she heard a motorcycle again.
Getting louder.
She turned.
A black bike approached slowly.
The rider wore all black.
He stopped in front of her.
It was Night Rider
They stepped off the bike.
Then walked over.
"Are you okay?"
The voice sounded unfamiliar through the helmet.
They then pulled out a key.
Unlocked the cuffs.
Mira blinked.
"uhm how do you have a key?"
"I stole it from a cop I caught."
Caught? she thought.
Isn't he supposed to be the one running?
She looked at his visor.
"How can you see with that helmet?"
"It's not dark inside. Only outside."
"…That's not what I meant," she muttered.
Then she asked,
"How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't know it was you specifically," Night Rider said.
"There's always someone who falls for our fake party traps."
"Fake traps?"
"Yeah."
"We lure the cops in and blow their tires with nails."
Mira sighed.
"I feel dumb falling for that."
"Everyone falls for them once."
She nodded.
"Well… sorry to bother you."
"I'll just leave."
He looked at the empty road.
"You sure you don't want a ride?"
Mira thought about it.
She looked at him-
Then nodded.
She climbed onto the back of the bike.
The engine roared to life.
The bike sped off into the night.
Above them the sky stretched wide and endless.
Full of possibilities.