Race. {3}

After several harrowing minutes, the raiders finally cleared the treacherous dunes. Of the 20 who had started, only 14 remained.

While the illegal race did have escorts trailing behind at a slower pace, there was little they could do to save those who had fallen victim to the scorpions. The desert was unforgiving, and the dunes had claimed their toll of blood.

Now, the raiders faced the next deadly challenge: the canyon. This part of the race was infamous for its narrow, winding paths riddled with potholes and loose rocks.

There were no guardrails to prevent a deadly plunge off the cliffs, and the sharp curves demanded precision and nerves of steel.

But the natural dangers were only half the threat. The canyon was also home to desert marauders of cannibalistic tribes armed with bows, spears, and a hunger for flesh. For any raider unfortunate enough to crash here, the canyon offered no mercy.

Alexius and Iza were currently in 8th place, with Fitz and his two passengers holding steady in 5th. As they approached the canyon's entrance, Alexius shouted over the roar of the engine, "Iza! Get ready for the grand canyon! This is the part you're gonna love since you'll need to sit in front of me and face backward!"

Iza's eyes widened in disbelief. "W-what?! How am I supposed to do that when we're going this fast?!" She yelled while her voice was barely audible over the wind and engine noise.

"It's easy! Just take it one step at a time! But hurry up since we're almost at the canyon!" Alexius replied, his tone urgent as he adjusted his goggles.

Iza hesitated for a moment but then she grated her teeth. "Fine!" She stood up carefully while using Alexius's outstretched arm to steady herself.

The bike wobbled slightly as she shifted her weight, her heart pounding as she maneuvered herself into position. After what felt like an eternity, she finally settled in front of Alexius, her chest pressed against his.

The close contact made her acutely aware of every movement and every shift of their bodies as the bike navigated the rough terrain.

{Why does this feel so… vulgar? So lewd! What the hell am I even doing?!} Iza thought while her face burned with embarrassment.

"Iza! Grab my gun; it's inside my pants!" Alexius shouted while his voice cut through her thoughts.

Iza's reaction was immediate. She slapped his face while her face turned crimson. "How dare you say something like that?!" she screamed, mortified.

"The hell are you talking about?! There's literally a gun in my pants! Grab it and get ready to shoot!" Alexius snapped but his focus remained entirely on the road ahead since he didn't have time to deal with her embarrassment.

{I can't believe I'm actually doing this}

Iza thought while her cheeks were still burning. She reached under Alexius's shirt, her hands fumbling as she searched for the gun. The close quarters made it difficult, and she ended up touching him more than she intended.

"Ehem… are you enjoying yourself?" Alexius said with a smirk; his tone was teasing despite the gravity of the situation. "Normally, I wouldn't mind doing this on top of La Bastarda, but now's not exactly the best time for it."

Iza froze, her face heating up even more. She quickly found the gun and pulled it out, holding it tightly in her hands. "Okay, I got it! Now what?" she asked while her voice trembled with nervousness.

"If you see something red on the road, shoot it. Now, hug me like a good baby and get ready to aim. Just so you know, I've got a metal plate on my back; you can use it as a shield against arrows. But my head's unprotected, so you better aim properly!" Alexius instructed with his tone being deadly serious.

Iza nodded while her grip tightened on the gun. She wrapped her free arm around Alexius, her body pressed against his as they hurtled into the canyon.

The wind whipped past them, and the sound of distant shots echoed off the canyon walls. Iza's heart raced, but she forced herself to focus. This was no time for hesitation.

"Hold on tight, we're here; get ready!" Alexius shouted out with his voice cutting through the roar of the engine.

With a sharp twist of the throttle, the bike surged forward, the world blurring into streaks of color. Iza felt her body press harder against Alexius, the force of acceleration pinning her to him.

Her heart raced, not just from the speed but from the thrill of it all. She had come to this place searching for excitement, and this.... this was it. The wind whipped her hair, the canyon walls loomed like giants, and the adrenaline coursed through her veins. This was the most alive she'd ever felt.

Alexius leaned into the curves with the precision of a predator; his movements were fluid despite Iza perched in front of him. It was a testament to his skill or maybe his sheer recklessness.

Either way, he was gaining on Fitz, who was now just ahead with his massive three-wheeled bike hogging the narrow canyon road like a tank.

The marauders arrows whizzed past, clinking harmlessly against Fitz's improvised armor, a pair of wide metallic shoulder pads and two women perched on his legs, firing back with deadly accuracy.

"Hey, Bear! I'm on your arse again! What's the matter? Age finally catching up to you?" Alexius shouted with his voice dripping with mockery as he tried to squeeze past Fitz's bulky ride. But the road was too narrow, and Fitz's bike was too wide. It was like trying to outmaneuver a boulder.

"Bahahaha! You wish, brat! I'm still a young stallion! Ask my girls if you don't believe me, BAHAHAHA!" Fitz shouted while his laughter echoed off the canyon walls.

His "girls," perched on his legs, didn't miss a beat; their guns kept blazing as they fended off the marauders. Fitz's sheer size made him a moving fortress, and he knew it.

"Ugh, spare me the details! I don't need that mental image... I'm trying to focus on the road! and I don't want an upset stomach for imagining your ugly-haired ass." Alexius shot back while leaning sharply to the right as they took another curve.

The tires screeched, kicking up dust and gravel. Iza clung to him while her knuckles turned white, but a grin spread across her face despite the chaos.

"How the hell do you know my ass is hairy?!" Fitz shouted while feigning outrage as he swerved to block Alexius again.

"Oh, come on, you nasty old man! You're the only one who struts into the hot springs butt-naked! Everyone's seen your hairy everything, dude!" Alexius retorted with his voice rising over the roar of engines and gunfire.

"BAHAHAHA! Fair point!" Fitz roared with laughter. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "Hey, Alexius! My lady here wants to know how's the cherry girl doing?"

Alexius glanced down at Iza, who was gripping Alexius jacket for dear life. "Hey, Iza! The girls up front are asking how you're holding up!" He shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

"I don't know! My ass hurts, and my hands are numb from shooting!" Iza yelled back with her voice cracking but loud enough to carry over the din.

"Bahahaha! That's how it always is your first time! You'll get used to it, kid, BAHAHAHA!" Fitz's booming laughter filled the air, mingling with the sound of gunfire and revving engines.

The canyon narrowed further, the walls closing in like jaws. Alexius gritted his teeth while his eyes locked on the road ahead.

The marauders were gaining terrain with their arrows flying closer. Fitz's girls returned fire, their shots precise and deadly. Iza clenched her jaw while her hands were trembling but were still steady on the gun. 

"Alright, Iza, ready for the next move?" Alexius called; his voice was low but intense.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" she shouted back, her voice odly fierce.

"Good. Hold on tight! This is where it gets fun." With that, Alexius gunned the engine, the bike lurching forward as they shot toward the next curve.

The marauders were closing in, the canyon was tightening, and the stakes were higher than ever.

After several heart-pounding minutes of roaring engines, billowing steam, and the acrid scent of gunpowder, they finally burst out of the canyon.

The open sky stretched above them, but the relief was short-lived. Alexius glanced over his shoulder while his sharp eyes scanned the horizon. "Iza, did you bring something to cover your face?" he asked while already pulling a black handkerchief from his pocket.

With a practiced flick of his wrist, he tied it around his face, transforming into a shadowy figure straight out of a wanted poster.

"No, I haven't! This is my first time doing any of this!" Iza shouted back while her brow hair was whipping wildly in the wind like a sandstorm. She looked equal parts exhilarated and terrified, her wide eyes darting around as if expecting the sky to fall.

"Alright, listen up! Bury your face in my chest and whatever you do, don't look around!" Alexius commanded with his voice being firm but calm.

Iza hesitated for a split second before obeying and pressing her face against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was oddly reassuring, but then she heard it... a sound that was strangely familiar and yet utterly terrifying.

[Attention, all lowlife lawbreakers participating in illegal races on the Valorian borders!] 

A booming voice echoed from above, cutting through the chaos like a blade. 

[Turn off your vehicles and prepare to be arrested. Resistance will be considered an act of terrorism, and we will be forced to use physical force to subdue you. We cannot guarantee your safety.]