The Echo Calls Back

Zara sat on the edge of her small apartment's balcony, the neon glow of the city casting fragmented shadows across her face. Below, the rhythmic hum of traffic pulsed through the night, a steady heartbeat of a world she had chosen over the one she left behind. She inhaled deeply, the crisp air tinged with gasoline and distant rain. For years, she had silenced the roar of engines, traded the exhilaration of the track for a quieter life. And yet, here she was, staring at the invitation Noor had shoved into her hands.

"The Underground Circuit Remembers Its Champion."

The words mocked her.

Zara clenched the flyer in her fist. She had made a promise—to herself, to the people who once mattered—that she would never set foot on a track again. Racing had taken too much from her, demanded sacrifices she could no longer afford to make. But the past had a way of creeping back, and no matter how many part-time jobs she worked, how many times she reinvented herself, the echoes of her past refused to fade.

She leaned back, pressing her head against the cool brick wall. The Underground Circuit had been her home, her battlefield, her greatest love and worst enemy. She had walked away, but had she really? If she was as done as she claimed, why did her pulse spike at the thought of slipping behind the wheel again? Why did the memory of burning rubber and the deafening roar of engines still haunt her dreams?

A soft knock at her door broke her thoughts. She already knew who it was before she opened it.

Noor stood there, arms crossed, an expectant look in her eyes. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about it."

"I told you, Noor. I'm done."

Noor's lips pressed into a thin line. "You can keep saying that, but your hands are shaking, Zara."

Zara glanced down at her fingers, betraying her own resolve. She sighed. "It's not just a race. It's—"

"It's a chance to find out the truth." Noor stepped inside, pushing past her. "You can keep pretending you're over it, that you don't care what happened that night, but we both know that's a lie."

Zara swallowed hard. The memory of that night—the crash, the sirens, the betrayal—pressed against her ribs like a vice. She had spent years burying it, convincing herself that some truths were better left untouched. But now, standing here with Noor's unwavering gaze locked onto hers, the illusion felt paper-thin.

Noor's voice softened. "Kade will be there."

The name sent a sharp jolt through her. Zara turned away, gripping the edge of the counter. "I don't care."

"Liar."

Zara exhaled through her nose, trying to steady the storm brewing inside her. Kade had been her fiercest rival, her greatest ally, and—once upon a time—something more. He had been there that night, too. And if anyone knew the answers she sought, it was him.

She looked back at Noor, her resolve wavering. "If I do this... it's not because I'm coming back. It's to find out the truth."

Noor smirked. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, champ."

Zara didn't respond. Instead, she turned back to the flyer, her fingers smoothing out its creased edges. The Underground Circuit was calling her back, and this time, she wasn't sure she had the strength to ignore it.

The next morning, she barely touched her breakfast, her mind clouded with thoughts of the track. Memories of past victories, near misses, and that final, fateful race played on a loop in her head. She knew returning wouldn't just be about answers—it would mean facing everything she had been running from. The fear, the loss, and most of all, Kade.

Noor sat across from her, sipping on her coffee, watching her with the patience of someone who already knew the outcome. "So... what's your move?"

Zara didn't answer right away. Instead, she picked up her phone and scrolled through her messages, her finger hovering over an old, unread text from Kade. Three years ago, she had sworn never to speak to him again. And yet, here she was, considering stepping back into his world.

She set the phone down with a sigh. "I need to see the track."

Noor grinned. "I thought you'd say that."