Lars Oomen thought the evening was perfect for a spontaneous motorcycle race. He wasn't alone: Katie, Tim, and Dominic shared the same sentiment, as did about two dozen other friends. So, they went for it.

Two motorcycles, a dark blue Honda, and a snow-white Kawasaki, roared past the crowd side by side. The orange Yamaha, trailing by five seconds, was no longer a contender in the race.

The echo of engines reverberated off the surrounding mountains, while the wide valley provided ample space for the race. The cloud of dust created by the wheels obscured the light from lanterns and car headlights. The motorcycles vanished into the distance, leaving only their beams of light to indicate their location. They circled and returned to the deserted road between the ruined forester's house and a barn with crumbling walls.

Lars felt the need to accelerate. The owners of the Kawasaki and Honda, clad in their sleek racing gear, skillfully maneuvered their bikes around the twisting, narrow bends of the track. With intense concentration and determination, they leaned precariously close to the ground, their helmets inches from the pavement, jostling for the coveted first-place position. The sound of revving engines and screeching tires filled the air, adding to the thrilling atmosphere of the race. Both were determined to win.

Katie, riding a Yamaha, was no longer a threat. Tim wisely stayed out of the race. Lars, however, was obsessed with accelerating and leaning into the final corner. Although he was only betting his pocket money for a week, losing meant more than just money.

He could lose the league title, an unbeaten record, and the unwavering trust of his fans.

On the final straight, he was completely flat on the bike. The Honda was slightly lighter than his, but Dominic was a bit heavier, so the power balance was pretty much the same. But the Honda was half an inch ahead. Lars could already see the roar of the crowd and the finish line ahead. Natalie was ready to wave off the race. The girl's blonde hair fluttered with the red flag, and Lars could see the excitement on his sister's face.

The road below them was old and covered in leaves and twigs, tossed about by the autumn wind. The first two laps they had glided through without any problems, but now a single mistake from Dominic caused the bike to wobble underneath.

Lars was too close. He pulled the steering wheel away to avoid a collision and narrowly missed his falling rival. When he looked back, Dominic was no longer on the road: the headlights were illuminating the roadway of the ditch, and the boy was sitting on the ground a few meters away, at the edge of the circle of light.

Lars braked as soon as he crossed the finish line. Katie was ten seconds behind.

The engines fell silent. Lars' bike purred softly as the boy turned it around. The cheers were mixed with uncertain questions. Lars just waved to the crowd and grinned confidently from under his helmet, then headed back. Meanwhile, he blessed his luck: if Dominic had crashed a lap or two earlier, the race would have been abandoned, and if he hadn't crashed at all, he would have won, and Lars would have had to settle for second place. But as it was, he kept his unbeaten record.

He rolled back next to Dominic.

Some bystanders had already helped the boy, but he got up on his own, and with the help of his friends, he pulled the engine out of the ditch. The Honda was still running and seemed to whimper a little.

They both took off their helmets, and then Dominic turned to the winner.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks," Lars said, holding out his hand for a shake. But he couldn't shake off his concern for the boy. Lars wondered how he would explain to the Mayor of Port Maddock if his son broke his neck. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, my self-esteem has taken a blow," Dominic grinned wryly. The grin turned to pain as he reached out to shake hands. "And my wrist... Hey! Watch it!" He warned a friend whose hand was hanging onto the throttle.

Out of nowhere, Katie leaned over and rested her head on Lars' shoulder. Then she surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. Lars was taken aback and hadn't even noticed her coming closer. He couldn't think what he had done to deserve such an exciting gesture.

Katie grinned at Lars as he looked at her with a confused expression. "|Kiss to the winner. You'll have to make do with that," she replied. Her elaborate arm and hand tattoos flashed as she took off her gloves. Dominic watched with jealousy. Lars caught his eye.

"That's a clever idea, but unfortunately you'll still have to pay the two hundred," he said with a smile.

Katie would have been too wild for his taste, and there was a glimmer of gratitude in Dominic's eyes that Lars hadn't pursued the same girl he was trying to win over.

When the money changed hands, Lars found himself four hundred dollars richer. Tim, who was betting this time, also found himself significantly wealthier. Both received congratulations and pats on the back, smiles ranging from ecstatic to crooked. Meanwhile, Dominic took the time to inspect his bike, removing blades of dry grass from behind the handlebars. Fortunately, his beloved vehicle seemed to have suffered only minor damage to the paintwork.

Lars stashed the money in his pocket when he heard sirens approaching. Police lights were closing in from different directions, and the surrounding trees were bathed in red and blue hues.

"Let's get out of here!" Katie jumped on her bike, now leading the way after being third before. The assembled group swiftly dispersed, jumping into cars and onto motorcycles. Even Dominic rode off on his own without saying goodbye.

Lars quickly donned his helmet and braked to join Natalie.

Without hesitation, he instructed his sister to get on the bike. She eagerly complied, securing her helmet on her head before climbing onto the seat. "Let's go! Hurry up because if we get caught, Dad will skin us both!" Natalie urged as she clung to her brother's waist.

"They won't catch us. Just hold on tight!" Lars warned, and as soon as he felt his sister's hand around his waist, he started the engine.

There was no escaping the police, arriving from two directions with blaring sirens, directing the participants in the illegal race toward a larger police presence. Several cars had already been stopped, and Dominic had been caught.

Lars caught up with Katie and Tim, who had slowed to an uncertain pace.

"This way," he called to the group, leading them toward a less-traveled part of the track, between the stable and the forester's house. This time, he revved his engine a bit more than when Dominic had passed him earlier. Natalie let out a scream, but her voice was drowned out by the wind and the roar of engines as Katie and Tim followed. Lars slowed down slightly as they left the main road, and the Kawasaki, being a non-cross bike, made some noise and vibration. Eventually, they reached the serpentine on the well-worn path.

There was no sign of the police, but the sound of sirens persisted. Lars waited for his friends, anticipating the approach of the authorities.

"Stay on board!" He signaled to them. "Keep going! Up the hill!"

As Katie burst into laughter and gasped with excitement, Tim suddenly pulled ahead of them. Meanwhile, Lars quickly adjusted his helmet, eager to keep up with the others.

"Do you trust me?" He asked over his shoulder.

"No!" Natalie screamed, grabbing Lars' waist with both hands.

Amidst the rocky terrain of Devil's Cliff, the Kawasaki revved its engine and began its climb with a thunderous roar.

As the serpentine road emerged from the trees, it slowly surveyed its surroundings. It gracefully wound its way around the mountain, passing through picturesque pine forests, lush moss-covered rocks, and stunning red-banded cliffs until it reached the top. Although some narrow parts of the path were challenging, and the occasional shadow of a bird of prey could be seen, it was an adventure well worth experiencing. Meanwhile, the three engines cruised quietly along the road at a safe and pleasant speed. They had left the police far behind, and there was no reason to worry.

On top was an abandoned observation deck, falling into ruin, and below was a motel that had been closed for decades. The motel faintly advertised its vacancies. Tim and Katie had already parked their bikes in the car park. Katie waited with her hands on her hips and a grin on her face, while Tim's asthma made it hard for him to breathe after the excitement.

Lars stopped next to them without a fuss. There was no need to add to Natalie's already frayed nerves, as she was still whimpering.

"I'll never get behind you again!" The girl promised as she climbed off the bike with her limp limbs and slammed into her brother's shoulder. "We could have died!"

Lars shrugged and tucked his helmet under his arm.

"We're not dead," he said. "And if you don't get behind me, how are you going to get home?"

Natalie wrapped her arms around herself and blew air in defiance of the fifteen-year-olds. Lars had just turned seventeen, but he felt much older than his sister.

"I'm hitchhiking. Hey, Katie, you'll take me home, right?"

"Sure," Katie nodded with a laugh. "But you're better off with your brother than with me."

"For a safe ride, Andrew is your best bet," Lars recommended, pointing to their oldest sibling.

Andrew was a responsible twenty-six-year-old man who only drove four-wheeled vehicles.

"You can't get up here by car," Tim chimed in, gesturing towards the edge of the mountain. "Shall we look at the viewpoint?"

In the middle of the gorge, the sound of sirens echoed on the wind. Despite the lure of the depths, Lars resisted the temptation and turned off his engine lights, waiting patiently for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The full moon slowly rose over the mountains, bathing their surroundings in its soft glow, providing enough light to navigate without flashlights.

The observation deck was only fifteen feet high, creaking and squeaking as they stepped onto the structure. The metal rusted, the wood rotted, and with every movement it threatened to collapse beneath them. But Lars climbed to the top as if they had nothing to fear. Katie followed just a step or two behind, while Tim and Natalie climbed tentatively.

"Don't lean against the railing," Katie warned them when she saw the exhausted couple. Tim leaned on his knees instead, and Natalie stood up straight, looking around in amazement.

Lars was completely mesmerized by the breathtaking view in front of him. Even in the bright light of day, the landscape was stunning, but what he was seeing now was beyond comparison.

The valley was quiet and serene, the police lights casting a soft glow. In the distance, the town of Port Maddock glittered like a jewel, the church tower shining like a star. The towering residential and office buildings nearby were mere specks, dwarfed by the beauty of the town. Nestled against the peaceful hill to the east, Lars could see the lights of their mansion. To the west, the city stretched towards the Pacific coast, bisected by a river that flowed steadily towards the ocean. As the sun set, the endless expanse of water became a smooth, mirror-like surface, merging seamlessly with the deep blue of the horizon.

There was a profound silence, the like of which Lars had perhaps never experienced before. Only the wind sang, distant waterfalls roared, and the sound of their breathing could be heard as the moon slowly climbed its invisible ladder.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared between two mountains, and a massive beam rose into the sky, dwarfing even the moon. The landscape shattered with a deep, angry rumble, and the air was stirred by the powerful flapping of frightened birds, their terrified cries piercing the silence.

"Is this today...?" Natalie asked uncertainly.

Lars, who, like the others, couldn't take his eyes off the rising rocket, swallowed, his throat tightening.

"Apparently," he nodded.

"What is it?" Tim asked.

Lars took a moment to collect his thoughts. His father had discussed his recent work with latetranium and his ambitious plans for the future during their family meals. Although Lars found the subject overwhelming, he was familiar with his father's experiments and goals.

"It's Dad's work. The first test rocket has been launched. It carries a kind of GPS satellite."

"You didn't even say he got permission," Katie was dissatisfied.

"Do you want the details? You'd be bored to death," Lars grinned. Despite his personal feelings towards Oomen's Logistics, his father had ordered him to work there for the rest of his life. The transport company founded by his great-great-grandfather had grown into one of the biggest competitors in the current race to supply the emerging space colonies with reliable cargo.

His father held the first license in the state. Other large companies across America had tried, but none had the extensive network of contacts that Edgar Oomen had. Oomen's Logistics finally saw its first rocket lift off the launch pad that night.

As the bright beam of light rose into the starry sky, Lars couldn't help but feel the exhilaration coursing through his veins. The gravity of the moment was not lost on him, and for once, he wished he was there for his father. After endless tension, countless disagreements, and numerous instructions, he could finally taste the sweet taste of victory and join in the celebration.

The rumble slowly faded as the light of the rocket disappeared into the stars. Back in the city, people were hardly awakened by it.

"We should go home now," Natalie said.

Lars nodded, but his eyes kept going back to where the rocket had disappeared.

"Let's go," Tim agreed. „I think the cops have given up by now."

The valley where the illegal race had just taken place was quiet.

"Maybe, but it's better to go around the mountain and cross town from the north," Lars suggested.

Katie nodded in agreement and cautiously approached the stairs. The blinding light had obscured everyone's night vision, and now the moonlight seemed fainter. The mist rising from the sea foreshadowed the morning fog.

Lars spotted it first. Suddenly, another spark ignited in the sky and slowly grew into a huge fiery flower. It wasn't far from where the rocket had disappeared, and now the light filled the sky again, breaking up into countless shooting stars. Lars clenched his teeth.

"Shit," he said.

"What happened?" Natalie asked.

Lars was silent—they were all silent. The four of them gazed in awe at the massive fireworks the rocket had created. While some of the shooting stars soared high above the continent or the ocean, others plummeted. As the fragments of light continued to grow, Lars cried out in alarm, "We have to go now! Hurry!"

Where could they run to in the vast open space? The hotel offered the only cover if they could get inside.

As Katie made her way down the stairs, the first sparks landed, and one hit the tower. Suddenly, the whole structure shook, and the roof tilted with a creaking sound. Miraculously, the lower level held. Natalie couldn't help but scream in shock.

The shards came crashing down with such force; they sizzled and died out in an instant. They were a centimeter in size. One even managed to slip between the planks of the watchtower and hit the steps right under Lars' feet. The impact knocked the ground out from under the boy's feet.

Lars screamed and fell helplessly to Tim in front of him—the boy's back saved him from falling, and two steps down he was firmly on his feet.

Their voices echoed simultaneously, "Are you all right?" Their heads nodded in agreement, but there was a hint of confusion in their eyes. They only had a few floors to go, but Natalie, walking behind them, stopped abruptly in front of the empty stairwell. She hesitated for a moment, gripping the railing tightly before leaping over it.

The top of the tower turned its corners with an angry growl, collapsing half a flight of stairs. There was no roof over their heads. And the shower continued as if it would never stop.

"Quick!" Katie shouted, worried. She hurried to the open stage, holding her jacket over her head to protect herself from the hail. Tim ran after her and caught up a few feet away. Lars stayed behind, waiting for his sister with a worried expression on his face.

Sparks bounced off the roof of the hotel, dragging broken pieces of slate with them, but the inside of the building was still dark. Lars knew they would have to find—or make—a broken window if they wanted to get in, but at the moment the question of how to get there was much more pressing.

As Katie and Tim headed towards them, Lars and Natalie grabbed each other's hands and ran off. The hail was already screeching and pounding like a barrage of hailstones, completely drowning out their calls to each other and the sound of their footsteps. The shower's radiance cast a bright blue hue from countless directions, engulfing the whole valley, the city, and the sea. Although Lars admired its beauty, he had no idea how dangerous it could be at the same time.

Katie fell. The girl sprawled on the concrete of the hotel car park as if struck by lightning. Tim stopped after two steps and turned back to her, calling her name, but Katie didn't move.

The light was fading, and the hail was easing, though no time had passed. When Lars and Natalie arrived, their concern was for Katie as she lay on the ground. Tim was already beside her, but when they reached her, Katie's expression was blank, and her eyes were staring into the void. The sight left them stunned and oblivious to the danger around them.

Lars couldn't believe what he was seeing. The girl's back was pierced above her hips by the same thing that had left a fist-sized hole in her jacket with burnt edges.

"Oh my God, Katie," Lars whispered, but his voice was drowned out by the last creaking roar from the lookout. He tried to shout over the noise. "Run, keep going!"

But like Tim and Natalie, he couldn't move. Tim's eyes were now on his, with the deepest astonishment in him, and as he looked up, he shouted.

"Look out!" His voice was just a shadow in the deafening rain.

Lars looked up. A spark, the same as the one that had killed Katie, fell straight at Natalie. Lars tried to pull his sister out of the way, but Natalie lost her balance and fell to her knees. Lars rolled over to protect her, and the next thing he knew he felt a terrible blow to his shoulder blade.

His last thought was that his sister might be safe.