"Changes
They might drive you half insane but
It's killing you to stay the same but
It's all gonna work out
It's all gonna work out someday
Moments
Living with your eyes half open
You've been thinking 'bout these changes
It's all gonna work out
It's all gonna work out someday"

- Changes by Lauv

<><><><><>

I learned the rules. There were eleven laps around Lincoln Grove Park. I asked Walker and Holden if that was normal but they elaborate. It was clear it was a race to watch. A rare match. 

I was curious by what the screen showed but I desired to know more. I knew I shouldn't. I would never watch that sort of thing again, unless Holden or Walker played it.

On the last lap, sirens sounded.

"Is that the cops?"

Holden nodded. "Yeah but it's playing through the stream. It's a warning that a cop scanner has called in an illegal race in the area. The players should have a way to hear the same warning."

The two cars that were losing, from the beginning, came to a screeching halt. Swerving in different directions, they fled the scene - admitted the evitable defeat.

"Pussies," Walker said with a low chuckle.

"There was no chance of them winning against Shadow Hunter and Deathly Hallow. They knew," Holden explained.

"Why don't the Shadow Hunter and Deathly Hallow leave too?" I questioned. "The cops could bust them."

"They won't get caught. Never do," Walker plainly stated.

Shadow Hunter and Deathly Hallow neared the point of rounding the last corner. Since the other cars were gone, the they had four-lanes open for just the both of them. It was neck to neck. Deathly Hallow seemed to use a boost, causing his car's front to lift ever so slightly before he jolted forward.

The timing was wrong. I knew it. Shadow Hunter knew it. Driving slightly outward, Shadow Hunter perfectly drifted and used his boost. It was enough to almost put him a car length ahead of Deathly Hallow.

Deathly Hallow switched gears in the last yards but it was not enough. Shadow Hunter was somehow prepared as his car pushed forwarded ever so more. It was enough to set his win in stone.

"We watched to the end of the race," Walker declared. "What do y'all want to do next?"

"I want to know what your apprehension was to me watching. That was not violent at all."

"This race was not but some races people purposefully slam into another - to spin the other out or to cause damage. It can get serious," Holden said. "This match was tame because it was clearly designed for Deathly Hallow to play Shadow Hunter to the end."

"Well, now Shadow Hunter can go on his merry way and avoid Deathly Hallow," I simply figured.

Walker snorted, "Not if he does not want a reward for winning. He will go to the collection site. Drones and cameras will be waiting. It will be a trap."

"Looks over to me," I said matter-of-factly. "It's a green screen."

"They don't show how the cars or drones get to the reward collection site. Everyone is headed that way though. It will come back on shortly," Walker replied. "What do y'all want to watch now?" Clearly, he was still focused on distracting me from what was about to happen.

"We could catch up on Rick and Morty," Holden suggested.

I never intentionally watched any action or gory movies. Walker had known me better than anyone, violence was not in my nature. 

Frustratingly, however, I was sick of the cradle I had put myself in. While I would never go down the route Walker did, he had experienced more of the real world than I ever allowed myself. 

Despite his newly found past, I still admired my older brother. He did not let the illegal world take him over. He got out. Graduated high school and went to college. I was proud of him.

"I don't mind watching until the end, unless it really gets violent."

Walker sighed for what felt like the millionth time that evening. His patience with me was wearing thin. "The things you are stubborn about," Walker ran a hand through his hair in frustration. 

"Violence is inevitable," Holden said with a sigh in dismay. "Deathly Hallow will not let it go. He can't."

"Why not?" I inquired, unsure of why Deathly Hallow could not let bygones be bygones.

"If Deathly Hallow shows mercy than he will be viewed as weak. You can't be a weak gang leader because then you are a target. To add, Deathly Hallow is relatively new to being a leader. He got the business from his father about four years ago. Now, Deathly Hallow is one of the youngest leaders, with many enemies waiting for an easy chance to strike." 

My head was spinning with all the new information. I did not know how Holden and Walker could keep everything straight - and still have solid minds. "And, you know all this from 'freelancing'?" One of my eyebrows hitched as I tumbled deeper into the rabbit hole.

Holden gave an uneasy laugh, seemingly embarrassed at my question. "I have friends aside from Walker, you know? Especially more so in high school," Holden paused. "Let's just say my friends back then were very close to the Hallow Gang. I use to get all the inside deets."

"By being close, you mean your friends were in the gang?"

Holden nodded in response. "I don't talk to them anymore. Not since I went to college."

"Good. You don't need those kinds of people around you. They will change your life - for the worse," I honestly advised. My eyes flickered over to the TV screen when I saw a countdown begin, once more. 

"Well, I'll be damned. He is gonna show," Walker said in astonishment before muttering again about how we should watch something else. 

"How do you know?"

"They would not start the timer for the reward ceremony if not."

Once the countdown ended, the screen showcased a view from what appeared to be under a bridge. The white and black cars were parked side by side. There appeared to be no one outside, which made me wonder what was going on. "Where are they?" 

There was no response from Walker or Holden. 

Suddenly, the black car door opened. I watched a tall man get out of the car, sporting a tight-fitting maroon thermal t-shirt and dark jeans. The rider had raven-colored hair but his face was covered up by an intricate black mask that appeared to be shaped as a demonic or evil face.

"I thought they don't wear masks," I said, thinking back to one of the rules Walker mentioned.

"They aren't supposed to."

The driver's door of the white car opened and another man got out. My breath hitched as I recognized the driver. "Icarus?"

"Wait? You know Deathly Hallow?" Walker looked at me with an appalled expression. His piercing gaze caused me to feel uncomfortable.

"I-I . . . I think. I mean, he looks like. . ."

"Like who?" It was Walker's turn to grill me. Though, I was not sure what I could tell him. My mind was still trying to process what I was seeing. 

Unless Icarus had a twin. There was no doubt that I was seeing the boy that I had been talking to. He was the spitting image. Despite knowing that, I could not fathom that the Deathly Hallow, which Holden and Walker had described, was Icarus. 

"Ummm, I don't know." My voice came out strained. "He kinda looks like this guy I had been talking to." Suddenly, the words flooded out of my mouth with no control. "But, there is no way they are the same person." 

Walker and Holden skeptically looked at me. 

"I think . . . I don't know," I tried to hide the nervousness that was eager to exude out of me. I was not good at lying. However, I tried to convenience myself that I was not lying. 

I was not 100% certain that Icarus was who I was seeing on the screen. He could well in fact have had a twin. "I think . . . I thought he was someone else. I really don't think it's the same guy."

Walker and Holden slightly relaxed in their seats but still held tense postures. 

"If you ever see that guy," Walker pointed to the Icarus look-a-like. "Run in the opposite direction. You're not meant for that kind of life, in any aspect, G."

I did not need to be told twice. I could never imagine intentionally putting myself in any danger. I always tried to stay on the straight and narrow path. 

Biting the inside of my cheek, I wondered how I would find out if he was the Deathly Hallow.

My eyes locked back on the screen. "What are they doing?"

Holden gave a small chuckle, "It seems like they are having a stare-off."

"Wow, this is so violent," I sarcastically said. "Two men staring into each other's eyes. Who will be the first to break?"

Holden snickered. 

"If I had to guess, they are seeing who will be the first to say something - or do something," Walker justified. 

A prolonged minute passed before a blink of an eye, Icarus had a gun pointed straight at the Shadow Huner's head. 

"He wouldn't shot him? On camera?!" I nearly shouted. 

"Yes, he would. His family has deep pockets and hands in all police affairs. He can do what he pleases," Walker said. "Which, is why I have been mentioning that we should watch-"

I tossed the decor pillow beside me at Walker's face. His stunned expression revealed that he had not expected my actions. 

"Nice shot!" Holden held out his hand for a high five, which I reciprocated. 

Immediately, I looked back at the screen. The gun was still unwavering as the barrel pointed straight at Shadow Hunter. 

My nerves reached an all-time high thinking the possible Icarus could actually shot someone one camera, with me watching. 

Just then something dawned on me. Quickly, I slid my phone out of my front pocket and placed it beside my thigh - out of Holden and Walker's line of sight. My fingers urgently unlocked the phone and pulled up my contacts. I called the name I was looking for with bated breath. 

I could not take my eyes off the TV screen. I prayed nothing would happen. Nothing would prove my theory correct. A prolonged second passed and I was in the middle of releasing a sigh of relief when my heart stopped. 

A phone blared loudly, interrupting the intense moment on the screen. 

Still keeping the gun aimed at Shadow Hunter, Icarus dug in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. His eyes softened briefly before he clicked the phone off, ending the call. 

"What are you doing here?" Icarus asked as he slid his phone back in his jeans. 

I grabbed my phone and placed it to my ear. The answering machine confirmed my fears. With a hard to swallow gulp, I ended the call. 

Shadow Hunter said nothing. Instead, he pulled out his phone. Turning it out, he appeared to be looking for something. Finally finding what he was looking for, Shadow Hunter handed the phone to Icarus. 

"I want to make a deal," a deep velvet sounding voice resignated out of Shadow Hunter. 

Icarus starred at the phone. I watched as his knuckles turned white as he looked at the screen. Glancing up, a dark look was cast over Icarus' face. He threw the phone at Shadow Hunter. "You piece of shit! Where did you get that?" Icarus yelled. 

Shadow Hunter did not reply nor did he bend down to get his phone. He just stood there, silent.

Within a millisecond, Icarus raised his hand and whacked Shadow Hunter in the face with the  butt of the gun. 

Shadow Hunter's head was knocked to the side by the impact. The camera's zoomed in as he raised his head back up. I winced seeing that Icarus hit him so hard that the left cheek of Shadow Hunter's mask was cracked.

"I said, where did you get that photo?" 

"And I said, I want to make a deal but at the Club House. Not here. Not on camera. I mean, unless you want me to spill the beans." Shadow Hunter negotiated. 

"What makes you think I would make a deal with you? The traitor," Icarus spat in anger. 

Shadow Hunter gave a nonchalant shrug of the shoulder. "I know you. I know what you want. I am willing to come back."

"But?" Icarus inquired. 

"I really don't want to say it again. I want to make a deal. Off-camera and at the Club House. No tricks. I pinky promise," Shadow Hunter held out his pink to seal the deal. 

Icarus rolled his eyes. "Romano, take his car and follow us."

I could tell that Shadow Hunter was smiling under his mask as he dropped his hand to his side. "So, you agree to my terms?"

Icarus looked at Shadow Hunter with a deadpan expression. With no warning, He raised his hand holding the gun and aimed it at the drone that was capturing the scene unfolding. Icarus did not look away from Shadow Hunter as he fired the gun. 

The screen went black and the feed ended.