Chapter 1: Footprints On Asphalt
Neonvista’s city sky is filled with blue and purple neon. In the distance, skyscraper towers stand tall, surrounded by busy delivery drones. The streets in the lower part of the city are crowded with old cars, far from the glittering luxury of the city center.
Lana sat on the hood of the Falcon-X, staring at the old vehicle with a mixture of love and frustration. The color is dull, spots of rust decorate the body, and the sound of the engine is often more like the growl of a sick monster. However, the car is the only inheritance from his father, a symbol of his family’s struggle that never gave up despite being crushed by poverty.
“If you want to get into that big arena, Lana, you have to believe in this Falcon-X,” said her father, Derek Veil, wiping his greasy hands with a dirty cloth. “This car was a champion two decades ago. He just needs a little love, and you need more courage.”
Lana bit her lip. “Racing isn’t what it used to be, Dad. Their cars have AI that predicts every turn. Their plasma machines go faster than the human mind. This Falcon-X... he’s not enough.”
Derek chuckled, his eyes sparkling despite the wrinkles on his face showing his age. “What made this car win in the first place was not the engine, Lana. But the driver. Just like you, your mother was once thought to have no chance. But she proved the world wrong.”
Lana was silent. The memory of her mother always came like a flash of light, full of emotion, and painful. But that’s what fueled his dreams.
That night, Lana decided one thing: the Falcon-X would be her ticket to the professional racing arena. Even if it means sacrificing everything.
...
