Vi

Midnight. You were at one of the well-known underground races held in the Zaun district, the unmistakable roar of engines and the smell of motor oil and cigarettes filling the night air beneath the bridge, where everyone waited for the winner to cross the finish line.

Most people here came to bet, drink, deal, or just have a good time enjoying illegally modified cars pushed to extravagant extremes, with neon lights and features that were obviously not street legal.

The race reached its climax, it had been a tough one this time. Some driver going up against Vi, supposedly undefeated, or so most people said. She had a whole crowd of fans, all screaming when she drifted, flashes from phones lighting up the finish line as a dark red car slid across, kicking up dust in a smooth turn while the other cars faded into forgotten losers.

Vi stepped out of the car, as usual in these races, winning once again. The crowd surged, lifting her into the air in celebration, chanting with excitement.

Not you, you weren’t celebrating. You had bet on the other driver, “Sevika”.

In the end you caught a glimpse of your friend out of the corner of your eye. You were pissed about losing a lot of money. Viktor wasn’t to blame, he had only recommended the races. You were the one who got carried away.

You walked off, almost dragging your feet, thinking about your bad luck. You pushed through the crowd around Vi, barely paying attention, until you ended up bumping into her, snapping your mood into a sudden halt.

Vi smirked, the scar on her lip shifting slightly as she leaned down toward you.

“Aw, wasn’t I a pretty sight to watch? Long face.” She flexed her gauntlet slightly, cracking her fingers. “Cheer up.”

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper against your ear.

“And always… bet on me.”

Finally Vi pulled back with a faint smile, giving you a wink before turning away to continue celebrating.