DRIVER 88 (The Death Race Saga).

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1. A Storm Brewing

The countdown echoed through the prison.

One hour.

Jaxon could feel the tension in the air. This wasn't just another race.

This was war.

He paced in his cell, his mind racing faster than his feet ever could.

"I've got one shot at this," he muttered.

He had to win.

Not just for his survival, but for everyone counting on him.

His thoughts turned to Vera, the mysterious woman who had shown up in his life just when things were getting chaotic. She was the one who found him when he was at his lowest. The one who believed in his chance to turn things around.

She had sent him a message earlier.

"I've got a plan."

But what was it?

How could she help when the Warden had control over everything?

Jaxon clenched his fists. The last time he trusted someone—Betrayal.

But he had no choice.

There was no way he'd survive this race without her help.

His cell door opened.

A guard stepped in.

"Get moving, Carter. Race time."

He gave a nod.

"Let's get this over with."

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2. The Warden's Game

The arena was massive. A concrete jungle, designed to push prisoners to their limits.

Barriers. Traps. Weapons.

And for every man, a personal hell waiting to unfold.

Jaxon stood at the edge of the starting line, the cold wind whipping around his face. His heart pounded, but his mind remained focused.

Across from him stood Ghost, the man who was more myth than reality. Jaxon had fought him once, but this time? This time would be different.

Behind them, the roaring crowd of inmates gathered. These men weren't just spectators—they were betting, cheering, and praying for blood.

The loudspeaker crackled, and Warden Calloway's voice echoed.

"Welcome to the Death Race. The rules are simple. Survive. Outlast. Be the last one standing."

He paused.

"Let's make it interesting, shall we?"

Jaxon's blood ran cold.

The ground beneath his feet trembled.

Out of the darkness came massive trucks, each carrying explosives, traps, and weapons. The Warden had pulled out all the stops this time.

"Good luck, gentlemen."

Then the gates to hell opened.

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3. First Blood

Jaxon's hands tightened around the wheel of his souped-up death machine. The engine roared to life beneath him, a deafening sound that drowned out everything else.

Beside him, Ghost slid into the seat of his own customized vehicle. The two men locked eyes, each sizing the other up. Neither spoke. The only sound was the growl of engines and the roar of the crowd.

And then—

The signal.

BAM!

The ground cracked open beneath their tires, and the race was on.

Jaxon hit the gas, tearing through the opening gates. The track was a maze of twists and turns, lined with deadly obstacles and fire pits that would turn any car into a fireball if hit wrong.

He could feel the heat from the explosions behind him. The blazing flames from a truck that had gone up in flames after a trap was triggered.

His heart raced, but his focus didn't falter.

"Stay calm. Stay focused," he muttered under his breath.

In the distance, Ghost was closing in.

Jaxon slammed on the brakes just in time, narrowly dodging a spike trap that shot from the ground. His car swerved, but he corrected the turn, speeding forward.

"This is nothing," he thought, but the pressure was mounting.

Up ahead, he could see the first checkpoint.

And in the distance, he saw the Warden's men, armed and ready to take down any racer who dared to get too close.

This was no longer about winning. This was about surviving.

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4. The Devil's Bargain

In the control room above the arena, Warden Calloway leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face.

"Let's see who has the guts to finish this," he muttered.

He watched as Jaxon and Ghost tore through the course, barely avoiding deadly traps and explosives.

"It's a shame," Calloway said, "Carter could have been useful. Too bad he decided to cross me."

Beside him, the new arrival, a shadow of a man known only as The Devil, stood silently.

"Do you think Carter can survive this?" Calloway asked.

The Devil's voice was low, like a whisper of smoke.

"He's just another pawn in the game, Warden. But I've made my bet."

Calloway raised an eyebrow.

"You're betting on Carter?"

The Devil smirked.

"No. I'm betting on the chaos that will unfold when he wins."

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5. Blood, Sweat, and Betrayal

Jaxon's car swerved, narrowly avoiding a set of chains that shot out from a nearby truck. The chains whipped across his side mirror, slicing through metal. His heart pounded harder.

Ahead, Ghost had pulled ahead—but not by much.

Jaxon was still in the race.

The checkpoint was near, and Jaxon's fingers tightened on the steering wheel, sweat trickling down his brow.

Suddenly, he saw a flash in his rearview mirror.

Ghost's car had exploded.

The fiery wreck careened across the track, sending debris flying in all directions. Jaxon had no choice but to dodge, the force of the explosion pushing him to the side.

His car jerked, but he kept control.

"What the hell?" he muttered, but there was no time to think.

His tires screeched against the gravel as he raced toward the final stretch.

But that's when it hit him—

The Warden had set him up.

The last trap wasn't for Ghost. It was for him.

And he had to act fast.

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6. The Final Play

As Jaxon approached the final checkpoint, he saw the finish line ahead. But something was off.

A loud whirring sound filled the air.

Jaxon's eyes widened as he noticed the huge blade descending from the sky. It was aimed straight at the finish line.

"No..."

The Warden had planned for Jaxon to die right at the end.

But Jaxon wasn't just some pawn.

He slammed the pedal to the metal, accelerating toward the blade.

The ground trembled beneath him as the blade came closer, closer.

In the final moment, just as the blade was about to cleave him in half—

Jaxon swerved, narrowly missing it.

He shot through the finish line like a bullet, crossing the line just in time.

Jaxon slammed on the brakes, his car coming to a skidding stop.

The crowd was silent.

Then—

The roar of applause.

Jaxon had won.

But at what cost?

He had survived. But now, the real battle was about to begin.

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TO BE CONTINUED...