Chapter 43: Chapter 30: No Exit
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1. The Warden's Challenge
Jaxon sat on the cold steel bench of his cell, turning the 88-engraved key over in his hands. The Warden's offer replayed in his mind.
A final Death Race.
A chance to drive again.
A chance to kill Donovan.
He clenched his jaw. That was the only reason he was even considering it. Donovan was here—the man who destroyed his life. If he stepped into that race, he could finally end him.
But he wasn't stupid.
The Warden wasn't just offering this for entertainment.
No—this was a trap.
Across the cell, Viper sat against the wall, sharpening a makeshift blade against the floor. He watched Jaxon carefully.
"You thinking about taking the deal?"
Jaxon exhaled. "I don't trust it."
Viper smirked. "Smart. But you're considering it anyway."
Jaxon didn't answer.
The silence stretched between them. Then, Viper leaned forward.
"I've been here longer than you, Driver 88. I've seen what happens to racers who take a deal with the Warden."
Jaxon glanced up. "And?"
Viper's eyes darkened.
"They don't leave the track alive."
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2. The Blood Pact
That night, the cell doors opened.
Jaxon and Viper were dragged from their cages and marched down a dark hallway. The guards were silent. Only the sound of their boots echoed against the stone walls.
They were led into a room lined with metal chairs.
A table sat in the middle, and at the head of it—the Warden.
Donovan stood beside him, smirking like a devil.
Jaxon's blood boiled.
The Warden gestured toward the empty seats. "Sit."
Jaxon and Viper didn't move.
The Warden's eyes glimmered with amusement. "Come now, gentlemen. We have… business to discuss."
Viper snorted. "We're prisoners, not businessmen."
The Warden chuckled. "Ah, but you misunderstand. You're not just prisoners."
He leaned forward, his smile widening.
"You're the last two legends of the Death Race."
Jaxon stayed silent.
The Warden steepled his fingers. "I want to give the people a show. One final race. And not just any race—a cross-prison event. The biggest Death Race in history."
Jaxon narrowed his eyes.
The Warden leaned back, pleased with their silence.
"The winner will walk free."
The room fell deathly quiet.
Viper exchanged a glance with Jaxon.
It was a lie. They both knew it.
But then—Donovan spoke.
"And the losers?" he asked with a smirk.
The Warden grinned. "They won't be leaving at all."
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3. Escape Plans and Blood Feuds
Back in their cell, Viper paced while Jaxon sat deep in thought.
"They're setting us up," Viper muttered. "It's a goddamn execution disguised as a race."
Jaxon agreed. But he also knew something else.
Donovan wouldn't have spoken up unless he was sure he'd win.
That meant he had something up his sleeve.
Jaxon exhaled. "I'm racing."
Viper stopped pacing. "Are you serious?"
Jaxon met his eyes. "We need to be on that track. Not for the Warden. Not for the audience. For us."
Viper hesitated. Then his lips curled into a grin.
"You're planning something."
Jaxon smirked. "Damn right I am."
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4. The Prison Riot
Jaxon and Viper spent the next few days gathering intel. Watching the guards. Learning the prison layout.
And then—the perfect opportunity came.
A fight broke out in the yard.
Gangs from different prison factions clashed—a full-blown riot.
Alarms blared. Guards stormed in, batons swinging.
In the chaos, Jaxon and Viper moved.
Viper tackled a guard, wrenching his keycard free. Jaxon took down another, stealing a baton.
They sprinted toward the garage.
The Death Race cars were here.
Row after row of modified vehicles—reinforced with armor, loaded with weapons.
Jaxon's hands itched to touch the wheel of one.
But they weren't alone.
Standing beside a matte black muscle car was Donovan.
Smirking.
Waiting.
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5. Face to Face with the Devil
Jaxon stopped dead in his tracks.
Donovan leaned against the car, arms crossed.
"I knew you'd try something like this," he mused.
Jaxon's jaw tightened. "You're going to wish you hadn't."
Donovan chuckled. "Oh, I doubt that."
Viper slid a knife from his sleeve. "We can kill him now."
Donovan's smirk didn't falter. "Oh, please do. The Warden would love a reason to execute you early."
Jaxon exhaled sharply. He was right.
Killing Donovan now wouldn't work. Not like this.
But on the track?
That was a different story.
Jaxon clenched his fists. "See you on race day."
Donovan winked. "Try not to die before then."
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6. The Race Begins
The day arrived.
The biggest Death Race in history.
Jaxon stepped into his car. The engine rumbled beneath him. It felt right.
Viper sat in the vehicle beside him, revving his own engine.
Across the track, Donovan grinned from his modified death machine.
The Warden's voice crackled over the speakers.
"Welcome to the final Death Race!"
The crowd roared.
Jaxon gripped the wheel.
The gates ahead of them slammed open.
And then—
The race began.
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End of Chapter 30.