DRIVER 88 (The Death Race Saga).

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1. A King with No Throne

Jaxon Cross stood in the center of the prison yard, his chest rising and falling as silence settled over Blackridge.

Titan—the monster who ruled this place—was on his knees.

Blood ran down his face, dripping onto the cracked concrete.

The other inmates watched in awe, their whispers carrying across the yard.

"88 took down Titan."

"No one's ever done that before."

"Maybe he really is the king now."

Jaxon wiped the blood from his knuckles and looked around.

Fear. Respect. Power.

But he knew better than to let it get to his head.

This wasn't the streets.

This wasn't a race he could just win and walk away from.

Blackridge wasn't ruled by strength alone.

It was ruled by deals, alliances, and blood.

And someone—somewhere—was already planning to take him down.

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2. The Warden's Game

The moment Jaxon stepped back into his cell, the door slammed shut.

Not a second later, the intercom crackled to life.

"Impressive, Driver 88."

It was Warden Hawk.

His voice, smooth as silk, slithered through the speaker in the ceiling.

"But let's not forget… you work for me now."

Jaxon exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I never agreed to that."

Hawk chuckled. "You didn't have to. You see, you just made yourself a symbol, Cross. And symbols? They don't get to rest. They either shine… or they burn."

Jaxon clenched his fists. "Cut the bullshit. What do you want?"

A pause.

Then, the Warden's voice returned, colder than before.

"Tomorrow. Death Race. New track. New competitors. And I want you in it."

Jaxon leaned against the wall. "You keep throwing me in these races, but what's in it for me?"

Another chuckle.

"You're thinking too small. I'm not just offering survival anymore. I'm offering freedom."

Jaxon's heart stopped. "What?"

"Win enough times, Driver 88… and maybe—just maybe—I'll let you out of this place."

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3. The Track of Death

The next morning, Jaxon stood at the starting line.

The air was thick with oil, blood, and gasoline.

The prison yard had been converted overnight—chain-link fences, burning wreckage, and ramps leading into the unknown.

The Death Race had always been brutal.

But this?

This was war.

Twelve cars.

Twelve killers.

And only one winner.

Jaxon tightened his grip on the wheel of his modified Dodge Charger—a rusted beast with bulletproof plating and a reinforced front.

To his right, a driver with a burned face grinned at him, his teeth yellow and sharp.

To his left, a man with a mechanical arm revved his engine, staring at Jaxon like a predator sizing up prey.

And directly across the track?

Titan.

Still bruised from their fight, his knuckles white against the steering wheel of a black Mustang armored like a tank.

The race hadn't even started, and Jaxon knew what this was.

Not a race.

A slaughter.

The siren blared.

Engines roared.

And hell unleashed itself on the asphalt.

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4. War on Wheels

Jaxon's tires screamed as he launched forward, the world blurring around him.

Immediately, two cars collided behind him, exploding into a fireball.

The crowd roared from the fences, cheering for death.

Jaxon swerved, narrowly avoiding a spiked barricade.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the burned-face driver pulling alongside him, a sawed-off shotgun in his hands.

Boom.

The blast ripped through Jaxon's rear window, showering him with glass.

Snarling, Jaxon reached for the lever under his dashboard.

He yanked it.

The rear exhaust pipe shot out a burst of flame.

The burned-face driver screamed as his car swerved wildly—then flipped, rolling five times before bursting into flames.

One down.

Ten left.

And Titan was gaining on him.

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5. Titan's Revenge

Jaxon glanced in his rearview mirror.

Titan's Mustang was inches away, its front bumper nearly kissing his Charger's rear.

Titan's voice crackled through the radio.

"You didn't think I'd let you walk away from our fight, did you, 88?"

Jaxon smirked. "I don't do rematches. Just victories."

Titan growled.

His car jerked forward, slamming into Jaxon's.

Jaxon's tires screeched as he fought for control.

Ahead, a massive flaming wreck blocked part of the track.

No time to think.

Jaxon slammed the gas.

He hit the ramp—soaring over the wreckage just as Titan's Mustang barreled forward.

Titan was too slow.

His car crashed straight into the fire.

A deafening explosion lit up the track.

Titan's Mustang vanished in a fireball.

And just like that—the King of the Yard was dead.

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6. A Champion's Burden

Jaxon's heart pounded as he crossed the finish line.

The crowd erupted.

The Warden's voice came over the loudspeaker.

"And there you have it! Driver 88—undefeated, unstoppable, unmatched!"

Jaxon climbed out of his car, covered in sweat and blood.

Guards surrounded him instantly.

One of them handed him a piece of paper.

Jaxon frowned. "What's this?"

The guard didn't answer.

Jaxon unfolded it.

A single word was scrawled across the page:

"RUN."

His stomach twisted.

He looked up—just in time to see the barrel of a sniper rifle aimed right at him.

A gunshot echoed.

And everything went black.

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END OF CHAPTER 5