The great race was something that people saw everyday. A endless entertainment broadcasted in metropolis every single day. The ghost town haunted by the control of the abyss. It was different for the participants of the unforgiving race. Everyday the same thing repeats over again and again. Molten beats everyone to their deaths and win the race everyday, things returning to normal the next day to repeat all over.

It was different for the mechanics helping the other racers.

And one of them was a mechanic struggling with too much on them.

_______ banged on the car belonging to her friend Norton. Tired of fixing it again for the 4th time that day. Ironically it was the one day off on the torture that is this hell. The mechanic tried everything to fix and upgrade in hopes of helping her friend win and end the purgatory everyone is stuck in with no luck.

Luca waltzed into the workshop seeing his sister slumped over the hood of Norton's car. He came back with a small snack break hoping to help her relax for a bit.

"Hey sis." He smiled placing the small basket on the table and pursing himself in his elbow next to the girl. The other turned her head to see the brunette giving a side smile. "Take a Break, Norton is always overworking yo and I'm tired of seeing him take advantage of you."

"It's not taking advantage if the feelings are mutual Luca. We're just waiting for this race to end so we can be together with no repercussions of thinking about this hell ever again." The girl stood straight up grabbing a sandwich out of the basket to take a bite.

"Sure, if that's what you believe. But I'm telling you, I don't trust him one bit. Outside of you, I don't trust myself with anyone else here. There's something suspicious going on here and I don't like the feeling about it." Luca jumped up to sit on the hood of the car. "Besides, I don't think I'll be staying here for long anyways."

"What do you mean? We've been stuck at this damn warehouse for as long as I can remember?! What do you mean leaving?" The girl turned her head around to face the older man.

"Remember our older brother? The adopted one? Jose? I managed to get in contact with him the other day." Luca started off with a smile. "He's in the main city doing investigation work. He has a team together to dismantle the rule in metropolis and wants us to join in since he found us. We could finally reunite with our family and get out of this damn hell hole." The brunette laughed a little towards the end. It really has felt like eternity since they've been here. The girls thoughts swirled around in annoyance. Unsure of what to do.

"Luca...I want to go so bad but-"

"Hey ding bats, is my car fixed up?" A third voice interrupted her words in the garage. The balsa siblings turn their heads to see the blonde walk in, helmet on his hip, ash covering most of his face. Luca scoffed to the side as ______ ran up to the cavalier, embracing him in a hug.

"Hey nort! Don't worry I was just finishing up, stopped for a bit for a snack break." Norton smiled and broke away from the girl as he walked to the hood of his car.

"Mind getting off Balsa?" He asked as Luca rolled his eyes and got off, clearly showing his annoyance with the racer. "Did you manage to get the different boosters working? And the brakes to work too?" Norton asked as he inspected the car in a walk around.

"Almost, I just need to do a stabilize and test run to make sure it's one hundred percent working." ______ answered. "By the way Norton, since I'm finishing up earlier than expected why don't we go out later?"

"Cant, I gotta test run her. I have to win the race at all costs. All of my work would be for nothing If I don't win soon. This purgatory is exhausting to me in." Norton explained. Luca eye rolled as _______ nodded her head in disappointment. "Don't worry, I promise once we get out, I'll give you everything you deserve wont I?" The blond walked towards her pushing her bangs out of the way to kiss her forehead lightly. The girl blushed bright red at the gesture as she nods aggressively.

"I'll get right to it!" She salute to the blonde.

Luca scoffed as he took another bite out of his sandwich.

~~~

_______ felt a shake as she stirred awake from her sleep, eyes blurred as she woke up to Luca in a hood and mask.

"______, listen to me. I have to go, but whatever you do, stay strong. I promise I'll come back and get you as soon as we finish our operation in Metropolis. Stay safe and stay low for me alright?" The girl nodded as she starts to doze off again, grabbing Luca in a loose hug as he holds her tightly. "I love you. Don't ever forget that." He whispered quietly letting go, giving her a final goodbye kiss on her forehead.

The mechanic passed out again right after.

Stirring awake to the sound of her alarm the girl got out of bed. Dragging her feet around as she goes about her day. The radio turned on to hear the great race restarting yet again. Radioman rambling on and on about the excitement the racers will bring today. Same track, same racers, same ending each day.

"Good morning big bro-" the girl stopped in her tracks to see the clean and empty room. Nothing in sight. Realization hit as she remembered the night before, Luca saying something about leaving causing her to go into panic. Rushing around the building there was nothing in sight about Luca, everything about him was gone.

_______ sat on the floor of his room breaking down, crying as the idea of being lonely is coming down on her. Hours went by as she cried in silence, missing the comfort of a close friend she grew up along.

For the next hour, she spent time to get up and away, tumbling down the hallway into the only person she can get some comfort in. Nortons door was closed as expected from being out for the race, but none the less it didn't stop her from trying to open the door. Twisting the knob the door became ajar as the inside opened itself to her. The room was a tad bit messy but organized at the same time. Walking over, she quietly slid herself into Nortons bed, letting his scent cover herself to cope.

~~~

Norton angrily walked down the hallway, he was so close today to catching that deer ahead today and almost won if it wasn't for his damn hook catching onto his tire last minute. Blurbbling things under his mouth as he reached his door with Mike not far behind ready to unwind in his bed.

"Norty! It's alright! We'll get him next time! Especially since you were so close this time, i promise I'll give you a ride for the night today for that~" Mike whispered quietly next to Nortons ear, making him get a light blush on his complexion. The man can only nod as he opened his door to be greeted by someone unexpected in his bed.

"Shit. Get out of sight Mike." Norton shooed away the other blonde as he tried to peek inside to see what was going on.

"You still haven't told her?" He asked slightly baffled.

"I cant. She won't leave me alone no matter what I do. Now get into your room before she wakes up. I'll figure this out later." Mika scoffed a bit and went his way, unhappy having to wait for his plans. Norton glared at the figure in his bed, annoyed that he can't even have his own peace time now. Walking over to his bed, Norton shook the girls shoulder to wake her up.

~~~

"Get up and out of my room ______." A harsh voice called out as the girl woke up suddenly. Having her vision cleared, ______ saw Norton's face in relief.

"Norton...you're back....I really wanted to t-"

"Get out of my room. I'm not in the mood to talk to deal with anything right now so piss off." The mechanic froze at the words said, chest swelling up in pain.

"I-if that's what you want. I won't stop you...." She whispered quietly, standing up and slowly walking out of his room. It felt cold when his eyes glared at her, goosebumps up on her body as she closed the door behind her.

When did Norton get so mean? All she wanted to ask was for a comfort since her brother left.

With no where in mind, the mechanic began to wonder into the warehouse where all of the cars materials were left to upgrade or repair any of the race cars.

~~~

3 months have passed, ______ just grew more and more lonely each week. Victor left not much longer after Luca, leaving her alone with no one to talk to anymore. She misses wick, and how her and Victor would frequently enjoy a silent picnic together to watch the sunset while wick would spin in circles. Life in the great race grew dark and bleak, as if nothing mattered anymore.

"Girlie. Fix up the car." A voice called out pulling the mechanic out of a trance. _______ tilted her head to see Norton rolling in with his car once again to make demands.

"Hi Norton." She said quietly with a smile, the racer was pushing her away too. He was always angry, and stern, and demanding around her all of the time.

"Bane the bastard caught my tires. Get it fixed up immediately I almost had it this time." _______ kneeled down to pull out the tires, seeing the deflated and holes popped from the gamekeepers hooks.

"Do you hear me? Ugh! It's like you aren't even listening to me anymore! This race is so stressful I'm beyond tired of doing it! Everyone is so incompetent and you aren't doing any good either! I thought the mechanic is suppose to make things better not worst!"

______ flinched at the words. She didn't want to be here anymore. She grew sick of Norton's abuse. Sick of being treated like she has the easiest task. Sick of knowing she could be better off somewhere else right now.

It was quiet in the warehouse. The mechanic just stood up, back facing norton and walked to the back.

"Oi what are you doing?" Norton shifted into crossing his arms.

"Dinner break. Im exhausted." She said quietly pulling out a sandwich.

~~~

_______ had everything packed. She was ready to just up and leave the race and head to metropolis hoping to find Luca or Jose. With a letter in hand she walked down the hallway to in front of Norton's door, knocking twice, she opened the door ajar to send him a farewell.

"Norton? I have something for you..." she toned down her voice upon seeing the scene in front of her. Mike was on the floor giving Norton a blow job. Everyone froze in place seeing her walk in.

"Woman have you heard of knocking?! Why must you ruin everything I want to do?!?" Norton started screaming out loud.

Gears clicked in the mechanics head. Everything made sense now.

Norton never wanted her, he only used her for his satisfaction and threw her away and replaced when he got bored.

All of Luca's warnings made sense now. He probably knew something like this was going to happen.

"I'll take my leave. You...have fun." ______ scrunched the letter in hand and shut the door. Tears falling out of her eyes in pain, wanting to love someone for so long and couldn't in the end because she was nothing more than just a toy for him to mess around with.

"I'm coming Luca...." She said quietly wiping the tears away leaving the place behind.

~~~

Norton wondered back into the warehouse ready for another round of repairs to his car. Surprised to come up to it being empty at least.

"______?" He asked wondering around looking for her. Nothing came up and he began searching everywhere. The dorms, empty, dining hall, empty, bedrooms, empty. He was getting frustrated not knowing where his car mechanic went.

"Norton? What are you looking for honey?" He stumbled into Demi in the dining hall where she was mixing something up.

"My mechanic Demi. She fucking went off the grid and I need my car fixed."

"_______? Norton she's been gone for a week. She left a while ago. How did you not know? She said goodbyes to everyone." Norton was dumbfounded with her words, confusion grew inside him as he laughed.

"Funny joke Demi, now tell me where she's hiding already."

"It's not a joke Campbell. She's gone."

~~~

Norton wondered Around the city in absolute confusion. The city was so bright, yet dark and charming in its own way. She had a apartment set up from his win of the great race, just enough for a single person who's friends all died. He stood outside the music hall where a person called Aurora Light was going to perform, about to take his steps in until someone bumped into him.

"Sorry im in a Rush i have to go..." the voice quieted when she looked up to meet dead blue eyes.

"______...is it really you???" Norton asked in surprise.

"Hello campbell. Congrats on the win. If you excuse me I have to get going. I have work to do." Norton grabbed the girls wrist when she tried to walk off, but instead she snapped her arm away from. "Go away campbell. You won your race havent you? Go spend all of your cash on something for yourself."

"______, I'm, im sorry. I pushed you away and-"

"Shut it. You know what you are? You're a selfish pathetic asshole! I spent so much time trying to gain you love and validation because I genuinely thought we had something! But where did that get me? Being cheated on, abused and left behind by someone I thought meant something. If you excuse me Jose needs me to do my part or this whole operation is going to fuck up.

Never talk to me ever again Norton Campbell. You mean absolutely nothing to me anymore."

~~~

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