Chapter 3: Face to Face

Chapter 3: Face to Face

For a moment, Avni couldn’t speak. The world seemed to shrink around her, the hum of the garage fading into a distant buzz. Rey stood there, his dark eyes locked on hers, waiting for an answer. Up close, he was exactly as she’d seen him in her dream—messy black hair falling over his forehead, the faint red mark on his wrist peeking out from under his jacket sleeve. But there was something else, something the dream hadn’t captured: a raw, restless energy that radiated off him, like a storm barely contained.

She forced herself to breathe. “I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “Alone.”

Rey tilted his head, studying her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. The mechanics exchanged a glance, one of them snickering under his breath, but Rey didn’t break eye contact. “You’ve got five minutes,” he said finally, jerking his head toward the back of the garage. “Follow me.”

Avni nodded, her pulse racing as she trailed him past racks of tools and half-assembled bikes. He led her to a cluttered corner where an old couch sat against the wall, littered with grease-stained rags and empty beer cans. He didn’t sit, just leaned against a workbench, arms crossed, waiting for her to start.

She took a deep breath, unsure how to begin. How do you tell someone you’ve seen them die? “I know this is going to sound crazy,” she said, meeting his gaze. “But I’ve seen you before. In a dream. You were racing, and… you didn’t make it.”

Rey’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes—amusement, maybe, or disbelief. “A dream,” he repeated, his tone flat. “You tracked me down because of a nightmare?”

“It’s not just a nightmare,” she snapped, frustration bubbling up. “It’s real. It’s happened before—I see things, and they come true. People die if I don’t stop it. And last night, I saw you crash. On a street in Westwood. You were bleeding out on the pavement.”

He raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “I ride fast. Crashing’s part of the deal. You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”

Avni clenched her fists, resisting the urge to shake him. “This isn’t just a crash. You don’t get up from this one. I’ve been looking for you all week because I don’t want it to happen.”Rey pushed off the workbench, stepping closer. Too close. She could smell the faint tang of motor oil and leather on him. “And what’s in it for you?” he asked, his voice low, almost a challenge. “Why do you care if some guy you don’t even know eats pavement?”

She faltered. Why did she care? She’d saved strangers before, driven by the guilt of knowing she could stop their deaths. But this time, the dream had gripped her harder, sunk its claws deeper. “I don’t know,” she admitted, holding his stare. “I just… I can’t let it happen.”

He let out a short, dry laugh, stepping back. “You’re either nuts or a hell of a liar.Parker Schnabel. I don’t know what’s worse—saving lives or dodging death like it’s a game.”

Avni glared at him. “Call it what you want. I’m not here to play hero. I’m here because I don’t have a choice.”

For the first time, Rey’s smirk faded. He looked at her—really looked at her—like he was trying to figure out if she was for real. “Alright,” he said after a beat. “Say I buy this. What’s your plan? Lock me in a basement ‘til the dream passes?”

“No,” she said, her mind racing. “There’s a race in two days. I think that’s when it happens. If I can figure out where and when, maybe I can stop it.”

He snorted. “Westwood Riders don’t advertise. You won’t find it unless you’re in.”

“Then get me in,” she shot back, desperation creeping into her voice. “You’re one of them. You can make it happen.”

Rey stared at her, his jaw tight. “You don’t know what you’re asking. These guys don’t mess around. You show up, some random girl with a death prophecy, and they’ll laugh you out—or worse.”

“I’ll take the risk,” she said, stepping toward him. “I’ve got two days to convince you I’m not crazy. Let me come with you. Watch you ride. If I’m wrong, you never see me again. If I’m right, you live.”

He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched, heavy and thick, as he weighed her words. Finally, he shoved his hands in his pockets, his gaze cutting through her. “Tomorrow night. Meet me here at ten. We’ll see what you’re made of.”

Avni exhaled, relief flooding her. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, turning toward the garage door. “You’re the one who’s gotta keep up.”

She watched him walk away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows of the garage. Her heart was still pounding, but for the first time in days, she felt a spark of hope. She’d found him. She’d convinced him—at least for now. But the clock was ticking, and she had no idea what she was walking into.

The next night couldn’t come fast enough.

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