I shifted the gear, my fingers firm even though my hands trembled. The tires gave a soft squeal as I pulled forward, the garage swallowing the sound as the mansion gates began to slide open.

And there it was—the city. The glowing skyline stretched in the distance, shimmering against the dark velvet of the night sky. It looked alive, wild, and free, like it was calling me forward. My chest lifted as I pressed my foot harder on the gas, speeding out of the gates, leaving the mansion behind.

But no matter how fast I drove, no matter how far the lights of the city pulled me, I couldn’t shake...