This is an AI-assisted story as I wanted to see how close it could come to the storyline I wanted to write. Surprisingly, it came close but I had to convert the POV from third to first. In addition, as you could probably tell, it is not written in "my voice",
Rest assured, "The Duel" is the only book I have worked with AI to write.
Created using NovelAI with a little bit of my own voice thrown in

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the deserted streets as we approached the Stark Garage on the outskirts of town. The air was thick with tension and excitement, a palpable energy that crackled between them. My heart raced not just from the thrill of the impending heist, but also from the intoxicating sense of adventure that came with it. I glanced sideways at Juliette, who wore a mischievous grin, her red hair glowing like embers in the night.

“Are you sure we can do this?” I asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if we get caught?”

Juliette shrugged; her confidence unwavering. “We won’t. We’re Ghost and Fire. We’re practically unstoppable.”

I chuckled at the nickname Juliette had given us, feeling a surge of camaraderie. “Alright, Fire. Let’s see what we got.”

We approached the garage, a nondescript building that blended into the shadows. It was once the home to Stark Racing until the owner was caught double-crossing the local mafia. Other than that tidbit, the whole building looked like a small finger flick could bring the whole building down.

The flickering light from a nearby streetlamp illuminated the rusty metal door before us, its paint peeling and faded. I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach, but I pushed it aside. This was a chance to step into a world of danger and excitement we both craved.

“Okay, I’ll keep watch,” I said, glancing around to ensure the coast was clear. “You handle the door.”

Juliette nodded, her expression serious as she pulled out a small kit from her backpack.

“Can I ask a stupid question?” Juliette said as she took out a lock-pick.

“Please do.”

“Any idea who sent you the note?”

“Not a clue, I replied, shaking my head. “It’s crazy and stupid, but here we are.”

I wanted to ask if she ever broken into my locker with those skills but I was struck by the strange juxtaposition of my two worlds. The quiet, almost clinical efficiency of planning stood in stark contrast to the raw, adrenaline-fueled chaos of the street races. One world was organized, methodical, the other wild, unpredictable. And yet, both existed within me and Juliette. Her pragmatism served as a grounding force, a counterpoint to the recklessness that had become increasingly ingrained in my life. As I looked at Juliette, her calm demeanor kind of scared me.

“Where did you learn to do that?” I asked, my curiosity epically piqued.

“Online tutorials,” Juliette replied, her concentration unwavering. “You’d be surprised what you can learn on the internet.”

With a soft click, the lock sprang open, and Juliette looked up, her eyes sparkling with triumph. “Told you I could do it!” she exclaimed, pushing the door open slowly.

The inside of the garage was dimly lit, illuminated only by the faint glow of a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. The scent of oil and metal filled the air, and once again I felt a rush of exhilaration as we stepped inside. Rows of tools lined the walls, and various vehicles were parked haphazardly around the space. My eyes were drawn to the blue Mustang, its sleek body gleaming under the sparse light. It was everything she had imagined and more—a beauty waiting to be unleashed.

“There it is,” I breathed, my heart pounded in my chest. “The Holy Grail.”

Juliette’s eyes widened as she took in the sight. “It’s incredible! But how are we going to get it out of here?”

I glanced around, my mind racing. “We’ll have to go through the door. It’s too tight to maneuver it out any other way.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Juliette asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. “Hey, we could it apart and take it out one piece at a time, like a Cadillac.”

“Trust me,” I replied, my adrenaline-fueled confidence surging. “We’ll ram it through. It’ll be quick. The longer we linger, the more likely we’ll get caught.”

Juliette nodded, her excitement bubbling over. “Let’s do it!”

We climbed into the Mustang, the interior smelling of leather. I took a moment to admire the dashboard, my fingers tracing the sleek curves.

“You’re right Jules, This is epic!”

“Just remember to keep your foot steady on the gas,” Juliette teased, her laughter infectious. “I don’t want to crash before we even get out of here.”

With a determined nod, I turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life, a powerful growl that sent shivers down my spine. I could feel the energy of the car coursing through my bones, a connection that made me feel invincible.

“Allons-y !” I shouted, slamming my foot down on the gas pedal. The Mustang surged forward, crashing through the rusty door with a deafening bang! Wood splintered and flew in all directions, and for a moment, I felt like I was in heaven—a scene of pure chaos and exhilaration.

But the moment of triumph was short-lived. As an alarm blared to life, piercing through the night like a beacon for the police to come out.

Juliette’s eyes widened in panic. “Faster, must go faster!”

My heart raced as I swerved the Mustang onto the street, the sound of sirens echoing in the distance. “Hold on!” I shouted; my instincts kicked in as we navigated through the winding streets.

I felt the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I glanced at Juliette, who gripped the dashboard with wide eyes, a mix of fear and excitement on her face.

“Just like old times, huh?” Juliette shouted over the cacophony the revving engine.

I laughed, my heart soaring. “Yeah! Just like when we used to sneak out to go and con our way to get tattoos!”

We sped through the city, the neon lights blurring into streaks of color as we evaded the police. My mind raced with possibilities of what the police would do to me. I had to find a place to hide the Mustang before we were caught.

“Where do we go?” Juliette asked, her voice laced with urgency.

“The Falcon’s old hideout!” I replied, my mind already calculating the quickest route. “It’s just a few blocks away.”

As we rounded a corner, the sound of police sirens grew louder, and my heart sank. I could see the flashing lights in the distance, closing in on them. “Faster!” I whispered.

With a surge of determination, I pushed the Mustang to its limits, weaving in and out of traffic and down side streets. The thrill of the chase was intoxicating, but the reality of our situation loomed over us like a dark cloud.

We reached the old hideout, a nondescript garage tucked away in an alley. I quickly maneuvered the Mustang inside, the door slamming shut behind us with a heavy thud. The sirens continued to blare, but we were safe for the moment.

“Did we make it?” Juliette asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and exhilaration.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize she was holding. “For now,” I said, my heart still racing.

“Holy crap, we did it!” Juliette laughed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We actually stole a car!”

I couldn’t help but join in the laughter, the weight of the night lifting off my shoulders. “I can’t believe we just did that. It was insane!”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, and my heart skipped a few beats as I saw Marco’s name on the screen. “It’s Marco,” I said.

“Answer it!” Juliette urged; her excitement palpable. “Can we tell him?

I swiped to answer, my heart pounding in anticipation to tell him what we had just done.

“Hey, Marco,” I said, trying to sound calm despite the chaos of the night.

“Ghost! Where in the hell are you?” Marco’s voice was filled with concern.

“Long story short: We are now in possession of a Mustang for Jessie to trick out.

“Where did you get a Mustang?”

“Stark garage.”

“You do some crazy things sometimes, Allie.:

“And that’s one reason why you love me.”

“It is. Is Juliette with you, are you guys okay?” he asked, his tone shifting to one of relief.

“Yeah, we’re fine. Just a little shaken up,” I admitted, glancing at Juliette, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

“Stay put. I’ll come to you,” Marco instructed. “And don’t leave the car until I get there.”

“Got it,” I replied, my heart swelling with gratitude. “Thanks, Marco.”

As I hung up, I turned to Juliette, who was practically vibrating with energy. “We did it! We pulled off a heist!”

“Can you believe it?” Juliette laughed, her eyes shining. “This is going to be the best story ever!”

I couldn’t help but laugh along with her friend, the thrill of the night washing over her like a wave.

"The Duel" Remix Theme