Chapter 44: Chapter 44
Austin
"One, two, three, four; One, two, three, four; One, two, three, four."
My head turns to Miles counting while puffing air in and out. His own way of regulating hyper nerves in check.
"Thank you lord for yet another beautiful day, a grateful heart for the life of my teammates and I, I thank you for the victory you have given us yet again. I…"
My eyes search for the voice saying that simple prayer landing on Xavier, another of my teammate and a friend. His hands join together in a prayer looking up. Darting my eyes away from him to the rest of the team either hopping on each foot or getting their spirit high in gyration. The call of our school team had our crowd and supporters screaming, Xavier gave a loud roar hyping the rest of school team who return his cry. Coach causally walks in with a stoic face reaching me. Only difference is he faced the field while i faced my team.
"Show those panthers who is truly the king of the jungle." he commands sternly. A crazy
smirk draws on my lips. With that he left to his position. I turn to my teammates who have the primal look reflecting mine. A look saying we are hungry, hungry for victory and we will get it at all cost. I gave a loud roar and the followed in suite. Soon our roar and growls got to the crowd outside and right then we made our entry running to the field. Our school gave a loud cheer as my eyes scanned everyone smiling already feeling victorious. Finally catching her in the midst of the crowd in my jersey, my heart skip at the small smile she gave. Beside her is Bailey screaming and jumping enthusiastic. Beating my chest thrice, I point my index to her giving my famous smirk. She blushes a beautiful shade of pink.
This is for her.
I run along with my teammates towards coach, Now forming a circle with him in the middle briefing us again of the best tactic on how to win the game and beat the reigning champions. Leading the last prayer of our season, we hoot going to our positions watching as the referee place the ball in the space between Xavier and the opposing team member. My eyes went for Snoopy one last time giving her a wink before the loud whistle went off.
Snoopy
I don't understand anything about the game but I watch with earnest interest as the ball flew from person to person in the field. My eyes trained solely on Austin who seem like a whole different person in the field. Precise, tactic, calculative. He made the game his, becoming oneness with it. It was a beautiful sight to see.
At some point he got tackled to the grass plenty a times. It was like the other team were scared to let him get the ball using brutal force on our team. Coach kept calm while our side of the bleachers kept screaming at the referee to either give them card or caution them. I sat there tapping my foot on the wood, antsy and tensed because it looks so tough like the gladiators battle in a Roman stadium.
Suddenly as the game went on, Austin jumped and caught the ball meanwhile the captain of the other team purposely kicked Austin in air causing air to fly out of his lungs as he fell with a loud thud. Our team was transfixed in silence for the moment Austin will regain his stance and get up. And when he did, Austin held a deathly glare I knew all too well rushing the smug
looking captain giving his chest fast punches hammering the poor soul. Both teams pounce on each other trying to separate their captains and themselves. Few officials came to separate the fight as the crowd watch the outburst.
The other team captain growl and thrashed around while rubbing his hurting chest looking deathly at a smirking Austin who held back himself watching him in a dark glint. I couldn't say if I blame Austin or not. But he started it and got Austin's wrath in return.
After that the game went smoothly for more minutes till Austin scored the first goal. We all cheered. As I watch the game, my eyes begins to water, seeing things double. I had perspiration dripping down my head and the sound in my head feeling like its going to explode any minute. Shakily, I reach for my phone behind quickly dialing my mum which is on speed dial. It rang and went into voice mail. I held the painful moan standing up staggering to get my balance.
"Babe? Where are you going? Shit! Are you okay?"
I force a small smile. "Need to make call to dad. I'll be right back." She looks at me sceptically and not giving her the chance to fight me, I pass through saying sorry and excuse me to whomever I stepped on while trying not to fail my step. Grumps and mutters came from the benchers but my worry wasn't them, I needed to call my mum and dad, quickly.
The moment I was in a safe zone the pain came back in full force and I cry falling to my knees clutching my dialing phone. I groan, and moaned painfully waiting for the pains to fade but it didn't. It kept on increasing and I was helpless. The noise from the crowd and drums didn't help at all, increasing my dilemma.
"Honey?"
"Mom...I-i need you." my voice breaks. Suddenly feeling choked and hammered at the same time. I moan crying in pains my phone long forgotten on the ground.
"Babe!!!" I feel my head picked up resting on her thighs. I kept groaning in pains crying for it to stop.
"911, What's your emergency?" she clutch me tighter speaking to the speaker phone.
"My friend is dying please send an ambulance to..." that's all I could get groaning in pains feeling my eyes roll to the back of my head.
I fell in and out of consciousness. Next I opened my eyes mum and dad were with me. Mom crying and saying what I couldn't decipher. Dad's lips moving. Next again, I'm being lifted onto a gurney feeling Austin's hand clutch mine tightly, a tear stained Bailey beside him crying profusely. I tried to give a soft smile but my head hurts so bad, I groan moaning in pains. Slowly I watch as my hand was separated from Austin who looks second away from running into the ambulance with me. Everyone's lips kept moving in the moving vehicle; mum, dad and the staffs who fixed oxygen on my nose but I couldn't get a word out of them because of the loud ringing in my head.
Another, I'm in the hospital, hearing distant scream and shouts and after that it was all darkness I saw. Darkness alone.