Kelsey, eyes bright with excitement and adrenaline, grabbed my hand. "I think we have to go near the field!" she said urgently.
Without hesitation, we scrambled down the bleachers, the others following close behind. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked around for Charlie.
"Where's Charlie?" I asked nervously, voice trembling.
Kelsey pointed ahead. "There! She's on the ground—but she's not hurt!"
Relieved but still anxious, I suggested, "If she can speak to minds, she should go to the corner, watch the opponents' movements, and tell Hudson."
"Great idea!" Kelsey nodded eagerly, waving her hands to signal Charlie.
Charlie saw her and quickly responded with a hand sign—she sprinted toward the corner and lay down, blending into the chaos seamlessly. Kelsey immediately signaled her to watch and relay information.
"Tell her to tell Hudson to let Tasha fall—make her look vulnerable—and then cover her with a fallen teammate," I whispered, desperation lacing my voice.
Kelsey relayed the message through Charlie. We prayed silently, eyes fixed on the field.
Thankfully, Hudson turned sharply at Charlie's signal, signaling to Tasha to lie down beside their fallen teammate.
"Now, tell Hudson to attack Hunter's stake first since they were spread all over the field," I added quickly, voice almost pleading.
Kelsey signaled Charlie again, and this time, Hudson nodded without hesitation, issuing the order.
Seconds later, a long, piercing whistle echoed across the stadium. The referee's voice boomed, announcing Hunter's team was out. Their energy bursts fizzled out, and the royals began to retreat, their faces grim with frustration. Hunter kicked the ground in annoyance, glaring in our direction.
"Tell Charlie to tell Hudson to take another member to act as a fake stake," I suggested.
I watched as Hudson took a team member—an ally—and dragged her across the field, pretending she was the stake. Now each remaining team had five members, the tension thick in the air.
"Tell Charlie to sneak behind Krygan and attack the stake herself," I whispered, clutching Kelsey's arm tightly.
Kelsey's eyes widened with a mix of shock and determination. She quickly signaled to Charlie, who hesitated but then slowly began to crawl through the chaos toward Krygan's side.
My hands trembled as I clasped them together, closing my eyes in a short prayer—hoping, praying, for the best.
Suddenly, I felt a piercing gaze—Hunter was just a few steps away, staring at us with an intense, almost piercing glare. I froze, unable to move, heart pounding so loudly I thought it would burst.
Then, a loud whistle cut through the tension.
"They won, Margaret!" Kelsey suddenly shouted beside me, shaking me vigorously. "Thanks to you, Hudson's team finally won after such a long time!"
I gulped, cheeks flushing, forcing myself to turn toward Kelsey and muster a shy smile.
From the bleachers, we watched as Tasha and Charlie were hoisted onto Hudson's team, cheered loudly by the victorious members. The atmosphere was thick with celebration, laughter, and relief. Krygan approached Hudson and shook his hand firmly, then did the same to the rest of the team, a rare smile flickering across his usually guarded face.
But my gaze shifted. Hunter, silent and brooding, was walking purposefully toward the teacher-referee. Their conversation was intense, low voices barely audible over the distant cheers. Most of the crowd was already dispersing, heading toward the exits, caught up in the victorious aftermath.
I was the only one watching them closely—my heart pounding with a strange, ominous feeling.
Suddenly, Krygan approached Hunter and the two started talking quietly, exchanging quick gestures and nods. My stomach clenched.
Then I saw Hunter point sharply at Charlie, then at Kelsey, his expression hardening. My breath hitched—my mind racing.
I wasn't the target, I told myself—out of trouble for now. But then, Krygan and Hunter both turned their eyes to me. Their brows furrowed, suspicion or concern flashing in their gaze.
I froze, feeling a sharp sting as I bit my lower lip too hard—the pain sharp and sudden. Blood welled up, and I crouched instinctively, clutching my mouth. No handkerchief—only my shirt collar. Quickly, I pulled at the fabric, wiping the blood away, trying to steady my trembling hands.
My heart hammered in my chest. I cast a quick, inconspicuous glance at Kelsey. "I... I need to pee," I signaled silently, hoping she'd understand.
She nodded subtly, eyes darting between me and the growing crowd. Without another word, I slipped away, trying to blend into the crowd, my mind racing as I moved discreetly toward the nearest restroom.
I burst out of the stadium, the open field stretching before me like a vast, empty void. The cool breeze brushed past, but I barely noticed. All I could feel was the pounding of my heart and the frantic rhythm of my legs as I hurried toward the distant school buildings, trying to find somewhere—anywhere—to hide or escape.
I paused for a split second, breath ragged, feeling utterly lost. My mind was spinning—should I head toward the woods? The back gate? Somewhere safe?
Then, a voice shattered the silence, sharp and commanding.
"Hey! You!" Hunter's voice echoed across the field, unmistakable and terrifying.
My stomach clenched with fear. Instinct kicked in—cold and urgent. I immediately turned and broke into a sprint, pounding my feet against the grass as fast as I could go.
Ahead, I saw an exit—bright, open, promising escape. But then, out of nowhere, Krygan appeared at the edge of the gate, emerging like a shadow from the darkness.
My legs froze for a moment, almost giving out. I stumbled, nearly falling, and my heart sank.
"That's her!" Hunter shouted behind me, voice filled with resolve and menace.
Krygan's eyes locked onto me. Without hesitation, he turned on his heels and sprinted after me, his pace relentless.
Running wasn't just exercise for me. It was an outlet—my way of pushing away frustration, fear, everything that haunted my old life. So, I kept going, relentless, for ten whole minutes without pause. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I couldn't stop.
I stole a quick glance over my shoulder. Hudson was already falling way behind, his figure shrinking into the distance. I pushed harder, desperation fueling every step.
As I neared the back of our dorm, I slowed for a moment, trying to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my ears. That's when Krygan appeared—like he'd materialized out of thin air.
Without warning, he lunged at me, his body crashing down on top of mine. I barely had time to react as we tumbled together, rolling down the hill toward the swamp. The world spun, dirt and grass flying around us, the weight of Krygan pinning me down.
Just when I thought we'd reach the murky water, something strange happened—like magic, or some unseen force, Krygan suddenly stopped us from rolling further.
I was on top of him, breathless, chest heaving. My pulse hammered in my ears as I stared at him, trying to seize the moment to break free and run again.
He was quick. Before I could move, Krygan's hand shot out, grabbing mine with a grip like iron. He rolled over, positioning himself in front of me, blocking my escape.
His husky voice cut through the tense air. "You're not going anywhere," he said firmly. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his left hand, wiggling his fingers. In an instant, both of my wrists were bound above my head, my hair falling messily over my face, obscuring my vision.
I struggled, my voice trembling with frustration and fear. "Get off of me!" I shouted, trying to wrench free, but my body was held fast.
Krygan hesitated for a moment, then eased off, though I still couldn't move my hands. My chest heaved with every ragged breath. "Why did you do to me?" I demanded, voice cracking.
He crouched down, gently brushing strands of hair away from my face. His dark eyes studied mine, intense and unreadable.
I looked back at him, trying to gauge his expression. His blonde curls hung over his sweaty forehead, and his thick eyebrows furrowed as he scrutinized me. His razor-sharp jaw clenched, the subtle stubble giving him a rough edge.
He studied my face in silence for a moment—then asked, "And why did you run away? Are you guilty of something?"
Guilt? My mind spun. I swallowed hard, tasting the tang of blood on my tongue. I licked my lips and felt a deeper cut inside, throbbing painfully.
"Guilty of what?" I shot back, feigning innocence, my voice trembling.
He paused, eyes narrowing as he considered my words. "Cheating?" he finally accused, voice edged with suspicion.
My heart pounded. I wanted to argue, to deny everything, but my mind was racing, trying to piece together what he was really after.