Team
July 14, 2044- Thursday
Rise sits in between Han and Jackson at the dining table. Coach Palmer had entered the dormitory earlier than wake-up time to tell them to dress and attend a meeting. The runners talked in low voices while they waited for the unknown.
“What do you think this is about?” asks Jackson looking at the two other boys.
Rise shook his head in thought. Before he could answer his theories to Jackson, Han spoke.
“Don't know, but it probably has to do with them,” says Han as he stares across the room.
All the other runners were also there, but they weren’t the only ones. On the side by the kitchen doors stood three men in black suits. One held an iPad in his thick hands. They all had black earpieces visible on their ears, which they occasionally spoke into. Neither the other runner nor Rise could make out what they said until one spoke up.
“Okay!” says the man in the center extending his hands to his partners to move forward.
The runners sitting down all follow with their eyes to the new men who come close to them.
“There is a select few of you who are selected for special training,” says the man in a booming voice.
Rise looks from Jackson to Han.
“There will be more information on the nature of the training later,” says the man.
Rise feels his mouth dry with anticipation as the room goes eerily quiet.
“Han Kie.”
Han stands up from his spot at the dining table as all eyes including Rise’s turn to him.
“Nix Riley.”
A girl with black short hair stands.
“Jackson Smith.”
Jackson looks over at Rise and stands up; he runs a hand through his sunkissed blonde hair.
“Lily Sanchez.”
Across from Nix stands a taller girl with her hair tied in a high ponytail.
“And Rise Prongs,” says the man.
Rise stands up lifting himself from the table with his hands. The five of the chosen runners look to one another before they sit down. The men in the suits have a few final words for everyone and then they leave.
Couch Palmer tells everyone to prepare for classes and dismisses them from the dining table. Han, Jackson, and Rise remain seated for a few more minutes talking to each other about the new turn of events.
“All three of us got picked,” says Jackson.
“You think that’s what the time trails were for?,” asks Rise.
“Apparently,” says Jackson.
Han purses his lips and says, “Did think I say the girls near the front of the event.”
Rise looks for the girls but they have already left the dining hall, the table is all empty except for them. The shine of the dining table stares back from meters away on the dark wood.
The boys go to their dormitories to change into their school uniforms. Rise and Jackson enter the room across from Han’s dormitory room. A few of the boys congratulate them when they enter the room.
“Thank you,” says Rise in general to everyone as he moves to his bedside table.
In the lounge Han waits for them, sitting back comfortably in one of the chairs. The three head out to the school building.
Onto the short-cut grass Rise steps with his new friends jocking before it's time for school. The walk to class seems very short as they are having fun on the bright summer day.
Into the school building the boys enter noticing an announcement on the bulletin board.
New Assigned Class- Class E: Lily Sanchez, Jackson Smith, Nix Riley, Rise Prongs, and Han Kie.
Rise looks at the red notice so everyone in the dining room who was called will now have class together.
Classroom E is at the end of the hallway by the drinking fountains. When the three boys enter they find their other two girls there already. They take a seat to the left of the girls, closest to the door. There are a half dozen seats sectioned by two columns and three rows.
Rise turns to the right feeling a bit awkward.
“Hi, my name is Rise,” he says looking at the girl with a high ponytail.
“Hey, I’m Lily,” says the girl smiling with a small wave.
Their teacher walks in wearing a checkered vest. He introduces himself as Mr. Jet and asks each of them to introduce themselves.
“I have a special gift from a patron,” says Mr. Jet pulling out new tablets for the students.
He hands one each to the five students.
“These are to remain in class,” says Mr. Jet.
“What is a patron?” asks Lily speaking as she raises her hand.
Mr. Jet thinks about the question before answering and gets closer to them.
“I am not allowed to tell you this… but people, patrons, will pay for you to compete, that is why you are a team now,” says Mr. Jet.
The answers leave Rise a bit confused he didn’t know strangers were paying for him to compete.
The five teenagers meet up on the track. Couch Palmer has asked the rest of the runners to start running while asking the five of them to wait. A woman in training clothes all in black enters the track, she looks to be in her thirties. Her short pixie cut spikes spikes slightly under her hat. She walks toward the teenagers sitting on the track.
“Name’s Yuki, I’ll be your trainer for the upcoming Deathathon season,” says the woman bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.
So they were going to the Deathathon through Rise. The teenagers stand up from the track introducing themselves to Yuki.
“Yes, I know you all by your running statistics and picture, it's nice to finally meet you all,” says Yuki.
They begin their warm-up around the track. After they are done stretching they gather around Yuki for instructions.
“We will be doing a track workout since the other runners are out running on campus,” says Yuki.
Rise waits by the start line as he and the others run the third 800 meters. Rise wipes sweat off his brow before beginning a mile to run, followed by another mile. At the end, there are two 400 meters. As instructed by Yuki they are to give their 80-90 percent effort on workouts and training. 100 percent plus is for race time.
They finish with their shirts drenched in sweat. Jackson lies down on the track.
“Remember there is still an 800-meter cool down to finish and stretch,” says Yuki.
“Got it,” says Jackson from the floor.
Rise helps Jackson get up from the spot on the ground by lending him a hand and hoisting him up. They run the cold down together.
Rise and Jackson cheer on the Lily’s and Nix’s last 100 meters of practice. Han also cheers from his spot on the track stretching.
The team is coming together nicely for it being their first day together thinks Rise.