ELEVEN: THE GAMES (1/2)

Okay, 

Today's the D-day.

I was in my hostel, still in bed, browsing through my phone. 

"You coming?" Pink asked, all dressed in her uniform and holding a pink pom-pom. 

"Still gotta think about it," I said, not taking my eyes off my phone. 

"Come on, it's going to be nice," she urged. "At least come cheer me on; it'll mean a lot." 

Fuck!

She had me there. 

"Okay, okay, fine," I said as I went to the bathroom to take my shower while she giggled. 

"See you at school then," and off she went. 

I still can't believe I'm going. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Nemus is banned, so he can't disrupt the games. 

I took my shower, got dressed, and shortly after, I was at school. 

The stands were packed with students, parents, and alumni, all eagerly awaiting the showdown between the rival teams: the scrappy underdogs from Alvin High School and the Caveroop Warriors. 

I went in looking for a place to sit before Eska waved at me from the back, and I went over to join her. 

"Thought you wouldn't make it," she said.

"Yeah, me too," I said almost in a whisper.

"Hey, T!" Zack called upon seeing me. He sat next to Eska. 

"Hello," I waved at him.

Shortly after, each team was called upon as their cheerleaders made an entrance, bringing immense excitement from the crowd, who were eager to see the teams. 

After their performances, the teams came out with colorful entrances, chanting their names.

The Caveroop warriors, dressed in their sleek, polished uniforms, had been training hard for the past three months for the big day.

Their star player, Jesse McCurdy, was known for his impressive three-point shots and confident swagger.

On the other hand, the Scrappy underdogs, in their spirited jerseys, had clawed their way to this game despite numerous setbacks throughout their season.

Their leader, Aaron Sullivan, was a determined and hardworking player who embodied the team's gritty spirit.

As the games began, the Caveroop warriors took an early lead with a series of swift plays and precise shots.

Jesse made a stunning three-pointer that drew cheers from everyone in the crowd, even I was amazed.

The Underdogs, however, weren't about to back down. Aaron Sullivan, despite being guarded closely, drove the ball through Caveroop defense and made a layup, earning a roar of approval from the underdogs supporters.

The first half saw Caveroop maintaining their lead, but the Underdogs kept closing the gap.

During halftime, the Underdogs coach, Ms. Drew, gathered her team in the locker room. Her eyes were fierce with determination and a flick of disappointment as she spoke.

"we've come this far, not just because of favours but because of hard work and sacrifices. We've been through alot of setbacks in the past and now is our chance to rise up again and be known. Are we going to let this nobodies beat us?"

"No!" They all choursed

"Good, so play with everything you've got!"

The Underdogs emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, their faces set with determination.

The second half was a battle of wills. The scoreboard was a tight race, with Caveroop clinging to a narrow lead.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, the tension palpable in every play.

Meanwhile, at the clinic, Annie happily turned in her credit test to Raymond with Alexa, Resa and Charles waiting outside for her.

"All done Mr. Ray" she handed it over to him.

Raymond took it from her hand and opened it then he shook his head

"I guess that's it then" Annie said and turned to leave for the court, the screams of excitement and cheers coming from there already made her impatient.

As she was about stepping out of the clinic he called her back.

"Annie!"

Slowly, she turned.

"Yes Mr. Ray, anything wrong?"

He showed her the script, her magic weared off and Alexa's handwriting was now clear, she was surprised, then he folded it and put it aside and said,

"Looks like you're going to repeat this course"

"What!" Annie shrieked catching the attention of her friends who were patiently waiting for her to come out.

"Annie!" Resa called with utmost concern "is everything alright?"

But Annie didn't reply; she was seething with anger as she yelled.

"How can you repeat me, do you have any idea how hard it took to convince her!"

"I guess that's settled then. You outed yourself, Ms. Broadway. Come back when you're ready to be a student," he said, adjusting the collar of his suit. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a game to watch."

He tried to leave, but Annie stood in his way, foaming with anger as she said, 

"Take that pen and put an A on my script, NOW!"

Raymond laughed

"You know you Can't compelled me to manipulate grades for you Annie, I'll give it to you when you deserve it. Now, get out!"

"You go to hell!" She yelled and she attacked him with her powers.

...

The cheers from the court echoed throughout the school.

Rejoice had just finished in the bathroom and was on her way to the court when she spotted someone in a black hood trying to get into the staff room through the window. 

"I knew you'd come," she said, startling the anonymous person.

...

The games was still on when I scensed a disturbance in the school

"Something feels off" I said looking at the crowd

"What's wrong Terra" Eska who sensed my uneasiness asked then I turned to her in alarm remembering the dream both I and Clary had and I asked

"Where's Jennie?"

...

Raymond got off the floor wiping the blood from his check, after receiving a massive blow from Annie.

His office was now a mess.

"Annie!" Charles called surprised to see her that way "have you lost it?"

Resa and Alexa rushed in to hold her back from causing major damages

"Come on, lets leave" Resa said holding her twins hand.

"I'm not going anywhere, not until I get what I deserve" she yelled forcefully breaking free from their grip.

"The only thing you deserve is a carryover in this course!" Raymond spat

"Just let her have it Mr. Ray, it's no big deal" Alexa said trying to calm her friend.

"Oh, it is a big deal, you can have other teacher do what you want but it doesn't go that way with me"

Annie head almost explode as she got ready to attack again but Resa and Alexa held her back as Charles gave a helping hand.

Then Raymond smiled.

Sensing a presence behind him, he said to the anonymous stranger without turning, 

"You won't find it there." He turned his head slightly. "Jennifer." 

She shrieked and attacked him from behind.

"Where is it?"

Seeing the chance they have, Charles whispered to Annie who watched with surprise, she wasn't expecting Jennie's presences.

"Lets go"

"No!" Annie yelled as she attacked.

...

Rejoice stood blocking the entrance to the staff room as the hooded person stood near the window.

"I knew Nemus would have a plan," Rejoice said.

The hooded person chuckled and removed the hood, revealing her face, it was Regina. 

"Hello, Joy," she said softly with a calm tone. "Long time no see. You look different; did you cut your hair?" 

Rejoice laughed. 

"So, what is it this time? What does Nemus have in store for us?"

She asked but Regina didn't reply, she just stood there staring back at her.

"What is it Gina, why are you here?"

Regina smiled,

"The same reason you all are, to watch the games, hope I'm not late"

Rejoice scoffed still maintaining her stance as Regina began moving round the staff room slowly

"You and I both know that's not the reason"

"And what are you gonna do about the real reason, stop me?"

"I'll have to"

"Finally, a real match" Regina whooped "you don't know how long I've waited for this" she removed her hood and they both walked round each other.

The room, filled with mundane teacher supplies and stacks of ungraded papers, suddenly became the battleground for an unusual confrontation.

With a swift motion, Regina's transformation was almost imperceptible, a shimmer of scales and a flash of her true nature as a siren.

She glided forward, her voice morphing into a melodious, hypnotic tune meant to disarm and distract.

Rejoice braced herself, her vampiric senses honed to resist such enchantments.

She lunged towards Regina, her movements a blur as she attempted to close the distance between them.

Regina responded with a graceful, serpentine twist, her tail whipping through the air with surprising strength.

She knocked over a stack of papers, the resulting chaos adding to the fray.

The fight was a blend of elegance and violence.

Rejoice, with her supernatural speed and strength, was a blur of black veins across her face and flashing fangs.

Regina, on the other hand, moved with fluid grace, her siren's song weaving through the room, trying to disorient Rejoice.

Rejoice swiped at Regina, her claws barely missing her. She retaliated with a burst of water magic, summoning a wave that cascaded across the room, soaking papers and turning the polished tiled floor into a slippery hazard.

Rejoice skidded but managed to right herself, her eyes glowing with a fierce intensity.

Regina, using the distraction to her advantage, darted toward the exit door.

Rejoice, sensing her move, followed with preternatural speed. Just as Regina reached for the door, Rejoice clawed hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

A tense standoff ensued.

Regina's eyes flashed with anger and desperation.

Rejoice's grip was firm but not entirely cruel; she was more interested in stopping Regina from her misguided plan at all course than causing harm.

The two locked eyes, their respective powers clashing in a battle of wills.

"You can't keep it up forever," Regina said, trying to break free from Rejoice's strong grip

"I won't let you cause any disturbance to this peaceful atmosphere," Rejoice countered, her voice firm despite the struggle.

In a sudden burst of energy, Regina unleashed a powerful wave of sonic magic, forcing Rejoice back.

She stumbled, but her resilience was undeniable.

She lunged once more, but this time, Regina song grew louder, more commanding. The sheer force of it pushed Rejoice to the ground, her strength momentarily overwhelmed.

As the room settled into a tense silence, Regina took a deep breath, her power waning, seeing that Rejoice is knocked out, slide away.

...

I got up in alarm, having sensed the disturbance and walked away.

"Terra! Where are you going?" Eska asked, catching Zack's attention. He had been focused on the game, and they both glanced at each other briefly before following me out.

...

Back at the clinic...

"Where is it you freak!" Jennie growled as she continually hit Raymond in the face.

"Don't make me use it on you" he said taking the beating from both her and Annie.

He didn't want to intervene with his wand but was forced to draw it out from the thin air he had hidden it.

On seeing it, Resa yelled on top her voice,

"Annie, this is madness, we've gotta leave" but Annie turned deaf ears to her.

In the hallway, Eska and Zack were trying to keep up with me as I walked, as though compelled to go.

"Hey Terra! Slow down" Eska called as she caught up with me and held me back "whats going on?"

"It's the school" I said without realising "something is wrong, something bad is about to happen"

Before Zack could comment, there was a flicker of light coming from the other end.

"I'll go check it out" he volunteered then turned to Eska "follow her and know where the disturbance is coming from."

With that, we went our separate ways.

On our way to where my instinct was leading, we saw Regina half beaten coming our way, we froze seeing each other, her more surprised than we were, she wasn't expecting to see us.

"Regina!" Eska sneered "what are you doing here?"

She signed,

She was too exhausted to start explaining herself so the last bit of strength in her was used to take us both out.

...

Zack was shocked upon seeing the clinic, which had turned into a battlefield. 

"Annie! Jennie! What's going on?" he asked, confused. 

"Annie wants Mr. Ray to pass her by all means," Alexa explained. 

"We don't know Jennie's motive," she added.

As Zack tried to intervene, Raymond slammed his wand, which had transformed into a staff, onto the ground, blowing everyone and everything away. 

"Enough!" He yelled,

Then there was a blackout.