The Game and the Warning

The crowd at Estadi Les Comes was electric. CF Igualada's junior team was set to face CF Martorell Juvenil, and the tension was thick in the air.

Daniel stood on the pitch, rolling his shoulders as he took his position in the starting lineup. His recent performances in training had earned him a place in the first eleven, but Coach Morales' words still rang in his head:"Play smart, not just fast."CF Martorell came out aggressive, pressing high and attacking fast. Their forwards moved with incredible precision, forcing Igualada's defense to scramble."¡Vamos, Daniel!" Álvaro shouted as he sent a quick pass toward Daniel, who controlled it with a deft touch and immediately felt the pressure of two defenders closing in.Time seemed to shift slightly—his perception expanded. He could see the movement of the defenders, their angles, their balance. Without hesitation, he flicked the ball through their legs, sprinting past them before they could react.The crowd roared."¡Qué habilidad!" "What skill!"someone shouted from the stands.Daniel pushed forward, scanning the box for options. Sofia was making a run on the left wing, signaling for the pass. He sent a quick cross toward her, and she took the shot—just barely saved by the goalkeeper."Unlucky!" Coach Morales clapped. "Keep going!"As the team jogged toward the locker room, Daniel wiped the sweat from his forehead, still focused on the match. But just as he stepped inside, he noticed something strange—a small black envelope placed on the bench next to his jersey.Frowning, he picked it up and tore it open.Inside was a note:"You're getting stronger. But strength won't save you when the time comes."Daniel's heart pounded. He scanned the locker room, but no one seemed to notice the note. Who left this here? How did they know about his powers?"Daniel?" Sofia's voice broke his thoughts. She was standing by the door, looking at him curiously. "You okay?"He quickly crumpled the note in his fist. "Yeah. Just tired."She gave him a skeptical look but didn't push. "We need you focused in the second half."Daniel nodded, forcing a smile, but deep down, he knew—this was more than just a game.Whatever doubts he had before kickoff, Daniel knew he had to push them aside. The second half started, and Igualada needed a goal.Sofia won possession in midfield, dribbling past a defender before sending a through ball to Daniel. As he controlled it, time slowed again—not just in his head, but in reality.He saw everything: the goalkeeper shifting slightly to his left, the defender rushing in a second too late. He had the perfect angle.With a powerful strike, he sent the ball curling into the top corner.GOAL!The stadium erupted as Daniel's teammates surrounded him."¡Golazo, Carter!" Marcos shouted, slapping him on the back.But as Daniel looked toward the stands, his excitement faded. In the crowd, a man in a black coat stood motionless, staring directly at him.A chill ran down Daniel's spine.The game wasn't over—not by a long shot.