CHAPTER SIXTEEN876Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWMtUzVV1T
(Ashantee’s PoV)
I was excited. Today would be the last time I would be playing for the Hockey high school championship. With a team that I have been playing with since freshman year. And Seth would be there to support me. Just thinking about him sent me on cloud nine and I feel like I could do everything.
I reached the phone and dialed Leon’s number. I listened to his voice and it gave me another set of courage I needed for the game.
“Leon,” I breathe. “The championship is today. I know that you would be watching over me today. Too bad though you can’t attend. You should have watch me even once.” Then, with a smile I added. “Good luck to me today, Leon.”
Gathering my things up, I jumped down the stairs to start walking towards the rink. I considered it as my warm-up so that my muscles wouldn't be that tense when I arrive. But when I opened the door, I saw a man in front of it.
The huge man from the past flashed in my mind. I quickly closed the door and locked it. Leaving my bag on the floor, I ran towards the kitchen where the nearest phone was and dialed the police.
As I waited for someone to answer, I looked around the house and saw him lurking around. Trying to find a way in. My breathing was heavy and I was so damn scared that I was gripping the phone so hard my knuckles turned one.
Someone answered on the third ring. “Good afternoon, may I know your emergency?”
“Hello?” I breathe, trying to calm my racing heart. “Please help me. There’s a man outside my house.”
“And what is he doing, ma’am?” The operator asked calmly. And I wanted to bash my head. Would I call if he was just passing by?
“For pete sake he’s-“ I started to say but the sound of shattering glass made me jumped out of my skin and I let out an involuntary scream.
“Ma’am!” The operator called, more urgently this time.
But I didn’t answer, I let the phone go where it hung by its cord and ran towards the door. But he did something to it because I couldn’t open it. He appeared at the end of the hallway. He must have destroyed the sliding door that led to the balcony.
He started to walk towards me and I pounded on the front door while shouting for help. The man laughed behind me and he was nearing me.
“Who are you?” I squeaked.
He gave me a sinister laugh as he stopped just in front of the kitchen door. “Don’t you see the resemblance?”
And the image of the huge man flashed in my mind again and he must have saw the recognition in my eyes because he suddenly screamed. I took a step back and felt the door behind me.
“You killed my dad.” He accused. Pointing at me. “You don’t know how long I have waited ‘til I could get the files from the lawyer since he wouldn’t give it to me as long as I’m underage.”
“Your dad killed my brother!” I shouted back.
“He deserved it. He shouldn’t have got in the way.”
My blood was boiling in anger. Insanity must have ran in their blood. “My brother didn’t deserved what he got. But your dad did.”
I don’t know why but I always says the wrong thing at the wrong time because he started to walk towards me again. My breathing heavy, my heart racing but I refused to let my tears fall. I needed to get out before this man do something I wouldn’t like.
Picking my stick from the ground, I swung it with all the force I could and hit him with it in the head. The stick broke and blood rushed from his head. If must have hurt since there were so much blood but he didn’t gave any indication that he felt it.
Not wanting to give up without a fight, I pushed him and went towards the stairs taking two at a time. But he suddenly pulled my left ankle and I went down. I kicked at him but his hold was tight. He pulled me down the stairs and I couldn’t count how many bumps there was. All I know was that pain assailed me.
I kicked at his face and his hold lessen. I stood up but I must have sprained my ankle because I fell down again. Gathering all my strength, I stood up and tried to avoid using my left foot as much as possible. Upon reaching the second floor, I reached for the small table besides the stairs and threw it down at him. He rolled down and the table broke above him.
Without waiting for him to stand up, I jumped my way towards my room and hid inside my closet. I hugged myself, trying to make my body as small as possible. I could hear his angry roar downstairs and his echoing footsteps.
Tears were rolling nonstop now. It was hopeless. No one would come to save me. Liz and the others are probably playing right now. Cursing me for being absent. Seth was having his exam.
Help me, Leon.
I blocked all sounds. If I were to die today, I don’t want to hear my killer’s nonsense rumbling about my family. I rested my head on my knees. Maybe this is for the best? I would be united with my family.
But I laughed the thoughts away. There’s no way I would leave my friends like this. Liz and everyone. They would kill me if I die like this. And not to mention Seth. I want to know him more. Spend my time with him more.
The closet door slowly opened and I refused to raise my head to see my killer. The door cringes on its old frame. A hand touched my shoulder and I jumped out of my skin in fear. I thrashed in his hold and I kicked at him every chance I got.
But when I looked up, I saw a uniformed police in front of me. He gave a hand and I took it. He helped me stood up slowly and sat me on the bed. Someone went to treat me. Cleaned all the scratches and bandaged my sprained ankle.
“What happened to the man?” I asked the police officer.
“He is taken to the hospital to treat his wound. After that, he will be taken to custody. He was the same man we caught lurking around your house lately.”
“But he’s not an in-love stalker.”
The police officer shook his head. “No. We gathered all that information when he escaped last night. Ever since then, we tried looking for him but he continue to evade us. Must I say, you took very good care of yourself, Ms. Avery.” Then, he gave me a hand and I took it. “Let us assist you to the hospital for further check-up and we really must get your statement about the incident.”
I was already getting inside the patrol car when I remembered that I had a game. I hopped back inside the house and took my bags. There was no time to get another stick from the second floor since I could barely walk, I would just borrow from the others.
“Mr. Officer!” I called when I hopped towards the patrol car. “I need a favor.”
We were racing towards the rink but to my disappointment, he didn’t used his siren since it wasn’t a life or death emergency. But at least I got a free ride towards the rink. I promised them I would make my statement after the game and they agreed to take me after I signed some papers that it was my decision not to go to the hospital.
I thanked the officer and jumped my way inside. I went straight to the locker room and quickly change. I saw a spare stick on the corner and I took it. It took all my strength and willpower to walk as straight as I could in a skate with a sprained ankle.
I apologized to the coach for being late and Liz gave me a whole scolding that could make up for the entire team. The coach set us for the next batch. As soon as the whistle sounded, we raced to the ice.
My left foot almost gave up from the force of using it for skating. I rushed around the rink. The atmosphere of the team changed when they saw me and all the audiences that was on our side shouted in glee.
I pressed up to one of the Ice Rogue defensemen into the boards while Taylor (DevilSaint) took a wrist shot. It got into the top right shelf of the net. Cheering filled our side of fans and the other members moved more in sync.
I rushed towards the other side as Chloe passed up to me. I didn’t let the puck stayed on my stick for a few moments before I went and passed to Amanda who was on my right. I then slammed to the wingman on her tail. We both went down the ice and Amanda had an open line for shooting.
Chloe and Jessie made sure that the rink was open for the rushing Amanda. She lifted up her stick in a wind-up and then she let the puck loose in a slap shot. Their goalie, tried to knocked the puck out of the air but she couldn’t catch it.
The audience went wild when we tied up to the Ice Rogue and there were only a few seconds left in the game. We need to score this one to win. And I do not want to let my team down. I was late. Very late and I need to make it up to them.
I skated towards the Ice Rogue who had the puck in her stick. But a piercing pain attacked my ankle and I went down the ice. Gasped filled the rink and Alexis skated towards me to help me stand while the others rushed towards the one with the puck.
Muttering thanks to Alexis, we quickly joined the others just as the Ice Rogue made a wrist shot towards the net. Liz, the amazing goalkeeper she was, easily knocked the puck out of the air with her blocker and she immediately went down to cover it with her glove.
We quickly placed ourselves between the other players and the net. Alexis got the puck and raced towards the other side of the rink with us protecting her. My arm muscles tighten as I resisted the one who tried to deck me. I held up but I wouldn’t say the same for my foot. I almost fell again but I managed to stay upright by pushing the wall.
I skated towards the other side of the rink and saw that Alexis have passed to Chloe who was closer to the net but two ice Rogue blocked her way. In her rushed, she passed the puck to me.
My eyes widened. I wasn’t sure I’ll be able to make the shot.
Five seconds. . .
Everyone was holding their breathe as I rushed towards the net. But I was still far from it.
Four seconds. . .
There was only one skill that could perfectly make this shot from this distance. My breathing was already uneven and my body kept getting heavier with every step I take. My team mates perfectly cleaned my way.
Three seconds. . .
I raised my stick up in the air and spin a 360 degree to gather the strength and force I needed. The puck raised to the air with a loud thud. Everyone stopped as they followed it.
Two seconds. . .
The goalkeeper dived towards it and she almost reached it. But with a miracle, the puck slide out of her hands to the net.
Then the buzzer sounded.
We won. The audience went wild as they jumped up and down in glee. The DevilSaint started to skate towards me. I saw everything in slow motion as I felt myself slowly fall towards the ice. Blackness was all I could see.
“Ashantee!”
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