C5 First Line

“Oh, you mean steroids? Wait; are you on steroids right now?”

He punched the locker again.

“Do you think you’re funny, Clark? Better tell me what’s going on with you?”

I can see that his eyes were even more furious right now as if he is ready and willing to punch me.

“What’s going on with me? Do you really wanna know?”

Roger nodded.

“Well, so would I! Last night, I had my most terrifying dream. I am in some kind of another world where slaughtering one’s throat truly existed. Then, there’s this Beast Lord who wanted to come after me.

These past few days, I can see, hear and smell things I shouldn’t be able to see, hear or smell. I do things be impossible for a normal person could do.

I also experienced sleepwalking, like a mile in the middle of nowhere and I am totally freaking out of my mind.”

I completely furrowed and sighed dejectedly.

“You think I am just joking, don’t you, Clark? I know you were hiding something and I am gonna find out whatever it is. I don’t care how long it takes.”

He then tapped my face and left immediately.

I felt relieved at the moment after I was able to share with anyone that truly happened to me these days. Unfortunately, he did not believe me.

Afterward, I went to the field to join our daily practice.

“Clark, wait up!” Kevin called while I was jogging in the field.

“Kevin, I am preparing the first elimination, man. Can it wait?”

“Just hold on, okay?”

He was catching up his breath after a short run and I decided to stop a bit.

“I overheard my dad on the phone. The fiber analysis came back from the lab in Greendale. They found animal hairs on the body.”

“Kevin, I gotta go bro. I’m sorry I honestly still don’t have enough time to listen about it, okay?”

I then picked up my gears and went to the field.

“What? No, Clark! Listen to me…”

He then calmed himself after I went out to the field.

“It’s a wolf.” He mumbled.

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

“Everyone, gather up! Come on, faster!” Coach Brown loudly announced.

As everyone was heading towards Coach, I saw Ina on the bench looking for a seat.

I enthusiastically grinned and waved my hands at her after our eyes met.

“Yes, Mcwell?” Coach Brown immediately asked.

I immediately shifted my eyes from Ina to Coach Brown.

“Me, what?”

“You suddenly raised your hand. Do you have a question?”

“Oh, no. I was just, uh…nothing, sorry, Coach.” I then put down my hand.

Coach down immediately blows his whistle.

“Okay, This Saturday is our first game. You all know how this goes. If you don’t make the cut for today’s practice, you’re most like sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.

If in contrast, you play. Now get out there and show me what you got! Come on!” He then eagerly scrubbed my shoulders.

After Coach’s short announcement, we immediately went to the field unanimously and all the people watching whooped and cheered.

To start with, the ball was unexpectedly passed to me. I was about to run when Roger intentionally hardly blocked and hit me and I easily stumbled to the ground.

He grinned and looked at me contemptuously.

“Is that all you got as a first-line, Mcwell? Too weak and too soft.” Roger said in a threatening way.

I left no choice but to stand up and continue the game. At this point, I felt something boiling aggressiveness inside me because of what Roger did.

“Down! Set!”

(WHISTLE BLOW)

After the whistle blew, I swiftly took the ball and ran to the goal. I was able to show an impossible extraordinary speed, agility, and strength this time.

I effortlessly passed everyone who dares to block my way. Not to mention the high jump out of the three players who unanimously blocked me.

And then, I scored.

There was an unlimited loud whooping and cheering after the hovering score.

“Wooh! That’s my boy and he is freaking awesome!” Kevin cheerfully screamed.

I felt completely astounded after my first score for almost four years of sitting on the sidelines. Hearing them all whooping and cheering for me was heartwarming.

Roger, on the other hand, felt even more furious. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He has been working so hard to earn the spotlight when I suddenly stepped up and stole it from him.

He readily wanted to attack me when suddenly Coach Brown called me.

“Mcwell, get over here!”

I slowly take off my helmet and strode towards him in confusion.

“Yes, Coach?”

“What in God’s name was that? Don’t you forget this is a lacrosse field? What, are you trying out for the gymnastics team?” He was completely surprised.

“No, I am not, Coach. I know it was lacrosse.”

He furrowed and bewilder in surprise. “Then what the hell was that?”

“I am just trying to make a good score, Coach, that’s all!” I humbly replied.

Coach grinned.

“Yeah, well, you really made the shot. And, guess what? You’re starting, buddy!”

He then tapped and scrubbed my shoulders.

“Congrats, Mcwell! You made the first line. Keep it up, buddy!”

My face immediately lightened up and received a loud round of applause from the crowd sitting behind Coach. I didn’t notice they were also listening to our conversation.

However, as cheerful as the crowd was, Kevin bit his gloves in disbelief as if he was completely mystified.

After the game, Kevin immediately went home and did some research on the internet and several books about the things he's worried about me.

He was determined to have the answer about my sudden impossible and unexplainable abilities.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Kevin was dazed after hearing some knocks on his door and slowly closed his laptop and cleared his throat before he unlocked it.

“Get in. You gotta see this, dude.” He said.

I was completely confused when there were several printed copied of weird stuff scattered all over the floor.

“Happy Birthday, dude!”

I felt overwhelmed. I thought he has totally forgotten about my 18th birthday.

“Thank you. Is that all you wanted to tell me? ‘Cause I gotta need to go.”

“Okay, I’ll go tell you directly anyway. Umm, I have been up like for five hours reading from several websites and old books and all this daunting information.”

He was utterly gasping.

“How many glasses of coffee have you consumed because of that?” I humorously asked.

“A lot. It doesn’t matter, okay?”

“Wait, is this about the dead body? Did they find out who did it?”

I then put on my backpack and jumped to Kevin’s bed.

“No, they’re still questioning people including Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

I felt a bit dumbfounded after he mentioned their names. In some ways, they might be really connected as to what happened, especially when I dreamt of them last night shifting into some terrifying beasts.

“Oh, the creepy couple we saw the other day?”

“Yeah, but that’s not it, okay?”

“What then?”

“Remember the joke the other day? I think it’s no longer considered a joke anymore. I mean, the wolf, the bite?”

He immediately stood up in front of me.

“Do you even know why a wolf howls?” He added.

“Should I?”

“It’s a signal, okay? When a wolf’s alone, it howls to signal its location to the rest of the pack. So, if you heard a wolf howling, that means the others could have been nearby.”

I immediately stood up and frowned in disbelief.

“Are you seriously wasting my time with this, bro? These things were all complete nonsense. You know I am picking Ina in an hour.”

Kevin strongly insisted on everything he had found out in his researched and blocked my way when I was about to go out in his room.

He took a book and read it in front of me about the reason for my moves, speed, and reflexes. And then there are those impossible strong senses.

I suddenly felt irritated and annoyed coming here listening to his lectures.

“Okay, dude, you win. I can’t just think of it right now, alright? Can we just talk about this tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? What? No? The full moon’s tonight, bro! Don’t you get it?”

“What are you trying to do? I just made the first line, got a date with a gorgeous girl on the campus who I can’t believe wants to go out with me.

Everything in my life now is somehow close to perfection. Why are you trying to ruin it?” I exhaustedly replied.

“Bro, I am just totally concerned and wanted to help you. You have been cursed, Clark. I know it is not just the moon that will cause you to physically change but it also happens when your bloodlust is at its peak.”

He immediately took my phone out from my backpack and telling me that he is going to cancel my date with Ina.

Amidst my totally wasting my time listening to this nonsense, I immediately grabbed Kevin’s neck and dragged him to the wall, and was about to punch him.

Consciously, I immediately stepped back away from him after I saw and felt Kevin’s terrified and trembling body.

However, in order to release my anger, I hardly chucked the convertible chair.