[Alex’s death day
17th August 2023]
The stadium was filled with cheerful people and the stalls for fast food were opened. The match was about to begin when the net of plastic was thrown over the huge stadium dome to keep the players safe from the heatwave.
Cassandra and Zayn reach their seats as they were trying their best to be calm and composed. For the time until his death at 12:34 hours, precisely in the afternoon, Zayn and Cassandra wouldn’t know what was peace.
Alex’s death, as per their imagination will be gory with his wind pipe being crushed, which will lead to his death.
Louis and Jessica arrive after everyone else, they take their seats beside Framton and a few of Framton’s business friends who have come to support the lad for his match.
“Oh, the broadcast has started.” Cassandra lifts her arm up to see that a national TV channel was beginning it’s broadcast. The cameraman was warming up with a few shots. The Johnsons have been made a centre of attraction as their faces on the screen made people scream their lungs out.
Soon, the match was about to start at 11:30 am.
A woman clad in black neck deep dress walks towards the restricted area of the players. She walks through the security who leads her inside, knowing she was related to one of the players.
The blue team, representing the Johnson siblings’ campus were warming up without their coach in the locker room.
Ravine approaches the team, the substitutes moving to the side to reveal the captain of the team.
“Don’t. Don’t do it.” Alex was conversing with one of his team members when he feels another person’s presence. The room was quiet with half naked players, they stare at the ex-couple and ogle at Ravine’s undying beauty.
Alex gets up from his seat, getting defensive from a woman who was capable of ruining his mental peace just before the match. Ravine sees him tower over her with the special football boots to his feet.
“Why are you here, Ravine?” He asks her sternly.
“I just want to cheer you for today.” She says, her voice gentle and genuine as she leans close towards him.
Her nose breathes his sports cologne as she closes her eyes. She places her hand delicately on his neck, softly whispering in his ear.
“All the best.”
Ravine leans a little backwards, her lips align against him but not quite on top. She pecks the corner of his lips as she stands up straight.
Smiling gently, she walks back to blend with the audience.
“What was that, cap?” One of his team members asks. Alex couldn’t answer.
His mind which was a mess with unnecessary thoughts and delusions becomes as clear as a lake when she expresses her greetings to him. She said ‘all the best’ to him, but his mind was wired to convert it into her saying, “I love you,” to the male.
“I… don’t know.” His teammates see their captain blush. It was a genuine act by Ravine. He confirms on that day, that she was nothing short of being called an angel.
And therefore, Ravine wasn’t the one who created a scandal against Cassandra two weeks ago and she was certainly not the one who wrote such hateful letters to his baby sister.
At 11:30, the game begins as the cheerleaders exit the stage towards the side, representing and dancing for their own team.
The red team represented Enel Institutes of Arts and Commerce. They were dignified players with thirst of winning every match they had with any campus.
And the worst part was, they always won against other colleges.
“Go, Alex! Do your best!” Cassandra had a microphone with her as she cheers for the male. He searches for the voice as he sees his family cheering for him. Suddenly, he feels guilty for the hurtful things he said to her two days back.
A smile grows on his face, however.
He sees Cassandra throw her thumbs up as he nods while jogging to his line.
As captain of his team, he does the ceremonial entry and waits for the commenter of the game to call out everyone’s name, introducing the players to the audience. As his name was announced after the red team’s introduction, the stadium erupts with louder cheers as he revels and rejoices they fire him up.
With his gaming spirit turned on, the match starts at 11:42 am.
“Alex!” His team members call his name as he receives the ball to his chest, shooting it down to the ground as he skillfully begins kicking it until he reaches the opponent’s court.
He delivers a practiced shot to the corner of the goal post. His team cheers his goal, one step closer to victory.
At 11:56, Zayn taps Cassandra on her thigh which was shaking with anxiety.
“Let’s go.” Cassandra and Zayn get up from their seats and excuse themselves to use the washroom.
“I don’t fucking know what’s the clue for saving his life, Zayn. I can’t find anything and I’m fucking beat up.”
“Don’t lose hope now, Cassie. Please. We will find it. We will definitely find it.” He assures her. They were standing in front of the public restroom when they hear a loud batch of cheers from the stadium. Looking around anxiously, Cassandra and Zayn try to figure out the next clue.
“Wait, wait! I see something in front of me!” Zayn says out of the blue.
“Where is it?” Cassandra frantically searches if he’s found something. But his gaze was pointing in multiple directions as his smile fades.
“C-Cassie… I see a time display in front of me.”
“What?” Perplexed beyond belief, she asks him to describe what he sees.
“I- I don’t see a count down as you.” She says.
“Shit…” he grumbles under his breath.
“35 minutes and 27 seconds.” He looks at Cassandra, seeing the time display on her face as well. He felt weirded out by the visual. It was as if his pupil was tattooed with the countdown timer.
“That’s too quick!” Cassandra panics as she looks into her wristwatch.
“Cassie, I think you should head back to the stadium. Keep an eye out on anything unusual and contact me, alright?”
“Okay. I- I don’t know what to look for.” Says Zayn. Suddenly, Zayn holds her face and pulls her into a harsh make out session. Surprised beyond fathoming, she stumbles back as the male chuckles.
“We can do this.” He holds her hand firmly,
“After all, we saved uncle Louis.”