ɴᴏᴛᴇ : 𝐼 𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 2𝐾-3𝐾 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑠. 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠, 𝐼 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑓ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒'𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝐼 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡.

_________________________________________

Alex screamed, thrashing desperately in a futile attempt to break free from Dylan's furious grip. His eyes darted around, wild with panic, until they landed on the baseball bat in his right hand. With a surge of adrenaline, he swung it fiercely.

"How about we play a little baseball!" Alex shouted.

The bat whistled through the air, aimed straight at Dylan's shadowy face. But instead of a satisfying thud, the bat passed through Dylan's head, tearing shreds of viscous shadow that clung to the wood. The eerie substance sent chills down Alex's spine.

Dylan screamed, a sound that echoed with rage and pain. He hurled Alex away, and Alex's back slammed hard against a nearby tree. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. As he struggled to regain his composure, tendrils of black mist crept along the forest floor, inching closer with every heartbeat.

Dylan loomed, a menacing silhouette against the darkening woods. But just as he closed in, Lily snarled ferociously and bounded forward. She positioned herself between Alex and Dylan, her hackles raised and teeth bared in a protective display.

Dylan recoiled from the snarling dog, momentarily losing his solid form and reverting to an insubstantial shadow. Alex saw his chance. Ignoring the pain in his back, he scrambled to his feet and bolted, Lily following close behind, her presence a comforting reassurance.

The woods around them seemed to warp and shift, the shadows tangling around Alex's feet like malevolent weeds. He could feel Dylan's presence growing stronger, closer. His breath came in ragged gasps, and every muscle screamed for relief, but he pushed on, driven by sheer survival instinct.

"ALEXXXX!" Dylan's voice thundered through the trees.

Alex didn't look back. He couldn't afford to. His only focus was on escaping, on putting as much distance between himself and the shadowy monster as possible.

Up ahead, Alex kept running, his breath coming in frantic gasps. The trees began to thin, and he could just make out the familiar sight of his backyard. He pushed harder, the promise of safety spurring him on. Suddenly, his shoe snagged on an exposed root. He stumbled, but his reflexes kicked in, and he planted his other foot solidly on the ground, barely breaking stride.

He burst out of the trees and into his own backyard, the horizon beginning to glow with the soft colors of dawn. Relief surged through him—he was almost safe. But just as he felt a flicker of hope, a thin, skeletal claw clamped around his wrist, yanking him to a halt.

It was Dylan. His shadowy grip tightened painfully, making Alex's skin bruise and burn at the touch. The pain was excruciating, but the terror in Dylan’s eyes was even more chilling.

"ALEX... YOU... STAY..." Dylan's voice was a guttural snarl, filled with dark intent.

Lily, refusing to back down, snarled and lunged at Dylan's legs. Her teeth passed through his insubstantial form, her frustration evident in her frantic barking and snapping.

Dylan's pull was relentless, dragging Alex inch by inch back toward the looming trees. Alex’s feet slid helplessly along the damp grass, his heart pounding with fear and desperation. He fought with every ounce of strength he had left, but Dylan's grip was unyielding.

Then, as if answering a silent plea, the first rays of sunlight broke over the treetops. The light sliced into Dylan's shadowy hand, causing him to scream in agony. His fingers began to melt into smoke, unable to withstand the purity of the morning sun.

"What's the matter? Not a fan of sunshine?" Alex taunted.

With a final, desperate yank, he freed his hand from Dylan's weakening grasp. Dylan hissed, his voice filled with rage and pain, retreating into the shadows. His form dissolved into a river of black smoke, streaming back into the cover of the trees. In moments, he was gone.

Trembling, Alex sat down hard in the grass, a feeling of dread settling over him like a heavy fog. His body shook from the adrenaline and fear still coursing through his veins. Lily, sensing his distress, padded over and lay down on his lap, her warm weight a small comfort. Alex stroked her head absently, his eyes fixed on the ominous woods.

What had he just done? He had pissed off Dylan and now the consequences were terrifyingly unclear.

After a few minutes, Alex managed to pull himself together. He got up and made his way back home, his steps unsteady but determined. First, he made sure to drop Lily off at the neighbor's house, where she belonged.

Back in his room, Alex lay on his bed, trying to find some semblance of calm. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing sleep to come, but the events of the night played on an endless loop in his mind. Finally, he gave up and got out of bed.

"Ugh... I can't believe I still have to go to school after all that," he whispered to himself, the absurdity of normal life colliding with his nightmare reality.

Sighing, he walked over to his closet and pulled out a plain blue shirt and jeans. He dressed mechanically, the routine motions grounding him slightly. Grabbing his schoolbag, he headed downstairs and out the door.

To his surprise, Lily was there, standing in front of him with a worried expression. The sight of her lifted his spirits a little. He knelt down and stroked her ear gently.

"Did you come here to check on me? I'll be okay, girl," he murmured.

Lily wagged her tail happily and licked his cheek before trotting back to Ronnie's house. Alex watched her go, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Feeling a bit better, he started walking toward school. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible story to tell his friends. He couldn't just blurt out, "Hey guys, FYI, I went to the woods and made him mad."

Alex kept walking, he realized he was about to pass Noah's house. A sense of urgency welled up in him; he needed to warn everyone about the danger. It would be better to do it in person.

A minute later, Alex found himself on Noah's driveway, approaching the house. As he got closer, he heard raised voices from inside.

"I was just going to see a friend! I don't know why this is such a huge freaking deal!" Noah's voice was loud.

"At four A.M. on a school night?! I am not an idiot, Noah! I swear, if I find out you're vandalizing houses again..." Noah's mom retorted.

"That was one time when I was twelve! Maybe if you were ever home, I wouldn't have felt the need to sneak out!" Noah shouted back.

Alex froze, caught between the desire to warn his friend and the discomfort of overhearing the heated argument. The voices continued to escalate, and then he heard Noah's mom shout, "You are ungrateful You are very ungrateful You are the reason June is dead And what the hell did any of our family members do to deserve losing that sweet little girl instead of—"

There was a sudden, heavy pause.

"Noah... I didn't mean that. Noah, wait—"

The door slammed open, and Noah stormed out, his face flushed with anger. He stopped short when he saw Alex standing there.

"Holy crap. Are you okay? When you wouldn't answer your phone, I thought..." Noah's voice trailed off, his concern breaking through his anger.

Alex tried to avoid Noah's gaze but couldn't.

"I'm alive... somehow. But are you okay? It sounds like your mom is pretty mad."

Noah shrugged, his expression resigned.

"Yeah, it's fine. I mean, it's not fine, but it's pretty par for the course."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Alex asked, his concern genuine.

Noah sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "With this? Probably not, but thanks anyway."

Alex nodded, and the two of them started walking down the sidewalk side by side, heading for the main road toward the school. As they walked, Alex recounted everything about his confrontation with Dylan, lifting his sleeve to show the angry burn where Dylan had grabbed him.

"Damn it," Noah muttered, his eyes widening at the sight.

"I knew something was wrong. I tried to come and help, but my mom caught me sneaking out my window."

"I wish you had been there," Alex admitted, his voice filled with regret.

"I should never have tried to face him by myself. If the sun hadn't come up at just the right moment, I would have died for sure."

"Next time, you got it. Anytime you need," Noah promised, his tone determined.

"I'll do a better job sneaking past my mom."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, the wind rustling the trees alongside the road, their thoughts heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.

"Seriously, man," Noah finally said, breaking the silence.

"Every time we all try to talk about stopping Dylan, we just end up arguing, and nothing ever gets done. Look what happened yesterday. It was about time someone took charge and put a stop to that monster's messed-up 'gifts.'"

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "You're probably right. I just worry about one thing... If Dylan was a nightmare when he was trying to be nice, what's he going to be like now that he's mad?"

Noah didn't answer, his face troubled as they continued down the road toward school. The gravity of their situation hung between them, unspoken but palpable.

_________________________________________

After a long day of classes, the school gathered that evening to watch the second basketball game of the season. The gym was alive with excitement, the buzz of anticipation palpable. As Alex made his way to the gym, he spotted Levin and Kimmy together and decided to join them.

"Fancy meeting you two here," Alex greeted with a smile.

Levin grinned. "Yeah, crazy how we keep bumping into each other."

Alex turned to Kimmy, his tone more serious.

"Hey Kimmy, can I talk to you for a second? Something happened to our, uh, mutual friend. Something pretty serious."

Kimmy's face fell, worry etching into her features. "Yeah, of course, but... can it maybe wait till after the game? Please?"

Alex nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sure. Let's just enjoy the game."

Kimmy brightened, a spark of enthusiasm returning.

"Great. We're taking on the Greenwood! Are you guys hyped?"

Levin smirked. "Best I can do is 'mildly enthused.' That work for you?"

Kimmy playfully punched Levin in the arm and skipped off toward the gym, her energy infectious. Levin watched her go, a fond smile on his face.

Once she was out of earshot, Levin turned to Alex, his expression turning serious.

"So, tell me, are you okay? I heard what happened to Mateo."

Alex sighed, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him.

"I feel sick pretty much all the time. Like I'm gonna throw up or just collapse on the ground."

Levin's face softened with sympathy. "I'm so sorry, Alex. If you need someone to talk to..."

Just then, someone bumped into Alex's wrist, causing him to yelp in pain. Levin's eyes widened as he saw the bruises on Alex's wrist.

"Alex, who did that to you?" Levin asked, his voice filled with concern.

Alex looked away, his voice barely a whisper. "I can't tell you... I'm sorry."

Levin looked at Alex with genuine concern.

"Alex, I know something's up. You don't have to tell me what it is, just tell me how I can help."

Alex winced, his wrist still throbbing with pain.

"I just feel so powerless. A lot of the time, actually."

Levin's eyes softened with understanding.

"Well, what do you know, that's something I may actually be able to help with."

"Yeah? You have a magic strength potion lying around? Maybe a radioactive spider?" Alex tried to joke, a weak smile tugging at his lips.

"Not exactly," Levin replied with a grin.

"But what I do have is a few years' experience studying martial arts. I don't know if your problems are the kind you can punch, but learning how to defend myself made me feel stronger. It might help you too. What do you say? We have a little while before the game starts. I could show you a few moves."

Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Just go easy on me, okay?"

Levin chuckled. "I was about to say the same thing. Come on, let's find somewhere less crowded."

They made their way to a mostly empty part of the parking lot. The noise from the gym faded, replaced by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of crickets."

This seems like as good a place as any," Levin said, looking around.Alex nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

"Okay, where do we start?"

Levin positioned himself in front of Alex.

"If this were a real fight, you'd want to start out by looking for a weapon. But since it's just us, let's start with your stance. Space your feet about shoulder-width apart and bend your knees."

Alex adjusted his stance, trying to mimic Levin's posture.

"Good," Levin said, nodding in approval.

"Keep your hands up, like this. You want to protect your face and be ready to strike."

Alex did as Levin instructed, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet a little.

"Great," Levin said. "Now turn your hips a bit so you're not straight on—smaller target to hit."

Alex angled himself slightly to the left, feeling the change in his balance.

"How does it feel?" Levin asked.

Alex smiled. "Pretty good. What's next?"

Levin brought his hands up near his chin, and Alex followed suit. "Keep your hands here to protect your face, and make sure to clench your jaw."

Alex quipped, "Why, so I get that extra tough veiny forehead look?"

Levin smiled. "Not quite. It's to make it more difficult for your jaw to break."

Alex nodded, focusing on getting his stance perfect. Levin assumed the same position across from him.

"Good," Levin said. "Now hit me. Just try to hit me right here, at my left cheek."

Alex bounced on the balls of his feet a couple of times, then reared back and aimed straight for Levin's left cheek. But Levin deflected with his left arm, and Alex's blow was diverted upwards. Levin then struck with his right hand at Alex's exposed ribs, gently tapping them.

"That was great!" Levin praised. "Stick with short jabs so you can bring your hands back in faster."

Alex took a deep breath, his confidence growing. "Got it. Short jabs."

They continued practicing, Alex throwing short, quick punches while Levin guided him through each movement, deflecting and correcting as needed. The focus and physical activity felt cathartic, helping Alex channel his anxiety into something productive.

After a while, Alex paused, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."

Levin nodded, his expression encouraging.

"You're doing great, Alex. Remember, it's not just about the punches. It's about being aware of your surroundings and staying calm under pressure."

Alex looked at Levin, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks, Levin. This really helps."

Levin and Alex continued to spar.

Levin sidestepped Alex's well-aimed punch with fluid grace, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Guess I've got a good teacher," Alex remarked, panting slightly from the exertion.

Levin spun away from another punch Alex threw, his movements agile and precise.

"Good, that's all for now," Levin said, his voice calm but encouraging.

"Hold up? That's all??" Alex questioned, surprise evident in his tone.

Levin chuckled softly. "Well, no. But I'd say you've got a handle on the basics. And I feel better knowing that you can handle yourself."

"Thanks again for doing this," Alex replied earnestly, wiping sweat from his brow.

"I feel like I could... I don't know, punch a bear."

Levin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I'd avoid any bears for the near future. Now come on, the game's about to start."

Alex grinned at Levin, a mixture of gratitude and newfound confidence in his expression. Together, they walked back to the gymnasium where the buzz of excitement for the basketball game filled the air. As they entered, Alex felt a sense of camaraderie with Levin and a renewed sense of self-assurance. The earlier tension and fear seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a quiet resolve.

Levin clapped Alex on the shoulder as they found their seats among friends.

"You did good out there," Levin said sincerely.

"Thanks," Alex replied, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"I really appreciate you taking the time to help me."

_________________________________________

Inside the bustling locker room of the high school gym, Andy and his basketball team prepared fervently for the upcoming game. Amidst the organized chaos of jerseys being pulled on, shoes being tied tightly, and last-minute strategizing, Andy spotted his friend Korban standing by his locker, looking visibly nervous.

"Nervous?" Andy asked with a knowing smile as he approached Korban.

Korban ran a hand through his hair, his expression tense.

"Yeah, understatement. I can't believe you talked Coach into making me a starter."

Andy shrugged, "didn't take much convincing, considering all your assists from last game. We were unstoppable."

The room quieted momentarily, and Andy's gaze softened as he continued, his words carrying a depth of gratitude.

"Besides, it's the least I could do to repay you for staying by my side, no matter how hard things get or how much I change. You're always there for me."

Korban's eyes softened, understanding the weight behind Andy's words. He pulled Andy into a hug.

"Well, DUH. You're my best friend. Nothing is gonna change that."

Andy smiled, the camaraderie between them reassuring in the midst of pre-game nerves.

"And what do you think about our former captain, Zack? He'll be out in the bleachers tonight. I wanna see the look on his face when he sees us tearing up the court."

Korban's expression turned serious, catching Andy off guard.

"Wait, you didn't hear?" Korban said quietly, his voice filled with concern.

"Zack is in the hospital, dude. At first, they thought it was just a bad dislocation and some muscle tears, but..."

Andy's heart skipped a beat as he processed Korban's words. The noise of the locker room faded into the background as he struggled to comprehend the news about Zack, their former captain and a friend to many on the team.

"But... then a couple of days ago, he passed out in the middle of dinner, And now... he won't wake up."

The gravity of the situation sank in, leaving Andy stunned and speechless. His thoughts raced, remembering Zack's dedication to the team, his leadership on and off the court. The image of Zack, vibrant and determined, contrasted sharply with the news of his current condition.

Before Andy could respond, Coach's voice boomed from outside the locker room, calling the team to gather. Andy watched his teammates hustle past him, their focus shifting to the game ahead, but his mind remained fixed on Korban's words about Zack.

_________________________________________

The first quarter of the basketball game passed in a whirlwind for Andy. His mind raced with concerns about Zack, and the troubling news of an epidemic affecting unresponsive patients. Amidst these thoughts, Andy couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at him.

"If Zack died like Mateo, it will be my fault," Andy muttered to himself.

Suddenly, Korban's voice broke through Andy's reverie, calling him back to the present moment. Andy blinked, realizing he was standing at mid-court, the basketball in his hands. A Greenwood defender lunged towards him, attempting to slap the ball away.

Reacting swiftly, Andy passed the ball to Korban just in time. Korban dribbled towards the basket with practiced ease and scored an effortless layup.

"Good shot, Korban," Andy praised, though his mind still felt distant.

Korban gave him a thumbs up, his expression filled with concern.

"You okay, Andy? You seem kind of out of it."

Andy forced a smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine though."

As the first quarter ended with the sound of the buzzer, Andy took a moment to scan the crowd. Amidst the sea of faces, he spotted friendly and familiar expressions near the front row.

Leo cheered enthusiastically, "Andy, go!"

Lucy's voice rang out, full of encouragement, "You can do it!"

Levin's supportive shout followed, "Come on, King, show us what you've got!"

Ava, trying to join in with her own cheer, added with a smile, "Yay, sports!"

Alex's voice, buoyant and supportive, echoed in the background, "Come on, Andy, you got this!"

Andy felt a surge of warmth and reassurance wash over him as he absorbed their cheers. Their unwavering support bolstered his spirits, grounding him in the midst of his swirling thoughts and worries. He smiled gratefully, taking a deep breath to center himself.

With renewed determination, Andy got into position as the second quarter began. The rhythmic squeak of sneakers on the polished floor, the shouts from teammates and supporters, and the focused energy of the game filled the air around him. Andy set his mind on the court, channeling his concerns into the game ahead, fueled by the camaraderie and encouragement of those cheering him on.

Andy stood at mid-court, catching his breath as the halftime buzzer echoed through the gymnasium. His team jogged towards the benches, their faces etched with frustration and fatigue, while the cheer squad began their lively dance routine on the sidelines.

"Jeez... we are not doing so hot," Andy whispered to himself, his brows furrowed with concern. "Can we turn this around or not?"

Surveying his teammates slumped and dejected on the benches, Andy knew he had to rally their spirits. Nearby, Drew fidgeted with his bag, pulling out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes, his intention to slip out through the gym's back door evident.

"Okay Drew, get back here," Andy called out firmly, his voice cutting through the subdued atmosphere.

"Guys, we need to talk."

Drew reluctantly returned to his seat, and the rest of the team turned their attention to Andy, their eyes expectant and hopeful.

Andy spoke with a mix of determination and urgency.

"I'm not here to point fingers, but Greenwood is mopping the floor with us. And I don't know about you, but if I have to tell my mom we lost to a team called 'The Greenwood,' I might die of embarrassment."

A few chuckles rippled through the bench, easing the tension slightly as Andy continued, his voice gaining strength.

"But here's the thing, guys. I've seen us come back from worse. This team is unstoppable. We've trained for this. We know our plays. We've got the skills."

He turned towards the scoreboard, pointing at the seven-point deficit.

"Look at that. Nine points. That's nothing. We can still win this thing. So let's get out there and show them what Riverwood is made of. Let's kick some Greenwood ass!"

Andy's words ignited a spark among his teammates. They jumped to their feet, re-energized and determined. Andy stepped forward, putting his hand in the center, and one by one, his teammates followed suit, forming a tight huddle.

"Go Riverwood!" Andy shouted with conviction.

"GO RIVERWOOD!" the team chorused back, their voices ringing with unity and resolve.

As they broke from the huddle, Andy felt a surge of adrenaline and hope. The gym buzzed with renewed energy as the team took their positions on the court for the second half. With each player focused and driven, Andy knew they were ready to turn the game around.

The cheer squad continued their spirited routine, the crowd cheered louder, and Andy led his team onto the court with a newfound sense of purpose. They were not just a team; they were a family. Together, they were ready to face the challenges ahead and fight for victory, one basket at a time.

The second half began with renewed intensity as Andy's team managed to score a few quick points, closing the gap against Greenwood's lead. Andy could feel the momentum shifting in their favor.

"Just one more basket and we pull ahead, come on Riverwood," Andy muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the game unfolding before him.

Drew swiftly passed the ball to Korban, who dribbled towards the basket with determination. He deftly maneuvered past a Greenwood defender, his focus on lining up the perfect shot... until suddenly, Korban jerked and dropped the ball, a look of panic crossing his face.

Andy hurried over to Korban, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Korban frantically swiped at his shoulder, and Andy followed his gaze to see a large, wild spider crawling on him.

"What the hell?! Someone's pet tarantula got loose," Andy exclaimed.

In the midst of the chaos, a Greenwood player seized the opportunity, swooping in to grab the loose ball. However, he recoiled in horror as five more spiders dropped onto the court around him.

The game ground to a sudden halt as players from both teams backed away from the center court, shouts and cries ringing out from the bleachers. Panic spread like wildfire among the spectators as they realized spiders were crawling onto the court and even into the stands.

Kimmy's scream pierced through the commotion. "EEEK, it's in my hair! Someone get it off me!"

Alex, always quick to react, moved swiftly towards Kimmy.

"It's okay, I got it," he assured her, brushing the spider out of her hair.

Meanwhile, Lucy spotted another spider creeping towards Ava. "Wait, there's another one!"

Leo scanned the area, bewildered.

"Where are they coming from?"

Ava's gaze shifted upwards, her expression turning pale with realization.

"Uh... guys? Look... up."