“You’re just letting anyone look up your damn skirt!” Quan fussed. “I don’t like that. You need to sit down!”
“I have a cute ass so they can look,” Isis said as she turned around with a playful roll of her neck towards Quan.
“No they cannot,” he snapped before yanking her back in the seat as she laughed.
“See?” She started before turning to look at me with her wide eyes. “This is why I love Quan. You can’t be mad at him for too long because he does things like that.”
I started to speak but I could see Quan freeze at the mention of love before he recoiled in his seat as if he was suddenly aware he was sitting in the wrong spot. As much as I wanted to mess with him, I decided to leave that statement as is while the stadium still went crazy with anticipation. I began clapping and cheering to add to the noise. The game official was still holding his hand as the crowd continued to grow louder with food being thrown, the drumline began to play with the band chiming in with the horns. Nobody gave a damn. People just wanted the games to begin.
“The game official has stepped onto the field!” The announcer that strangely sounded like Clementine spoke out. “Please allow him to SPEAK!”
It was Clementine.
The stadium settled as he adjusted his mic pinned against his collar.
“The rules are simple,” he said as his voice echoed. “Each player will get a ball they must protect throughout the games! You lose the ball; you lose the game! Anything can and will happen to try and get the ball away from the players and when they do, whatever is left, you must take it from someone else if you want to win. Each school has selected four athletes that will fall through the air, swim in the depths of the deepest part of the lake…”
I watched as they showed the faces of the coaches who were standing on the side looking up at the monitors. They showed a drone shot of the crashing waves and violent storms taking over the lake before showing sand dunes, scorching sun, and a single red door that sat in the middle of the desert.
“There is no withdrawal! There is no return! Once a winner has been declared, the games will be over. Coaching staff, you are not allowed to step on the field and your communication with your players are officially cut off. As of now?!” The officiant said as the rumbling sound of the stadium began to shake beneath our feet. “We are locking the arena down. No guests, no students, no faculty and staff may leave from their section without arena personnel escorting you.”
“This is serious,” Isis said as she looked around. “Should we go to the bathroom before it starts?”
“You go ahead,” I said. “I’m fine.”
My eyes were on the suspicious light skinned man a few rows up as he stood clapping and cheering with everyone else. He had a baseball cap over his head, a basic maroon polo shirt with DCU Alumni stitched in the corner. He stood next to a dark-skinned guy who had a more brooding expression on his face while catching my gaze. He leaned in and motioned towards me as the light skinned man glanced my way. My mouth fell open as he winked and tapped his finger to his nose before turning back to clap and holler.
Turning around, I felt my heartbeat as I looked around. That was Trevor Coleman… I wasn’t sure who the man was next to him but how did he, someone who was supposedly First Family managed to get a ticket and come in here undetected? This was some of the most powerful spells put in place as security and he was just able to walk right on in? If he was here, that meant his wife had to be here somewhere…If she was here…they all had to be here, hidden amongst the fans. I quickly scanned the crowd from what I could see, as far as my eyes would go while Quan and Isis were gone to the restroom. Leaning over the edge to look below, the whistle began to blow.
“Everyone please take your seats so we can begin! Take your seats!”
The section volunteers began to motion with their hands for everyone to sit down as Quan and Isis came walking back down together.
“Take your seats please!”
“I told you they weren’t going to start until everyone was seated,” Quan fussed. “You rushed to take a piss for nothing. They still haven’t–––”
“WELCOME TO THE ELEMENTAL GAMES OF THE UNDERGROUND!” Clementine shouted through the speakers. “LET’S MEET OUR ATHLETES!”
Confetti fell from the open-air ceiling as the crowd cheered. You could barely see what was in front of you when a groupof students walked out, waving and jumping around, clapping while others focused straight on the square that dropped into the middle of the sky. Everything was officially locked down and the coaches on the sidelines were already trying to signal to their players.
“The participating schools are Drew Collins! Society Hill! Belmont! Montclair and Monroe, our twin schools! Sycamore in the Woodlands, the fastest growing city in the Underground, and Yasuke University that traveled all the waaaaaay from Japan! Our star players must battle against the four elements! Air, water, earth, and fire! Carry the ball to the goal as the first to enter the arena and… Wait a minute…oh my God…”
I didn’t see her at first, but I could see security scrambling around the field that suddenly no one was allowed to enter but the players. Everything was locked down as each athlete hesitantly picked up a ball but there, she was…there they were… Ayira was the first to step out as the camera focused on her bright eyed, long hair, almost perfect chocolate Barbie doll face looking up at everyone with her long flowing jet-black hair hanging down her back. It was as if she just woke up in the middle of the games, but when she smiled and waved, she instantly took on the role of a star. Then there was Maggie Grey… The most wanted mythic in the Underground walked out with a head full of white hair as she looked around. Both were in the school uniforms with the pleated skirts and white blouse tucked in. Her and Ayira’s face was plastered on every single screen before showing security running around the field, unable to touch it. They showed the coaches scrambling on the side while Namir stood completely still, eyes laser focused on his woman in complete shock. He saw no one else but her at that moment.
They were going to get her. They were going to find a way to take them both!
“Ladies, shifters, gentlemen and others!” A male voice called out through the speakers. “You’re not seeing things and it’s not magic brought to you by the games! You are seeing Maggie Grey, the most wanted mythic in the history of the Underground for the assault and missing persons case on Xavier Martin and crimes against black mythic humanity! She is with Princess Ayira! The missing Princess out of the Solhari Kingdom that was rumored to be taken by the First Family and held hostage!”
“Held hostage?!” Isis shrieked before looking at Quan. “Can you believe he said that?!”
“Well where the hell was she?” He shot back before folding his arms across his beefy chest.
“Security is attempting to stop the game now so they can arrest the two!” The announcer went on as people began cheering and screaming. Something in me just reacted the moment I saw the look of pure fear on Maggie’s face. She really had no idea what all has happened since she’s been away.
“GRAB THE BALL!” I screamed with my voice cracking. “GRAB THE BALL AND JUMP!” I knew she wouldn’t be able to hear me, but I saw Asha’s body jumping up and down as the signs all flipped to RUN!”
“PLAYERS GRAB YOUR BALL AND JUMP!” Clementine suddenly shouted just as the sound of a horn went off. “NOW! THE GAMES HAVE BEGUN! GRAB THE BALL AND BE THE FIRST TO BRING IT BACK TO THE ARENA! GOOD LUCK DREW COLLINS WARRIORS! BRING IT HOME! WIN! WIN! WIN!”
