Zolok

The Tournament

The preparations for the tournament was fast approaching but James and his friends haven’t been very much involved in the training sessions due to their recent involvements in saving the world. It doesn’t actually look like James needed any training or practices to outrun anyone anytime but he was available on the last day of training as Mr Bryson needed the list of the available contestants to submit to the headquarters for documentation.

“ Are you okay, son?. You haven’t been coming for the training for a long and you know for sure you’re very important to this team, most especially now that we have not heard from Jack and Allisson for a while now” Mr Max asked James.

“ I’m so sorry sir, I’ve been very much occupied with a lot these few days but I’m available for the tournament.” James replied Mr Max.

“Alright boys, let’s get ourselves stretched. We’re going on a long lap together. Fall in , let’s go!” Mr Max commanded the students as he led them on a run round the track. Just as the kids were grooming themselves, there was a new face in the team. Mr Max didn’t want to interrupt the kids because of it but allowed him run with the other boys. When they were done, everyone was curious to know who he was and what he wanted because they knew that new athletes were no longer allowed into the team because of the limited time frame.

“ who are you kid?” Mr Max asked the young boy.

“ I’m Ethan Sir , I’m new to the school. I heard about the tournament, actually I’m a track athlete and was one of the fastest in my old school. I got transferred here and I would really like to participate with the team.” Ethan said.

“ Actually, the tournament is a couple of days from now and we’ve had several weeks of participation which you’ve missed. I’m sorry but we have to work with the team we already got. We can’t go back to teaching the things we’ve already thought as we’re in the final stages of our preparations” Mr Max said.

“ I definitely understand sir but I assure you I can cope with anything the boys are doing. You just have to give me a try and momif promise you won’t be disappointed.” Ethan said. Actually, Ethan was a student of one of the contesting schools and he had been sent as a spy to know what the school is doing and how well they’re preparing for the tournament. Jack could sense something was wrong with the boy with how calm he was and his confidence but vouched for him to Join the team.

“ I think we should give him a try…he might come in handy especially since he is a runner too. Maybe we can put him through a test.” James said.

“ Alright son, let’s see what you got. I want 5 boys out on the tracks and you son, make them 6. We’re going for a 200 meter Sprint race.” Mr Max said and as the boys took their positions, he blew his whistle to signal the start of the race. Surprisingly, Ethan beat the boys to the finish line. He didn’t lie after all, he was a runner. Mr Max was left impressed and welcomed him to the team.

“ Alright boy, you’re welcome to the team!” Mr Max said. James was impressed too, he was proud he vouched for him. At least they have a fresh leg into the team and a good one too. Ethan was quickly loved by everyone because of the energy and commitment he put into the training. Apart from James he was faster and better than everyone in the team. Some even argued he would have beaten Jack to duel if he was present. Ethan saw James as the pillar of the team and quickly made friends with him. His aim was to get James to trust him and bite him in the back when he least expected.

“Aright boys, that’s all for today and I’m vwry much impressed with the overall performance of each and everyone of you and I trust you all will replicate this top notch performance on the D-Day. Goodluck and have a wonderful evening.” Mr Max commended the boys and dismissed them. Ethan’s plans seemed to be working when he introduced him to Danny after training that day.

“ Hey Danny, meet Ethan the new kid and my new friend and Ethan this is Danny, my best friend. I trust you guys can get along well.” James said as he introduced the two boys.

“ Pleasure to meet you Danny” Ethan said as he stretched his hands for a handshake. Danny hesitated but eventually shook hands with him. Throughout their walk outside the school premises, Danny never spoke a word which was unlike him and James was quick to notice the sudden change in his behavior.

“Bad day?” James asked Danny who was acting weird.

“ not really , I’m good” Danny replied.

Danny only made his worries known when Ethan had left them. He didn’t want to err his concerns while Ethan was with them. Ethan was good-looking and seemed innocent but Danny didn’t just seen to like him even though Ethan was friendly and jovial. It’s hard for anyone not love his kind of person as nothing really bothered him, he was always smiling.

“ There’s something about that guy that doesn’t just add up. I think he has something up his sleeves because we’re already past halfway into the academic session and the school does not take any fresher at this time.” Danny finally let out his worries.

“Oh come on Danny, are you kidding me?. I mean look at him, he wouldn’t even harm an ant. You don’t need to worry about him at all. There’s nothing he could possibly do to me, remember?” James said trying to make Danny comfortable with the new boy.

“I hope you’re right for the sake of everyone but I still think we should be more careful till we can actually trust him” Danny said trying not to be easily compromised.

“ Alright, I’ll be more careful, does that make you feel any better.” James said as he pushed Danny a little, he smiled and tries to push James back but he ran away and dared Danny to catch him if he could.

Ethan became much closer to James and Danny with the pretense of practicing with them especially as the tournaments was only few days away. He was so close that Danny became more comfortable with him and saw him as a genuine guy that one day he became reckless and made known to him James’ secrets. Ethan became nosy and wanted to know more.

“ I doubt anyone could ever beat Jammie to a race, he’s faster than lightening. Jammie is not Iike any other normal person or athlete. He’s gifted, born with a gift to do so many things. On his first day at training he beat the finish line in 8 seconds. Oh yeah, you heard me right, 8 seconds ans that was faster than the legendary Usain Bolt of Jamaica. That’s a world record!” Danny said to Ethan who was now very much interested to know more. Before could realize himself, he had already revealed almost everything about James including the team they were building on. He realized himself afterwards and tries to counter all he already revealed but it was too late and Ethan wasn’t that dumb to believe otherwise. Ethan leaked all the secrets Danny had told him to his management and they started planning how to subdue James even if it was to completely eliminate him. This was the first time The Marshall’s College was participating in the competition and they were determined to be the best in all of the country. It wasn’t long since the school came into existence but they have come out the best in virtually everything they ventured into and would want to keep that 100 percent record of never coming second to anyone but always the best. All their past glory were attained through deceitful ways as they believed any way they got whatever they wanted was the right way. They would often bribe officials or influential personalities who had the power to sway things to their favor. They have involved themselves in so many crimes and law-breaking activities to get to where they were and there was no stopping as anyone or anything that stood in their way of success was silenced. They made enquiries on how to weaken James on that day or poison him since he was a complex creature and not too many things can stop him. They met a sorcerer who prepared a liquid portion that was supposed to kill him as he claimed that there was no creature that could withstand the potency of the portion. Ethan was to make him drink the substance before the tournament began.

The stadium has been set and people are already seated, It was a very intimidating crowd to behold. All other sporting events had taken place and it got to the special moment everyone has been waiting for. Everyone wanted to see the new world record holder as the news about his pace had spread across the other schools and so many people wanted to see that talent for themselves.

The race was to be run in so many stages and the qualifying schools from the group stages will contest for the best athlete in a final lap.

“ Hey Jammie, in all my time as the champion of my school’s running competitions, I’ve always taken this cool drink to give me strength. Don’t worry , I brought two cans and you can have one.” Ethan said to James.

“Thanks buddy but I don’t think I really wanna have anything right now at least not in the earlier stages of the competition. You know what I’ll have it, it might come in handy after the first lap. Thank you bro! Let’s go show then what we got” James said after Mr Bryson had addressed the boys and they walked out to begin the race.

James and his colleagues started off well with other notable schools including the greedy Marshall’s college. Despite the fact that there are greedy, they also had brilliant and smart working students. The problem they had was getting what they want by any means possible and never accepting failure in anything no matter slight it was. It got to the final and most important stage where are the best athletes were supposed to square off to determine the best amongst them. Ethan was still worried that James have not taking the portion he had brought to him and had to do everything possible to make sure he took it.

“ Jammie, we’re through to the finals and this is the time you have to take the drink for a super strength. You know we all are counting on you.” Ethan reminded James.

“ I don’t think I still want to have anything. I still feel very okay. What is it with this your so-called energy drink?. Never heard the name for the first time.” James said sounding a bit suspicious.

“ That’s why it’s so special and it’s not like any other regular type of energy drink. It’s a rare brand and it works like magic or are suspecting I could harm you or something?” Ethan asked.

“No, not exactly what I meant. You got me all wrong. Alright, let me have it” James said as he requested for the drink. He took few gulps of it and stopped even though he accepted it had a good taste.

“Go on, have some more!. The more you drink, the more strength you can get!” Ethan said. He was able to make James have enough of the portion. Mr Max had come in to cheer the boys up for the final lap when he noticed that James was already fast asleep.

“ James McCall, what the hell do you think you’re doing?. You should be agile and ready for the award winning last lap” Mr Max said but James didn’t move or respond. He came closer and shoved him but he fell to the floor. He immediately alerted the medical team to handle the situation. After some minutes without James waking up or responding to treatments, it dawned on him that they have lost everything. He had to continue with the rest of the boys and settle for whatever they were able to get.

“You all know that this team was built around James McCall but sadly there’s been a situation and he wouldn’t be joining us in the final race. It’s up to you guys to make us proud. I believe in each and everyone of you. Make us proud!” Mr Bryson gave his final speech to the boys while still waiting for Mr Max and James to arrive. The whistle was blown and the boys moved out for the final race. It was a relay race with four persons in each track for the last 8 remaining best schools. When the officials saw that James was not on the tracks, they smiled and was happy that they have finally won. Just as the referee was about to start the race, Mr Max alerted him and walked out with James who could barely stand. Because nthe officials were already bribed and takes to make sure that King’s and Queens college didn’t win the race, they refuse to allow James continue stating that he was unfit to race which was against the rules and regulations and secondly, the participating athletes have already been recorded. Mr Max and Mr Bryson didn’t give up but explained he had a little problem whha have been rectified. The officials were still adamant till the directors of Marshall’s college gave their consent after all, the boy could hardly stand. How exactly was he going to win the race, Infact it was to their own advantage of he participated as he would be the weak link to his teammates.

James was allowed to continue the race and the whistle went off to signal the race had started. His presence gave his teammates the strength and courage and they did wonderfully well and passed the baton to James before every other person, but he was weak and couldn’t even make a decent run. He saw his failure in the faces of the students of Kings and Queens college. They had gone silent after cheering the other boys up. Some were already in tears, this made James so disappointed and heartbroken. He looked up and there was his mum in the stands, he could hear her call his name.

“Jammie! You can do this . Believe in yourself” his mother’s voice was so clear in his ears even though she was several miles away from him. Immediately, the quiet students began to scream his name.

“Go Jammie! You can do it!” The students shouted. Immediately he kicked in like someone under the influence of drugs. He was so fast that whenever he passed any of the students before him, the air he dissipated would blow on them massively. He did the impossible and beat the finish line before any of the boys who were almost close to the finish line while he was still at the back. The crowd went crazy and the boys came at him and lifted him up in the skies. The directors of the Marshall’s academy couldn’t believe what just happened neither did the officials but James McCall defied the odds and was the hero of the day.