Chapter 1
It’s my last year and then I’m out of the season. All I have to do is make our team a legend. If I can do that then nothing will hold them down for the years to come. Nothing will be able to stop the team as long as I’m here. Nothing will because we are the Steel Dragons.
“Come on! Get up there Kai!” the coach yells.
“Tyler, you’re next!” Jin shouts.
No matter how many members shot their arrow, we didn’t gain a single point. We’d be right at the point for a tie, but it changes when Tyler goes . He would miss over and over and yet he still wants to shoot. As if he’s deliberately making us fall behind in points. I race across the dirt and pluck the bow out of his hands. I know it’s against the rules, but it’s my duty.
Tyler was too stunned to speak. I didn’t have time to dwell on his reaction. I was going to gain those points we lost. Even if it means shutting Tyler out of the game. After effortlessly making a bullseye, I ask for the coach..
“What’s the problem, Kai?” Coach Daniels asks.
“Isn’t it obvious? Tyler is slowing us down. Something needs to be done about it.”
Tyler scoffs, “Who stepped down and made you captain?”
“It wasn’t you,” I retorted, “Otherwise, we would have been doomed long ago.”
“Teamwork makes the dream work, Tyler.”
“Don’t say none of the cringy bs. I’m carrying this team.”
“Yeah, to failure and if you don’t get your act together, you’ll be carrying yourself off the team!”
Coach interrupts us, “At this point, Kai, you have no say so.”
“He does as long as he’s here, Coach,” Sam backs me up.
“He’s right, but he isn’t saying anything to fix the problem. We have only a few minutes left to discuss this, so now is a good time to come up with a solution. Either he sits or we lose and embarrass ourselves. I don’t plan on walking out of here in shame, Coach.”
“Nice speech, Kai, but I’m not sitting.”
“Tyler, it’s Nate’s turn.”
“Coach I can-”
“Now isn’t the time. Switch.”
“When we get back out there, we’re going past the limit. We will defeat the Sharks no matter what. Motto, on the count of three. One…two…three. Beyond the limit!”
I stepped into the gym and only a few people were there. There was one on the bench, one standing nearby, and three on the court. The first to see me was the one sitting down. I don’t do well with introductions, so I just smiled. I think I scared him because he turned back to the court.
I believe the one standing near the bench was the team captain. He rounds up the present members and calls me over. I should be bold, but I’m shaking in my jordans. If it wasn’t for my injury, I would have come to impress them. Now, I’m the audience.
“By the look on your faces, I can tell you know why I’m here,” I start.
“To warn us about not having a new coach?” one of them asks.
“What? No. I am the new coach.”
“Aren’t you the famous Kai? You’re adding nothing to our team.”
“You didn’t have to stoop so low. You should know I led my team to many victories.”
“Didn’t you come here to make that happen for us?”
I look to the guy on my left.
“That is why you’re here, right?”
“That is up to the team. Do you guys want to win or go down in flames?”
One of the members speaks up, "That’s all we’ve been doing. None of the coaches before you lasted a second,” he states, “They either left because they were sick of losing or were using us for fame they couldn’t obtain.”
“Would it make a difference if I say we’re going to win these upcoming games?”
“Not with a team like this. We’re like- like hand-me-downs, Coach,” he says.
I stand up and walk over to him, “What’s your name?”
“Liam.”
“Okay, Liam, are you the captain?” he nods, “Things like that are what makes a team lose. It’s called falling short.”
They look at me with confused faces.
“I think what the coach is trying to say is that thinking like that brings us down. Is that why you lost the last game for your team?”
Everyone looks around at each other, only one says something, “What happened?”
I explain to them about what happened during my last season. We were in the last few seconds needing only three points to be in the lead, I was their best choice at making the shot, but the other team said otherwise. I found out later they tampered with my equipment.
When I pulled the string, I lost my hold and sprained my wrist. I wanted to explain that, but one of their teammates already knew about it. I didn’t question him when he told the others. It’s just that none of the information was out. I told them not to let the public know.
“Well, we haven’t got anywhere with a coach.”
“The board thinks you’re doomed with or without a coach,” I explain.
“How about you show us what you got?”
One of the archers finally joined the crowd. He was about 6 feet with a chiseled jawline. Compared to the other, he looked as if he lifted on the daily. I don't know what will happen if I get on his bad side. That is if he has a good side.
The short guy steps in, “Did you not hear me when I said-”
“He has an injury? Loud and clear.”
“What do you have in mind?” I ask.
“You were a pro, right? You were in a league before us.”
“Nolan, settle down,” the captain’s words fell on deaf ears.
“So you should be able to handle this, right?”
“I’m not sure where this is heading.”
“A three on one.”
