Equinox

Chapter 22 - Will

The day passed as usual. I spent it in the infirmary, organizing medical records. Boring, boring, boring. I'll spare you the details. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

So eventually dinner came and went. Malcom Pace decided to sit with me and my siblings and bombard us with strategies and plans and things too complex to comprehend.

"...And I think if we place an archer here—" he pointed to a little map of the play field he'd drawn up—"we'd be able to scare off some of the intruders."

"Uh, okay. Kayla? Can you man that spot?"

"Sure, why not? I just got a new type of arrow and I can't wait to try it out."

"No killing please."

"Oh, no killing. Just paralyzing."

"Fine. What next, Malcom?"

"Well, of course, we'll need a flag guard. Preferably an older kid with sword fighting experience. Someone who can take multiple people at once."

"I can handle that. I've been getting good with swords."

Malcom nodded. "I know. Everybody does. Anyway, we should definitely place the flag by—or in— a tree, and then have someone or two someones who can ambush attackers if you get overwhelmed, Will. I think an archer and a melee fighter would work. So maybe Austin and one of my siblings?"

I shrugged, stabbing a piece of brisket with my fork. "That sounds fine. And we're putting the rest of Athena on border, right?"

"Correct. I think we've got a good strategy.

"Same here."

I glanced over at table 13. Nobody was there. As I looked around, I realized Nico was sitting with Sherman and talking with him and his bloodthirsty siblings. He caught my eyes and smirked as he kept talking. After a moment, he looked away. What was he planning? I shrugged it off and returned to my meal.

* * *

Dinner was finally over. We separated into our teams and suited up.

"Okay. Okay, okay, okay." I was only a little nervous. I was never really a fan of Capture the Flag, to be honest. But now, I was ready.

"Okay. Okay. So, uh, Austin, Molly. You're Molly, right?" A little girl, no taller than maybe 4'11, nodded. She was one of Malcom's youngest sisters, but by the gods, could she kick some butt. She was going to be the melee ambush attacker.

"Okay. We're gonna go find the tree. The rest of you, just charge. Let's win this."

I was not known for my inspirational speeches. Austin, Molly and I trekked off to find the tree.

Only 15 minutes later, the game started. I shifted from foot to foot as I heard the shouts from deeper in the forests. Austin and Molly, instead of climbing the tree, hid in the bushes not too far away. I stood in front of the flag as I paced back and forth.

"Hey."

I nearly jumped out of my skin. How did Nico end up behind me, leaning against the tree, without me noticing?

"What? Just because I like you doesn't mean I'm gonna hand over the flag."

"Oh, no," he said, shifting onto the other foot, "I'd never. Gotta win it fair and square, ya know?"

"'Ya know'? I've never heard you say that before."

"And you're never gonna hear it again, Sunflower."

He unsheathed his sword, and I did the same. Neither of us gave it our all— we half-heartedly danced around with our swords. Block. Dodge. Block again. Eventually, I found myself backed into a tree. He held his sword out and tilted my chin up gently with the point. As I breathed heavily, he tilted my head around.

"And what are you looking at?" I panted.

He smiled and sheathed his sword. He grabbed my hands and pushed them up against the tree.

"Wait, wh—"

"Now!" He yelled over his shoulder as Sherman and two of his siblings jumped out of the bush. Austin and Molly tried to fight back, but 2v3 isn't very good odds. Sherman managed to tackle the flag and prepare to run with it. Nico reached up onto his tiptoes and bridged the gap between us. It only lasted for five seconds at most, but it still left me breathless. He let go of my hands and turned to take on Molly.

I stood there paralyzed.

"Will, really? Earth to Will! WAKE UP!" Austin yelled at me. I held out my sword as Molly and Nico danced around. She tackled him, and, to my horror, plunged her dagger into his leg. She spun a 360° and kicked him in the stomach. He landed on the ground, his wrist bending at a weird angle. I immediately ran over.

Sherman froze. "My guy! Dude, are you okay?"

"Go!" He yelled, strained. He raised his un-bent hand and opened the shadows. "Run into the tree! Like we practiced!"

Sherman nodded, grabbed the flag, and ran into the tree. As soon as he did, Nico's head hit the ground with a small thud.