“The continuation of the world’s most anticipated fencing competition will be kicking off in the next one hour and this time it will be tougher because it is the final round. Who do you think will be this year’s winner? France or Canada? It is even more interesting that this is the first time Canada will advance to this stage and many are waiting to see what the outcome would be” Reporter Paul, from TVS News reported as many people were rushing in and out of the waiting room to get one or two things done.
“Are you nervous?” Jenny asked and I nodded sheepishly
“You are very close to achieving your dreams right now so you should not be discouraged. I will make sure to support you till the end and no matter what the result might be, I am always proud of you” Jenny said to me as she held my shoulder firmly
“I can do this” I shouted and Jenny smiled
“That’s the spirit” Jenny shouted too and we both giggled before she handed over a bottle of water to me
“Take this and cool yourself down, we still have up to fifty minutes to go so you can take your time” Jenny advised and left the room.
I flipped off the cap of the bottled water and gulped down some of the water before replacing the cap and placed the bottle on the dressing table. I packed my blonde hair well to prevent any disturbance and pulled out my foil in order to start practicing once again.
I was practicing when I felt a rumbling in my stomach, I stopped for a bit to rest thinking it was because I immediately started practicing after drinking water but as soon as I started practicing again, the rumbling occurred.
I rushed to the toilet and emptied my stomach but the rumbling wouldn’t stop. In the span of five minutes, I had gone to the toilet up to three times and it was then I realized something was wrong. I looked for Jenny to see if she could help me get some drugs but she was nowhere to be found and she left her phone behind.
Seeing my condition that doesn’t seem like it would get better, I quickly rushed to one of the staffs to ask if I could find any pharmacy nearby.
“There is one just across the street. Get out of the hall and just cross to the other side” one of them explained to her and I quickly rushed to where they pharmacy was.
I checked my time to see that I had thirty seven minutes more so I rushed out and in the hurry to cross over as fast as I could, I didn’t see the truck that was coming with a full speed and just ran into the road. The intense honking was what I heard last as I closed my eyes when I saw the truck in my face.
For like a minute, everything was dark and silent before murmurs started arising and voices became clearer in my head.
“What happened just now? Am I dead now?” I thought as I opened my eyes to see the sun shining bright in the sky
“Thank Goodness!” I cried out as I rolled to stand up but saw crowds at some distance and wondered what was happening.
Before I could guess whatever was going on, someone familiar stood up with his head covered in blood and I gasped.
“Ricky!” I screamed and ran to his side
“What is happening? What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you..” I poured out questions but he slowly raised his finger to my lips in order to shut me up
“Go and get the drugs now, the time is ticking” he said closing his eyes bit by bit
“But you are covered in blood” I argued and tried to help him but he pushed me away
“Anabelle, you have to get this right now! You do trust me right? I can never die from this and you know that. The biggest favor you can do me right now is run to that store, get your medicines and stay fine till you are done with the competition” he said as the blood trickled down his forehead
“But Ricky, I cannot leave you like this” I cried trying to hold unto him but he slightly pushed me off him
“Anabelle please go!” he growled with all his strength and his eyes flickered between grey and blue
“Ricky please be fine” I cried as I turned to run towards the pharmacy once again while stealing a glance at seconds’ interval.
I quickly got the drugs, took them and ran out of the pharmacy to see Ricky being helped into the ambulance.
“Ricky” I shouted and tried running towards the ambulance when someone grabbed me by the hand
I turned to see Jenny trying to catch her breathe because it seemed like she had been running
“Anabelle, you must go now” Jenny said and dragged me away as I watched the ambulance disappear in the distance
“You need to prepare now, the competition starts in ten minutes time” Jenny informed me and brought out my fencing uniform.
I could not get the image of Ricky covered in blood from my head and it seemed like the rumbling stomach fled instantly during the accident. I wondered what he was doing there at that particular time because he already told me he would be at a meeting so he wouldn’t be able to attend the game. Why was my stomach upset in the first place? Many questions were flowing in my head but I got no answer to any.
“Anabelle what should we do? Your personal foil is broken” Jenny lamented as she ran inside the room panicking
It became clear to me that everything happening was a set up at this point. Things happening like a coincidence and working against me can never be ordinary.
“I have a spare one in my bag, get that one for me” I said and Jenny rushed to bring it for me
“Jenny, as from this moment henceforth it is war. This trophy is going to Canada” I declared firmly and took my mask as I marched out to the game hall with all my spirit fired up to fight to death.
