by Sage, Aubrey
The stadium was buzzing as the crowd filled in, and when they called out both teams, I could hear a few people chanting my nickname. I felt great–rested, no hangover, loads of energy and ready to dominate the game.
I sat on the bench and watched as Miami scored the first touchdown, and when we got on offense, I scored a touchdown for our team in half the time. The team gave me friendly pats on the back, and I knew that we could easily win the game if our defense could shut them down when they tried to score.
Teams were still tied when Miami was winding down a failed second offense run.
Time to go get ‘em Wrecker.
Him. He never came at such a random time before.
“What are you doing in my head? I did what you asked”
“Oh yes, of course you did.”
“Then why are you here?” The referee blew the whistle, and I started to head out into the field.
“Because of our deal, Mitch. You’ve got to fulfill your deal.”
“I’ve already followed through on the deal,” I scoffed. “Patricia and I are done.”
But there’s another.
“What are you talking about? I’m not dating anyone else.”
“Turn around Mitch.”
What on earth was he talking about? I spun around as I walked out onto deeper into the green.
“A little more left… Nope, a little more right… Now stop! Right there. Look up. Do you see your little darling?”
Off in the distance, I barely make out Mom, Dad, and Annie sitting in the stands. A lump filled my throat. “My darling?” I asked. “Are you you talking about–”
“Yes, Mitch. I’m talking about Annie.”
“Annie?”
“She loves you Mitch.”
“Of course, she loves me. She’s my sister!”
“But there’s more to it than the love of two siblings. She wants you, Mitch. And you want her. Take it. Take her.”
“I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t dare hurt Annie.”
“You will.”
“No, I won’t. You can’t make me do that.”
“Hmph. You’re right. I can’t make you do anything. But if you’re falling back on our deal, I’ll take everything away.”
“Go ahead. I don’t need this anymore. I just want to play ball and be left the fuck alone!”
I swallowed hard as I got in position behind the Quarterback, and to my surprise, the voice didn’t reply. I had done everything that he had asked me before, but breaking Annie was far too much. How evil could I possibly be to fuck with my stepsister? Fuck him and fuck that. He could throw rocks in my window if he wanted. I’d drive 15 miles per hour everywhere I went to avoid speeding cars, but no way I wasn’t going to hurt family.
The center hiked the ball to the Quarterback, and the Quarterback handed it off to me. I jeered to the left, and I could hear that crowd screaming as they waited for me to issue them another highlight-reel worthy play. I saw a line with a single defender and sprinted forward with all of my might. He was a big guy, but I could take him, I thought.
I thought wrong. It felt like a ton of bricks hit me me as the defender and I slammed together. I lost my footing, and the large guy thrashed my body to the ground, landing on top of me.
My ears were ringing from the force of the fall and my vision was blurry, but I could see the bearded defender staring down at me through the opening in his helmet, sweat dripping down his face. “Who’s The Wrecker now, bitch?!” he snarled harshly, bits of his smelly spit speckling onto my face.
I laid in the grass, dazed, my head spinning, my body aching. Tiny white stars jumped out at me as I slowly regained my composure, and I could feel a pair of people hoisting me up into something. People were talking to me, but the attack of sound and colors made it difficult to make out what they were trying to say.
It wasn’t until they had carried me nearly past the sidelines that I was alert enough to realize they were taking me off the field. I swatted at the shoulder of one of the guys carrying me and rolled my body off the stretcher and onto the ground below.
“Mitch, what are you doing?” the medic asked as I struggled to situate myself.
“No…” I huffed. “I’m okay. I’m okay to play.”
“You need to be looked at,” the other medic said.
“No, I’m fine. Just a hard hit.”
I pulled myself to my knees and then forced myself to stand. There was no way I was going to go out so easily. Side-to-side I shook my head and rattled all the cobwebs out of my brain. I twisted my neck, and my spine made a loud crunching noise, but I felt much better after the fact.
I jogged slowly back on the field, leaving the medics standing there wide-eyed, and I heard the crowd cheering when they saw I was okay. A few of my teammates circled around me, and I could see coach approaching as well.
“I don’t know what just happened out there Mitch, but you should get some rest on the bench, Mitch,” Coach said.
“Don’t worry, Coach.” I put my hand behind my shoulder and stretched my back from side to side. “I’m okay. Let’s stick to our usual play. They won’t expect that you’ll hand the ball off to me after I just took a hit like that.”
“I don’t know,” our Quarterback spoke up. “I think it would be better to do some pass plays or–”
“Trust me,” I insisted.
The coach sighed. “Are you sure about this Mitch? We can sub you, and you can get back in the game after the first half is over if you’re still up for it.”
“I’m sure. Hand me the ball and watch me show this crowd the real deal.”
“Alright let’s do this,” Coach said and clapped his hands.
All the players put their hands in the center of the circle, one on top of each other, and made a loud grunt as they pulled away.
I got back in my position behind the Quarterback and I could see the bearded defender staring from his line with a proud grin. Lucky hit, I thought. If I encountered him again, I’d try to dodge his tackle, but if I couldn’t, I would hit him from a better angle and take him down.
The center snapped the ball to the Quarterback, and then the ball was handed off to me. The crowd wailed, and again I saw a clean line with only one defender, and I went for it. I pushed fast, and when I got closer, I could tell that it was the same bearded guy from before. My shoulder stiffened, ready to test my might against his as we crashed into each other, but instead, I was suddenly tackled from the side.
Another defender, much smaller than the big, bearded guy had come out of nowhere and hit me from a perpendicular angle. It wasn’t a hit as hard as the big guy’s, but it was hard enough that it sent me flying to the ground. His blow landed square in the side of my ribs, knocking my breath out. I fell sideways to the ground and slid several inches before I looked down and realized that I was no longer holding the ball.
When I looked up, I could see one of Miami’s defenders running back towards our end zone with the ball I was supposed to be carrying.
Fumble... I had fumbled the ball. It was every player’s worst nightmare, and the last thing that any star running back is expected to do.
As the Miami defender made it to the end zone and threw the ball down for a touchdown, I looked up at my team and felt a lump in my throat. I peered at my coach. He and everyone else looked so disappointed, and it was all because I insisted on taking the ball and fumbled.
The crowd wailed as they watched last year’s rookie of the year get pummeled not once but twice and even fumbled the ball to the home team. I picked myself off of my feet and walked over to the sidelines with my head down.
“What was that?” Coach asked. “I’ve never seen you drop the ball before.”
“I don’t know. I guess I was just too focused on getting the ball past the defender.”
The team gathered around and I received more than a few nasty glares. “Look,” Coach said. “If they make a field goal, we’re going to be down by 7. Mitch dropped the ball, but these things hap
pen. He’s led the team to where we are today, so let’s stick together. Just continue with the game plan and we’ll come back and win this.”
The team grunted in approval.
The Hurricanes made the field goal, and I marched back on the field for another offensive run. It was fruitless though. The whole rest of the night, I was pummeled by the other team. When I was handed their ball, their defenders shut me down again and again. When the Quarterback started passing the ball, our passes failed and we even had an interception. We lost 35 to 7– the worst game we’ve had since I started playing as a running back.
After the game, the energy in the locker room was dark, and the air was quiet. My battered team removed their gear in silence and prepared to hit the showers.
Coach made an appearance and let out a deep sigh. “Good effort out there, guys.”
“Good effort?” Our Quarterback heaved off his shoulder pads and let them fall to the ground with a thud. “Maybe we wouldn’t have games like that if Mitch showed up for practice.”
A few of the other players grunted, and I stood up in my defense. Everyone started arguing with each other at once.
“Hey, hey!” Coach called out. “Settle down. It’s not Mitch’s fault. If it wasn’t for Mitch we wouldn’t have went undefeated last year. But you do have a point. It’s clear now that he’s not unstoppable.” He pointed his eyes at me. “You’re going to have to start showing up for practice from now on, Mitch.”
I sat back down on the bench with my head down and gave a sad nod. He was right. I had grown cocky, and the few times I did show up to practice, I arrived drunk or with a hangover from the night before. I had trained every day to get to the point where I could play for UCLA, but after my success I had been spending more and more of that time chasing pussy and getting wasted, thinking that no one would ever stop me on the field.
I was naïve but at the same time, I was lonely. I had been seeded with such an uncontrollable drive, and I had to let it out. Working out nonstop every day and just playing football would keep that energy under control, but it left a vacancy in my heart. That’s why I chased women, even when I had to break their hearts. It filled the void, even if only for a brief moment before I cut them off.
It was hell. Not being able to love was hell. The money, the fame, the drive to succeed–It was all a façade. I made a deal with the devil, and the devil brought me to hell.
Chapter 24
“What happened out there, buddy?” Dad asked Mitch across the table. It was the night after UCLA’s big loss and Mitch was treating the family to dinner at a country-themed steakhouse. The kind with buckets of peanuts on every table and shells covering the floor.
“I don’t know,” he replied. Mitch was toying with his cell phone, avoiding eye-contact with everyone. “Miami was just the better team today.”
“Something was off with you,” Dad retorted. “I’ve see you trample guys who were much bigger than some of the players who were tackling you today.”
“There was a lot on my mind.”
“Such as?” Dad queried.
Mitch glanced up from his phone and looked at me for a brief moment, then shuffled uncomfortably in his chair. He shrugged. “Just things.”
“You know if there’s anything you need to talk about, we’re here for you, son,” Dad assured Mitch.
Mitch put his phone in his pocket and smiled. “I’m fine, Dad. Don’t worry.”
Our food arrived, and we all dug in. I could see just as well as Dad that something was bothering Mitch, but I didn’t know what it was. His face was blank as he ate; he was quiet, and he seemed to be deep in thought.
“What are you doing after dinner, Mitch?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t really planned much,” he replied and took a bite of his steak.
“I was thinking that maybe we could go out and party a little bit, see what Miami has to offer.” I beamed an excited smile in his direction and shook my hips to the country music that was playing in the background.
Mitch rested his fork on his plate and lifted his napkin to his lips. He quickly chewed the rest of the food in his mouth and then started shaking his head. “I just remembered that I have Microeconomics test in a couple weeks. I should probably study.”
“Wow,” Mom cooed. “I’ve never heard you talk about studying Mitch. That’s the kind of thing I like to hear.”
I frowned. I never heard of Mitch talking about studying either. In fact, I was pretty sure he did only the basic minimum to keep himself from being dismissed for the university. I knew just as well as anyone that the only reason he went to UCLA was for the football.
Mitch’s phone cell phone began to ring just as he was about to take another bite of food.
“This is Mitch,” he answered. “Hey Brian. What’s up?... Yeah?” Mitch grew silent as he listened to his assistant, then he let out a big sigh. “I guess it is what it is. After tonight, I can’t say that I blame them. Thanks for the update, Brian. Take care.” Mitch turned off his phone and then went back to his food, head down.
“That didn’t sound good, honey. Is everything okay?” Mom asked.
“My agent called. You know I was shooting to get signed to the Seahawks next year? After tonight’s game they said that they want to see me play through at least another year unless I enter the draft, in which case I could get signed to anyone.”
“Don’t worry about it honey. It’s probably for the best. You’ll get another year of college, and I’m sure after doing one more you’ll decide that you want to finish.”
Mitch gave a flat smile and then looked back down at his food. I can’t remember the last time that I ever saw my brother looking so down on himself. Not since the accident had he ever seemed so bothered.
“I guess I’ll just have to go out tonight on my own then.” I poked my fork in my steak and gave a faux sigh. “A young girl, all alone in a big, unknown city. I hope it’s safe around here.”
Mitch looked up from his food and groaned, “Alight, I’ll go with you. But we’re not staying out very late.”
“Yay!” I wailed like a little kid. Exploring Miami for the first time sounded exciting, and I hoped that getting Mitch out and doing things would cheer him up a bit.
We all finished our meal, and Mitch gave Mom and Dad a hug before they hopped in a taxi. Mom, Dad, and I would be flying out on a commercial plane tomorrow and Mitch would be on a different flight with his team. “I’ll have Annie back early tonight, okay?”
“Alright, Mitch. Have safe flight,” Dad said.
Mitch turned to me as our parents were carried off. “So… Where exactly do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. What’s around here?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. Let’s walk around and see what we can find.”
“Alright, let’s go,” I said. Mitch turned and headed down the sidewalk, seeming annoyed at the fact that I had dragged him out. “Maybe we can find a club to go dancing again. Or we can just stop and have a few drinks.”
“No alcohol tonight, Annie,” Mitch’s voice was stern.
“Why not?”
“Alcohol doesn’t mix with you. I don’t want another situation like the other night on our hands. Definitely not while in Miami.”
“Alright…” I groaned.
The Miami air was fresh, and the city was beautiful. Every turn that we made was met with bright lights and attractive people. The walkway was lined with clubs, and each time we passed one I felt like we were a little too underdressed, both of us wearing shorts and white t-shirts, compared to the cocktail dresses and suits of the patrons. There were a few souvenir shops littered in between, and we’d make the occasional stop to view the “I LOVE MIAMI” tees and other random wares.
As we continued our walk, the breeze picked up, and I could hear the light crash of waves off in the distance.
“Since you don’t want to drink and we’re dressed like bums, let’s go see the beach,” I said.
Mitch nodded and headed in the direction of the sand.
It was only a few minutes before we could see the water, and we both took our shoes off before we stepped off of the sidewalk. The beach was empty and poorly lit, but the sand was soft between my toes.
I held my arms out to my sides and inhaled a huge breath of ocean air. “Mmmm... I love the beach,” I purred.
“I don’t know if we’re allowed to be here,” Mitch murmured. He turned his head around as if looking for something or someone, but no one was in sight. “It’s empty. This is probably a private beach.”
“Oh c’mon Mitch. Aren’t you The Wrecker? The other night you were buying your little sister booze, but now you’re worried about being on a private beach?” I slammed my shoes against Mitch’s chest, gesturing for him to hold them, and then I ran out towards the water.
The current looked a little strong, and foam was forming around the edges of the coast, but not so much that I was worried. When my feet touched the ocean, the water was still warm. I splashed my feet as I ran deeper inside and dipped my hands down into the surface.
“Oh my gosh! It’s not cold! Mitch, come get in with me!”
“Come on, Annie!” Mitch wailed. “The water looks too rough to be playing around like that. You’re going to get yourself soaked.”
“No I’m not!” I countered and stuck my tongue out as I backed up further into the water. Why was Mitch being such a party-pooper? I splashed my hands in the water again, and then turned around to look over the sea, but instead I got a hard smack to the face.
A large wave had come out of nowhere with enough force to knock me off of my feat. I fell backwards into the water, and inhaled a nose full of saltwater. As the wave subsided, it pulled me back deeper into the ocean, and all I could hear was rumbling as I became completely submerged. My nose and lungs burned and my eyes were stinging. Panic overtook me as I struggled to the surface and felt the force of the waves jostling me whichever way they decided.
