The early October air in Liverpool had a certain crispness that signaled the arrival of autumn. The leaves had started to turn, their deep greens now edged with orange and gold, a stark contrast to the electric buzz surrounding the city's footballing heart—Anfield.
For Zachary, however, the season's changing hues were of little concern. He had far more pressing matters on his mind.
After the unsettling encounter with the phantom, Zachary had thrown himself into his football routine, hoping to drown the cryptic warnings in the relentless grind of his career.
The international break was now looming, and his next stop was Abidjan, the bustling capital of Ivory Coast, for a crucial pair of AFCON qualifiers against Central African Republic. His responsibilities for club and country weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he had no time to lose.
