Karl's eyes fluttered open, and he was met with the familiar sight of Rick's tavern. Rick, polishing a mug with a dirty rag, looked up and said, "You awake, bastard?"
Karl rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. He checked the time on his phone – 8:00. "Oh shoot, I'm late!" he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet.
Rick raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be late for what?"
Karl hastily washed his face, drying it with a towel. "I am going to Maryhill school to Yuno's school sports event. I promised her I'd be there."
Rick snorted. "You've been staying here for weeks, Karl. How long are you going to freeload? Go find an apartment."
Karl sighed. "I don't have a job, Rick. How can I afford an apartment?"
Rick shrugged. "Then go find a job, bastard." "That's a matter for another day," Karl said.
Rick said, "You have your Prison work money, why don't you use it to buy an apartment."
Karl said I use that money for food and clothes.
After that, Karl rushed out the door. "Today's about Yuno. Her sports event started at 7:30, and I'm already running late."
Karl burst through the doors of the school hallway, he was greeted by the sight of students in their sports uniforms.
On the playing field, Yuno and her teammates were sitting on a bench, catching their breath. Yuno's eyes scanned the crowd, her face a picture of concern.
The principal Mr. Louis, beaming with pride, stepped forward to present the awards. "And the gold medal for the volleyball tournament goes to... Yuno's team!"
The crowd erupted into applause as Yuno's teammates cheered and hugged each other. The principal handed out the shiny gold medals, and Yuno's face lit up with a bright smile as she received hers.
Just as Yuno's teammates were about to console her, Karl appeared bursting through the doors of the gymnasium, out of breath and apologetic. Yuno's face lit up, but it was tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Amelia waved at Karl, inviting him to sit beside her. As he took his seat, Amelia said, "You're late."
Karl looked sheepish. "Yes, I'm sorry about it."
The sports teacher Maverick Campbell dark and a bright smile, microphone in hand, stood on the dais, surveying the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you just witnessed a spectacular game of volleyball, in which Yuno Wilof showed a fantastic performance!"
The crowd erupted into applause, and Yuno's face lit up with pride. Karl clapped enthusiastically, beaming with pride.
Mr. Maverick continued, "And now, it's time to invite the Wolfs and Warriors for a thrilling basketball match! Please welcome Timothee Rowling, captain of the Wolfs, and Jack Brendon, captain of the Warriors!"
As Timothee stepped forward, the girls in the crowd couldn't help but swoon. Karl chuckled and whispered to Amelia, "I think he's the crush of the entire school."
Amelia smiled knowingly. "You guessed right."
"His hair looks like a brush."
Amelia said, "That's rude Karl."
Karl chuckled.
As the teams took to the court, Timothee caught Yuno's eye and flashed a charming smile. Yuno's face lit up with a shy smile before she turned her attention to the game.
The whistle blew, and the game began. Timothee sprinted down the court, his movements fluid and effortless.
With a stunning display of athleticism, he leapt into the air and slammed the ball into the hoop, scoring a thrilling dun; the crowd cheered.
Karl whispered to Amelia, "That bastard is quick." Suddenly, his phone buzzed with an anonymous call.
He picked up, but the voice on the other end was distorted.
"Give me a second," Karl said to Amelia, getting up from his seat. He stepped out of the school gymnasium to hear the call better.
"Karl Wilof speaking. Who is this?" he asked, his voice firm.
The person on the other end remained shrouded in shadow, their face obscured. "Karl, you killed Bull. You think you've avenged them."
Karl's grip on the phone tightened. "Who is this? What do you mean?" His voice trembled slightly.
The mysterious voice sneered, "You think that naive dealer, Ian Scott, ordered Bull to kill your family? You think it's just a matter of a payment dispute?"
Karl's eyes widened in horror as the voice continued, "Uncover the dark secrets you have buried, Karl."
The person's words sent a chill down Karl's spine. His lips dried, and his mind raced with questions.
The voice on the phone warned, "If you try to interfere with us, we'll torture you." A menacing smirk was almost audible through the phone.
The anonymous caller's menacing warning was abruptly cut off as the line went dead.
Before Karl could process what was happening, a deafening explosion rocked the school. A small building of the school near Karl erupted in flames, sending Karl stumbling backwards.
The blast left his ears ringing, and he struggled to regain his balance. The sudden chaos was overwhelming, and Karl's mind reeled as he tried to make sense of the destruction unfolding before him.
As Karl struggled to get back on his feet, the principal flung open the door, and a chaotic sea of students and teachers poured out, screaming and panicked. Amidst the commotion, Amelia emerged with Yuno, her voice laced with concern. "Karl, are you okay?"
Karl nodded, still dazed, his ears ringing from the explosion. The authorities arrived swiftly – fire trucks and ambulances, their sirens piercing the air. The firefighters quickly contained the blaze, while the paramedics rushed to attend to the injured. They wrapped a blanket around Karl's shaken frame.
Yuno, a PTSD patient, was gently guided into the ambulance by the paramedics. The Marry Hill police arrived soon after, and among them were Sasha and Serge. As they stepped out of their car, their eyes locked onto Karl.
Sasha's voice cut through the din. "What are you doing here?" Karl didn't respond, still disoriented. Serge repeated the question, his voice growing louder. "Hey, hey, hey! Karl!" It wasn't until the fourth attempt that Karl's ears cleared enough.
Serge and Sasha exchanged a concerned glance. "What's going on?" Serge asked, his tone softer. Karl took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts before launching into an explanation of the mysterious phone call and the events that had unfolded.