Episode 4: Blood on the Pitch
The morning sun had barely risen when the first scream cut through the cold air.
Jaden snapped his head toward the far side of the training field, where a brutal 1v1 drill was happening. Two players. One ball. One winner.
The rules were simple: get past the defender and score. If you fail, you run until you drop.
But the consequences were anything but simple.
Jaden saw Marco Reyes, a stocky, aggressive forward, hunched over on the grass, his face twisted in agony. Blood dripped from his shin, staining his sock red. His leg was bent the wrong way.
A cold, merciless silence settled over the field.
Coach Vance didn't even flinch.
"Medical team, take him," Vance ordered. Two staff members rushed in, lifting Marco onto a stretcher as he groaned through gritted teeth.
Jaden felt his stomach twist. Marco had been one of the best players in the room yesterday. Now? He was gone. Just like that.
Vance turned to the rest of them, his blue eyes like steel. "Let this be a lesson. Hesitate, and you get crushed. Weakness gets you fucking erased."
Jaden swallowed hard. This wasn't football anymore. This was survival.
Kill or Be Killed
"Next pair!"
Jaden's heart pounded as he stepped forward, boots crunching against the cold turf.
His opponent? Blaine Mercer.
A 6'2" powerhouse, all muscle and mean eyes. Word around camp was that he had broken a guy's nose during a trial game last year.
Blaine cracked his knuckles. "Hope you're ready to bleed, Carter."
Jaden's jaw tightened. "Hope you're ready to lose."
The whistle blew.
Jaden took off, the ball at his feet. Blaine didn't defend—he fucking lunged.
Jaden barely sidestepped, but Blaine's arm caught him, elbow slamming into his ribs. Pain exploded in Jaden's side, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
Blaine was right on him, shoving, pulling—it was barely even football.
Jaden saw the goal. One chance.
He flicked the ball forward—too fast for Blaine to react.
Then—CRACK.
Blaine's boot slammed into Jaden's calf. A dirty, vicious tackle from behind.
Jaden hit the ground hard, a sharp burn spreading up his leg. He clenched his teeth, trying to push himself up—
Then Blaine stomped on his hand.
"Stay the fuck down," Blaine muttered.
Jaden's vision blurred with pain. His breathing was ragged, his fingers aching under Blaine's boot. The refs? They weren't stopping it.
No one was stopping it.
This wasn't high school. This was war.
Jaden growled, forcing every muscle in his body to move.
Fight back or be nothing.
He twisted his hand free and—bam—threw his shoulder into Blaine's knee. The bigger striker stumbled just enough for Jaden to roll away, grab the ball, and sprint.
Everything hurt. But pain didn't matter. Winning did.
Blaine lunged again—too slow this time.
Jaden saw the keeper, took aim, and blasted the ball into the net.
Goal.
The whistle blew.
Jaden collapsed to his knees, breathing hard. His hand was already swelling from Blaine's stomp. His calf throbbed. But he had won.
Blaine stormed past him, his eyes dark. "Watch your back, Carter."
Jaden just smirked. "You first."
Aftermath & Shadows
Back in the locker room, Jaden pulled off his shirt, revealing the fresh bruises spreading over his ribs.
Leo whistled. "Jesus, man. That asshole really fucked you up."
Jaden winced as he flexed his hand. "Yeah, but I won."
Leo grinned. "That's what matters."
As Jaden reached for his jersey, his phone buzzed.
Abby: You alive?
He smirked and typed back.
Jaden: Barely.
He set his phone down, exhaling. He had survived today.
But something told him…
Tomorrow would be even worse.