Episode 19: The Night Attack
The halls of Iron Stride were empty. Too empty.
Jaden moved cautiously, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.
The dim lighting flickered overhead, casting long shadows against the cold concrete walls. A storm was brewing, and he was in the center of it.
After the setup match, after Vic got cut, Jaden knew it was only a matter of time before Blaine made his next move.
And tonight? It was coming.
A Whisper in the Dark
Jaden turned the corner toward his dorm—and froze.
A figure leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Waiting.
Axel.
Jaden's pulse slowed. He kept his face unreadable. He didn't trust Axel yet.
Axel tilted his head. "You should be more careful walking around alone, Carter."
Jaden didn't flinch. "That a warning?"
Axel smirked. "Call it advice."
Jaden exhaled. "From who? You?"
Axel shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe from the guys waiting for you in your room."
Jaden's stomach tightened.
The trap was already set.
Blaine's Ambush
Jaden moved fast.
Instead of walking into his dorm, he circled around through the back exit.
The small window in his room was slightly open. A mistake.
Jaden listened. Breathing. More than one person inside.
He clenched his fists. They were waiting to jump him.
Fine.
Let's flip the trap.
Jaden moved to the door—and slammed it open.
The two guys inside jumped, but Jaden was already on them.
He grabbed the first one by the collar—Luis.
Before Luis could react, Jaden drove him into the wall.
THUD.
Luis gasped, struggling, but Jaden kept his grip tight.
The second guy—**Rory, a midfielder—**was already moving, but Jaden wasn't alone.
A sudden blur—Axel.
Axel grabbed Rory and sent him crashing onto the desk.
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
Jaden's heart pounded, but he didn't let go of Luis.
"You were waiting for me?" Jaden said, voice low. Dangerous.
Luis gritted his teeth. "It's just a warning, Carter."
Jaden slammed him against the wall again. "Try harder next time."
Luis cursed under his breath, but Jaden let go. For now.
Axel adjusted his shirt, looking down at Rory. "Shit. I thought this would be harder."
Jaden ignored him. His mind was already racing.
Blaine sent these guys. But why? This wasn't a real attack.
This was a message.
A Dangerous Message
As Luis and Rory stumbled out of the room, Axel sighed. "Well, that was fun. What now?"
Jaden didn't answer. He already knew.
He pulled out his phone.
One message.
Blaine: Hope you sleep well, Carter.
Jaden exhaled through his nose. No. Blaine wasn't trying to kill him.
Blaine was doing something worse.
He was playing with him.
And Jaden fucking hated it.
Abby's Voice of Reason
Jaden stared at the message. His hands were still shaking from the fight.
Then, almost instinctively, he opened another chat.
Abby.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
He didn't know what to say.
He wanted to tell her everything. About Blaine, the sabotage, the fights, the way Iron Stride wasn't just football anymore.
But she didn't deserve that.
She deserved better.
So instead, he just typed—
Jaden: I wish you were here.
A pause.
Then—
Abby: I'm always with you.
Jaden exhaled.
That was all he needed.
For now.
But tomorrow?
Tomorrow, he was ending this war.