His Possession To Claim

The tension in the air was palpable. Bridgeton had scored two goals, while Lockwood managed to secure only one. The crowd was still buzzing from the football match, but soon, the focus shifted to the upcoming relay. The players from both schools were gathering near the track, stretching and preparing for the race ahead.Daphne stood tall as the 4th runner for the Lockwood team, her expression determined. Aria stood as the 3rd runner next to Erica, who was the 2nd runner, who was also a part of the team. Although they weren't the closest, they had mutual respect for one another, she knew how important the race was for Aria's GPA and she was ready to give her all for the 4*100 meter race."Don't worry, Aria, I'll pass it to you in perfect time," Erica reassured, giving her a smile. Aria nodded, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. The outcome of the relay could mean everything for her, and she knew it.Over at the Bridgeton side, Arthuro and three of his teammates were gearing up. Arthuro's usual cocky grin was plastered on his face as he made loud comments, taunting Lockwood. He wasn't one to shy away from adding a little extra drama to the competition. His teammates chuckled, but there was a quiet intensity about them. Everyone was prepared for the high stakes of this race.The whistle blew, cutting through the air, signaling the start. The runners crouched into their positions, each one ready to explode off the starting line. Their bodies tensed as they focused, preparing for the long stretch of the relay. As soon as the sound of the starting gun pierced through the air, the first runners took off, their hands were tight fists, swinging effortlessly in perfect rhythms at their sides. Every muscle in their legs seemed to propel them forward with precision, their breathing steady but quick, the determination written across their face. Torso leaned slightly forward, each step calculated.Lockwood's runner handed the baton to Erica, who was already in position. As she grasped the baton, Aria could feel the excitement building in her chest, the race was finally on. Erica dashed forward, pushing herself to her limits, her body poised and streamlined as she raced ahead.Aria's thoughts began to wander, she could sense a huge weight of doubt building, clouding her mind, but she did her best to brush it off. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her, beginning at the soles of her feet. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore it, but it only intensified. The pain was like a burning sting, and Aria's breath hitched as she fought to stay steady.Her vision blurred slightly, and she squinted, trying to clear her head. She glanced into the crowd, looking for something—anything to distract her from the agony in her feet. And then, her eyes locked onto him. Jared.His honey-brown eyes met hers across the field, the intensity in his gaze sending a shiver down her spine. There was something different about the way he looked at her now, a softness in his expression that made her heart flutter. But just as quickly as the connection sparked, Aria pulled her eyes away, forcing herself to focus on the race.Yet, as she fought to keep her composure, she could feel yet another gaze on her. She needed no one to tell her it was Damien—she had learnt to trust her instinct, experience taught her that. Aria shook off the feeling, refusing to let him distract her. She turned back to Erica, trying to block out the pain surging through her body.But just as Erica neared, preparing to pass the baton to her, the pain hit her again—this time, it was worse. A searing, sharp sensation seemed to slice through the very core of her feet. Her body recoiled in response, and she staggered, barely able to catch herself. She felt like a ragdoll, each step harder to take than the last.Her knees buckled, and she fought to keep her balance, her body feeling as though it was betraying her. With each breath, the pain seemed to intensify, almost as though her entire body was being dragged down by invisible weights. The world around her began to tilt, her vision clouding, but she forced herself to push forward."Come on, Aria!" Erica's eyes screamed, urging her on. But Aria couldn't respond. She couldn't breathe properly. The agony in her feet had taken over her entire focus, and it was getting harder to stand.With a painful strength she could muster, she darted her eyes forward towards Daphne, she didn't know why, but her instinct played a vital role in it, only to have Daphne staring back at her. It was a look Aria couldn't quite place—something unsettling. Before Aria could figure it out, she felt her body collapse beneath her, the pain too much to handle. She crumpled to the ground, unable to stop it. Her vision darkened, and with one final gasp, she lost consciousness.The crowd went silent, and chaos erupted as Aria fell. Damien, who had been watching from a distance, rushed toward her. "Hey, can you hear me?" he called out, kneeling beside her. He didn't know her name, but he couldn't help but feel concerned. His hand hovered over her, unsure of what to do.Jared, who had been standing nearby, pushed through the crowd, his face etched with panic. "Aria!" he called, his voice urgent. "Get her to the clinic, now!" Ms. Loveth shouted, her voice carrying over the commotion. Jared reached for her body, but Damien beat him to it, lifting Aria's limp form into his arms with surprising ease. Jared's frustration was clear, but he stepped back, watching helplessly as Damien carried her away.The crowd murmured in confusion, but Aria's absence left the race unfinished. The baton lay forgotten on the track, the competition still hanging in the balance.