Chapter 7: The Bloody Test

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At the same time: My constantly convulsing fingers touched the pocketknife’s trigger. With a swish, it sprang out, stabbing into my core. I braced myself and slammed my stomach onto the blade. Pain shot through me, white-hot, as if I’d been tackled at full speed. Blood gushed instantly. All was silent in my ears, then the next moment, a piercing whisper nearly shattered my mind. “…"

I almost immediately fainted.

I don’t know how much later, I woke up in a cold sweat. Looking in confusion at the mess on the floor, the smell of blood stinging my nose.

At the same time, outside my dorm room, there was a knock at the door:

“Rookie, are you there? Four days have passed.”

“What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Normally, it only takes three days to make varsity—rookie, open the door.”

The hallways outside were alive with voices, the sound of cleats on tile, and the distant ring of another wind chime. My heart thudded as I realized I’d run out of time.

13

The door was broken open. A group of athletes rushed in, startled by the bloody scene, all looking worried.

The two in front especially so: The calm and honest one came up first and grabbed my wrist, pulse racing under his fingers. “You okay, rookie?” he asked—but I could see it: the worm writhing behind his eyes.