The party was already in full swing by the time Fang entered the manor. Despite Fang’s major screw-ups in the later half of the game, the team managed to keep the point difference at 6, and clinched the title of champions. Lou stepped up the moment Fang was subbed out, and did a magnificent job covering for their loss.

Truth be told, this party was more in his honor than it was for Fang’s, and Fang could see it in the eyes of his ‘ardent fans’ as they greeted him in the hallway.

Even though this was actually his birthday.

But Fang could less be bothered by this now.

He was still shaken from the events in the afternoon during the game.

Apparently, what had happened from the point of view of the others during the game was that Fang just jumped up, and got blinded by the sunlight. The ball flew into his blind spot and he missed the catch entirely.

But Fang knew that was not the case.

He knew himself enough to be aware that everything that had happened in the afternoon was not him turning delirious from the heat.

It had to be all real. Somehow.

‘Fang! Finally, you’re here! Happy birthday, bro!’ It was Lou calling from the second floor, with a cup of vodka in his left hand, and Denise, his girlfriend, on his right.

Fang broke out of his stupor and waved at Lou. He sidestepped a girl who was obviously drunk and climbed up the staircase.

Fang wasn’t particularly dressed up for the party; he had on an Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirt and a pair of brown slacks. His team mates were all there on the second floor, and judging by the amount of alcohol he could smell and the expressions on all the girls around, he knew what was going to happen later on into the night.

Fang waved to Coach Jerkins, who was standing uncomfortably by himself in the corner, and took a cup of tequila over to him.

They stood there next to each other in silence, observing the on-goings of the party. Already, some of the lewd activities were happening.

‘Coach… About today, sorry I mess-‘ began Fang, but Coach put up a hand to stop him.

‘I saw the wolf today too.’

Fang’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘You saw it too?! Why didn’t say anything?’ asked Fang in exasperation.

‘I’m not allowed to. Look, I don’t know what he said to you, but follow his instructions. You’re not safe anymore. Do as he says.’ said Coach as he finished his drink in one shot. He proceeded to go down the stairs, but before he went down, he turned back to look at Fang, who had been transfixed on the spot.

‘One last piece of advice. You should leave your family. You would only bring harm to them by staying behind. I have to go. I’m sorry. You’re a good kid, Fang. And, happy birthday to you.’

And those were the last words Fang ever heard from him. He went down the stairs and left the party.

Fang was completely taken aback by the bizarre turn of events.

It was as if his turning into 20 was the start of all his life’s greatest misfortunes.

Just then, Fang managed to pick up the smell of cinder, the very same smell when fire was being started. This, however, was the intensity of no small flame.

Almost immediately after the smell came, a big explosion shook the entire building. People from the lower floor started screaming hysterically and there was a mass scurry of movement. Fang could hear the angry shouts as well as the cries of help breaking out from below.

Everyone on the second floor rushed towards the railing to see what was going on, Fang included.

To everyone’s dismay, there were flames were licking up almost all of the furniture and up the tapestries. Lou’s cry was the loudest of all.

‘My home… WHAT’S GOING ON?!’

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Before he could run down into the thick of the flames, Fang held him back.

‘Control yourself, idiot. The insurance will cover all this. For the moment now, we should all get out.’ said Fang as he looked around for another exit.

Most people have already fled through the front doors of the manor, but all of Fang’s team mates were trapped on the second floor. Fang looked about desperately, and then saw that the bedrooms towards the eastern hallway had balconies that looked over the garden outside.

‘This way. Let’s go!’ he shouted over all the pandemonium, urging everyone to follow him. Lou was still sobbing on the floor. Denise had already left him behind.

‘Come on, Lou! You’re going to die if you stay here! We’ll find the culprits later once we’ve escaped.’ Reluctantly, Lou agreed and stood up. Together, they sprinted towards the balconies. From there, it was only a matter of jumping into the pool directly. Thankfully, Lou had this ingenious idea of building himself a path to jump straight into the pool on days where he felt like it.

Once everyone had leapt into the pool, Fang threw himself in. Cold water greeted his fall, and it immediately flushed out all the alcohol in his system. He kicked himself up the water, and went on to assist the weak swimmers out of the pool.

A lot of the people from the party were standing around the garden, very much shaken from the fire that caught on in the manor. From the conversations, Fang could pick up that the fire had started when someone had accidentally knocked over the cigarette ash tray.

Just then, a trio of men in black suits and black shades walked up over to where Lou and I stood. They had came from the front porch, and Fang intuitively knew these men weren’t ordinary people. Also, they were all carrying a similar black book.

Their leader, judging by his authority, stood forward and presented a piece of paper to Lou. ‘We are from the insurance company, specially from the investigation task team to assess the situation. We would like it if you came with us. For administration purposes, of course.’

Lou took the paper and looked at it for barely a moment and nodded his head.

Fang was alarmed. Judging by how quickly these men arrived, these men could not have arrived in response to the fire. Rather, their timing suggested that they were already prepared for the fire to break out!

‘Hold on. Lou, I think you should wait for your parents to come. Lou? Lou, can you hear me?’ Fang shook his friend, who seemed to be staring into space.

‘His parents have already been informed. Please let go of him.’ said their leader again, with a hint of impatience in his voice.

Fang snarled, and would not let go of Lou.

At that moment, Fang felt his muscles seize up, and he could not move, let alone make a sound. His entire body was paralyzed!

‘No… It cannot be! Why is this happening again?’ thought Fang to himself.

However, this time it was only Fang who was paralyzed. Everyone else was still discussing the situation around them.

‘Thank you for your cooperation. Sir, please come along with us.’ said the leader of the men, indicating towards the front of the manor where they came from.

‘Of course.’ replied Lou, as though he had no mind of his own and was just going on with the men.

Fang heard doors slamming and the rev of a car engine. The paralysis broke and Fang regained control of his body. He ran towards the front of the manor, but it was too late.

The men in black suits had gone.

And Lou was taken along with them.

Just what was going on?!

This work is purely fictional. Any similarities in terms of names or references are purely coincidental.