a few months ago:
Zed spent the afternoon hooping while also increasing his strength, unaware of what today was about. He needed to get even better with this routine if he wanted to match Ezio's effortless skill, a talent that wasn't proper for this world, although Zed believed this world had more to it than what they grew up with. When they hooped, Ezio made each basket look easy; Zed made it look tough. Instead of building muscle, he worked on his muscle memory, convinced that one day his body would stop failing him. He took to the line and knocked down free throws one after another. The repetition kept going almost like a ritual, each free throw a short story of his defiance and how stubborn he was. The rim echoes but so do the thoughts in Zed's mind: This one is for Fox. 1/1. This one is for Ezio, the lion. 2/2. This one is for Cyrus, the mentor. 3/3. This one is for Bird. 3/4. This one is for Bird! 3/5.
Feeling frustrated much so exhausted, Zed decided to take a break to recall his middle school memories. The gym became darker, replaced by the laughter of classmates; the agony he felt when his body betrayed him. This week, he would not rest. It had been tough: alone, friendless, unable to catch a break. The first year of middle school, Zed tried to be friends with the wrong people; then got bullied for it. He couldn't fight back either. Hence, he would get detention plus the insults from his teacher always stung more than those from his fake friends. The only thing he could do was live his own middle school life trying to get good grades. Yet this was easier said than done, for he lacked both academic standing and athletic ability. During physical education, he showed no athleticism; always looking tired after running for only a short time leading to a slow, agonizing life that only got more difficult from there.
The following year, Zed had enough. Like a turtle, he stopped hiding
under his shell. He started training his mind until it was strong, capable; telling himself that he had to be better so he could face it all. He was convinced that the strength of mind was the most important thing if he wanted to go far. Thus, he pushed himself until he became athletic, proving that he could write his own story. That year, he earned straight A's for the first time, reaching his mind's true potential, never giving up. When life took a dark turn, it was time he pushed himself even more by running hard to clear his mind of dark thoughts. When he ran, he often thought about Ezio to match his speed considering how fast he could run. To Zed, Ezio was simply a gifted athlete, his speed always effortless, like a lion moving with a natural power that left everything else behind.)
Prestigious Academy [Class President Office]:
Meanwhile, Ezio, completely unaware of Zed's struggle, sat at his office desk, relaxing while also thinking about Bird. He had already completed all his work
here at middle school so now he waited for the student council of his new school to accept him, but that also left him with a lot of free time to think about that one night years ago. He would track down the person responsible for Bird, no matter what. It's one of the reasons why he was so serious about keeping his authority as president. Suddenly, his vice president walked into the office. He was taller than Ezio, but Ezio didn't mind, because at least he was good at his job. After entering the office, he sat close to Ezio, curious about the reason he had been summoned. It was supposed to be a meeting to introduce some vice president representatives for their new school. Ezio found himself caught in a playful wrestle that only ended when yelling at him to stop. Suddenly, the class vice president mentions how he saw Zed at the courts today talking nonsense. Ezio waved him off.
"You don't think your meat shield friend has what it takes to run for class vp?" the vice president asked.
"Of course not. He was a disaster of a vp back then." Ezio replied.
Ezio explained how Zed was a bad student, especially in the first years of elementary school: no homework to show, always playing, never working. His behavior marked him the least disciplined student. Zed only began to change once Cyrus took over as their teacher bring the group of friends together. Ezio had no idea how Zed became different after that, but he was the class vp that year.
Most schools around the nation did not need a class vp, but their class was so disastrous that it became mandatory to have one. Ezio, of course, ended up the class president. He had to continue his power now.
That's why Ezio needed his vice president; to get him over the top. When the meeting ended, the vice president made for the door, reminded by Ezio to always be cautious.
That night:
Zed lay awake when his home phone rang from an unfamiliar number. The message was blunt and chilling; they had Bird. It would have been easier to ignore the call, but the thought of his friend after three years; with Zed himself being unseen all that time, compelled him to act. That decision led him to a really old school rising ahead, but when Zed approached, he noticed that he was alone, except for a chair in the middle. It was empty, but then he felt a sharpness against his neck. He blacked out for a second but got his vision back only to see multiple men with rifles their pointed. Zed tumbles back, knowing now that it was a trap. Gang members started closing in, while the leader wielded a knife, one that Zed thought would be used to rip out his heart. But the gang leader only laughs, sensing his growing fear. The others tried to hold back their laughter, when suddenly another member speaks.
"We don't want to kill you. We want to recruit you," he said.
"And what if I refused?" Zed asked.
"Then we will have no choice but to kill you, obviously," the leader responded.
I refused, and more gang members started closing in, but they were not alone either. A large group of students in black suits with red ties stood above the rooftops, snipers pointed at them. The gang members, now aware of their own situation, began to panic.
"Why are we always outnumbered?!" The gang leader shouted.
"Who's there?" another asked.
(The gang members turned to the empty chair with terrified looks. A book floated above with a pencil scribbling furiously on each page. It slammed shut, then dropped to the floor. Out of nowhere, a wave of electricity crackled to life around the chair. Without wasting time, the gang members rushed for the exit. Zed ran for the exit as well, but was kicked back by the gang leader, the door slamming shut. Above, the students in black suits with red ties didn't move, their rifles still pointed. Zed looked toward the book still untouched by the thunder. He needed to get away, but how? While he struggled to think, people at the scene watched in horror as the thunder created more sparks. It was clear what came next.