The Cursed Gift

Part 14: The Match

Miza was handed the ball. The players backed away. Only she and the leader was left on the bare court. Listar and Koru exchanged worried faces.

"One on one," the leader growled, and Miza simply nodded. Immediately Miza bulleted, wind slapping her face as she dived for the high hoop on top of her. Catching the leader by surprise, she spun freely in the air and easily dunked the ball in. The first points went to her.

The leader snarled, and he dodged Miza's attempts to make a speedy steal for the ball in his big hands, grabbing every single chance she got. The players let out a gasp.

"Fast!" One of them commented, finding it difficulty to focus on Miza as her image blurred every second. The leader managed to get out of her grasp, and his eyes deeply locked on the hoop, accurately threw the ball in. Everyone's eyes focused on the ball. It went in.

Miza knew it.

His pace wasn't right. His flow, his angle. But he still could bring it into the hoop. Her suspicions were correct.

Possessing the power of movement, the leader rocked the team.
But she wasn't giving up. As she sprinted flawlessly and perfectly slammed the ball in the hoop, her smart brain raced and calculated her measures.

As long as she managed to not let him throw the ball, winning would be simple.

Everytime the leader had the ball in his hands, Miza kept him occupied. She dashed around him in lightning speed, coming in every direction to steal the ball. The leader gritted his teeth. If he threw the ball, there would be a risk of Miza getting it. But he can't just foolishly stand there, waiting for Miza to steal the ball. They moved like quick lights, opponents focused on each other, observing every single little action they did.

"Miza..." Listar and Koru muttered in worry as they watched the girl rocketed in bullet speed every time, coordinating her arms and legs as more tension grew and only the screeching of their shoes that landed on the wood echoed around the hall. The highly-paced match was getting nowhere.

Then, suddenly, the leader threw. Miza's eyes rolled to the quick action.
She slammed the ball to her hand, and did not take any hesistation to look at his stunned face before slamming the ball into the hoop. Miza panted.

She won.