Freak [Zianourry] - COMPLETE

Chapter 13

A/N: just to clarify, these are 'human' competitions. There's only one school for people with mutations. I made up the teams. Sorry if they exist.
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Three months later
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"Welcome to the national archery competition!" The hostesses voice boomed around the huge arena. I was standing with the rest of the team in the sidelines, waiting to go up on stage when the teams were introduced. "Today, there is the countries very best archers going head to head to try and win a place in the internationals!" Everyone screamed.
"First up, let's get the teams out! We have twenty teams competing today, but only two shall make it to the internationals, the first prize winners going to the top competition, the second prize winners going to the sub competition!" It was going to be tricky. Very, very tricky, but we had one trick up our suit sleeves that could win it for us, if we managed to pull it off.
"Let's welcome: Ennerton College, Sandy Beaches Resort Team, Ocean Prep, Yorkshirian Archers, Donaldan University..." The teams went on and on, until we were called. "Newtations School!"
"I still find that name funny." Finn muttered before we all put on a bright smile, stepping onto the stage. People were clapping all the teams, and I noticed we were the only team wearing suits like this. Most people were wearing leather jackets, or tight, long-sleeved tops. "It's an advantage." He managed to say without moving his lips as it was clear we had all noticed.
It was an advantage - we'd be able to move around easier, and 'dodge' any attempt at sabotage. My soft, leather boots were still in pristine condition, so I didn't worry.
"That's all the teams! Let's have a chat, shall we? Tell the audience how long one of your archers has been shooting, and the opposite end of the spectrum!" As she moved along the line, I picked up that every other person had at least two years practice under their belt, but I didn't care. If anything, it would make them underestimate me, and not give it everything.
"Longest member has been shooting seven years, shortest five months." Finn said clearly into the microphone as she passed us.
"Five months? Who is that?" She asked as the crowd and other teams discussed it.
"Me, ma'am." I nodded politely.
"How come you've only been shooting five months, yet you're already on the team?" The hostess asked me, putting the microphone by my mouth.
"I only transferred to the school five months ago, and I fell in love with archery instantly, but I don't intend to let that stop me. I was given a chance to be here, and I took it."
As she carried on, I noticed several of the other teams whispering, staring at me. "Pretend you're slightly overwhelmed, Louis." Finn murmured in my ear. "Show your vulnerability, but don't make yourself a target to pick on."
"Are you sure?" Chewing on my lip, I let a light frown fall onto my face.
"Very good." Finn smiled down at me gently, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Remember - you're the baby here, and they know it. You're one of the best archers here, and they don't know it."
"Thanks." I grinned weakly, knowing that Harry, Zayn, Liam and Niall would see exactly what we were doing, and were probably rolling around on the floor laughing, giving the game away.
"It's okay, Louis." Trixie said a little loudly, before she hugged me. "Just remember those hours and hours of training? I know it took ages to get your grip right, but we'll still make it. After all, I mean, Finn's got seven years experience! Still, you did manage to beat Pecity by yourself." She was playing the game well.
"Right, team, this is it." Finn grinned down at us as we were told we were going first against Donaldan University. "And, even if we get kicked out before we get on stage for doing something wrong, we're going down the pub afterwards. You all know our tactics."
"In line, please!" The judge shouted. "Remember, the team who hits the most bullseyes out of the twenty arrows you are given in as many seconds will win this round. Starting in three... Two... One..."
Finn and Nick tensed, as it was them who would be taking over most of this part. I would only shoot two arrows to blend in, with Trixie and Kat shooting three each. "Go!" We shot into action, taking the necessary number of arrows and nocking our first one.
As I only had to shoot one arrow every ten seconds, I took my time aiming, noticing that the university was going for speed over accuracy. I shot my first arrow, seeing it hit the bullseye, and nocked my second, letting it fly, joining the same area.
"Finish!" The judge yelled, and we all lowered our bows.
"I think we have a clear winner! Sorry, Donaldan University, but it appears you are leaving the competition." The hostess clacked over to them in her heels. "How do you feel?"
"Obviously, we're gutted, but I think everyone still did amazingly, and we didn't loose to anyone worse than the best." With a nod in our direction, they left the middle of the arena's shooting range, and we left via the right hand stairs.
"Good call, team. We shot all twenty arrows in, so people will know that we're a force to be reckoned with." Finn was carefully watching as the second lot of teams went up. "Pick up everything you can on their style. We know what we're doing, but this'll put us at an advantage."
Over the next ten minutes, I picked out details for every team, trying to remember who they belonged to, whether it be because of what they were wearing, their team name, or how their members looked.
"So, we are down to just ten teams already! This is where it gets exciting! Two nominees from each team will go against each other wearing defensive gear, and as soon as the other team has hit a target on both members chests, they will be out of the competition."
"We're against that rough university." Finn nodded to five surly looking men. I remembered their simple approach to the previous task. "I'd say they'd got a strong shot, but no brain power whatsoever. Trixie, Kat - outsmart them." They immediately started planning their exact moves, tweaking what we had already decided to fit.
"Do you think we'll manage the performance?" I asked Finn nervously. It was something I had been worrying over.
"Louis, they're not going to know what's hit them. Trust me, we'll do fine. If not, we'll have to find a bar for the dead, but we'll still be together." Finn teased, reassuring smile still in place.
"Okay." I tried to smile back, but I was already fretting, so I searched the audience for my four boyfriends. Despite knowing that they'd be in the reserved spot for family and close friends, I struggled to find them.
They waved and I grinned, heart thumping faster. Already, I felt more at ease. Even if it was because they weren't in line of where Finn and I were going to be shooting.
"You're on, girls!" Finn clapped a hand on their shoulders. "I have faith in you. Remember, stay alive so we can still have that pint." Finn's casual humour was keeping our stress levels down.
We watched with baited breath as Trixie and Kat exchanged one, last smile before they crouched down, arrows nocked. The bright targets on the protective gear on their chests wasn't hard to miss, but, because of their slender build, I knew they had an advantage over the university.
"Three, two, one, go!" The judge yelled and they sprung into action, rolling away to the sides, arrows flying as they jumped up. Kat and Trixie were both missed by two arrows, then two more as they weaved about, preparing for their final strike.
They both leapt into the air, shooting their arrows upside down, hitting the two men squarely in the bullseye before they rolled across the ground, standing up and bowing.
"An outstanding performance from the female side of Newtations School!" The hostess cheered. "Well done!"
"Two tasks left, guys. There's going to be the singular one, then - hopefully - ours." Finn nodded at me. "Well done, Kat, Trixie."
"I'm so happy that's over with!" Trixie said breathlessly, leaning against the wall beside me.
"You were great." I smiled at her.
"You're going to be better!" Trixie nudged me with her elbow. "Ooh, that was close." Ocean Prep had just almost shot someone in the head, actually slicing some hair off. The whistle blew. "Disqualified. I'm glad, they seemed ruthless, nothing like their name."
"This whole thing's about deception." I grinned. "I mean, everyone thinks I'm capable of shooting two arrows before my arms get tired and I don't do anything for the rest of the competition." Trixie laughed.
Some time later, the final five were announced. "There's going to be a singular task, which will put some basis on the rankings, then an opportunity to show off your skills!" The hostess smiled.
"We're going... Fourth." Finn waited for the screen to show the order coming up.
"Will your nominees please come and join me?" The hostess asked, and Finn walked off, four others from the other teams going as well. "Okay. This is all about distance shooting!" Our faces lit up. Finn could shoot a target two hundred feet away when there was no wind or obstacles. "The further away you are, the more points you score, but you'll loose points the further away your arrow is from the bullseye. There is measurements down the side of the shooting range, up to five hundred feet, where no one will be going, I'm sure. Contestants, please choose your positions." Finn walked slowly, to make an impression.
Everyone had stopped by one hundred feet, but Finn kept on strolling down the shooting range, making us giggle as he grinned at some members of the audience, making a few ladies swoon.
"Newtations School apparently has a lot of confidence! Let's see if it pays off." The hostess said when Finn finally reached the two hundred feet mark.
"If contestants who are around or in front of the other teams could please step to the side, that would be amazing. Please, let this task start!"
The first school were thirty feet away, and they hit a bullseye. Second shoot two inches out at one hundred feet, third bullseye at fifty. "Let's see how Newtations School does!" The hostess smiled. "If this charming man gets within five inches of the bullseye, he has definitely won, but at such a long distance, will he manage it?" I'd noticed Finn adjusting his bow for long distances and checking for any wind such as air conditioning while the other contestants were shooting. Smoothly, he nocked his bow.
Finn took a deep breath, letting what little nerves he had show before he raised the bow and drew it in one fluid motion. Everyone held their breath, all eyes on him as he adjusted his aim the tiniest fraction.
His fingers released the string, the arrow whistled forwards towards the target, in the blink of an eye, every person anticipating something, anything -
It thudded into the gold.
The whole arena erupted as Finn let out a shout of joy, and we rushed forwards, piling onto the range, crowding around him, jumping up and down for joy.
"You did it!" Kat yelled, giving him a hug. Finn whirled her through the air before he gave Trixie a hug.
"Well done!" I grinned, and Finn gave both Nick and I a very masculine... Bro happiness exchange. Nope. No hugging in public.
"Newtations School's representative is apparently a very good archer!" The hostess shouted into the microphone over the noise. Eventually, the arena died down and the fifth team shot, hitting a bullseye... But only at sixty feet. Not two hundred.
"Now, let's get the first team preparing for their free time." The hostess walked off stage, as the board switched.
"We're last, Louis. Everything depends on this, no pressure!" Finn laughed, still ecstatic from his shot.
"Pfft, we've won it anyway, Mr. Two Hundred." I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "Adjust your bow while I just sit here."
"That's an idea." Turning the wheels on his bow, Finn stared at the floor in thought. "Louis, show your bow off. And your quiver. Somehow."
"I'll try." I sighed. "Should I shoot my foot then your face?"
"You mind end up doing the latter." Finn said dryly. "No, you should..."
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"They impressed us earlier, let's see what they do now. Give it up for the final part of the competition, Newtations School's free time!" Everyone applauded as Finn and I walked onto the stage. Finn actually moved the targets around as I posed carefully, everything planned perfectly to just catch the light -
"Look at that! Their most inexperienced team members name is spelt in light on the wall!" The hostess gasped. "And it's reflecting from that rather expensive, new, simply amazing quiver! Who else thinks Louis has a stunning bow and quiver?" As the audience screamed, Finn glanced up, smirking at me as he set the target flat on the floor in the middle of the shooting range. "Whatever are they doing now?"
We strode confidently away from each other down to opposite ends of the shooting range as I counted my steps carefully. 'Twenty.' I came to a halt, nocking my arrow quickly.
"Omnia vincit ego; et vos cedamus ad mihi!" Finn yelled and I spun around, my arrow flying as I did. Time slowed. Our arrows flew towards each other, and I prayed, prayed desperately, that they would hit, otherwise I'd have a very dead head.
The arrows skimmed and I paled, but the heads knocked the vanes and the arrows tipped, falling to the target. It went better than planned. In just one second, they had pierced the bullseye. Then, I choose a specific arrow from my 'simply amazing' quiver, shooting it into the air. The arrow exploded, releasing the confetti from the hollow shaft.
"Newtations School, everyone!" The hostess yelled as we both did an elegant bow, leaving the stage.
"I thought they were going to miss." Finn breathed out deeply. "I seriously, actually, thought my face was about to become a splat on the wall."
"Same!" I laughed. "Now we wait."
"Hey, dash off to your boyfriends, no one will notice." Finn nudged me away and I glared before running swiftly down the rows of seats, skidding to a halt beside them.
"Louis, that was amazing!" They all jumped up, engulfing me in a hug.
"I'm so, so, so proud." Harry hugged me tightly, and I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his where he rested it on my shoulder, spinning us in lazy circles.
"Thanks, Haz." I whispered. "I've got to go, but I wanted to come down."
"We'll see you in a bit." Niall grinned at me before I ran back to the team just as we were called up to find the results.
"Nice lack of PDA." Trixie murmured in my ear, and I blushed bright red. "Aww."
"Don't be mean, Trix." Nick laughed.
"But, isn't it cute?" Kat sighed.
"Shut up!" Finn smiled at us fondly. "Let's see if your simply abysmal performances were enough to outweigh my exceptional effort."
"Very funny, Finn." Nick drawled as we fell silent.
"We have our rankings! Fifth place goes to the University of Wedenhall!" Several people in the audience screamed and cheered as their team leader went and took the medal, shaking the judges hand. "Fourth goes to Quoy Archery Club!"
"We're in with a chance..." Finn muttered.
"Third, onto the trophies..." The hostess smiled. "Who do you think came third, everyone?" There was a mass of shouting. "Riverdeen City!"
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." I mumbled.
"Ssh." Kat hushed me.
"Let's reveal our winner! Either Dawton College or Newtations School!" A drum roll echoed through the arena as people stamped and hit their legs or whatever else they did. "Our winner of the national archery competition, is..."