The Breaking Point

Chapter 1

 Mark panted badly, hands on his knees, trying his very best not to collapse. He was the captain and he had to stay standing. His defense weren't in any better position: Hurly was down on all fours, Shawn was on his back, Scotty was hugging the grass, and Jack's short legs looked like they might snap any minute. Far worse were his midfielders; Xavier and Kevin were both paralyzed physically, searching their brains for a way to steal the ball and pass it, since neither had the energy to perform any of their own moves. Nathan was running in pointless directions, silently begging any of the three opposing players to fail their passes so he could take the ball. Jude was worse yet; his goggles were making him see double and he couldn't focus at all.

Austin was feeling dizzy and he feared he might throw up right there and then, in front of his idol. Speak of the flame striker, who might have evaporated with the sweat on his forehead. Just like the blue haired midfielder, Axel was trying to steal the ball. He had to admit that The Kingdom had put together quite a clever plan: first allowing  Inazuma Japan to score, then tiring out the entire team through pointless passes to one another, then shooting powerfully. It had succeeded and the score was currently tied one to one, even though it looked like Inazuma  Japan were losing.

The ball was bouncing all over the field from The Kingdom's captain to his top midfielder to one of his defenders, all the way to the goalkeeper and back. Nathan tripped over his own feet and fell. He didn't look like he was going to get back up, making Axel the only member of the team that was still capable of standing up and looking at his shoes without falling over. The Kingdom's captain was getting ready to shoot but none of  Inazuma Japan's players seemed ready for an attack. Mark slapped his cheeks. "Come on, guys. We can still do this!"

A groan was his reply.

Mac Ronejo easily passed Austin, Kevin, Xavier, Nathan, and Jude .The defense, receiving the alarm, hurriedly got up but their effort was useless; and in a matter of seconds, only a couple feet separated Mac Ronejo from Mark. Axel ran back. He knew Mark wasn't going to catch the striker's shot, especially not after the goalie had had a full share in the 'get the ball' game.

"You've seen nothing yet," Mac Ronejo smirked; his defender friend standing beside him. Ronejo jumped into the air and gave the ball a strong kick, passing it to his defender. The defender flipped upside down, kicked the ball even higher and sent it right back to his captain. "Samba Kill!" He screamed his new move's name as he gave the ball a final boost.

Mark barely had the energy to lift his hands up for any move of any sort. He just stood there, still as a statue, mind numbed by exhaustion. Axel took the shot instead. With his remaining ounces of energy, he launched himself into the air. The ball collided sharply with his chest, smashing him against the goal's roof. He felt his consciousness fade as his ribs cracked under the pressure, slowly closing in. His lungs burned, constraining his breath. The ball's green energy died out and Axel fell five feet down, onto the grass. He lay on his stomach, utterly motionless.

The ref's whistle snapped everyone out of their daze.

"Axel, Axel, Axel!" Mark screamed, shaking the platinum blonde. The rest of the team, now fueled with panic, rushed up to their striker.

"Axel, talk to me," Jude tried, kneeling next to his friend. The managers ran frantically towards the scene, along with the team's bench players. The rest of the team tried with Axel as well but the striker wouldn't respond.

One of the Football Frontier International doctors rushed in and ordered everyone away from the Flame striker but the task wasn't easy and security had to interfere with Austin. They had the limp soccer player strapped onto a stretcher and dragged away. As the entire team hurried after the doctors, eager to get news of their striker, Jude noticed a dangerous warning sign: an entire puddle of thick, red blood staining the grass where Axel had fallen. The rest of the team chased the doctors out of the building where a huge ambulance was waiting. After yet another argument, they were forced back inside.

The game ended with a tie. They didn't play extra time, they forfeited. Inazuma Japan went home, only to stand at the entrance by their Coach's phone for a call from the hospital. They waited for three hours at least, leaning against the walls, playing with their hands, or randomly pacing the hall in anticipation. And then it came!

"Hello, is this Coach Travis?" Mark put the phone on loudspeaker and did his best imitation of Cammy's father.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"We're the official Liacott hospital. We are reporting about your striker, Axel blaze, I believe?"

"Yes, yes," 'Coach Travis' rushed.

"Well, there are a lot of details that I'll inform you of later but as for now-" she paused. All of Inazuma Japan leaned in closer. "H-he's gone."

"What?!" Mark shrieked, forgetting to mimic his Coach. The nurse didn't notice. She kept explaining the details but Mark didn't care, no one did. Mark dropped the phone, shocked and surprised. It hit the ground harshly but the woman kept going. Eventually, Caleb got fed up. He snatched the phone, hung up, and tossed it onto a table, not bothering whether he heard or didn't hear the woman's final sentence.

After what felt like an eternity, it was Austin who broke the agonizing silence with great big sobs. At first, he was the only one to utter a sound; his loud sniffles echoed through the building's entrance where they had all stood by the portable phone to wait. This was what the hospital had awarded them with for their patience.

Nathan was next. At first he just sniffled slightly but after a bit he broke down into tremendous weeps. Mark hugged his friend tightly; and that was the signal for total chaos. Jude raised his goggles and covered his teary eyes. Seeing that Mark was occupied, Darren ran towards Hurly, bawling like a baby. Austin hugged Archer, dampening the defender's shirt with his tears. Scotty cried slightly and Xavier rushed to comfort the little boy. Jack was flooding the passage and Shawn was doing his best to be comforting, despite the rivers streaming from his own eyes. Thor patted David in an effort to avert everyone's attention from his own tears. Kevin covered his wet face, not letting anyone see that he was crying. And they just stood there, mourning the loss of Inazuma Japan's striker and their close friend.

To say they were sad would be an understatement; they were drowning in a sea of sorrows. They stayed there for a while, half of them comforting, half crying; but even the toughest players like Archer, Caleb, and Thor couldn't manage to hide their grief. They had lost one of their members; and being a team, they all mourned over it, despite the way they chose to do it.

In the meantime, the managers were preparing the evening's meal. "They took it hard, didn't they?" Sylvia asked the rest.

"Yes, very hard. They must have been by that phone for hours," Nelly agreed.

"They must be worried. Axel was bleeding when they took him. I hope he's OK," Cammy added.

"Well, I'm sure the food will cheer them up. Then the hospital will call and say that Axel's just fine and then we'll go and visit him," Celia finished with a smile. But they couldn't help the speck of doubt that crawled into their hearts.

"Come on, guys. Food's ready," Sylvia called, coming into the entrance. "What's wrong?" She asked softly, looking at the team.

As the captain, it was Mark's job to inform her of the occurrence but he couldn't manage the words. Jude was next in line but his attempts fizzled into quiet muffled cries. Caleb stood beside the strategist, patting his shoulder awkwardly, his best attempt at comforting. David ended up breaking the news, being the least shaken. "H-h-he's dead."

Sylvia's eyes widened in horror. "No, no, no, but that-that's impossible. How?"

Celia poked her head out of the kitchen. "Did you call them, Sylvia?" When she didn't receive an answer, she came out of the kitchen with both Nelly and Cammy behind her. "Is everything alright?" Celia asked in concern. She looked at her brother. "Jude?"

Sylvia turned to them "Axel, A-Axel's not, not here anymore." Celia and Cammy gasped while Nelly's hand rose to cover her own. 

"I can't believe it..."