kinpin;
A boss who has absolute or nearly absolute control over the other members of the organization, is greatly feared for their ruthlessness and willingness to take lives to exert their influence, and profits from the criminal endeavours in which...
I followed my mind's instructions, inhaling slowly to steady my nerves. The arena was packed to its maximum capacity, the crowd buzzing with excitement. One by one, skaters glided onto the ice, showcasing their talent. To my dismay... they were exceptionally good.
I looked down at myself for the tenth time, trying to take in my appearance. A yellow dress hugged my frame, shimmering under the lights. My ice skates gleamed, perfectly laced. My curly hair was neatly pulled into a bun, as per the figure skating rules. Everything was in place. Everything was perfect.
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"And now, let's welcome to the rink... Zuri Brown!"
My head snapped up at the sound of my name. The butterflies in my stomach transformed into a full-blown dragon. This is it. The moment to be perfect. As last year's champion, the pressure to defend my title weighed heavy on my shoulders. But something felt... off. A nagging feeling at the back of my mind.
Deep breaths.
I squared my shoulders and took slow, deliberate steps toward the rink. The crowd erupted into cheers. I forced a smile and assumed my starting position.
The music started.
And just like that, all my worries melted away.
⸻
"Well, let me tell you guys, the one person to watch tonight is definitely Zuri Brown! After winning the last competition, the pressure is on. A four-time champion already—can she make it five tonight?"
I tuned out the commentators' voices, focusing solely on my routine. Each move flowed seamlessly—until I launched into a mid-air flip.
That's when it happened.
My left skate came loose.
I gasped. The distraction threw me off.
I landed hard.
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the rink. White-hot pain shot through my leg, stealing my breath. I tried to move—but I couldn't. My left leg refused to respond.
"WHAT A FREAK ACCIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! ZURI BROWN IS DOWN, AND IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, BUT THIS COULD BE THE END OF HER FIGURE SKATING CAREER!"
"Bear the loss. Bear the loss. Bear the loss."
The words echoed in my mind as the medical team rushed toward me. The crowd watched in stunned silence, faces filled with pity. My eyes landed on Molly—my biggest rival. She stared at me, unreadable. I looked away before I could decipher her expression.
Tears burned my eyes. The pain was unbearable. The humiliation was suffocating.
Deep breaths.
I took one final breath—then everything faded to black.
