Chapter 151: The Fire Alarm
Rhys
I smiled as I reread Kayden’s message over and over again. The text was short and straightforward, but it was more than enough to make my head swell with a sudden, sharp burst of happiness.
After finding out that he was doing fine just days before Game 2, I had made sure I played against the Westbridge Falcons with everything I had.
My resolve had paid off; we had been leading for the first three games straight, dominating the ice.
On the other hand, I made sure that I was still secretly investigating the mess behind the scenes.
The man the coach suggested had worked tirelessly over the few days between our free time and the games. Luckily, he found exactly who had leaked the video, and it was just as we had suspected all along.
Julius Gerald had been the one behind the distribution of the videos. His goal was simple: to force Kayden away from the Northern Avalanche. That wasn’t even the half of it, though. They had tried everything in their power to weaken our team from the inside out, but that single call from Kayden before Game 2 had brought back the spark I thought I’d lost forever.
Because of that call, I decided to continue fighting hard—at least until the absolute truth finally came out.
"I am coming to watch you tonight."
I smiled again, the words burned into my mind as I stared at the screen.
He was coming to watch the final game. Since this was Game 4, I intended to end it fast just to spend enough time with him.
We had been leading for three games straight, and in a best-of-seven series, a team proceeds to the next round as soon as they secure four wins.
Tonight was the night we closed the door on them.
This had been the Westbridge Falcons’ plan when they released the video. They thought we would be rattled by the news, that we wouldn’t be able to play well under the pressure and the scandal. But their scheme only fueled our collective anger and made us play harder than we ever had before.
Now, today, at the home of the Falcons in Langose where we had traveled for the fourth game, I was going to win against them. And then, I was going to reveal to the entire world exactly what I had uncovered against their team.
My hope was pinned on the investigator, who had promised to secure the rest of the videos before the final buzzer.
"Oh, look at you, smiling as if we’ve already won the thing," Miller teased, coming up behind me and wrapping a playful arm around my neck.
I chuckled, leaning into the contact. "Come on, Miller. We’ve been winning ever since the first game. This team has got nothing on us. Tonight, we’re going to show them exactly why we are the Northern Avalanche!"
Jaxson stepped up to my right side and gripped my shoulder firmly. "That’s the spirit!" he shouted excitedly. "This is what I’m talking about. Tonight, we win and we proceed to the finals!"
A wide smile spread across my face as I looked down at my phone one last time, reading Kayden’s text. I started typing a reply, my fingers flying across the glass.
I will be waiting for you, softie. I need you to watch how I pay back those bastards for not letting you play. Tonight, I’ll make sure they regret everything they’ve done
I hit send, then turned off my phone before placing it securely in my bag inside the locker.
I clicked the lock shut.
Just then, the coach and Manager Elton walked into the locker room. Coach Reddick clapped his hands together loudly to gain our attention, his face set in a serious line before he began to speak.
"A lot has happened since Game 1. At first, I’ll admit, I thought I had failed as a coach because I feared we could lose to the Westbridge Falcons. But you all have proven me wrong. I am so glad that you are fighting this hard and winning these games; it’s been incredible to watch. I can see that Calder is back to being the Ice Prince everyone knew on the ice—he’s proven that for the first three games. And now, tonight..." He paused, his eyes searching our faces one by one.
"We will win. We aren’t going to keep playing with such a weak team. We will make sure that we proceed to the finals because the Northern Avalanche deserves to win this cup again this year." He folded his arms over his chest. "I know the past few days have been crazy for everyone, especially for those of you who keep getting bombarded by reporters." He turned his gaze toward me as he spoke. "But all of that ends tonight. We win this final. Is that correct?!" he shouted.
"YES, COACH!" we all responded in a deafening roar.
He clapped his hands again, the energy in the room reaching a fever pitch. "Then let’s start moving. Get on that ice and prove to the world that we are the best. Hands in, everyone!" he shouted excitedly. "Tonight, we take the win. Cold as ice!"
Everyone gathered around immediately, stacking our hands in the center of the circle.
"Cold as ice!" we all shouted in unison.
With our hands raised high, we bellowed the team cry: "AVALANCHES! TAKE THE THRONE!"
The room erupted in clapping as we dropped our hands.
I bumped fists with my teammates, my heart racing, ready to step out into the arena.
"Move out, everyone. The game is about to begin," the coach announced.
The players started skating through the tunnel, the sound of blades on the floor echoing as they move.
As I followed suit, the coach reached out and stopped me, pulling me slightly to the side.
"How are things with that investigator? The CEO says that if the team wins tonight, they are going to make a formal announcement about Kayden’s situation."
"What?!" I almost shouted, catching myself at the last second.
Some of the players heading toward the tunnel cast us curious looks, but none of them slowed down or said a word.
"Coach, I thought they postponed the announcement until the end of the entire series and..."
Coach Reddick sighed deeply, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "That’s what I had thought at first, but the situation has changed. The board, the NHL—is demanding that Kayden be removed permanently if he isn’t proven innocent immediately. We have to do something now. Also, I just got information that the reason the Vipers lost to the Falcons was because they were being threatened." He whispered those last words, eyes darting around to see if anyone was eavesdropping.
"Threatened? How?"
"One of them was apparently high on some drug shit, and the Falcons found out and used it as blackmail. That’s how they won. I believe that is exactly what is happening with Kayden’s case, and I’m afraid if we are unable to prove his innocence right now, we will—"
He stopped talking abruptly as a piercing, high-pitched alarm rang out through the building.
"What is that? What’s happening?" I demanded.
Coach Reddick said nothing. He turned and sprinted toward the tunnel, and I followed close at his heels.
When we reached the arena, it was total chaos. The alarm was still screaming, drowned out only by the panicked cries of the crowd. One part of the arena, near where the main speakers were mounted, was engulfed in flames.
Coach Reddick turned around to face me, and I already recognized the grim look in his eyes.
We weren’t just being framed anymore. We were being targeted.