Chapter Two: The Play You Fear

At the snap, Kai stared down the short route. Tyler lunged. Eli planted, accelerated again, and gained two steps. Kai's pass traveled forty-two yards and settled against Eli's chest. Touchdown. The offense roared without hesitation. Eli spiked the ball, then hurriedly recovered it as if already fearing the fine. “How'd you know he feared my second move?” “Every corner fears someone faster.” Kai completed seven of his next nine throws with two touchdowns. He stopped treating thoughts as prophecy and used them as shadows cast by the formation. The harder a defense hid something, the darker the shadow. At the goal line, twelve minds collided. Pain stabbed Kai's temples. *The right guard will lose.* *Hold. My knee cannot bend again.*