From Nothing to Norton

Chapter 11 Soccer Punch

Newton was almost home when he received a phone call, and he brought the phone to his ear.

*Beep* *Beep*

"Boss. You're being followed," came the voice on the other end.

Without saying a word, Newton placed the phone back in his pocket and continued walking towards the mansion. However, he deliberately took a wrong turn in a different direction.

After a few minutes, he feigned exhaustion and sat down as if to rest, keeping a watchful eye on the path he had just taken. Soon enough, he spotted a figure emerging from behind a tree.

"I already spotted you. You can come out now," Newton called out.

It was Robert.

"How did you know I was following you?" Robert inquired.

"I saw your legs when you jumped behind the tree," Newton replied.

"Oh, I apologize for sneaking up on you. I couldn't resist it," Robert admitted.

"You've been acting differently lately. I barely recognize you," Robert remarked.

"What do you mean?" Newton questioned.

"For starters, you hardly stay at your house anymore, and you don't even bother denying it. I see you walking towards your house after class, but whenever I visit, your neighbors claim they haven't seen you for days," Robert explained.

Newton scrambled to come up with a plausible explanation to extricate himself. "Well, Robert, you see, I have to take on extra work to meet my financial obligations. I'm actually heading to work right now."

Robert believed him since this was Newton's regular routine. He bid farewell to Newton and urged him to be careful.

Newton couldn't disclose his new life to Robert because he wanted to protect him from the dangers associated with the gang activity in Bayfield.

After waiting for 20 minutes, Newton turned around and headed home. Upon arriving, he took a refreshing cold bath in his hot tub.

The surroundings of the house appeared calm and devoid of any notable activity. Newton picked up the phone and called Drax, suggesting they head into town.

"Boss," came the response from the other end.

"I'm feeling a bit bored. Let's head into town," Newton proposed, eager to break free from the monotony and find some excitement with his friend.

"Aiit boss. I feel you, man. I'll be there shortly," Drax replied enthusiastically.

Newton grinned, always enjoying Drax's unique way of speaking. He went to his room and retrieved the keys to his Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, an impressive sports car.

Bringing the car around to the front of the house, Drax hopped in. Newton couldn't help but notice some stains on Drax's shirt that appeared to be bloodstains, but he chose to ignore them for now.

Revving the engine, Newton kicked up a cloud of dust as they drove off, the powerful car accelerating swiftly.

"Hey, can't this thing go any faster?" Drax complained, feeling that Newton was driving too slowly.

Unbeknownst to Drax, Newton was already driving at a speed of 220 mph. Newton smiled and decided to give Drax what he wanted, pushing the car even faster and increasing their velocity.

Newton relished the exhilarating sensation of driving the high-performance luxury car. He wished he could drive it anywhere and at any time, but circumstances restricted him.

"How about this place?" Newton asked Drax as they pulled up in front of a sports complex adorned with a soccer ball logo, indicating it was a sports facility.

Both of them stepped out of the car, ready for some action.

"Membership cards, please?" the security guard requested.

"Dude, we don't have membership cards," Drax protested.

"Okay, can we obtain them now?" Newton inquired with a hopeful tone, addressing the security guard.

The security personnel observed both men and assumed that Drax, with his three diamond necklaces, was the one with money, disregarding Newton, who was dressed modestly but stylishly with a gold chain around his neck.

"It will cost you $3000, sir," the guard informed Drax, seemingly overlooking Newton's appearance.

"Okay, you got it, boss," Drax responded, acknowledging Newton as the one in charge.

"Where can I make the payment?" Newton asked, taking charge of the situation.

The security guard was slightly taken aback, surprised that the person who appeared more modest was the one in control. He opened the door for them and directed Newton towards the payment area.

"To your right, you'll find where to obtain the card, sir," the security guard pointed out.

Newton and Drax entered the facility and proceeded to pay for the membership cards.

Once inside, they discovered a medium-sized artificial turf field where different groups sat in various corners, each wearing distinct uniforms.

Newton noticed that the team in yellow consisted of only three players, while the other groups had five.

"Looks like our prayers have been answered," the captain of the yellow team exclaimed to his teammates, noticing Newton and Drax.

He hurriedly approached Newton and Drax.

"Can you both kick a soccer ball?" the captain asked eagerly.

"Sure," Newton replied confidently.

Drax, not wanting to be left behind, chimed in, "Man, I was born with a soccer ball between my legs."

"Great! You can join my team," the captain said, pleased to have found new players.

He walked over to inform the referee that they were ready to play, and then returned to Newton and Drax.

"We're the first team up," the captain announced.

"You're so big, you should play defense," the team captain suggested to Newton, impressed by his size.

Newton didn't mind which position he played; he simply wanted to be involved in the game.

"Hey! Look at the size of that guy!" the captain called out to his teammates, pointing at Newton.

They were thrilled to have him on their side, recognizing the advantage his presence could bring to their team

The captain, referring to Drax, directed, "You've got an intimidating presence, Drax. You're going up front."

Drax responded with a grin, "Wait, man... But I look blessed, not intimidating."

They were handed their yellow uniforms, and with anticipation, they began the game.

Regrettably, Newton's team suffered a defeat in the first game against the red team.

Undeterred, the captain rallied his teammates, reminding them that they still had two more games to secure a spot and urging them to win.

The second game proved to be a victory for the yellow team.

Now, it was time for the decisive third game, where Newton's team was pitted against the black team.

The score remained tied, and both sides were exhausted from their exertions on the field.

Drax, drained of energy, resorted to walking rather than sprinting.

In contrast, Newton found reserves of stamina and maintained his sprinting ability.

With only two minutes remaining on the clock, it became a must-win game for both teams, each having lost one game.

Drax casually positioned himself near the opposing goalpost, while Newton's teammate was forcefully tackled, resulting in a broken leg.

Granting advantage to Newton's team, the referee allowed them to continue with possession of the ball. The team captain attempted a shot at the goal, but it missed and rolled towards Drax.

Drax, displaying a nonchalant demeanor, effortlessly guided the ball into the net.

As the final whistle blew, Newton's team erupted in celebration, while members of the black team expressed their discontent with the referee's decision to proceed despite the player's injury.

Newton felt a mix of confusion and disbelief as he realized his teammates did not intervene or engage during the player's injury or the ensuing fight. Their primary concern seemed to be their own safety.

The confrontation escalated as members of the black team confronted the referee, and Drax stepped in to protect the official, forcefully pushing one of them away. This action provoked the rest of the opposing team, directing their aggression towards Drax.

Reacting swiftly, Newton rushed to intervene, aiming to diffuse the fight and restore order.

To his surprise, Newton discovered that his own teammates were merely observing the violent scene, appearing worried and hesitant to engage.

The altercation intensified as the five boys from the black team attempted to overpower Drax and Newton. Suddenly, one of them brandished a gun, firing a shot into the ceiling, causing a loud bang.

Swiftly reacting, both Newton and Drax sought cover and retrieved their own concealed weapons.

With his two gold guns aimed at the armed individual, Newton exerted his authority, compelling the man to raise his hands and drop the gun.

Tensions were high as Drax delivered a powerful punch to the man's neck, causing him to collapse. Drax continued striking him, his blows landing on the man's face, resulting in the loss of two teeth.

Witnessing the display of force, the remaining members of the black team cowered in fear, lying on the ground and refraining from further aggression.

Recognizing the perilous situation, Newton intervened, pulling Drax away from inflicting further harm on the subdued assailant.

Surveying the injured man on the floor, Newton witnessed the severity of the damage inflicted upon him, his face covered in blood, with swollen and nearly closed eyes.

Leaving the chaotic scene behind, Newton and Drax made their way out of the sports facility, only to find that the security guard had fled for his own safety upon hearing the gunfire.

Approaching his flashy car, Newton was met by his team members, who ran out to join him.

Baffled by their lack of assistance during the fight, Newton questioned them about their inaction.

The team leader explained that the opposing group belonged to the notorious Beanies Mafia, known for their ruthless tactics and undefeated streak. The referee, being new and unaware of their influence, couldn't have predicted the severity of the situation.

Understanding the risk involved, Newton's teammates explained that intervening would have put their lives in danger, given the Beanies Mafia's propensity for resorting to gun violence.

They disclosed that the team had been enduring ongoing harassment from the Beanies Mafia for a considerable time.

Shaking his head in disappointment at the grim reality, Newton closed the door of his Koenigsegg and ignited the engine.

With a powerful roar, he accelerated away, leaving the sports facility and its troubling atmosphere in his rearview mirror.