Page 33 of Delay of Game

Jordan

This game is fucked.We’re in the second period of this godforsaken game, and so far it’s been full of penalties and fights. One of the Vortices, Mitchell, has been harassing Olivia the entire game, and it’s getting on all our nerves.

The moment Mitchell trips Ash is when it all goes to shit. Ash drops his gloves so fast, none of us have time to get to them and break them up. Ash lands a few punches to Mitchell’s face, and while it’s deserved, it also means we’re going on a penalty kill.

Robbie and I have different shifts, so while he’s out there with another defensemen, I’m on the bench, contemplating what I could do better to help us out of this situation and get us back to winning the game.

I get the opportunity for a shift change with only twenty seconds left in the penalty kill. I manage to snatch the puck away and attempt a breakaway, but Mitchell comes out of the box and heads towards me at full speed. Retreating, I look around forsomeone to pass the puck to. Ash is still in the penalty box for fighting, but I see Trip out of the corner of my eye. I don’t get the chance to pass because Mitchell charges at me and I angle myself against the boards, hoping to dodge the check.

Except—it doesn’t come. A whistle blows and I look around confused. Where is Olivia?

Looking down where Mitchell is laying on the ice, I realize—he wasn’t charging at me.

There’s nothing worse than seeing someone unconscious on the ice. The fact that it’s Olivia makes this ten times worse. One moment she’s skating backwards and the next she’s checked so hard that her helmet flies off, her head hitting the ice.

Panic grips at me as I notice blood on the ice, but I drop my stick and gloves and move quickly. The whole arena is quiet, waiting with bated breath to see what’s happening.

“Get the team physician,” I tell Trip, pushing him towards the bench. I notice Robbie jumping over the wall and skating over, so I make quick work of lifting Mitchell off of Olivia.

“You fucking piece of shit,” I yell in his face, pushing him away from her. More players have come to surround Olivia, not letting the people see her current state.Fuck, I hope she’s okay.

The team physician comes over and we make room for him to assess her. When I turn around to look at the commotion behind me, I see Robbie pummeling the hell out of Mitchell.Shit.

“Hey, whoa, that’s enough,” Ash says, helping me get Robbie away.

“You need to calm down,” I say, using both my hands to hold him back.

“How the fuck am I supposed to calm down when she’s fucking bleeding and unconscious because of him?” Robbie exclaims, and my heart breaks for him.

The whole game gets delayed as a stretcher is brought out and Olivia is taken to the hospital, Robbie leaving the game to follow her.

“How much trouble do you think he’ll get in?” Ash asks me as we watch Robbie take off down the tunnel.

I blow out a breath. “A few suspensions, at least.”

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” he asks, blue eyes worried as he looks at me.

With a hand on his shoulder pads, I say, “Yeah, she’s a tough cookie, she’ll be just fine. I saw her talking as they rolled her out, so that’s a great sign.”

“Right,” Ash mumbles, looking over at Eli. Sometimes it’s like they communicate telepathically, and this look saysAll will be fine.

Alice

I thinkmy heart stopped beating the whole time Olivia was down. I blink back my tears and take a few deep inhales, pulling out my phone and texting my brother.

Alice

Which hospital are they taking her to?

He doesn’t reply right away, which only heightens my anxiety. I leave the lower section of the arena and pace around the concourse area until my phone buzzes with a text.

Robbie

St. Mary’s.

I rush down the stairs and jog a few blocks away to the hospital, looking for the emergency room. A middle-aged nurseis the only person at the check in desk and I walk up to her, panting a little.

She looks at me with a raised eyebrow and narrows her eyes on me in what might be recognition.

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