The sun hung low behind the clouds, casting a reddish glow over the football field. The wind was soft, but the air felt strange—like something was waiting.
It was match day: Biotechnology FC vs Biochemistry FC—SOBS' biggest derby and the Departmental Cup final.
Samuel had been one of Biotechnology's key players for years. But last year, he missed the final against Biochemistry due to a serious injury. Biotechnology lost badly. Now they were back, hungry for redemption.
His close friend, Victor Ozioma, was the captain.
Samuel Achodor stood at the edge of the pitch, tying his boots. His teammates were already warming up—laughing, joking, and kicking balls around—but Samuel's mind was far away.
He looked up at the sky. It was darker than it should have been, even though it was just after four in the afternoon.
"Bro, you okay?" Damian jogged over, sweat shining on his face. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Samuel gave a half-smile. "Maybe I did."
Victor laughed. "Abi na Arsenal wahala still dey worry you?"
Samuel forced a small grin, but deep down, he wasn't joking.
For the past week, he'd been seeing strange things—shadows moving when no one was there, voices whispering his name, and once, a reflection in the mirror that wasn't his.
He hadn't told anyone. Not even his roommate, Patrick Emmanuel, who would have just laughed and called it a "spiritual attack."
THE MATCH BEGINS
When the whistle blew, Samuel focused on the game. The crowd, the noise, the rush of the ball—it made him forget everything.
On the field, he felt alive. Free.
In the second half, Samuel made a sharp turn, dodged two defenders, and fired the ball into the top corner of the net.
The crowd roared.
"Goal from Achodor!" the announcer shouted. "This boy is on fire!
Biotechnology Fc 1-0 Biochemistry Fc "
Samuel raised his arms to celebrate—
Then everything stopped.
The wind. The noise. The cheers.
Even the birds in the sky—frozen.
Samuel's heartbeat echoed in the silence.
"What the—?"
He looked around. Only he was moving.
Then, from nowhere, a man appeared at the center of the field.
Tall. Pale eyes. A long black coat that moved even though the air was still.
"You're not supposed to exist," the man said softly, calm but cold.
"You are a threat… to him."
Samuel stepped back slowly. "Who are you?"
The man tilted his head, watching him like he was a mistake.
"Aurelion won't be happy with this information," he said.
"What are you talking about?"
The man didn't answer. His hand moved, and strange glowing symbols appeared on his skin—symbols Samuel didn't recognize.
Then, without warning, he vanished.
No sound. No light. Just gone—like smoke disappearing into sunlight.
The whistle blew.
Time moved again.
The world came back to life all at once.
"Samuel!" the coach shouted. "Why are you standing there like that?"
Samuel blinked hard. "I… I thought I saw someone."
Victor ran up beside him. "Bro, there's nobody here. You sure you're okay?"
Samuel nodded slowly. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine."
But as he walked off the pitch, he kept glancing back at the spot where the man had stood. Nothing was there—only a cold emptiness in the air.
The words echoed in his mind:
"Non debes existere."
THE TURNAROUND
Goalllllllllllllllll
Biotechnology Fc 1-1 Biochemistry Fc
Biochemistry managed to equalize after a poor pass from biotechnology and possession lost by Samuel. The coach shouted, "Calm down! Calm down! Focus!"
He looked straight at Samuel. "Samuel, focus!"
Samuel saw the sadness in his teammates' faces. The guilt hit him hard. He felt the weight of last year's loss, the pressure of the final, and the fear of the unknown.
Then something changed.
A sudden surge of energy entered him. His body moved like it knew what to do before his mind could catch up.
He started playing at an incredible level.
He delivered a perfect cross to Victor.
Victor rose above everyone and headed the ball into the net.
Goalllllllllllllllll
Biotechnology Fc 2-1Biochemistry Fc
Biotechnology was ahead again.
The kickoff happened immediately. Biochemistry tried their best to equalize, pushing forward aggressively.
But Biotechnology refused to back down.
THE FINAL MOMENT
At the 90th minute, Gabriel from Biotechnology dribbled past four defenders and passed brilliantly to Samuel.
Samuel took the ball, sprinted forward, and unleashed a powerful shot.
A banger.
Goalllllllllllllllll
The crowd erupted.
Biotechnology Fc 3-1 Biochemistry Fc
Biotechnology had won the Departmental Cup.
Samuel ran to celebrate, shouting his famous "shut up and call me" celebration.
For that moment, he forgot everything he'd seen recently.
The supernatural vision, the strange whispers, the pale-eyed man—
All of it vanished as the crowd chanted his na
me.
He enjoyed the victory.
But deep inside, something was still waiting.