Dutch Savib sprinted through the dense sycamore and maple forest. His wide eyes watched and planned every footfall. He dared not look back.
Bursting through the underbrush, Dutch spotted the dim glow of the coaches' tent. He pushed himself harder, lungs burning, until he finally slipped inside. The sudden warmth and light were jarring. "Sleet, monster, right behind me!" he gasped, then straightened his posture with an effort of will.
Inside, Deuce Snaira glanced up from the playbook he had been furiously scribbling in. His piercing blue eyes, always alight with intensity, now held a flicker of concern. "I don't see anything, Dutch" he said, after stepping out of the tent and scanning the trees. On the mainland, Deuce was the offensive coordinator, known for his aggressive play-calling and the mantra, "Play bold, reap gold."
"That sound - it was ear-splitting!" protested Dutch.
"Sorry coach, didn't hear anything, either," came a voice from the corner. Deva Pocam stepped forward, his tall frame casting a long shadow. Deva was the defensive coordinator, flamboyant and confident, with a reputation for instilling swagger in his players.
Dutch eased out of the tent and looked back. Moonlight filtered through bare branches, casting eerie shadows that danced in his peripheral vision. There was no sign of sleet in the cloudless sky.
"Right. We're safe for now," Dutch replied, forcing a note of calm into his voice.
Dutch took a moment to catch his breath, his rugged face etched with a mix of determination and exhaustion. "Ever since the team plane crashed on this deserted Lake Erie island on our way to the AFC Championship game, I’ve been seeing things - hearing things. This place... it's not right."
Deuce and Deva exchanged uneasy glances. The crash had thrust them into a situation far beyond the usual pressures of coaching football. They were stranded, their players scattered across the island, each grappling with their own fears and the unknown threats lurking in the shadows.
Deva's expression grew serious, his usual theatricality subdued. "What kind of things, Dutch?"
Dutch ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair, his eyes haunted. "Shadows in the forest, whispers on the wind. It’s like the island itself is alive, watching us."
"We need to stay focused," Deuce said, his tone brimming with his usual assertiveness. "The team looks to us for guidance. If we start seeing ghosts, they'll fall apart."
Deva nodded. With regained bravado, he belted out, "Deuce is right. We've faced the Detroit Lions and come out on top. Whatever's out there doesn't stand a chance against us!"
Dutch straightened, drawing strength from his comrades. "Let's gather the team. We need to regroup, figure out our next move."
As they stepped away from the tent, the distant underbrush rustled, and Dutch imagined unseen creatures tracking their movements. The Snworb were no longer just a football team; they had become a pack of wary survivors in an alien wilderness. Dutch, Deuce, and Deva locked eyes, their expressions conveying a shared understanding of the dangers ahead.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream shattered the silence, slicing through their resolve like a blade.
Advance Regress