Present day...
---
The atmosphere in the training hall was tense as Wick stood before the gathered players, the team lists in his hand. The selection announcement was a routine affair, yet today, an unspoken heaviness lingered in the air.
One by one, Wick called out the names for each team game—football, basketball, relay races, and other competitions. As the names rolled off his tongue, murmurs began to spread among the crowd. Something was off.
Nick, who had been standing near the back, frowned as he scanned the list in Wick's hands. His grip tightened at his sides as realization struck him like a cold wave.
When the final names were announced, the hall fell into an eerie silence.
Aryan—one of the most capable players, the one who had always stood alongside Wick in every major event—was not in a single team.
The murmurs started almost immediately. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire, confusion and disbelief thick in the air.
"What the hell?" someone muttered.
"Did he miss a name?" another asked.
"There's no way Nick isn't in any team."
Shreekant jaw clenched. He stepped forward, his voice sharp. "Wick, you forgot someone."
Wick met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "No, I didn't."
A stunned silence followed. Eyes darted between Wick and Aryan, who stood frozen, his usual confident smirk nowhere to be seen.
Shreekant's voice dropped lower, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. "You're telling me Aryan isn't in any team? Not even one?"
Wick's eyes darkened, his tone firm. "I don't repeat myself."
A few gasps echoed in the hall. Even those who had always feared Wick's authority couldn't hide their shock. This wasn't just a casual exclusion—this was a statement.
Nick, who had been watching the exchange in silence, finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet storm beneath his words. "Care to explain why?"
Wick turned to him, his stare piercing. "You'll find out soon enough."
No further explanation. No justification. Just a finality that left an unsettling chill in the air.
Shreekant took a step closer, his patience thinning. "You can't just remove him without reason. He's always been part of the core team.
Wick cut him off. "I can. And I did."
A tense standoff followed, neither willing to back down.
Nick let out a short, humorless chuckle, shaking his head. "So that's how it is, huh?" He took a slow step forward, lowering his voice so only Wick could hear. "Tell me, is this about what I said last night? Or are you just showing me my place?"
Wick's expression remained unreadable. "I don't need a reason."
Nick exhaled sharply, biting back the urge to say something he might regret. He searched Wick's face for an explanation, a flicker of hesitation—anything. But there was nothing.
The entire hall was watching now, the weight of unspoken questions hanging in the air.
Nick took a step back, nodding slowly. "Alright." His voice was calm, but there was something sharp beneath it, something that promised this wasn't over.
Nick finally let out a short breath, a mix of disbelief and controlled anger in his gaze. He gave a small nod, as if acknowledging the move but not accepting it. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his steps slow but deliberate.
---
Later...
---
Nick stood in the dimly lit corridor, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he faced Vivek. The weight of the past few weeks pressed heavily on his shoulders, and he wasn't in the mood for more complications. Yet, the seriousness in Vivek's expression told him this wasn't just another petty complaint.
Vivek took a slow breath, hesitating before speaking. "Nick… Wick isn't trustworthy anymore." His voice was low but firm, carrying a weight that made Nick's jaw tighten.
Nick frowned, his sharp gaze locking onto Vivek. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his tone a mix of irritation and concern.
Vivek took a step closer, lowering his voice. "First, he partied with our rivals—the same people we've fought against for years. He didn't just talk to them, Nick. He drank with them, laughed with them. Like they were friends. He stopped you from having fun drinking and smoking but he does all that himself."
Nick's fingers curled into fists at his sides, but he kept his expression unreadable. "That doesn't mean he betrayed us," he countered. "Wick always has his reasons. Maybe he was gathering information."
Vivek let out a bitter chuckle. "Then explain this—he threw you out of the team, Nick. You, his closest friend. The one who stood by him through everything. He didn't hesitate. Didn't even flinch."
Nick inhaled sharply. He had spent sleepless nights trying to justify Wick's decision, convincing himself there was some deeper reason. But the truth was—he didn't know anymore.
Vivek's eyes flickered with something unreadable before he delivered the final blow. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words sent a chill through the air.
"And I have proof, Nick. Khusi… she has something to tell you. Something that will make you see the truth."
A tense silence settled between them. Nick's mind raced, conflicting emotions battling within him. Doubt. Anger. Betrayal. But beneath it all—an unshakable, sinking fear.
He clenched his jaw, his voice sharp with controlled impatience. "Fine. Bring Khusi."
Vivek nodded, his expression eerily composed, yet there was something beneath the surface—something dangerous. It felt like the calm before a storm.
Khusi arrived moments later, her eyes shifting nervously between Nick and Vivek.
Nick wasted no time. His gaze bore into her. "Do you have proof?"
Khusi hesitated, avoiding his eyes. "No, I don't."
Nick exhaled sharply, his patience thinning. "Then why the hell are we having this conversation?"
Vivek remained unfazed. "If you wait, we'll get it."
Nick narrowed his eyes. "How?"
Vivek's voice lowered, firm and deliberate. "Because today, again, he threatened Khusi to come to a location."
A heavy silence fell. Nick's fingers twitched at his sides. If that was true, then there was only one way to find out.
---
Hours later, Nick, Vivek, and Shreekant stood at a distance, watching. Waiting.
Meanwhile, at the designated location, Wick arrived alone, as he always did. Fear was not something he entertained. But as he stepped forward, expecting to see Rayan—the leader of the opposition gang—his expression darkened.
Instead of Rayan, Khusi stood there.
His brows furrowed, suspicion creeping into his tone. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Khusi's lips curled into something unreadable. "Because you're here."
Wick's patience was thin, his voice clipped. "What do you mean?"
She took a step closer, eyes gleaming with something unsettling. "Is that all you wanted?"
His jaw tensed. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Khusi let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head. "I know what you're going to do. Just like last time. Disrespect me. Take advantage of the situation. Leave me stranded in some abandoned place like I don't matter."
Wick's expression darkened. His tone was cold, final. "You deserved that."
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. The air between them was charged, suffocating.
Wick exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I don't have time for your bullshit. I'm leaving."
He turned on his heel, ready to walk away.
In the distance, hidden from sight, Nick and the others watched. But they didn't interfere—not yet.
And in that moment, Khusi's expression changed. She looked past Wick, her eyes flickering with something calculated.
And then—she played her final card.
She let herself look small, vulnerable. The victim. And with careful precision, she painted Wick as the villain.
The trap was set.
---
And Nick… Nick wasn't sure if he was ready for what was coming.
The Rift Deepens
Night Tension
The air was heavy with tension as Annu stood outside Wick's door, hesitant but determined. She knocked lightly before stepping inside.
"What exactly happened between you and Nick?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Wick barely looked at her. His expression was cold, detached. "Nothing. Just leave it, Annu. I don't want to shout at you, so please go."
Before she could press further, Vishal entered the room.
"There's a meeting of The Shield," Vishal announced.
Wick frowned. "What kind of meeting?"
Vishal's tone was grave. "Justice of the Hound is at Deep Black Light."
Wick and Annu exchanged a glance before heading toward the meeting.
---
To be continued...