Chapter 59 Match 1
Phoebe
“I’ll be front row at the venue.”
My palms were already sweaty as I sat down, about to open Tyra’s message. In front of me, Coach Cooper was explaining the stage rules. This was my first time actually playing in an official match, and my knees felt like jelly.
Even though I tried to keep my cool, the way Coach Cooper moved his hands while explaining our strategy made my heart pound even harder. Finley handed me a water bottle, and I could tell he was just as nervous as I was.
I took a sip, but my mind was stuck on the part about how aggressive the enemy team would be in the early game. My hands were still sweating.
Damn it.
The anxiety started even before we got here—on the ride to the venue, a grand white building rented by the organizers. It was the only thing Finley and I talked about during the drive. Neither of us had ever performed in front of a crowd this big. And for me, this wasn’t just another match. It was my shot to prove I could stand on that stage… even after what happened to my twin sister.
Unlike Hayden and Zion, who stepped out of the team van like they owned the place, Finley and I kept our heads down, trying to avoid the stares from fans and random onlookers.
“Yo, is that Divergent’s roster? Damn, are they models or players?”
“I’ve been stalking them all month. None of them are taken!”
“This season’s about good looks, huh? Let’s see if they can actually play.”
I kept hearing the whispers as we walked toward the stage. Some were admiring, others mocking. But none of them knew—I have feelings too.
“Still nervous?” Hayden grabbed my hand, but quickly changed it to a casual arm-around-the-shoulder when he saw Coach Cooper’s look.
“Relax, babe. I’ve got your back—even in the Land of Dawn,” Zion whispered as he patted my shoulder.
“The crowd’s loving us. Should I take off my glasses?” Adonis winked playfully, making Finley chuckle.
I smiled. They were all trying to help me feel better, and I appreciated it. We were about to step into the danger zone, but I knew I wasn’t alone.
“Moon Goddess, please let me do my best... for Phoenix.”
I looked out at the crowd. Right in front, I spotted Tyra’s pink hair and her huge smile from across the room. She waved her phone, flashing a message that read:
DIVERGENT WILL HOWL
Then another message popped up:
I LOVE YOU, FLAMMEE
I smiled. Flammee—that’s the in-game name I chose during registration. Finley came up with it. He said, “Because you burn bright but move with elegance. Like fire.”
The lights dimmed. The intro music started to play. The five of us stepped onto the stage, headsets in hand, and took our seats at the gaming chairs.
I saw Coach Cooper talking to the event staff while we did the ping test. I could hear the others through the mics. Zion and Finley were cracking jokes. Adonis, though, was totally silent, squeezing his hand warmer like a lifeline. His face looked even more serious than Hayden’s.
Finally, the big screen behind us lit up with the Draft Pick.
Coach Cooper stood behind us with analysts Javlin and Travis.
“They’re gonna go Yve or Valentina first,” Travis whispered.
“We’ve got first pick. Skip the bait. Lock Fredrinn, shut down their sustain comp first,” Cooper replied.
“If they grab Beatrix and Yve, we take Hayabusa and Pharsa. Hayden’s gonna go off with an assassin,” Javlin added.
I listened closely, taking mental notes. Hayden’s fingers were already flying across the screen when it was our turn.
“Neeoo, pick Floryn. Cover me,” he said quickly to Zion.
“Roger that,” Zion replied.
The draft was locked in. Our lineup:
Hayden: Hayabusa (Jungler)
Zion: Floryn (Roamer)
Me (Flammee): Beatrix (Gold Lane)
Finley: Pharsa (Mid Lane)
Adonis: Gatotkaca (Exp Lane)
The game kicked off—and early game was hell. The enemy team went full-on aggro. Their jungler invaded our blue buff, and I needed items fast if I wanted to deal real damage. Zion almost missed a clutch ult on Hayden, but stayed calm, and his voice kept me grounded.
“Take a breath, Flammee. Focus on your build,” he said in the mic.
Divergent was on the back foot. The kill score was 2–7 at five minutes. Coach Cooper didn’t say a word, but I could feel the pressure from behind.
“We wait for the right moment. Don’t panic,” Zion encouraged.
When the second turtle spawned, the enemy tried zoning us out. But Hayden flanked from the bush while Zion tossed me a heal—my penetration item had just finished. We went in.
“NOW!” Hayden shouted.
He ambushed the enemy marksman, scored a kill, then zipped away with his shadow. Zion stunned their tank while I unloaded Beatrix’s ult. Hayden dashed to his next shadow and finished off their mage. Double kill.
The crowd roared. We turned the tide. I got eliminated, but it didn’t matter—we took down three of theirs.
Finley laughed quietly. “That’s our assassin.”
“I’m back!” I cheered, adrenaline kicking in. The nerves were gone.
At the 13-minute mark, we pushed down their inhibitor turret. With the Lord in front and all of us fully loaded with spells, we went all-in. Hayden dove deep, I followed with my ultimate, Zion stunned two, and Adonis cleaned up.
VICTORY! flashed across the big screen.
The stadium erupted. I locked eyes with Tyra, who was jumping up and down, cheering like crazy. Finley patted my hand.
“You crushed it, Flammee.”
I looked at the giant screen behind us, showing a snapshot of the five of us with arms crossed over our chests. Pride swelled inside me.
For the first time, I felt like I belonged here. I wasn’t just Phoenix’s twin. I was a core member of Team Divergent—and we just scored a win together.
But this was only the first match. We need one more win to lock in our spot in the standings.