Chapter 5: Hooded Figure

Wilt PoV

Despite the encouraging words of his family and friends, Wilt felt a sense of uncertainty as he sat in his wheelchair, staring at the empty basketball court at the park. The weeks of recovery had taken their toll on his mental state. He even felt himself losing muscle mass. But that could also have been from paranoia.

He felt like he might never regain his ability to walk again. If that were to happen, what would become of his life, of him?

The court was the closest he had gotten to the game since the mugging, yet it felt like a world away. He gripped the handles of his wheelchair, his knuckles turning white. The frustration and anger he had been holding back were threatening to boil over, the emotions consuming him.

That guy with the bat, he was the one who destroyed his future.

"I'll get him," Wilt muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

But then, the thought of his family crossed his mind. What would they think of him becoming a criminal?

He sighed as he let go of the handles. His anger dissipated, replaced by a deep sadness.

"I can't go down that path," he whispered, the words feeling heavy on his tongue.

Wilt glanced back at the basketball court. He gasped as someone made a slam-dunk. His teal eyes moved to a solo guy wearing a hoodie.

His face was handsome even if cold. His dark, unkempt hair framed his sharp features, his intense amber eyes fixed on the basket.

Wilt smiled. "Flashy shot."

The young man turned to look at him, his expression neutral. "Thanks," he replied, his voice surprisingly soft. "Are you into basketball?"

Wilt nodded. "Yeah. I used to play it. But not anymore."

"Why not?"

Wilt stood up slowly. His left leg ached still. "Got mugged, then the thugs broke my left leg. The doctors said I could still play, but not at the level I used to. And even if I could, it'd take months or years of training."

He turned away. "I see. You were the talk of the town a few months back."

Wilt chuckled. "I guess so."

The young man walked over and handed him the ball. "Show me what you got."

His eyes widened. "Me?"

The guy nodded. "Yeah. Who else?"

He stared at the basketball in his hands and threw it at the basket without jumping. It swirled around the rim a couple of times before dropping through the net.

The stranger clapped and smirked. "Impressive."

Wilt blushed. "T-Thanks."

He held his hand at him. "By the way, name's Loxus."

Wilt blinked. What kind of a name was that? Then again, his was no better.

"I'm Wilt."

The boy walked over and patted Wilt's shoulder. "Say, don't you wish you could go back in time and change things?"

"Of course," he muttered, a bitter edge to his voice. "I would love to play basketball again."

Loxus smirked. "I might be able to help."

"How?"

"A time machine."

Wilt's jaw dropped. "Time machine? Do they exist?"

He laughed. "I was kidding."

Wilt narrowed his eyes.

Loxus sighed as he walked past him. He touched his wrist.

Wilt blinked. They were no longer in the outdoor court but in the park of the park where he used to jog nearly every day during the summer. The place where he had been mugged.

His eyes widened as Loxus held a bat in his hands.

Wilt shivered.

"If you could change things, would you?" Loxus asked as he prepared his swing.

"Of course," Wilt responded without hesitation.

Loxus swung the bat against his left leg.

Wilt screamed as he collapsed onto the ground.

Loxus sighed. "Failed again. For an athlete, your reaction speed sucks. Its a surprised you fended us off for as long as you did."

Wilt gritted his teeth as he fought off Loxus's fellow thugs.

"You, you were the one who mugged me," he muttered.

"You caught me," Loxus replied, his voice monotonous.

He growled. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Loxus sighed and pulled his sleeve back. "I wanted this watch."

"Why? It's just a watch."

"Not this one. This one's special. It is expensive. But it seems to have a power greater than its monetary worth."

Wilt gasped. "What?"

Loxus nodded.

"Man, you okay?" his fellow thugs asked, looking confused.

Loxus nodded and moved the dial.

Wilt gasped as they were in the basketball court again.

"What just happened?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"You experienced the power of the watch. I held back this time. So your leg wasn't broken."

Wilt gasped as he realized he was standing now. The chair was nowhere to be seen. "This... This is a lot to take in."

Loxus smirked. "Remember, help me achieve victory. Else I'll break your leg and end your career."

"Victory?"

"Yeah, take Kellen to nationals. It's the least you could do."

Wilt narrowed his eyes at him. "You're doing this because you want Kellen to win? Are you insane?"

He sighed. "Not like I hurt you because I wanted to. I had no clue of the power of this watch when I stole it. All I knew was that it was a limited-edition watch. Unfortunately, it only takes me as far back as the time where I stole it."

"Still, why should I help you? You're the reason my leg got messed up in the first place!"

Loxus drew closer, his gaze digging into Wilt like predator to its prey. "If you don't help me, your leg won't be the only thing that's messed up, pretty boy."

Wilt took a step back but glared back. This guy was crazy.

"Do we have a deal?"

"I'll have to think about it," he replied, his voice low.

Loxus crossed his arms. "Fine. Take your time. But you better not say a word of this to anyone."

Wilt clenched his fists tight. "How do I know you won't break my leg regardless?"

He laughed. "Like I said, I need you. But I'll make it a point to destroy your other leg if you fail me. And the rest of your limbs, just to make sure you never play basketball again."

"I won't."

"Good," Loxus muttered. He patted my shoulder. "I'm counting on you, star player."

With that, Loxus left the basketball court.

Wilt stood there, his mind reeling from the experience. He felt conflicted.

He released his fists and stared at his skin. Wilt had drawn his own blood.

"What am I supposed to do now?" The goon who stole his watch was blackmailing him. And what he said wasn't a joke. Loxus was serious. He could destroy his other leg by time traveling to the past. And Wilt would never be able to play basketball again.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no way for him to escape. He had to do what the thug asked of him. At least until he could take his watch back. Then that jerk would lack any kind of leverage against him.

Wilt sighed and walked home. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to pull this off. The team wasn't even close to winning a national title. But he was planning on going to Kallen anyway. Especially after he had gotten injured.

He rubbed his left leg and smiled. At least he didn't have a broken leg this time.

His teal eyes went to the direction that Loxus had walked off. Why was that guy so determined to see Kellen University win nationals?