Chapter 604
Was it just a fluke that she hit three bullseyes? Or…
No.
It didn’t seem like luck at all.
She moved with the bow like she’d been doing this her whole life. If she was that skilled, then why did she miss on purpose the first two times?
“Number 91 takes first place with a time of three minutes, twenty-nine seconds.”
The scorekeeper’s voice rang out.
Not too fast, not too slow. Just one second quicker.
She won.
So…
Cotton kept his eyes on Charlotte, his mind swirling with questions.
Was she controlling her time and score on purpose?
Could she have done even better, maybe gone for all bullseyes if she wanted?
Hitting the center isn’t that impressive by itself.
But being able to decide exactly how many points you get each time? That’s next- level.
On their team, only Donald could do that no one else came close.
Charlotte was on another level.
***
When the referee announced that Charlotte would be representing Team 1 in the finals, Janie froze. Her whole body went stiff. She looked up, searching for Charlotte across the field.
Charlotte was just taking a drink of water, and her eyes flicked over. Her stare was cold, completely unreadable, like nothing around her could touch her. She looked relaxed, but there was something untouchable about her too.
She did not look like someone you could mess with.
Janie felt a chill run through her. Her fingertips curled, slick with sweat.
She had to admit, Charlotte did great just now.
But her speed…
She was slow.
Three minutes, twenty-nine seconds. That was a full minute and ten seconds behind Janie’s own time.
If they really went head to head, who would win? It was impossible to know.
“Contestants, please take your positions.”
At the sound of the referee’s voice, Charlotte set her water bottle down and lifted her head, her gaze landing lightly on Janie.
Janie’s heart jumped.
The closer it got to the start, the more her nerves got to her.
“Olivia, are you sure Charlotte can’t shoot?” Janie whispered, trying to keep her anxiety hidden.
Olivia just stared at Charlotte, her eyebrows knit tight together.
It was like she didn’t recognize her anymore. Especially since Charlotte
from the countryside,
She’d changed orient
much
“As far as know, she can’t,” Olivia
said softly. “She probably just gonet
lucky earlier. If you two really
compete, she
uldnt be able to
beat you.”
Charlotte taking down a top athlete like Janie?
No way.
“Janie, if you use the same strategy as before, you might be even faster,” Olivia suggested.
Hearing that, Janie felt her confidence come back. She forced a smile, trying to shake off the nerves.
***
The match started.
Both of them took off at the same time, clambering up onto the balance beam together.
Right away, Janie tried the same trick she’d used on Stella before, giving Charlotte a little nudge with her elbow.
Charlotte just leaned back.
Everyone watching gasped.
Charlotte was about to fall!
But instead, Charlotte’s body moved
with an easy grace. She swayed for à second but her legs stayed steady, feet planted firmly on the
beam. ne
Janie was stunned.
She didn’t fall?
As Janie moved in to try to bump her off again, Charlotte suddenly straightened and
spun, catching Janie off guard.
Charlotte’s elbow hit Janie’s shoulder.
Janie lost her balance instantly. She wobbled, then tumbled to the ground.
She landed face down, her knees smacking hard against the ground.
It hurt.
Janie rubbed at her face and knees, forcing herself back up and climbing onto the beam again.
But as soon as she got up, before she could even steady herself, Charlotte knocked her right back off.