The game started with a surge of adrenaline. Eric skated with a grace and power that felt almost supernatural. His team, the Wolverines, quickly took the lead, with Jason scoring two goals within the first ten minutes. The crowd roared, the sound reverberating through the stadium, and Eric could feel the energy coursing through his veins.
"Nice pass, Eric!" Jason shouted as they skated to the bench for a line change.
Eric nodded, breathing hard but feeling exhilarated. He had assisted on both of Jason’s goals, threading the puck through defenders with precision. Everything was going perfectly.
As the second period began, Eric's skates felt tighter, but he chalked it up to the intensity of the game. His uniform, too, seemed a bit snug, but he brushed it off and focused on the play.
They were up by three goals when the first twinge of pain hit. It was a sharp, sudden ache in his legs, but Eric ignored it. He couldn't afford distractions, not with scouts in the stands.
"Eric, you good?" Jason asked during a brief stoppage.
"Yeah, fine," Eric lied, gritting his teeth. The pain was spreading, a dull throb now in his back and shoulders.
As the game wore on, the discomfort grew worse. His skates felt like they were shrinking, squeezing his feet painfully. His uniform, which had always fit comfortably, was now constricting his movements. He could barely focus on the game.
With eight minutes left in the second period, Eric felt a sharp, tearing pain in his shoulders. He looked down to see his jersey straining at the seams. Panic flared, but he forced himself to keep skating.
But it was no use. The growth was accelerating. His legs grew longer, his arms bulging with muscle. His helmet, once snug, was now pressing painfully against his skull. The roar of the crowd became a distant hum, his vision blurring as he fought to stay upright.
"Eric, what's happening?" Jason's voice cut through the haze, full of concern.
"I... I don't know," Eric gasped. He stumbled, his skates digging deep ruts into the ice from his increasing weight. The pain was excruciating.
His teammates and the opposing players stopped, staring in shock as Eric's uniform started to tear. The fabric couldn't contain his rapidly expanding body. His skates burst open, the metal blades snapping with a sharp, echoing crack.
Eric fell to his knees, clutching his head as his helmet split in half. The stadium fell silent, all eyes on him. He tried to get up, but his body was growing too fast. His jersey and pads ripped apart, leaving him in tatters.
"Eric!" Coach Davis shouted from the bench, but Eric could barely hear him. His vision tunneled, and all he could feel was the immense pressure and pain of his transformation.
He inched taller and taller, and his coach and fellow teammates became further and further away. He started to scream, "Someone help me! Please!" His voice boomed deeper and louder than before. The audience screamed in fear, several people dialing numbers on their phones as they scurried out of the stadium.
Eric reassured everyone he wouldn't hurt them just when his head grazed against the top of the stadium. He hunched over onto his knees trying to not destroy the arena. He could feel what was left of his tattered clothes snap off, leaving him totally naked. He attempted to cover himself up but he continued to grow. The opposing team's captain called the authorities. Jason yelled, "Don't hurt him! He's not a monster!"
With a final, agonizing burst, Eric grew too large for the rink. The walls of the stadium cracked and shattered as he expanded, breaking through the roof with a deafening roar. The crowd screamed and scattered, chaos erupting in the stands.
Eric tried to stand, but his movements were sluggish, his mind foggy. He stumbled out of the ruins of the stadium, his giant feet leaving craters in the parking lot. Helicopters circled above him, their searchlights piercing the night.
"Eric, stop!" he heard Jason’s faint cry, but he couldn’t turn back. He was too big, too powerful, and too terrified.
Suddenly, sharp pricks hit his skin—tranquilizer darts. He swatted at them, but more kept coming, each one sapping his strength. His vision blurred further, and he felt himself swaying.
He tried to run, but his legs were heavy. The helicopters followed, the tranquilizers finally taking effect. Eric stumbled, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact. The last thing he saw before his vision went dark was the flashing lights of emergency vehicles and the shadowy figures of agents closing in.
In the silence that followed, Eric’s giant form lay still, the world around him a blur of flashing lights and shouting voices. The transformation had been too much, too fast, and now, as the tranquilizers did their work, he succumbed to the darkness, his mind filled with unanswered questions and a growing sense of fear for what came next.
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