Open it just a little and look into the future

      Wymack held the book carefully, examining it from every angle, but the longer he peered at the bright cover, the more Neil wanted to snatch it from his hands and hide it...       Finally turning the book over, the man began to read:       — Foxhole' tells the story of a team called the Foxes—players of Exy (a fictional sport), – Kevin perked up and stared at Wymack in surprise, followed by the others. Even Neil couldn't resist staring.       — What do you mean fictional?! – Neil had never seen Day so angry. Well, it makes sense; Kevin is as passionate about this sport as Neil is. Maybe even more so?...       Wymack didn't look particularly pleased with the news either, but he couldn't help it. So he simply stated:       — who, being the scum of the earth – Many snorted or rolled their eyes, Nicholas pouted in mock resentment, Kevin was still muttering and whining irritably, and Andrew, the eldest, was cackling. He wished he could cling to that nasty little smile and... — try to rise from the bottom of the standings and win the national championship. The main character, Neil Josten – Neil froze, his heart beating twice as fast, his breathing quickened, and he couldn't utter a word. He opened and closed his mouth, but couldn't say anything. Stefan, however, sensing the tension in his own version of himself, bristled, pushed himself away from the back of the couch, and hissed:       — What the fuck? – Neil's leg was bouncing around, jumping thirty times a second. The foxes turned to look at the boy. No one looked surprised; almost all of them were swearing foully by the time they were ten, but his reaction seemed odd. Then Nicholas spoke up:       — Oh, we haven't even met! I'm Nicky, what's your name? – He turned to the boy, who quietly pressed himself back against the couch again, but answered confidently, albeit sullenly:       — Stefan. – Neil was glad that, unlike Andrew, both Andrews, he and the kid had different names. Although that does present its own complications... Nicky smiled brightly and, turning to face Neil, asked:       — What about you? Do you know this kid? Is he your son? Or brother? – Neil raised his eyebrows in surprise. He looks like someone who might have a twelve-year-old son? For some reason, his lips trembled traitorously. Neil preferred to think it was from fear, not because he wanted to smile.       He didn't have time to answer the questions; the stupid little version of himself decided to tell everything herself. Neil had forgotten how stupid he used to be. And how gullible.       — No, I'm him. – The foxes stared at them in shock, some of them nearly falling off the couch with their own laughter. Neil felt relieved that they didn't believe the boy, but he tensed when he noticed Nicky's stunned gaze first shifting from him to Stefan and back, and then, as if realizing something, to Andrew.       — That makes sense, I suppose? – he whispered so quietly that if Neil hadn't been sitting close enough and hadn't had decent hearing, he probably wouldn't have heard. He went cold. He and the child have absolutely nothing in common; in fact, they're practically opposites in appearance. Besides, Stefan isn't wearing any disguise, and that's incredibly unsettling. And Andrew's thoughtful gaze was terribly unnerving. Both of them. It was as if they were trying to use their minds to ferret out everything Neil and Stefan were hiding.       — You even have different names, what are you talking about? – Kevin asked. Before Stefan could say anything that would irreparably affect them, Neil covered his mouth with his hand, forced a smile, and said,       — Forgive him, he's quite the jokester. A dreamer and a prankster, don't take him seriously. – Neil knew he'd pushed Stefan where it hurt, but there was nothing he could do. He couldn't risk his life. Not now.       Indeed, taking it all as a joke, Foxes also introduced herself. The doctor's name, it turned out, was Abby, but Neil wasn't sure if that was the full name. Abby smiled tenderly at him with her gray eyes. Neil wondered if she'd never been a doctor before, so he might like her.       Wymack read again:       — hiding from his dark past, but now that he's part of the team, he's forced to acknowledge it not only to his rivals but also to his newfound comrades, each of whom keeps their own secrets.       — Oh, so he's signing the contract after all! – Neil felt sick at how joyfully Kevin sounded. Or perhaps because he'd stopped. He couldn't sign that damn contract, could he? He couldn't... Neil pursed his lips and mimicked his mini-version's pose: he pulled his hood over his head, pressed himself against the backrest, and propped his feet up on the sofa.