Please note that this was done as a class assignment. I was required to have just two characters, an antagonist and protagonist. There must be three events in the conflict, the latter of which is the climax. I was also limited to 750 words and had the instruction to not do interior character work. I broke that rule slightly. Do critique.
Silence covered the area like a down blanket. The only sound heard was a quiet ticking. A sound that could only be meant to grate on the nerves of all that hear it. The sound of the clock washed over the scene of one titanic battle after another. Irritating ticking mingled with the sound of the current battle as a devastating blow was struck.
“Bishop takes knight at E-6. Check.”
Jonnie looked up to the leader of the opposing army. His eyes searched hers to see what she could do. He had spent the past ten minutes checking and rechecking his moves before he finally made his attack. The confident smirk on her face, full of the knowledge that she’d beat him once more, was only marginally more unnerving than the clock nearby him. Though they had opted against using the match timer, the endless tick-tock was a constant reminder of how long it took him to come up with a move.
The girl across the table let her eyes rake over the board. Her eyes lingered on various pieces.
“You aren’t beating me just yet Jonnie.” Said Chrissie.
It took her only a few moments to move her queen in and knock over his bishop with the announcement of, “Queen takes bishop at E-6.”
Get over it Jonnie. You haven’t beaten me since I taught you how to play. You’re not going to beat me.”
The confident announcement and reminder of his continual failure sent a flush over the man’s face as he glared at his girlfriend. He let his gaze fall down to the chess board and took stock of his remaining resources. The strategy he seemed to be implementing was costing him pieces.
“A good chess player thinks several moves ahead. Remember that.”
He looked up angrily as she said the oft-repeated maxim of chess.
“It’d be nice if I had a chance to think that far before getting distracted.” He replied crossly.
“Hey now,” the girl replied in soothing tones, “don’t be so angry at me. It’s your planning that has you in this mess.”
Jonnie went silent and returned his eyes to the board. Being angry would only interfere with his thinking and planning. Then his eyes widened as he looked at a particular piece. He looked up for a moment to check to make sure she didn’t notice his expression.
Jonnie’s hand came up and moved towards the first piece. Chrissie’s eyes were immediately locked on his hand. The wooden approximation of a castle tower was lifted from the board. The man hesitated for a moment as his eyes checked and double checked the move he was going to make. He glanced at Chrissie’s face to see if she would betray any thoughts about his choice of pieces. Then he finished his move.
“Rook to B-3.” whispered Jonnie as he tried to keep his voice calm.
Chrissie spent a long time looking at the board. He could follow her gaze from piece to piece as she tracked their possible movements. Previous matches had shown her prowess at escaping traps like these. The corner of her mouth twitched into a smirk before it settled into her deadpan poker face that had lost him many a match. She was gazing at his queen.
“Why thank you Jonnie,” Chrissie was almost giggling in glee. “I think I’ll go ahead and take her hostage. Bishop to A-4.”
“No!” Jonnie was fuming at his mistake. The elation of his plan had given way to frustration once more.
Jonnie’s eyes fell to the board. His mouth widened. He shut it quickly and checked the other pieces on the board. Chrissie was watching his every move. The table rocked as his hand twitched. He had to make sure that this move was what he wanted. There! He almost knocked over his piece making his move. The shortest and most prolific of all pieces was his golden ticket.
“Pawn to B-7. Check,” Jonnie waited and savored the word as it rolled off his tongue, “and mate.”
Immediately Chrissie’s eyes dropped to the table and looked at the pawn. Then the rook. A hand came up to the king and her index finger rested on it a moment. Jonnie’s eyes betrayed the fear that he had just cost himself the game. But with the gravitas befitting the results of an election, and a light push, the king succumbed to gravity and clattered to the board.
“Congratulations Jonnie. You win.”
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