The Game

A brief solemn silence was shedding itself over the park. It would be the first of many. Brief, because the elements would continue their tantrums soon. They were just taking a break. Solemn, because the elements would continue their tantrums soon. Lamplights flickered on and off. The plants had been abandoned, machinery continued to run them by itself. But the electricity plants were starting to fizz, and overheat, soon they would explode. Soon. The two men continued to play chess. Pieces worn and torn as if the board had come from centuries ago. That was inaccurate. This was the One Board. The first in creation. Made for Creation, with a capital C. Creation and its story was penned down in the board, if people had the eyes and mind to see it. Very few did. Most of those did not know about it, were not looking for it. But the story was being played out right now, in this park, as it had been for months. Fire raged all around, smoke colored the air, thunderstorms gave light to it. Trees were withering, but waiting for the game to end, before they could die. This game would determine the course of the planet. The future. This game was a plurality, a series of games. Many had been played. They had sat down before the events began, right after the dice was rolled. They had been fated to meet in this park. Before they had played the games, once a week, a refresher on history and the present, now they hadnt left their seats for months, a battle for the future. Light and darkness. And darkness seemed to be overwhelmingly strong. The shadow appeared, slithering out of the bushes. He made his report. They already knew, neither paid much attention to him, ears pricked, listened to his words, just a confirmation of what was in front of their eyes. This was now just a formality. It would not be long now. The air roiled with pungent smoke, and the shadow breathed it all in, as if it were fresh mountain air. Fire creaked nearby, the air glowed with the red of the fire, glimmered with the heat. Thunder cracked in the air, flashes, fast, furious, and few respites in between. The elements had started to pick up. The game started to slow. They each took longer and longer in between their turns. All four rooks were on the sides, the man playing white had three pawns, the man playing black had four. The wind picked up, bringing with it a chill that would have stripped down anyone else to the bone but for these three, the two men and the shadow. They were silent, their words being said on the black and white squares in front of them. The shadow watched, flickering as the thunder flashed, it had become more solid since this whole affair had begun. It had become stronger, even. More solid, even as it remained a shadow. Just recently, it had shown a man its true form, and his reaction was delicious, it made a sound as if smacking its lips. The game continued.