The Chess Game

BEING in the cell, Yuki could not realize what time it was. Everything was practically the same each day. When she asked the guards in charge about Grace's condition, they gave her the same answers every single time, "Little Lady Grace is not awake yet." And this boredom was torturing her mentally and emotionally. She had nothing fun to do or anyone to talk to! Yuki just stared at the motionless ceiling and hummed some song to amuse herself. Some guards already thought she had a mental issue.

And her tummy kept making a loud sound. Yuki was hungry. And no pack of blood could ever satisfy her hunger!

As Yuki sat near the steel bars, she saw the guard left his post and went upstairs. Yuki already could recognize every guard who takes a turn in the underground cell. And there was this one guard who loved to bring a journal book and his old board game of chess when he was in charged to guard the cell. The guard played chess by himself without a partner or challenger.

The guard was an aged man, and he had gray hair and a unique mustache. He looked old, but his body looked strong and healthy, unlike the other elders Yuki saw in her hometown. Plus, he was a sweet elder. Yuki asked for a glass of normal water before, and he gave it to her.

Yuki saw that old guard walking down the stairs made of stones and sat at the table near the oil lamp. He put his chess set and journal book on the table. Unlike the other days, he brought a ham sandwich today. Yuki thought maybe he forgot to have his breakfast or lunch at home.

Yuki drooled as she saw that delicious sandwich. It looked appetizing! If only she could taste it. Only a bite. Even a bit would do! Yuki was super hungry.

When the guard wanted to take a bite of his sandwich, Yuki interrupted him. "Mister!" Yuki called the guard. Her hands were gripping the steel bars in desperation.

"Yes, young girl?" The guard answered.

"Can I have a bite of your sandwich? Just a tiny bite," pleaded Yuki.

The old guard looked at Yuki in wonder and disbelief. He saw the unopened bags of blood lying on the ground. They were untouched.

"You have your food already, miss. Don't be greedy." He stared at Yuki with a cold face.

Yuki shook her head. "Err…" there was a moment of silence. Yuki was thinking about her fake reason. "I do not drink blood. I am a vegetarian. And a vegetarian vampire eats normal food. Ha-ha." Yuki told some nonsense. Even she would not believe that lie if she was in the guard's shoes.

The guard waved his hands in the air. "No can do, miss. It is my lunch for the day." He rejected.

And Yuki was truly disappointed. Her tummy was grumbling like a disco.

"But a game of chess can change that." The guard gave his condition.

Yuki sat up. "Chess?" She was bewildered.

The guard looked at her and asked, "You play chess?"

"Mm… a little." Yuki smiled. Of course, she played chess. She used to play it with Sister Hiromi and Sister Kiko all the time.

God! Just remembering them made Yuki sad. How she missed them so much. Yuki sighed heavily.

The guard put his chessboard in front of Yuki and arranged the pieces on the board. "I tell you what. If you play with me and win a round, I will give you my lunch."

Yuki thought for a moment. One game was not enough for her. She was bored to death. So she needed more time to play chess. "How about we have five rounds. If I win every single game, give me the lunch and a book for me to read." Yuki negotiated.

The guard did not hesitate. It was a fantastic deal, and he had nothing valuable to lose except his sandwich. He could endure his hunger as long as someone could finally play chess with him. The other guards or knights never played chess, and he never had an opponent before. The other guards said that playing chess was such a waste of time. They preferred to use their available time to practice swords or do something else.

"Sounds fair enough!" And the guard agreed.

"Do you want to move first?" asked the guard. But his hands were arranging the white pieces on the board.

"Nah. I will move second," said Yuki, while her hands were busy placing the black pieces on the chessboard. She likes playing the black pieces better.

"Oh! But I forgot to bring a chess clock." The guard looked a little frustrated. It seemed like he wanted to play a formal chess game. He wanted a time limit. As if he was a professional player.

"It does not matter. If one checkmate, then the round is over." Yuki gave her opinion. As long as she could play, she did not care about the chess rules! And Yuki used to play simple chess games. So she was not used to the chess clocks system or recording chess moves.

"Okay!" The guard nodded his head. "But I just want to warn you, lass. I have a wealth of experience in chess games. I would not go easy on you." He cracked his knuckles and smoldered. He was ready. Definitely!

Yuki smirked with a pair of eagle eyes. Her eyes were blazing with overconfidence. She has to win the games! A delicious ham sandwich was at stake. "Please, don't be easy on me."

Yuki leaned her elbows on the cold floor and rested her cheeks against clenched fists. This game was a matter of life and death. Well, at least it was for Yuki. On the other side, the guard rolled up his sleeves, ready to make the opening moves.

The guard moved his white king's pawn forward to two spaces. And the game continued.