Ride

The van's engine hummed softly, a steady rhythm that felt like it was vibrating straight into Felix's chest. The seats were stiff and cold, the faint smell of leather mingling with something sharp and metallic.

The two men who had escorted him sat in the front, their silhouettes rigid against the dim interior lights. Neither of them spoke, their silence adding to the tension that filled the van like a coiled spring.

Felix sat at the very back, his hands clutching his bag like a lifeline. The chessboard inside pressed against his leg, a constant reminder of the weight he carried—both literally and figuratively.

He tried to focus on the scenery outside the window, but the thick tint on the glass made everything appear shadowed and warped. Trees blurred into jagged shapes, houses melted into indistinct smudges, and the sky above was a featureless grey.

Time seemed to stretch and distort, each second dragging on endlessly. Felix shifted in his seat, his mind racing with questions he didn't dare voice aloud.

"Where are we going?" he finally asked, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence.

Neither of the men responded.

Felix's grip on his bag tightened. "I asked you a question."

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You'll find out soon enough."

The other man didn't even turn around.

Felix felt his stomach twist, a mixture of anger and unease bubbling inside him. He hated how powerless he felt, like a pawn being moved across a board without his consent.

The van hit a bump in the road, jostling him against the seat. He winced, his fingers brushing against the edge of the chessboard through the fabric of his bag.

The weight of the piece in his pocket—the knight he had saved—felt heavier than ever.

He pulled it out, turning it over in his hands. The small, carved figure was smooth and familiar, its details worn from years of use.

"Every game has a turning point, Felix. Even the ones you think you're losing."

His grandfather's words echoed in his mind, both a comfort and a torment. He stared at the knight, his thoughts swirling.

Was this his turning point? Or was he just walking into another trap?

The van began to slow, the hum of the engine dropping to a low rumble. Felix's pulse quickened as he glanced out the window, trying to make sense of the blurred shapes outside.

They weren't in the city anymore.

The buildings had given way to dense trees, their gnarled branches stretching out like skeletal hands. The road beneath them was narrow and cracked, winding through the forest like a serpent.

Felix's unease deepened. "This doesn't look like a school," he muttered.

The driver didn't respond.

The van came to a stop, the brakes hissing softly.

Felix's chest tightened as the door slid open, revealing nothing but the forest beyond.

"Out," one of the men said, his voice flat and unyielding.

Felix hesitated, his gaze darting between the man and the dark expanse of trees. "What's out there?"

"You'll see," the man replied, stepping aside to make room.

Felix's heart pounded as he climbed out of the van, his bag slung over his shoulder. The air outside was cold and damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and earth.

The second man stepped out behind him, his movements precise and deliberate. He held a small device in his hand, its screen glowing faintly.

"This way," he said, motioning toward a narrow path that wound deeper into the forest.

Felix's stomach churned, but he followed, his footsteps crunching softly against the gravel.

The trees seemed to close in around them as they walked, their twisted branches forming an almost impenetrable canopy. The faint light of the overcast sky barely reached the forest floor, casting everything in deep shadows.

Felix's fingers brushed against the knight piece in his pocket, his grip tightening around it like a talisman.

He didn't know where this path would lead, but one thing was certain: it wasn't the one he expects