Sneak Peek - Chess Tournament

Alice sat on a dark oak chair. Golden light beating down on her like the Sun. A chess board on a table of the same material and color lay in front of her. On the opposing end sat her opponent- Mickey Oswald, a bespectacled boy the same age as Alice. His hair was illuminated bright brown by the stage lights, and his eyes glowed sky blue.

The Puppet hung above them with six or seven eyes for the six or seven contestants, each pair a different color. Alice tried to focus, but her heart beat in her ears, butterflies now multiplying in her chest- her eyes wander to Dorothy and Peter, each by different tables, facing off against opponents of their own. Alice had beaten a few others already, yet she felt no better facing Mickey. In fact, her hand trembled. Those children- they've been sent backstage... But for what? Had she murdered them? Did she have to murder the boy she now faced? 

She was painfully aware of the ticking clock, she had to beat her opponent or they both lost- and only the Puppet knows what happens to the losers. She breathed in the thick air and focused.

Her opponent studied the board for a minute or two. Resting his head on his hand, his elbow on the table. He lifted a white pawn and made a clink on a white marble square. White pawn to c4.

Alice thought he looked bored- as if this was a waste of time. Did he know what happened to the losers? She moved her hand to the board, gliding it over her black marble pieces. She found her move. Black pawn to c5.

He made no wait to make his move, moving a white pawn protecting his king forward to e3. He must've wanted to win as soon as possible. Alice could relate- she didn't want to breathe in this heavy air after all. She mimicked his move, moving her pawn in front of her king a square further. Black pawn to e6.