A Game Of Pawns
Preview

Both the moon and sun kissed the curve of a darkening horizon. The street was empty, save for the shadows lurking behind the walls and streetlights. There was a presence in the air, and on my skin, but no source within view. Gently, I closed the door, listening for the soft click that locked it into place before turning back to a half-lit room that smelled of old food and paper bags. 

​

My companion sat in a booth in front of a large window, wincing from the cuts and bruises on his face. Fresh blood soaked into his white shirt. He didn’t grin when he saw me approach, and the nearer I got, the more the blade of guilt cut into me. He looked like a ghost. 

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I forced a smile as I crossed the tiled floor, and sat across from him. "A window seat, huh? That's daring."

 

A sly grin crept on his face as he spoke, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Fresh blood streamed down the wrinkled cut. "Can't make it too hard for them." 

​

His face twitched painfully before slinking back into a tired scowl. He raised a hand toward the gash but stopped short, wiping some of the blood off of his chin instead. It had been a long day for both of us.

 

"It was my fault," I said, rubbing my bruised fingers. "I missed the signs."

 

He shrugged, "Just a mistake. It happens."

 

"Yeah, well, that mistake got half of us killed pretty quick." I looked out the window. Relax; but I couldn’t. "It's not safe here. We should get going."

 

He picked at the corner of the table, "Ya know, Saris, I'm tired of this whole thing."

 

"You're not the only one."

 

"Sometimes, I think it'd be easier to… die."

 

I smiled. "That would make it too easy for them." He chuckled but didn't smile back, causing mine to vanish. "I told you we can't stay here. Let's go."

 

"I know, I know. I feel it too." He sighed, looking out the window. The sun had vanished, and all that could be seen from the glass was our shadowed reflections, and the dark of the night. "I guess I needed a minute to sulk. Think I'm good now. How long do you think we have before they find us?"

 

Just as the words left his lips, the window shattered, exploding around us. Shards of glass cut my face. I ignored the ringing in my ears, instinctively jumping out of the booth and shielding my face with my forearms. Another explosion kept a cloud of dust in the air, distorting my vision. A strong wind swept through the restaurant, clearing the air, and I searched for my companion. It was too late; he was already gone.