When I took the first step, I couldn't support my own weight and fell to the ground.
"Dan!" In a panic, Mom screamed and ran to me, attempting to assist me in getting to my feet. "What happened to you? What is this blo—"
She stopped talking as she saw the holes in my arms. The look of horror on her face conveyed her feelings.
"Dan, how did these happen? Who did these? Are you okay? Does it hurt?" She suddenly started to bombard me with questions.
I interrupted her, saying, "It's okay, don't worry about it," because I didn't want to worry her any more than she already was. "Just help me to sit on that chair," I said.
She said in a panic, "All right, just put your weight on me."
With her help, I got back and sat on the chair. The holes were still hurting, and I was feeling dizzy, but what worried me more than those was seeing my mom back in the game. "Mom, nothing happened, right?" I asked.
"To me? Look at yourself first! What happened to you?!"
"Mom, I really don't wanna talk ab—"
"Wasn't your dad with you?"
Here's a question I wish I'd never heard. How should I tell her the truth? My situation had already upset her, and she was probably here to play the next game. How should I tell her that I was responsible for the death of my father?
"He left after you." I lied, avoiding eye contact with her, "Where were you? Have they done anything to you?" I asked. Both to change the subject and to find out what is going on behind the door.
"Of course not. Can't you see? Worry about yourself! How did this happen to you in a minute?"
"It didn't happen in a minute," I said. "It's probably been a day or two." I don't remember exactly."
"No, it has been a minute. "I am certain," she said. "After I left the room, a masked man immediately asked me to follow him to a door. I was a little scared, but I followed anyway because I was afraid they would hurt you. A minute later, I entered through this door, and you looked like this. "How did this even happen?"
"Only one minute?"
"Yes, one minute. But it is not important. We nee—"
I didn't hear her talking after that. I couldn't. How come she says only one minute had passed while I have been here for hours, maybe even days? I'm not even sure how time flew. But clearly it couldn't be a minute. It cannot be.
"Dan. Dan!" Mom called, waking me up from my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Why can't I open the door? We need bandages for your arms and then a doctor. You also ne—"
"Mom," I interrupted her, "They won't give anything; don't waste your time. Just sit down somewhere clean, and I will figure something out."
Of course, she did not agree and still tried, but after seeing me insist, she did as I told her. Of course, I didn't know what to figure out or how to figure it out. I had tried to escape before, but it ended terribly.
Suddenly, the door opened, and my mom reacted faster than I did because she thought they came to help me.
"Mom, don't waste your breath; they are not gonna help. Just sit back and let's see what they are gonna do," I tried to explain, but she did not seem to listen and still tried to ask them for a doctor. Well, that is, until the first man just cleaned the table after bringing a chair for my mom.
"No doctor or healing will be provided until it has been mentioned. Please do not insist!" he said before leaving the room.
Then another man entered the room, holding a chessboard with pieces placed on it. He placed it on the table and told my mother, "Please sit in the chair so the game can begin."
"What game?" she inquired, as I heard the unpleasant noise again.
"Game #6: Body Chess.
You will be playing regular chess with some changes to the rules.
Rule #1: Every 30 seconds, a new move must be made.
Rule #2: If you are in a position to capture your opponent's piece, you must do so.
Rule #3: Player communication is strictly prohibited.
Rule #4: You must follow all other chess rules without breaking or enhancing them.
Rule #5: The game will not end until each player has completed at least seven moves. And if a player wins by capturing the opposing king, the game is reset.
You can choose which color you want to start with.
Punishment: If any of the rules are broken, their opponent will be killed.
How to win: Capture opponent's king after each player has played seven moves."
"Thank God," I let out a sigh. There wasn't a problem as long as we played the game and did not waste time.
But at this moment, a new text appeared under the rules.
"Excuse my mistake, I did forget to writer Rule #6: Each piece represents a body part, and they are written under the pieces. When a piece is captured by your opponent, the mentioned part of your body will be cut off."