I wasn't sure how to respond to that text. My mom was confused, not understanding what it meant.
I took each piece one by one, reading what was written under it. First, I took the king, and it was as I expected: head. So, whoever loses loses their head.
Then I checked the other ones to see what the winner might lose. Finger for a pawn, leg for a knight, hand for a bishop, arm for a rook. For the queen, the word 'random' was written. It was most likely decided on the spot.
I didn't even question some problems with the rules. What if I lost an arm, and he had to cut off my hand? What's going to happen? And what exactly does "random" mean? Who will make that decision, and how? This was like a story with many plot holes. It's there for its own sake.
"Dan, what is this? We can't play this game! Is this what you have been doing?" She started asking questions again, panicking and not even listening to the answers I gave. That was until another man entered the room, carrying a large battle axe.
"No!" She screamed and stood in front of me, trying to shield me. "Do not touch my son, please."
"Miss, we are not here to hurt any of you unnecessarily. Please sit down so we can start the game."
"I—"
"Mom," I interrupted her, hardly putting my hand on her shoulder, "There is no escape or survival. Begging, threatening, and even killing don't work. All there is to do is obey and hope for the best," I added. I didn't expect her to listen, but she silently nodded and sat in the chair they asked her to.
"Which color would you like to start with?" The man asked me.
"Black," I chose. Of course, seeing my mom play, I could try to control the game somehow, and maybe I could at least get myself a death without hurting her much.
"Ready?" the man asked, looking at his watch. I closed my eyes and nodded. "Let's begin," he said, pressing a button on it, watching it closely.
She moved a pawn. Then I waited, and just before thirty seconds, I played a pawn. Then, seeing my timing, my mom did the same. Then I did. Then again, then again.
After moving every pawn, we created a 'Pawn Wall' on both sides, which gave enough room to move other pieces without actually targeting each other's pieces. We were not breaking any of the rules and could continue to play until I figured out a way out.
…
I don't know how long it has been. Maybe an hour or two. Both of us have been playing nonstop without a break. Both of the men were still waiting for us, counting seconds.
Obviously, I was getting tired. The adrenaline had already lost its effect a while ago, and I was basically forcing myself to stay alive and play.
…
A few minutes passed. I was hardly doing my moves. My mom could see me have a hard time, but since communication was prohibited, she just stood silently.
…
It was my move, and there were probably only ten seconds left to do it. I was already hardly doing my moves, but I had started to feel dizzy. My hand was not going toward the pieces.
"Agh," I groaned, then reached the knight on the left side to play it backward.
Only five seconds left. If I didn't make the move, they'd kill her.
Three seconds have passed, and I have yet to touch the piece.
At this moment, I heard a voice behind me say, "Let me help you." It took the knight and played it in the center of the board, crossing the 'Pawn Wall.'
"Are you fucking with me? It does not count. I will play my own move," I screamed, disagreeing with him. How dare he play for me?
"The rules do not state that others can't play for you if you are in need."
"It says general chess rules! There is no rule like the one you mentioned." I still disagreed.
Unexpectedly, he pulled out a small book from his jacket. Then opened it and started reading.
"FIDE Laws of Chess – Article 4.9
If a player is unable to move the pieces, an assistant, who shall be acceptable to the arbiter, may be provided by the player to perform this operation." He read, then added after closing the book, "We here are assistants to help you and make sure the game goes smoothly. You are physically challenged right now as a result of the last game. Nothing is breaking the rules. Please miss, continue the game before you run out of time," he told my mom at the end, who played a random move in terror.
With the next move, I was forced to capture a pawn. As I did, the man cut one of my mother's fingers.
She screamed in agony, but I couldn't react. I couldn't even talk to my mother or stop them. I just sat there and watched them throw my mother's finger to the ground.
She was crying in pain, but she continued to play because otherwise, I would have been killed. She captured my knight. In less than a minute, the man struck my leg, severing it completely. I was unable to move. The bleeding was now becoming the final straw. I felt as if I was about to die, but I kept playing. Perhaps I could have found a way out, but how? How could I?
…
A few minutes passed. She had lost both of her arms, and I had one arm and a leg left. Even that arm had only three fingers remaining.
I didn't know what to do. At this rate, we would lose all of our limbs before dying from beheading or blood loss. It all depended on who died and in what manner, because death was now unavoidable.
I could not look at her. I could not bring myself to. I tried to look away, but all I could see was the wall of rules. The rules. He even mocked me by saying I forgot to write six.
Suddenly, a thought struck my mind. My eyes widened, my breathing got heavier, and my heart tried to beat as fast as it could with whatever blood there was left.
"Thirty seconds done. Sorry, but she will be beheaded," the man said as he pushed her head down on the table and, with one strike, cut it off, killing her.
But the thought still scared me. No, it couldn't be. I couldn't be there. There is no way it is possible!
"Am I really in a horror story?" I said, with all the breath I had left before closing my eyes.
I heard only one voice before fully passing out.
"Bingo"