Checkmate

The Bishop

Amid my hero complex, I pushed Maddox from Liam, but he did not budge one bit, the guy was huge and bulky so I slapped him. There is an untold disrespect that people seem to feel intensely when they get slapped across the face.  It got his attention so much that he instinctively responded with a straight jab aimed right at my face. As if seeing things in slow motion I felt the panic rise, but honestly, I couldn't even prepare myself for the blow, it was lightning fast but so was the guy who held the meaty fist inches away from my face.

Daniel effortlessly restrained Maddox and said in his low yet somewhat dangerous voice "Control yourself." Maddox instantly shut his eyes then nodded. I wasted no time, I got Liam to get up and we left the canteen. Hailey followed just behind us. When we turned into the corridor Becs and Chloe met us.

"Crap, let me get you a shirt to change into," Rebecca said as she ran towards Liam's locker. As Liam cleaned up we waited for him. "I can't believe you did something so stupid, newbie," Hailey said. Becs gave Hailey a go-on look as she held Liam's shirt. Hailey narrated everything to them, I saw Becs and Chloe look at me with appreciation. "Well, I blame Knox, he such a coward," Chloe said. I asked, "Why is that?" Chloe hesitated at first then went on, "Knox and Liam have been seeing each other for 2 years now and Knox is not coming clean, Maddox knows but is too embarrassed because he thinks Knox will tarnish the Rothchild family name. So he just concluded that Liam is harassing Knox even when we all know Knox is still in the closet.

"Gee tone it down, Chloe, not everyone knows. Only you girls and Maddox knows. Well, now you know too Lily." Liam says as he takes the shirt from Rebecca and dresses. I wanted to ask Liam why he kept dating Knox if he let him get humiliated like that. But I didn't want to overstep. Liam continued as if he heard my thoughts. "Knox is different when I am with him, I see a side of him that no one ever does." Chloe snapped "You going to protect him? He doesn't deserve you." But Liam remained defensive, "Would you just mind your own business? Just shut the F up for once Chloe."

Before the argument could ensue, the bell rang and I was off to my next class. I had English literature and the only available seat just in front of my worst nightmare Maddox Rothchild. Although our incident happened just minutes ago he didn't even react to my presence. When the lesson began I was shocked to see how Maddox was within his element, he even has some weird chemistry with the teacher. What were the odds that these pretty boy twins who were just honestly a**holes in my first impression encounter had double lives and secret love affairs?

Knox being a closeted gay man and his brother Maddox romancing our English lit teacher. The teacher confirmed our first group assignment. She was pairing us in twos, as I heard my name being called she proceeded to call my partners name. "Maddox Rothchild," she said with a smile on her face. I pretty much established that Maddox was no knucklehead pretty boy so I knew I would get a good mark but my dilemma was I happened to be the girl who slapped him. The universe had it in for me.

I attended two more classes before my eventful day came to an end. As I left some books in my locked I bumped into Maddox just as I turned around. "What's your full name, new girl?" he asked. "I - I... I mean, my name? I stuttered. "What, you brave and stupid it turns out." He retorted. Taking slight offense I pulled myself together. Why do you want to know my name? He took the book I was holding and read it out loud. "Lily Knight" I snatched my book from him "Give that back you bully." Unphased by my words he asked, "What's your number?" I snorted before asking, "Why the hell would I give you my number?" He tilted his head to the side and remarked, "Now you are confident and stupid." I rolled my eyes and said, "I don't give my number to abusive strangers." Now, this remark seemed to hit a nerve, I was somewhat proud of myself until I spotted a look mixed with shame and regret. But the look disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

A little annoyed he said, 'Listen, we have a group assignment together so your number would make things easier. Now I really felt rather stupid. "Give me your phone," I said. When he unlocked it and handed it over I typed in my number and gave him the phone. "There you go," I said. As he was about to walk away he said. "I'll text you the deets."

Going back home is uneventful, I find my grandpa helping my nana in the garden. I say it with the most dramatic voice, "I'm home darlings, did you miss me?" My grandpa gives me a pointed look "Something interesting must have happened. Go get changed and come help us." He said. What he actually meant was, hurry back and give us the details. When I get down I help with plucking the weeds. "So how did it go?" My nana asks.

"It was interesting, I made some friends," I said. "Well I knew you had it in you my flower, your nana was worried." My grandpa commented. My nana only snorted and added. "Well, perhaps you could invite them over for lemonade and cookies someday soon." I nodded and continued plucking out the weeds.

The next day at school I open my locker to find a chesspiece of the Bishop, beneath it is a note, before I can read it Liam snatches it from me and reads aloud. "Lunch hour" He looks at Rebecca and they share a look. I can't help but ask, "What?" Liam clears his throat and says "You have been summoned to church girl." I give him a confused look and look at Rebecca to explain but she only just elbows Liam. "Ouch!.... Okay fine. Faust just challenged you to a chess game." I take a deep breath and ask "If I lose I get punished like you right?" Liam gives me a pained look, "Definitely punished but all punishments are different newbie." I swallow hard at that but remain calm. As if on cue, Hailey and Chloe arrive and notice the chesspiece. Hailey gives a snarky remark "I knew Faust was never going to leave that little incident go unpunished." I rolled my eyes and said, "Oh please, you act like I am going to be punished." They all laugh at me and I know at that moment the little faith they all have in me.

Even if they challenged me, I can still decide not to go. My statement makes them go so silent I could hear the needle drop. That's when Chloe tells all these stories about what happens to people who do not accept a challenge from Faust. Apparently, it is worse than punishment so I say "Fine I will go, so where do I find this church?" Rebecca adds "They will come and escort you there, no one knows where it is. You will be blindfolded." I begin to think that this Faust is some secret cult, what if I am in trouble and no one can find me. Liam however chimes in, "Worry not, everyone that is challenged gets to choose one person who can go with them." To my relief, I say "Since I saved you and I am in this mess because of you Liam you have no choice but to go with me." He smiles at me then nods.  "Good thing I came with change clothes then." Confused I ask "Why?" He casually says it " Oh you know, once you lose we will be thrown out with the trash." Hailey says with satisfaction, "What he means is, the tunnel the dump you in slides straight into the school waste dumpster." That's all I need to end the conversation, dread ever coming to this school and leave them standing there as I walk to class as if a cloud full of rain follows me everywhere I go.

Time seems to fly by, as I exit the class I find three guys waiting for me outside the door. All of them are arrogant just like the other four. Liam makes his way to us and says "I'm her plus one." They lead us inside the lift then one guy approaches me with a blindfold and another approaches Liam. I am relieved I'm not alone. We get blindfolded, when the lift comes to a stop we then get spun around enough to not know the direction of our path. Walk for some time and then stop at what I assume is our destination. I am hit by a wood, cinnamon, and mint scent, it smells so pleasant. Our blindfolds are taken off and I see Tyson, the spokesperson of Faust. He greets us with a smile, a little friendlier than yesterday. I guess participating in a challenge and receiving punishment are handled differently. He looks at me and says "Your plus one can sit on the couch, can we offer you anything to drink?" Liam says water and I say I'm fine. I was too nervous thinking I'd probably drink anything with the wrong pipe and end up throwing up or coughing like crazy, embarrassing myself.  He proceeded to say "Have a seat." Daniel was already seated like a king on his throne, ready to behead anyone who dares to threaten his reign of terror.  I took a seat and then wiped my now sweating hands on the sides of my skirt.

The Rothchild twins and the three new dudes were sitting close by like some royal court council ready to decide my fate. Tyson went on "I welcome you to Church! As the laws of Faust state, any codes broken by a subject shall be challenged. Should the subject win no punishment will fall upon him or her. Lily..." He looks at me then continues "We will play a five-minute video that explains the rules of the game. Once that is done the game will begin." I nod in agreement. When the video ends the game indeed begins. Yesterday my friends told me the longest a game took was 6 minutes and that Daniel has never been dethroned.

The game ended as quickly as it began, I looked and the big clock on the wall, it took exactly 3 minutes and my heart began to race.