Vignettes
#1. An Intro
Tick tock tick tock...
ʺYou're late.ʺ
ʺI'm s-sorry, I just--ʺ you begin to splutter.
ʺYou know...ʺ he interrupts you, picks up a coin, and spins it. ʺThis war is all a mind game. A game of chess. Excuse my lack of a proper chess board in this place... but as you know, there is only one goal. Capture the enemy's king. It doesn't matter how many pieces you have to sacrifice.ʺ He flicks the twirling coin off the table top and it comes rolling to a stop at your shuffling feet.
He finally looks in your direction.
ʺVictory... is all that matters. Do you understand?ʺ
ʺY-yes...ʺ you reply, tentatively.
ʺGood,ʺ he smiles, but it doesn't make you feel any better. ʺThen tell me, what do you do when a rooky--I'm sorry, I mean a rook," his eyes gleam at yours, "is in the way of that success?ʺ
ʺI... Sir... I didn't mean to... It-it was an acci--ʺ
ʺWhat... do you do?ʺ
The room is dead silent as you begin to answer, ʺYou... y-you... sa-sacrifice...ʺ
ʺYes! Exactly. You sacrifice him,ʺ he confirms, staring intently at you. His smile has grown.
