Chereads / The Checkmate Murder / Chapter 28 - Olive

Chapter 28 - Olive

"What are you?" Pointing the flashlight at the man, he nearly hits his head on the roof of the truck. Cursing loudly as he scoots back.

"What?"

"You heard me. What are you?" Cursing lowly, I can see his hand search for something, pointing the light in his eyes he throws a hand up to block the rays. "Don't even think about it…" Opening the driver side door, this was probably the dumbest decision I have ever made. Climbing inside was the second one that at this point my brain wasn't going to register as I swiped up the blade and held towards him.

"Wasn't dreaming of it kiddo…" He grumbles falling further into the passenger seat, fingers gracing one of the blood stains. Drawing back immediately he glares me down. "What do you want? A death wish is so far what I see?"

"Where are my parents?"

Confusion crosses his features before the lightbulb seemed to go off. Opening and closing his mouth he lifts finger up to point at me.

"So, you're their hid aren't ya? The weird as Detective and the Bar maid?" Anger seems to cross his face, drowning the confusion as he sits up. "Do you know what your parents did?! And don't squabble with the answer I cannot believe this was started again!"

Confusion now dawns on my face as the man gives me a once over. Leaning back, he shakes his head.

"You haven't a clue what this game is about do you?"

"I don't care! I just want my parents back and for you guys to just go away!" The grip on my flashlight tightens as I contemplate just hitting the guy with it before he seems to calm down.

"We wouldn't be in this mess if your old man just played the damn chess game right…" He says, crossing his arms over his chest. "Your old man broke the first rule back in our world when dealing with demons." Sticking his pointing finger into the air he finishes. "Finish the Game…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Kid your dad was betting against Demons. What do you think was going to happen when you double cross a demon?" Looking around, he keeps his eyes trained on the tree line as he spoke. "He broke the board and scattered the pieces, all where doing is trying to find them and finish this damn game so that we can go home."

"So, you have to kill people?"

"Only those who have the pieces, we haven't really killed anyone important until you found the two pawns… what was it? A few weeks ago."

It truly does feel longer, everything that has been going on. Between the murders and these strange pieces. Now all rounding up to some game that I'm still trying to wrap my head around.

"Then why did you make them look all transfixed? All those markings?'

"We got to follow what the book says to release the pieces back into play…" With that he reaches into the glove box, the blade meeting his neck as he cautiously removes a small leather pouch from inside. "Each piece has got to form from within the bodies… to become a piece, a pawn, knight, even a king… But that officer friend of yours has kind of got us on the downward spiral."

"How so?" I question as he shows me the pieces.

"Linus… my partner didn't see a piece with them. They weren't here when the game started. Where most of the people here are. We've probably collected most of the pieces as is, but I can't find that damn book to verify." He groans closing the pouch as I pull the knife from his neck.

"So, let me get this straight… Because my dad didn't want to play a game of chess correctly and basically threw the pieces. You." Motioning towards him, "Have to kill certain people to rebuild the pieces…" He nods, "Horse shit!!" Throwing my hands into the air he busts out laughing. "What so damn funny?!"

"Kid, you are really funny. Oh, man I wish Linus could see this." He chuckles as dark trickles of smoke plumed from his dark lips. But just as suddenly as the laughter began it died, the roaring winds and dark clouds above barely visible between the dark sky. "Kid whatever you do stay down and don't say a word…" He mumbles, motioning me onto the floorboard of the passenger seat as he scoots back into the driver seat. Reluctant, I listen as he quickly revs the engine and rips through the parking lot.

"What? -"

"He's growing angrier by the minute… I got to find the pieces before he points his attention back towards us…" His voice is low as he tightens the grip on the wheel.

Uncomfortable squatted down on the passenger side my eyes go from him to the surrounding objects, candles, papers, and finally a small leather-bound book that sat in between the seat and the center console. Pulling it free the mans eyes fly off the road, excitement laces them as he snatches the book from my hand.

"You are a genius kid!"

"I- I" He cut me off pulling into the hospital parking lot.

"We got to get to Linus he's the only one who can read this." Pocketing the book, I give him a wide-eyed confused look.

"Then how the hell did you get this far?"

"Pure stupidity and the luck of one idiotic Irishman with the complex to outsmart a Lord! Ha-ha!!" He cheers, pulling himself from the truck. Before turning towards me, "You got to help me get inside…"

"And why would I do that? I barely believe you as is?!"

"That's kind of the reason why kiddo. I got to get Linus to read what the last few pages say, get the finally pieces and get those two idiots to finally end this game once and for all!" Placing his hands against the end of the leather seats he leans forward a bit. "Kid we got to end this, and now! Or there will be more bloodshed than what I have already done."

After a few minutes, I reluctantly step out of the truck glaring the man/demon thing down before.

"What are we going to do?"