One month after the Reckoning began...

Nox was enjoying this game immensely, the mechanics of it were easy to grasp but were still complex enough that it allowed for a certain level of strategy to be used. 

Initially, when his self-righteous sister Lux had suggested the game, he was apprehensive about it. The premise of the thing sounded like a watered-down version of chess made for children. 

Nox had even accused Lux of trying to insult his intelligence at one point by not just playing chess. 

Lux had reassured him though, it was simply that she enjoyed this type of Game, Checker's was basic enough that you could easily chat in social situations but complex enough that you still needed to pay attention to your opponent's moves she had said. 

The aim seemed easy enough to understand and any game where the goal was to be the first to devour your opponent's pieces couldn't be all bad he thought.

They were well into their fifth game at this very moment and he was feeling cheerful with how things were going.

Not only had the game been more fun than expected, but he had also won three of the four so far. Through this glee he couldn't shake a feeling something was off, these thoughts were pushed aside though when his black piece reached his opponent's far side. He laughed as the insignificant pawn instantly warped from a thin round disc into a thicker version of itself etched with a gold crown on its shiny black surface. This now promoted piece was now a king!

Kings were different from the normal pawns that could only move and attack going forward. These special pieces could move backward and forwards across the board in any direction. It was going so well he could taste the victory in his grasp.

Lux had only two shiny white regular pawns left now and his two kings and three regular pieces were all close to taking them, "two more moves" he smirked thinking to himself.

Lux.... I have a proposition for you dear brother 

She leaned in smiling! 

Attention being drawn away from thoughts of his victory, he focused on his sisters' smug-looking face, confused at it he replied...

"What?", Make your move so I can gloat some more and stop trying to delay it!" He grumbles agitated at being pulled away from his win.

Lux leaned in more closely a smile forming on her lips.

He felt like he was staring into the mouth of a predator looking at her calm and confident composure. He looked toward the board, eyes darting over the pieces. This was his win, nowhere she could move was safe, he had her backed against the far side. The most she could hope for now would be to take one of his remaining five pieces just before her last is swallowed on his next move. "So why was she so confident?" he wondered... snapping back to his sister she was saying something.

Lux.... Patience brother, all in due course! I have a little wager for you if interested?

"What type of wager?" his interest was peaked by this declaration. "What would she want to bet on, it couldn't be this doomed game", he was just pondering over the options when she spoke again...

Lux.... It isn't anything malicious! Simply, I propose we wager on whether it's You or I that win this game. 

He had to laugh at this proposal!

"What would you gain from making a losing bet such as this, and what would we even wager for exactly?" He grunted!

He knew this was a trap but how could he lose? His mind went over every possible next move Lux or himself could make, these were limited. He was assured victory within his next two moves he knew it.

Lux.... Nothing too serious brother! Just something small like "hmmm" how about the winner gets to ask one question that loser must answer truthfully!

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

He bit his lip, this was wrong, it felt like he was inches from being devoured himself and not just the game pieces. 

He straightened up in his chair, suppressing the unease he felt. 

Sitting there it came to him, he got it, "this was just a scare tactic!" he realized. She wanted him to reject the wager in paranoia, then make an idiotic move like withdraw a piece out her way, he laughed sure of the plan.

"Fine, I accept your proposal under the rules of balance and bind myself to the terms!" he proclaimed out aloud. Any agreement in this neutral space was observed and bound by the overseer's power, neither himself nor his sister could back out now without harsh repercussions.

He wasn't some scared animal, he was Darkness incarnate and she dared treat him like some moron. The best part of this all though was such an innocent wager could be quite damaging to her plans if he really considered the types of questions he could ask. 

"So why was he still feeling a pressure building in his stomach?" he wondered. 

Lux leaned back into her chair and made a sound of almost ecstasy breathing out. Her smile widened revealing perfect teeth as she gracefully moved her piece in front of his like its loss meant nothing to her.

Lux.... I didn't think you would take the bet for a moment there brother! But you must have seen through my silly little strategy right? 

Nox tried to stay expressionless, deep within him he had an ever-growing unease, he felt like he had made a huge mistake but couldn't see how?

"Do I seem so idiotic that I wouldn't see through such a simple scare tactic?" He replied flatly to her increasing smile.

Picking up the black king he took one of her pieces. This left Lux with just a single remaining piece in what he considered his fourth victory.

This was his game no matter how much his sister wanted to play mind games. She had two possible moves left, take his piece in front of hers or retreat the other way to be in front of another. Either way, the next move was his victory. The way she was still smiling so happily at this all was wrong the feeling increased the pressure building inside him, "couldn't she see it?" He wondered.

Lux laughed at his contemplation adding to the unease.

Lux.... or maybe you didn't brother!

This statement confused him... "do you really think you can win?" He asked her unsure what was really happening.

Lux.... Do you know what I like about you brother, You don't need to answer that one! It's that you never ask about the rules of these games, you always want to learn as you play. 

The unease was starting to turn to dread now...

"What rules?" he wondered. "The game was easy to understand. Pawns moved diagonally forward, and to take an opponent it jumps over to the following square taking the piece out of play. The one difference was kings which could move backward as well as forward", It was simple he thought.

"And what haven't I learned of this game's rules?" He didn't really want the reply to come, it felt like he had already lost with the growing glee on her face but he had to know.

Lux.... Why listen to rules now though? I'd rather show you!

Lux lovingly caressed the lonely remaining white pawn before picking it up.

Lux.... Did you notice how I never moved this single piece from its starting position? Well, this was so all of your other pieces would have no option but to be conveniently in front of it and not behind. There is a pretty cool trick in this game you see Brother!

Speaking to him like was a mere child she continued to move the piece over his king taking it into her pile of won black pawns. She didn't just place it back down as expected though.

"What are you doing? Place it down so I can win already!" He demanded

Lux.... No brother that isn't how this bit goes. This is where we come back to the rules that you always ignore, just watch now, it will become clear!

The piece continued moving over the next of his pieces which would have been the one to seal the win. All he could do was stare dumbfounded at the board. This couldn't be cheating as the game had allowed it to happen. Even if he was to accuse her he knew she couldn't really cheat in these games, the overseer's power bound the rules of these games after all. Even their powers couldn't override his control, trying to cheat was punished by instant loss. The piece was removed just like the previous and no grand intervention stopped it from happening.

"What is this? You haven't done this before now!"...

There it was, the sound of crunching teeth would have been perfect to accompany the realization that hit him. This was the trap and he had walked into it like a foolish lamb in front of the big bad wolf. 

He had never actually asked if the moves he had seen were them all, he just assumed. "How could this be?", his mind raced...

Lux.... There it is! Have you finally clicked on? You see most people learn this lesson young on that planet you like so much! You see when you cluster so many pieces in a certain way just like this happens to be.

Her smile became less friendly and more predatory in nature as the remaining of his black pieces were removed one after another.

Lux.... when they are placed like this with a single gap, it allows the attacking player to continue hopping over and over. Well, at least that is until there aren't any other pieces to take in the chain. 

As she finished talking, the final black piece clunked as it landed into her pile. He had lost in one single move. Rage filled him at falling for such an underhanded trick. 

He swung out his arms swiping the board away into the void at a speed so fast a sonic boom could be heard as it rocketed away from the force put into it.

Lux.... Don't get angry now Brother, it's your own fault for assuming you had already won!

Snarling a response to his gloating sister, "ask your damned question, I'm done with this game!".

Face instantly turning serious at this, Lux responded!

Lux.... What is that thing you created?