A Game Of Pawns

Chapter 6

I was going to die, no doubt about it. I was going to be stabbed by an impossible-looking sword in broad daylight in the middle of town. No doubt my murder would be in the local news tonight. I might even make national. They'd all mention how stupid I was to confront an armed man with nothing and how I just stood there, like a deer in the headlights, waiting to be killed.

My contemplations were interrupted by a speech made by the sword-wielding vandal. I couldn't make much sense of the nonsense he was spouting, something about chances of winning and me having other opportunities. He was clearly crazy and I stopped paying attention to his words as he stepped closer, swinging his sword and making me realize just how close he was. Way too close. In range, close.

Come on, feet! I willed my muscles to move the lower half of my body and I managed a stumbling step backward, but I knew it was too late to run. His sword arched towards me.

I thought my life would flash before my eyes. Wasn't that supposed to happen? I thought I'd think about what's important to me. What's really important. Like my friends and family, maybe a past crush or, I dunno, something. But no. The only thing that came to my mind was the fact that I expected images to flash in my mind and how disappointed I was that it wasn't happening; like I was missing out. That made me feel stupid for feeling disappointed that I wouldn't get to relive moments of my fleeting life fondly; as if I wanted to be more ready to die before I even reach thirty. All of these feelings occurred in the time it took the guy to raise his blade and thrust it towards me. Why didn't I run away? My brain was too busy feeling anxious, disappointed and stupid to fend for my life.

I kept telling my body to get it together but all I did was yell at the guy; like I was the crazy one out of the two of us. I closed my eyes as the blade neared my face, wincing in anticipation of the pain that was coming.

A loud clang made me wince again and tense even more, but a slight breeze across my face and the lack of pain made my eyes fly open. Several more clangs resonated in my ears before I realized that someone had saved my life by diverting the blade before I was cut down. My savior had pushed back my assailant several steps and put himself between me and the crazy swordsman. Only then did I realize that he was also carrying a sword and I began to wonder if I was going crazy. I was watching two men sword-fighting in the street in front of Bingo's Pizza. I shook my head, blinking hard and pinching myself, not for the first time today. This was modern-day America! How is there a sword fight happening in the streets?!

The new arrival had an aura of ferocity. His stance was calm and confident, seemingly unbothered by the crazed old man he was guarding me against. He was dressed in all black, wearing fingerless gloves and held a wicked sword. His sword was longer than my attacker's but only by a few inches. It was also much thicker, kind of like an overgrown chef's knife but the blade wasn't quite as overgrown as the handle, which was covered in leather. He briefly looked back at me and I recognized the intense green in his eyes. It was him again! The man from my dream. The same man that Tommy nearly ran into earlier.

I felt like I should say or do something to help. My mind was scrambling for a good option when the crazy man started yelling. "Go away! He's of no use to you. Let me kill him and we can join together." He stared at Green Eyes expectantly, the loss of sanity showing in his dull eyes. "He's new. Probably doesn't realize it yet. I have some experience and could be of use to you. This brat will gain you nothing! What do you say?" The dark figure simply focused his blade on the old man and took a stance that I wouldn't want to be in front of. Eyes nearly popping out of his head, my attacker yelled again, "Fine! I'll just kill you too!"

Something I didn't understand happened. The older man tensed and made a slight gesture with his free hand, then he smiled and giggled. Green Eyes didn't move but the old man did. He did a sort of dance, skipping around and mumbling to himself.