Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 4: A SIMPLE GAME OF CHESS

Dolce couldn't shake off the waves of images and faces of people whose identities were crossed out from bombarding her brain. It certainty made things significantly harder to remember who they were and what significance they held with her already struggling, enigmatic memories.

"Missing Persons...Possible homicide..."

"Unknown house fire..."

"Drowning in a lake..."

But what was most unusual to her was...

"A mysterious package sent to me...Inside was some sort of old game..."

"HELP US...SAVE U-"

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"-Why, hello there, Dolce."

Dolce snapped out of her thoughts and looked up from the picnic table she parked herself at to see Claus standing over her clutching something under his arm.

"Ah, morning Claus..." she greeted, still a bit dazed.

"Good afternoon to you as well Dolce." he greeted with a surprisingly pleasant tone. He took a seat across from her. "I'm surprised to see you here all by yourself. Clearly you've been alone for some time."

"I needed a quiet place to think."

"Oh? About what, may I ask?" He set down the object he was holding and unfolded it—revealing it to be a portable chess game board.

"My brain's been hit with so many past events and images lately I feel like I'm being pulled in all sorts of directions...I feel so displaced in time and reality...And I can't shake off the feeling like I'm supposed to help somebody. I don't know, it's so confusing..."

"And what exactly is it are you seeing?" he inquired, setting up the chess pieces in their proper places.

Dolce closed her eyes in deep concentration. "An old police report of a 'Missing person...' 'Suspected Homicide...' 'A child drowning...' 'House fire...' And people whos' faces have been crossed out. Maybe I knew them? Can't recall...?"

She then remembered about the bloodied and badly burnt woman that appeared to her several days ago when she and Melody were at Margret's place.

"...And, the corpse of a burning woman..." she finished, reopening her eyes.

"Mm-! Perhaps it would've been better if Margret was here to speak with you. She's quite knowledgeable in dealing with these 'sensitive' topics." he spoke in a shockingly undisturbed manner.

"Sorry if I'm boring you Claus. It's pretty heavy and morbid stuff."

"Certainly don't expect much guidance telling Andy or Felix this. Those two would not be suitable in handling your little...'dilemma' with delicate matureness."

"Heh, yeah...Andy's probably not gonna be able to sleep for a week, and Felix would blow me off or won't stop teasing me about it..." she replied with some slight amusement in her voice. "But you're actually handling this better than most people Claus."

"In my spare time I do enjoy a good story. Sometimes such genres reveal themselves within from time to time. It does not bother me unlike the others."

He finishes setting up the game board. All the pieces are in place.

"...I can leave you alone if you want." Dolce offered.

"It's alright. Do feel free to remain where you are. In fact..."