Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 5

Ella's face twisted into one of pure rage. "NO! YOU EVIL SPAWN OF SATAN!" she screamed, "WHY DIDN'T YOU GO AFTER JACK!? HE'S CLOSER TO HOME!" "Because you're closer to my home," I told her, "Besides you're more of a threat on the board than he is." "THAT IS NOT A GOOD REASON!" Ella argued. I rolled my eyes, "Jack it's your turn." Smiling, Jack drew his card, "Yes!" he hissed as he placed down a one. Grabbing one of his pawns he moved it out of start. Shoot maybe I should have gotten rid of Jack's other pawn. Anna quickly drew the next card. A grin spread across her face, and she slapped down a 'Sorry'. "Sorry," she sang as she grabbed one of her pawns and knocked the pawn closest to Jack's home back to start. "NO!" Jack screamed, "WHY!?" Anna smiled innocently, "I can't let you win. Green's uprising is at hand, and I will take this battle." "Not if I have a say about it," I laughed. Ella drew her card and frowned, "Seriously?" she asked, "Seriously!? AN ELEVEN!" Ella slammed the card into the discard pile. I drew my next card and groaned, "NOOOOO! Stupid four!" Everyone at the table laughed as I grabbed my pawn and begrudgingly moved it back four spaces. We continued drawing cards, moving, getting knocked back, and screaming, until we were near the end of the game. Jack and I currently had three pawns in home and one left on the board, while Ella had two in-home, one in the safe zone, and one on the board. Poor Anna had two in-home, one on the board, and one at start. We all knew Anna was out of the race there was no way she would catch up, Ella still had a fighting chance, but the main competition was between me and Jack. It's currently Anna's turn and she had just drawn a twelve. As she moved her piece, a small smile began to creep across her face. I didn't know why till I saw it.

Twelve spaces landed her right in her safe zone. Maybe she does have I chance I mused. I could feel the tension rise as Anna placed her pawn in the safe zone. Now she only had one more pawn to get out and then she might win. But that's still a stretch, besides I plan on winning this battle anyways. The game continued on and with each turn, the stakes got higher. Soon enough Anna had caught up to us and we were all on the edge of our seats. Anna, Jack, and I all had our final pawns in our safe zone while Ella was still on the board. Now it was a race to see who got their last pawn into home first. The room's atmosphere was heavy with anticipation and determination, no one here was giving up. It's just a matter of time before someone wins and no one here is willing to let their chance slide. This battle decides the fate of each person and whoever doesn't come out on the top will face certain death. Ella drew her card; it was a backward four. After she moved her pawn, I drew next. The card was a three, I moved forward and smiled. Only two spaces left till I get home. Jack drew next. Picking up his card, he grinned as he lay down a two. He only had three spaces left. If he draws a three, he'll win. Jack drew another card and frowned. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was a five. He couldn't go. Anna drew next she picked up her card and placed it down smiling. She had drawn a three. This is bad. If she gets a two first, she'll win. I can't let that happen. I won't let it. Ella drew her card and moved forward seven spaces as instructed. It was my turn again. I just need to draw a two and then I'll win. I grabbed the card from the top of the pile, taking a deep breath I turned it over and was met with a three. "NO!" I shouted slamming it down. Stupid card! I need a two, not a three! But on the bright side, that means Jack won't pull the three.

I watched intently as Jack drew his card. When he placed it down, I saw it was two. I frowned. Seriously I couldn't have drawn that one!? Jack moved forward two spaces. Now all he needed was a one. Grabbing the next card, Anna sighed as she placed down an eleven. I smiled perfect, she can't go anywhere. We went around in the circle several more times and nothing much changed. Anna, Jack, and I still hadn't entered home, but now Ella had her last pawn in the safe zone as well. Adding one more to the race of who gets to the top first. Ella grabbed the card from the top of the pile. Placing down the card, I realized it was a seven. She couldn't move. I drew next and got a five. I couldn't move either. Jack drew and got a three. He couldn't move. Anna grabbed her card, and a victorious grin broke across her face. Slamming down a two, Anna grabbed her final pawn and moved it into home. "NO! YOU CHEATED!" Jack screeched. "I DID NOT!" Anna argued, "I WON FAIR AND SQUARE!" "THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE COME BACK FROM SUCH A DISADVANTAGE!" Jack protested. "YES, THERE IS!" Anna shouted, "IT'S SORRY! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN! STOP BEING A SORE LOSER!" "BOTH OF YOU STOP YELLING BEFORE THE NEIGHBORS COME OVER AND TELL US TO QUIET DOWN!" Ella yelled. "YOU'RE YELLING TOO!" Both of them shot back. "GUYS QUIET DOWN!" I hollered, "USE YOUR INSIDE VOICES!" "WE'RE NOT IN KINDERGARTEN!" Ella argued. "WELL, YOU'RE ACTING LIKE IT!" I shouted, "NOW LOWER YOUR VOICES." "Gosh, okay mom," Jack muttered. "Well now that that's settled," Anna said, "I do believe it is time to crown me the winner of the battle." I sighed, "It is." Anna grinned, "That also means you have to give up your winning streak Luke." "I know," I muttered. "My ceremony will take place in the living room," Anna declared getting up from her seat at the table and sauntering over to the couch. After the first day of battles, we decided to wage war again, we agreed that whoever won the last battle would be crowned champion until they were beaten.

The first crowning was very simple just declaring them the winner but over time they became more extravagant. Now there is a whole speech and a giving up of the crown from the former champion. Things can get very interesting. Getting up from the table, we all walked to the living room. Upon entering, we found Anna sitting on the couch with her legs crossed and hands on her knees. "Come in," she said beckoning us over to the couch. When we got in front of the couch, we got in a line and bowed. Anna grinned, "No need to be formal just carry on with the regular procedure." Straightening up into standing positions we began the speech, "We admit our defeat and now hand over the sacred crown to the new champion of 'Sorry'. We will not judge how the game turned out but accept the results and will no longer argue on the matter. Let us accept our new champion with great joy and hope for their demise in the next game." Anna's grin grew impossibly wider, "Now Luke it's time to give me your crown." Stepping out of the line I went up to the edge of the couch and knelt before Anna. Bringing my hands up to my head I removed an imaginary crown and held it up to Anna, "Great champion Anna," I said, "I present to you the champion's crown and I give up my winning streak of six battle days so that it no longer holds any power." Anna smirked, "Thank you, Luke, I will take good care of the campion's crown. Now rise! The crowning ceremony is now over." Taking, the imaginary crown from my hands Anna placed it on her head and stood up from the couch. "I'm tired," Anna said. "Me too," Ella muttered, "I've been wanting to go to sleep for hours." "Well, it is eight-ten," Jack told them. "I'm going to bed," Ella announced, "Night." "Me too," Anna chimed in, "Night." "Night," Jack and I replied. With that Anna and Ella left the living room and went to their room.

I turned and looked at Jack, "Are you tired?" Jack shook his head, "No not yet I was thinking about staying up for a while longer." I nodded, "Do you mind some company? Because I'm not quite ready to turn in for the night either." "No, I wouldn't mind," Jack said, "As long as you don't do anything annoying because I just want to relax." "I wouldn't dream of annoying you," I laughed, "I don't want to risk waking the girls up. Especially not Ella." Jack shuddered, "Yeah, waking her up is not a good idea." "I'm gonna be right back," I told him, "I want to grab my book." "Can you grab mine for me too please?" Jack asked. I rolled my eyes, "Sure, where is it?" "It's in my backpack, there's several in there but can you grab 'Wonder'?" I laughed, "'Wonder' again? You've read that book like a thousand times." "It's my favorite book, " he protested, "Besides you've read 'To Kill a Mockingbird a thousand times and you brought it with you." "Good point," I said, "I'll go get it." Walking into the hallway, I turned into Jack and I's room. Flipping on the light switch, I went over to the closet, grabbed my backpack, and pulled out my book. I set the book on my bed and placed my backpack back into the closet. I closed the closet door and scanned the room for Jack's backpack, it was sitting on the left side of the bed. Going over, I unzipped it and began to search through it. It didn't take long for me to find Jack's book once I did, I grabbed the book and zipped up the bag. Then I picked up my book, turned off the light, and went back to the living room. Walking over to Jack, I tossed him his book and sat next to him on the couch. "Thanks," he said. "No problem," I replied. I opened my book and began to read. Even though I've read 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' thousands of times the story never gets old.

The characters display how much thought the author put into the book and the story is incredible. No matter how many times I read it I don't think I'll ever grow tired of it. As I continued reading the story, I could feel my eyes beginning to droop and found myself reading the same sentence as I had been five minutes ago. Yawning, I stretched looking over at the clock I realized it was nine twenty, time for me to turn in. "I'm gonna go to bed now," I told Jack, "Goodnight, and don't stay up too late I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day." "Night," Jack said glancing up from his book, "Don't worry I plan on coming to bed once I finish the chapter." I nodded, "Okay." With that, I got up and walked back to the room. After getting ready for bed, I crawled under the comforter and fell asleep.

I'd like to thank my sister for coming up with the 'Speech of Champions.' Anyways, have a great day! Bye! 🙃