Kings Gambit

Chapter 52 - Villain

I stood alone at the entrance of the once-locked door at the end of the basement hallway. The door cracked open, revealing a staircase leading up a long way as a glistening white light emerged from the top. This is the last floor this place offers; I might as well check it out...

I took a deep breath before taking my first step up. My stomach growled with agonizing hunger after every step I took. it's been roughly three days since my last meal... If someone doesn't do something soon, we'll die of hunger... We need to eliminate Leo, that's the only way to have Angel, and I escape together. But would we still need to go through a trial if we kill him? Would Jessy really force me to go through that hell again?...

I stepped closer to the end of the stairway. A door was placed at the end of the narrow hall. The white light shone through the cracks. What could be so bright behind this door? I asked myself before shakily turning the door handle.

Tears subconsciously fell from my eyes as the light hit my dilated pupils, and warmth surrounded my body as the shine from the sun above made me weep.

"How long have I been underground?... How long have we been trapped in this hell?" I spoke out to nobody.

I gathered my senses and saw a large birdcage around me. In the far distance past the cage was the open sea. And next to me were several plants grown in gardening pots. A stand-alone room sat to my right with a metal door. Is this it? Is this all we have to work on? A glimpse of the outside world so distant from civilization and a single room? It's like a sick joke. So many have died for this? Bullshit! What are we supposed to do with this?!

"Leo, you bastard!" I shouted as I kicked a bucket next to a growing plant. I panted as in the warm sunlight above.

"Where the hell are we? In the middle of the ocean? I remembered it being late winter, so why is it so damn hot out?" I asked what seemed to be no one, "How in the world did Leo afford to build this place? I know he was a successful writer, but construction of this size would cost millions!" I clenched my hair. I've been in a dreamlike state for so long that I stopped asking about the logistics of our situation. Only when I breathed in the warm air outside I began to question again. I glanced toward the small shed-like building to my right and decided to approach it. But as I tried to turn the nob, Click, It's locked...

"You can't be serious?... Another locked door? You gotta be kidding me..." I stood there paralyzed.

"Trust me, there's nothing important in here," A familiar voice spoke from the other side of the door. My eyes widened as more tears dripped down my cheek.

"Jessy?... Is that... Is that you?" I replied. I haven't heard his actual voice in so long that it hurt...

"No, it's Santa Clause. Of course, it's me, Hank." He replied with a sarcastic tone. I sat down by the door, placing my back against it.

"It's been so long since I've heard your real voice that I was starting to have doubts... I thought you died." I replied, wiping the tears off my cheeks.

"I did, too," He sighed, "I wish I did die there," He replied.

"You don't mean that, do you?" I responded with concern.

"If you're asking that, then you obviously don't remember,"

"You mentioned this back at the trial. What don't I remember? What did I do to you?" My voice shook as I spoke.

"Let me ask, did you ever see me as anything more than a tool, Hank?" He replied.

"Of course! You were my only friend," I closed my eyes.