A Game Of Pawns

Chapter 24

    Demi cursed a second time, still staring out the window. "We don't have time for the plan."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "It just started to snow. Don't we have time?"

"No, we have to do this now or we risk the lions coming."

I looked at her, "have you seen the lions before?"

"No," Demi confessed, "but I've heard enough about them to not want to." She looked out the window, then back at me, "we need to use the other plan."

"That's a lot riskier."

"It doesn't matter. It requires little to no prep time. Besides, if we don't do something soon, we might not get the chance at all." She looked at me, her eyes pleading with me to understand.

Demi seemed firm. We had to make a move. I didn't have enough experience to argue and I didn't really want to find out why everyone was so afraid of these lions. I nodded to her and we went into separate rooms so we could get changed into clothes better suited for combat. Bye-bye gym shorts; I never wore you, but you looked amazing on Demi. An instant later, she was packing food to bring in case we would need it. I brought out a backpack for us to use and I took a few sweaters and a jacket so we could keep warm, but Demi shook her head at the clothing.

"We won't need them. The snow will be warm."

Before we left, I turned on my phone. I had a few messages but I decided to ignore them and write a message of my own. It might be the last chance I would have. If I died, would I have my phone on me when I woke up? Even if I survived and won this game, what would happen next? I might not get another chance. I messaged Tommy and Michael first:

Guys, I'm going in for one last fight. Win or lose, I don't really know what's going to happen. Just know that you two are the best friends I could have ever hoped for. Tommy, I'm glad you found Trisha. I didn't really understand it until recently, but I'm happy for you two. Michael, thanks for putting friends before work. It makes you one of the greats. I'll text if I can, but I don't know what's going to happen. Just know that I'm thinking of you and I'm trying to get back.

I didn't know what else to say, so I sent it. Then I wrote another message:

Sidra, I haven't been honest with you recently. I haven't been at work. A lot has happened and I don't have the time to say everything anymore. Some of it is good, most of it isn't. I don't know if I'll be able to text you again, or if I'll see you again. But I want to and I'm trying to and I love you. Tell mom and dad that I love them too, but maybe cover for me for a bit? I don't think they'll understand and I don't know what they'd do once they found out. I guess I'm hoping I can get back before too long, but I just don't know. Sorry, I'm rambling. Just know that you are the best sister ever and that I love you. And know that I'm not great, but I'm alright.

I wished I was better at messaging people that I might never see again. It's not something I have much practice at but I felt like it wasn't enough, maybe nothing would be. I wasn't sure how they would take it. Hopefully, they would understand. I turned my phone off and hoped that I would be able to use it again. I looked up to see that Demi was ready and waiting for me, so I tried to get my mind in gear. I guess I was as ready as I would ever be.

Before we left, she turned to me, grabbed me by my shirt and said, "remember; focus. This is not going to be like a sparring match with Saris."

"Right," I squeaked, then cleared my throat, trying to hide my surprise and disappointment.

Demi smiled, "thought I was going to kiss you, didn't you?" I felt my face get hot. She laughed, "it's okay." She hugged me. It wasn't a long hug but it was warm and soft and it gave me chills; good chills, that went away quickly. She pulled away from me and I felt butterflies in my head, dancing around and making me confused. "Hey," Demi said, punching my arm. "Focus. Remember?" She laughed again, teasing me. I nodded and we left my old home; I wondered if I would ever come back here.