Checkmate

Her opponent stared assiduously at the board, finally moving his Castle. Distracted, she spotted her Pawns at the ready, an array of white amongst black. She moved a Pawn. A footstep. The sole beam of light cast on them did little to decrease the intensity.

“Stalemate,” he declared gravelly.

Glancing into the abyss ahead, she smirked. “No, Checkmate.”

A pistol clicked at his temple. Her troop surfaced from hiding, all weapons aimed at him. Sighing, he raised his hands above his head, the shadow of a smile toying with his lips as his liberty from sins had come at last.

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