Reed wa

ve recorded on the board, but th

t against the reality unfolding before him. This wasn't just

y. "I will not sit he

ell," Celest

owed. "You assume

"I assume that losing

unted house, playing a game where people disappea

. He wasn't sure what the stakes were ye

said finally

-

ame r

his bishop forward. The moment his fi

rs of the room deepened,

ove play

en slid forwa

rom the table. "Did

ody

ed. "We're not playin

eren't just trapped inside a haunted manor-they were p

t had been wa

-

tepped forward. "Mr. Blackwo

h caught. Jona

eatest players in history. The on

wly. "He never dis

his head. "Not in

"What the hell

He could feel it in his bones.

ecome pa

me con

-

next. A knight

delier above them

no longer distant. It was all around them

he pieces were shifting slightly, a

g control,"

on darkened. "The

r temple. "I don't want to

y stepped back i

game c

-

played

ated for

moved a pawn, the whisp

ace snuffed out. The roo

lena w

s gasped. Amir stumb

o, no

tightened. That

playing. It was abo

es wer

eleste. "How d

ly. "By finishing wh

oked at t

s his

te the terror clawing at his mind. He had played

ate motion, he

held it

eliberate knoc

a vo

almost

-

-