Emily's Game

I felt nothing. Not the cold, pain, or hatred.

All I knew was what was before me, and what was behind.

The King of Spades told me who killed my parents, told me where he slept, and now I was chasing him through a dense fog. When my footing turned from pavement to sand, I slid to a stop. The hair on the back of my neck stood when I felt the King’s breath behind me.

“He’s getting away, Emily…” he goaded, pushing me forcefully.

I glared at him over my shoulder; I had no reason to distrust him, did I? He apologized for the actions of his subordinates and delivered to me the man responsible for my heartache. He was clean and good, unlike the rest of the Spades…wasn’t he? I studied him briefly; his large stomach, his fine velvet robes, and his glistening crown. I can trust him… I have to trust him.

“MOVE!” the King shouted, pushing me towards a dock that slowly appeared in the fog. “Move or you shall never have your revenge!”

I turned to the dock. The man responsible for everything I’ve suffered was kneeling and untying a boat. I slowly approached him in complete silence, and as I stood above him, he sensed me. When he turned to look at me, I punched him hard in the eye. I watched as he fell with a sick sort of glee; finally, I would have my revenge. I stood over him smiling evilly when a voice in my mind spoke.

How do I know this is true? Look at him, he’s homeless, worthless, and feeble. How could he have done that which he is accused of?

My pause was my demise. The man kicked me between my legs, sending me sprawling in pain on the hard boards of the dock. The mist seemed to thicken as our roles reversed and he stood over me. I tried to rise but he pinned me beneath him, both hands on my neck. I struggled, but he was much bigger than I was; not nearly as feeble as I imagined. I clawed at his hands, trying to pry them off my neck.

I’m not strong enough to get him off. I'm wasting my time… Think, think, THINK!

“Emily! Kill him!” the King screamed.

I tried to glare at him, my eyes bulging as I began to lose the battle for my life.

“I can’t, my lord! He’s too strong!” I cried, and the bum's eyes widened, eyes darting around to see who I was talking to.

Could he not see him? He was distracted, thinking I had backup, and his hands loosened. I attacked with a quick palm to his jaw, I heard his teeth clash together and he fell backward. The bum landed on his back, his head hanging over the end of the dock. I pulled myself to my feet, rubbed my neck, and kicked him in the ribs.

“Stop! Stop, please!” he pleaded, holding his hands up to protect himself.

The King began to laugh as he came up behind me and jabbed my ribs with a sharp finger, egging me on.

I stared down at the man, my anger boiling over.

This is the man who burned my parents alive; the man who ruined my life. He’s a murderer.

“Did my parents beg for their lives too?” I demanded. “Did they cower as you burned them alive?” I crouched over him, punching him in the face with all my might. I relished in the spray of blood that covered my face and his with each blow, but something was wrong. The man was taking the blows…and smiling.

With preternatural strength, he grabbed my waist and flung me off of the dock and into the freezing water. Much to his surprise, I grabbed his jacket and he came plummeting into the depths with me.

We were sinking, grappling one another as the freezing water closed in around us. I got behind him, wrapping my arms and legs around his waist, squeezing his neck with my arms and pulling down with my legs until I felt a snap and he went limp in my arms. I watched him sink into the black abyss, with no sadness in my heart for him, until my lungs felt on fire and screamed for air. I kicked myself to the shore, gasping and spitting up water before I collapsed on the bank, my hair and eyebrows freezing over.

My breaths came in shallow gasps; my heart beating too fast, and the world on the shore seemed surreal. I saw flashes of blue and red… Were those police sirens? But underneath it all was a peal of lucid laughter and the crunching footsteps of a measured gait.

I rolled on my back to see the King standing over me, his hands on his hips, and an evil smile on his lips.

“I lied, Emily,” he said as he crouched beside me, his malicious eyes crinkling as he smiled.

“Lied?” I choked, still fighting to breathe normally as I expelled water from my lungs.

“He didn’t kill your parents. You’re the murderer, Emily. You just killed an innocent man!” He threw back his head and laughed.

My world spun into chaos; the red and blue lights were swirling in the fog, my body twisting of its own accord. I felt sick; murder… I was a murderer… The last thing I saw before I lost consciousness was the face of a first responder, his eyes full of worry.

Where had the King gone?