Friday Fictioneers – Chess

~ neilmacdon
sandra-crook-1
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

The town square was placid. Bread was bought, coffee drunk, chess played.

I was never placid. Orderly routine filled me with divine rage. As a child, crossing the square, I would imagine a detonator in my pocket. Click, and Mme Albert vanished; click, and M Leroy became a puff of smoke. As I grew older, I dreamed of knives and bombs.

You probably think I’m a psychopath and came to a sticky end. Think again. I made my fortune and bought this town. Deploying the citizens on the board is much more fun than killing them.

 

Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here

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58 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers – Chess”

  10. Well, it’s certainly true that many CEOs have psychopathic tendencies – not all of them become killers, but they are very good at manipulating others. Your man fits right in! Nice twist on the expected tale, Neil and very nicely written

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  20. I looked at that picture and almost wrote about a bomber! That’s a divine twist at the end of your story, although it did creep me out, as it rang all too true and has definite parallels with many people in positions of power.

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  26. I could just see the younger incarnation wishing away the local residents. That directness and honesty contrasts well with those later manipulative deployments.

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