On Edge

I felt the eyes boring in to the side of my head, trying to decide how confident I really was, but I'd already moved to look upon her again, mixing my emotions so that it was almost impossible for him to tell.

_Just think, this is what you're playing to save._ He gestured towards her. _I'm hoping you put up more of a fight than my last...opponent._

"Stop wasting my time, I want to get this over with." I tried to sound a little cocky, but I think my nerves had started to show through. He raised his right eyebrow.

_Do you fear death, human?_

"No." I wasn't lying.

_Then what are you afraid of right now?_

I was right, he'd noticed how on edge I was. I wasn't scared of dying. But I wasn't about to let him in on this weakness. Not if he hadn't yet found out for himself. So I stayed silent.

_I see how it is. Fine then, let the games begin._ He let out a small, devilish chuckle at the end of the sentence.

Another snap of his fingers and black and white squares materialised between us. The time had come.