-Heartless Moves

One random image and my thoughts on what it speaks]

Every Saturday night, Cardinal Shephard would entertain the devil in a game of chess. The table was set, both individuals were seated, and the first move had just been made. This was a game of favor. You see, the Cardinal had spent many years of his life preaching to the congregation about the sins of cigarettes, yet his hypocrisy was strong, and his office served as an escape from their judgmental stares. He closeted his addiction but now it had eventually caught up with him. Before cancer could take him, he made a deal with the devil.

"If you will play against me, in a game of chess, then I will wager you a promise. Play me for the right to live. I win; I live. I lose, you can have, not only my soul, but half of my congregation's."

The devil accepted. Night after night, the Cardinal beat the devil and walked away to see the next morning. The devil began to grow weary of defeat. So, he devised a plan.

"Tonight, I will wager you down. You will accept it, or you will forfeit the game, thus admitting defeat and relinquishing your soul to me."

The Cardinal wasn't happy about the modifications but had no choice. He was quite content with his abilities as a player, so he easily shrugged it off without much thought. Besides, if less than half of his congregation was now at stake, this wouldn't really affect the game.

"I wager you down from the count of fifty ... to just one."

Wow, Shephard thought. He must really want someone specific. They shook hands and sealed the deal.

"OK, I win, I live. I lose, you have mine and one of my congregation's soul."

The Cardinal went about arranging the chess pieces to prepare for their game. The devil leaned in to clarify his new position.

"I choose the member," he whispered.

The Cardinal was surprised but quickly dismissed it.

"Fine. Your choice."

"Agreed."

Shephard made the first move, as always. They swapped three more each before he spoke again.

"Tell me, why did you wager down to one when you had a chance at fifty?"

"Because just one is better odds."

The Cardinal became suspicious and questioned more.

"How is one better than fifty? Do you truly want this one and the rest matter not?"

"Oh, they matter. And in time. But for now, it is yours that I truly want."

"And you thought wagering down to one would help you get mine?"

"Indeed," the devil said with a grin.

The Cardinal was extremely curious by now and absolutely had to know more.

"And who will you choose if I were to lose?"

"They have already been chosen. Maggie May."

The Cardinal was alarmed and began to feel flustered. His brow began to sweat and his fingers trembled. The devil had tricked him into wagering down with the intention of replacing fifty people the Cardinal was not really concerned about with one that he was ... his daughter."

"Now, wait-"

"She is a member of your church. You agreed. Are you willing to relinquish now or shall we play?"

Cardinal Shephard was at a loss. He wanted neither, now. But he had agreed. Suddenly, the chess pieces seemed a bit more distant. He felt more confusion in his ability to play, effectively. This is what the devil anticipated. Insert someone he actually cared about, and he wouldn't be so quick to gamble on the lives of others. And if he did, his game would suffer. Cardinal Shephard was at hypocrite.

Reluctantly, he played.

The sun rose, the following morning, and when nightfall arrived ... the devil grinned.

[One can prevent the possible outcome for another. But one must do so before making the first move. Choose wisely]