A Set Of Snakes

“We’re here, sir.”

I smiled at the butler as he opened the door for me as I stepped out...banging my head on the way out. Thanks to my 5’11” height, Oftentimes I slammed my head against the roof, much to my irritation. As I got out of the limo, I pushed my prescription sunglasses up so the sun wouldn’t mess with my eyes. Thanks to my albinism of the eyes, I usually had to wear sunglasses (sometimes inside as well) so my eyes wouldn’t go all wonky. Luckily (in my eyes) I wasn’t a true albino, but had the natural tanned skin tone and nice dark hair of my mother. I pulled myself out of the limo...to go to the CVS down the road. I couldn’t help but rush into the store, feeling a little embarrassed for having to be driven to the store in a limo.

Alright, time for a quick explanation about me. My name’s Drachen Ritter Smith, and I’m 17 and three-quarters. I’m a senior in high school, and a pretty meh student. For the first fifteen years of my life I lived with just myself and my mother, went to public school, and was happy. We weren’t rich, but that didn’t matter. We had each other and all that mushy stuff.

Then my mom met a man named Brooke Smith. He was a multimillionaire and apparently my mom’s dream husband or something. They got married within a few months of dating and then proceeded to change my life. I was taken out of my public high school and stuck in a private one, tearing me from my friends and the life I had known for years. My grades began to drop because I had no idea what half the teachers were saying. My mom and stepdad then went off to god-knows-where while I was left with a ‘butler’ to take care of me.

Really, Karim wasn’t that bad. Really, he was more like the older brother that I never had, but still is really annoying moments. Like having me take the limo to the store down the street, but I think he really did that to annoy me more than anything.

Karim chuckled, wearing a Harvard hoodie and jeans over his muscled bulk. At least 6’3”, he was a monster of a man. Sometimes, I swear, he should have gone into football instead of becoming a butler. But whatever, people do what they please. He is a pretty kicking football player though: when we play in the backyard after school he always wins. Then again, he’s almost always better than me at everything. My homework, football, judo, the only thing I’m better at is art, interestingly enough.

But luckily it was almost break and I was going to go see my best friend Kari. She’s been my friend since kindergarden, having chased off some brats that were bullying me. We did everything together, from going to school to the movies to doing homework. But when my dad made me move schools we were separated by too much distance to see each other. We still kept in touch with each other with Skype. She asked me to come over during April break to go to her birthday party, so I couldn’t help but agree and get Karim to bring me.

Looking at the birthday cards, I couldn’t help but think that becoming rich wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. While he was really annoying sometimes, Karim wasn’t that bad of a guy and overall a kick-ass butler. The money did help me buy nice clothes and other things I could only dream of, as well as buy stuff for my friends, like food, presents, etc.

“Alright, what gift card should I get Kari?” I asked myself as I scanned the different gift cards. I mean, there were Amazon cards, Itunes cards, Adventure Quest Worlds cards….almost every type of gift card imaginable. I could probably buy one of each, but I didn’t want to get Kari something she didn’t want. Or worse, something she would have no use for. With a sigh I kept looking at them.

After about twenty minutes Karim walked back over, holding a plastic bag in one hand. He had a small smile as he looked at the time on his phone.

“Drachen, we should be going to the airport soon.” He told me, returning the phone to his pocket. “You might miss your flight. We can always buy a present when we get to Massachussets.”

“Just...give me five minutes. If I can’t decide on one, I’ll leave and buy her something else.” I responded, thinking about just buying the Amazon card.

“Alright. I’ll wait in the limo.” He smiled and walked out of the store to start up the vehicle.

With a small sigh I looked back at the cards and picked up the $25 Itunes and $50 Amazon ones. I juggled the cards in my hands, wondering if I should just buy both.

“I would go with the Amazon one if I were you.” came a deep voice from behind me.

I turned to find a massive man about two feet away from me. He looked to be about 6’7”, and built like the Terminator. He had a leather jacket over a blood red shirt, with red camo cargo pants and combat boots. He looked Middle Eastern, maybe Egyptian?

“Can I help you?” I asked, debating if I could flip him if he tried something or if I should run. His smile quickly made me think I should’ve took the latter.

“Yes, Drachen, there is something you could help me with.” He chuckled to himself.

“Wait, how do you know my name?” I asked, now feeling a little scared as I backed towards the exit of the store.

“I think I would know the name of what’s probably the only red-eyed person in my family.” He smiled coldly. “Besides, you didn’t ask what I needed your help for.”

“Ooookay. What do you need my help for?” I asked, adjusting my hoodie.

“You’re going to be...let’s say...my chess piece for a game.” He looked completely serious now, arms crossed and smile gone. His eyes radiated caged violence, like he could explode at any moment and kill me and anyone else he saw.

Chess piece? Like….a game of chess? But, I’m a human. Okay, this guy is definitely crazy. I dont know why he picked me out to mess with, but I need to get out of this place before something bad happened to me. For all I knew, that ‘chess’ was a code name for some type of gladiatorial thing.

“Well, that’s nice and all, but I have to decline the offer.” I was almost at the door, and as soon as I reached it I was going to run as fast I could back to the limo and get far, far away from this man and this store.

“Oh, I wouldn’t deny so quickly.” He sighed a little. “Your friend’s life hangs in your decision.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” In my confusion, I slowed down on my backwards retreat.

“Oh, nothing, nothing.” The man laughed. “Only that I have the life of your friend Kari in my hands.”

I completely stopped and stared at the man. He continued grinning at me like he was telling a great joke.

“What did you do?” I whispered, barely able to breathe.

The man replied by pulling out his phone, typing something then throwing it at me. I caught it like a football and saw pictures of Kari tied up and gagged in a dark house. Her small 5’ frame was tied up like a prize hog while one of those rubber gag ball things was in her mouth. She looked unharmed, but she had tear stains on her cheeks, showing that she was crying. Her eyes were blindfolded and she was also tied up to a chair, which proved how bad of a predicament she was in.

“If you want her to be free, you do as I say, exactly as I say. Understood?” The man asked, his face completely serious.

Numb, I was unable to do anything other than nod my head in response. I knew I couldn’t escape now, most likely Kari’s life was in my hands. Oh god, why did something like this had to happen? I was going to go have fun with my friend for the first time in months, and now I was talking to some crazy guy who was holding her hostage. I guess I just had to listen to him and wait to hear how long until I heard a ransom or something.

“Alright then.” He smiled his cold smile. “Want to be my Piece in the game?”

“Y-yes.” I gulped. So much for a ransom, I guess. “I’ll be your Piece.”

“Good, good.” He smile got even wider. “Is there anything you’d prefer to be turned into?”

“Wait, what?” I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, its one of the...rules.” The man pouted. “Any Piece added to the game must be turned into something other than human.” He shrugged. “I blame the stupid Wardens.”

“Uh...okay.” I thought for a minute. “So...I can be almost anything?”

The man nodded, which made me smile a little for once. See, I’ve always had a dream to be a Space Marine from Warhammer 40,000. I mean, they’re so big and powerful and awesome, destroying aliens and daemons and such, protecting humanity with their guns and swords and shields.

“I wish to be a Space Marine.” I decided with a little glee.

“No.” The man responded, crushing my dreams a little. “Too human.”

“Well...fine.” I thought again. Hmm...how about a naga? “How about….snake person?”

The man thought for a second before nodding. He stepped closer, smiling a little as he walked.

“That could work.” He chuckled. “I wish you luck, Drachen. Also, make up a name so people don’t recognize you. How about...Gilgamesh?”

“Gilgamesh?” I felt scared again. “Well...it sounds nice, I guess.”

“Well then, little Gilgamesh, I’ll see you there.”

The man snapped his fingers, and everything exploded into sand. I couldn't help but scream as the sand wrapped around me in a tornado and everything turned black.