but the game. Why is it taking him so long to answer? Alex pulled his hand away from the pawn and stretched his fingers. Eyes began to blur.
Damn medicine.
He rubbed his eyes. Clear. Better.
The board. The Game. Shit. His queen. My knight. How’d I not see it?
Move—Nh2.
Alex leaned back. That move should keep him busy.
“Now, you never answered—
Move—h5.
“God damn it.”
Alex’s hands went to his mouth.
Donovan laughed.
“Alex, I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m going to put an end to your mind games. One of these days.”
“We’ll see. But not today, it’s time for me to go. We’ll finish the game next week.”
Alex’s smile dropped. “Can’t be time already.”
Father Donovan pointed past Alex’s shoulder. “No, but I believe you’re about to be busy. Have fun. And remember, take it easy on some of these souls. They really can’t help themselves.”
Alex turned around.
“Ah, damn it.”
Freddy, clutching a giant wad of sheets and pillow cases, limped toward Alex.
“Now come on, Donny, don’t leave me alone with Freddy.”
But Father Donovan had already left the room and was nowhere in sight.
“Hey, Alex.” Freddy said behind the mound of sheets. “I got the sheets like you asked. Are you ready to play?”
Thankfully, the medicine had about completed its journey through his neurons, which meant nap time. Freddy would have to wait, hopefully get bored, and play with someone else.
“Not now.”
Alex said, carefully picked up the chessboard. No one else on the fifteenth floor played chess, so he knew it would be safe, the pieces untouched and in their exact order until Donovan returned next week. But just to be sure, Alex stared at it a good twenty seconds after setting it on the shelf near the south window.
Got it.
Alex yawned as Freddy made his way to the couch near the same window. The sheets fell from Freddy’s hands onto the couch.
As always, the elderly Jew flashed a smile, showing off his three missing teeth, a canine at the top, and the two front on the bottom.
“I’ll get the fort started while you take your nap. It’s gonna be awesome. Turly said she’d bring some sheets too and Stephen is working on the costumes.”
Alex looked over at the two orderlies near the nurses’ station. Chase and Mike. Both were deep in conversation. Surely they had seen Freddy walking with all of those sheets. And yet, they did nothing to stop him. Alex still didn’t know where Freddy, Turly, and Stephen got their supplies for these weird games they always tried to play, but surely a few individuals were missing their linens.
“You go right on ahead, Freddy. And don’t worry about waiting on me. If Turly and Stephen are ready to play before I get up, just start without me. I’ll join up later.”
This answer made Freddy beam. Not sure why, I never show.
“See you later, Freddy. Have fun.”
Alex patted Freddy on the shoulder and headed toward his room. Fucking crazies. Wish Donovan could hang a little longer. Only person keeping me sane around here.
After relieving his bladder in the bathroom, Alex went into his room. Not much to look at. The walls set a tranquil mood, painted in a subtle sky blue. The only furniture standing in the room were his bed, a desk, and the chair for his desk. No posters. No bookshelf. No flowers. No pictures or frames. However, there was a small assortment of books, but those were neatly tucked away under his bed.
Alex shut the door behind him, turned off the lights, laid down upon his tightly made bed, and shut his eyes.
The Spiral Effect Page 8
