VegasPete : Chess Room (The Way You Taste sequel)

18 - From ashes, from broken pieces.

Months ahead of the events narrated in chapter 17

Lian's POV

3. a.m. There's a 24-hour bodyguard outside the hospital room where Pete is.

But that was not a problem for me.

When I entered the room, Pete was awake.

The shot he took was not to kill.

Leaning against the bed headboard, Pete kept his gaze low, but fixed on some image that only his mind could see.

Immediately I knew what that meant. I've seen it before.

I approached his bed with slow steps.

I stopped by his side.

He didn't move... as if I wasn't there.

I was silent for a few seconds.

"Pete... I wish things could be different, my friend..."

"Things are as they are." 

He said in a low, serious tone.

I reached out my hand to stroke his hair.

At that moment, tear drops slipped from both his eyes.

The last drops.

He turned to me.

His gaze had already changed.

As cold as once it was.

I didn't want things to be like this for him again.

I know I won. Not because there was a fair game to be won.

Because Pete found himself in an unfair game among the family he loved, I've got the chance to get him back.

And I will do whatever it takes to restore things to where they belong.

A phoenix rises from the ashes after all.

And Pete had to be broken into pieces to be reborn.

"Hello, Lian. Where have you been?" 

"Sorry for being late, Phong"

"You found it, right?" He smirks at me

"Found what?"

I've got surprised. I wasn't sure if he already knew.

"You found the last chess piece..."

"...You mean..."

"The White Queen."

Pete shows me the white crystal and diamond chess piece in his hand.

...

Back to the events of Chapter 17

Pete's POV