Chapter Summary: The Most Dangerous Game

“Splendid, one of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford. Prepare for another, even more dangerous game with even consequences,” Zaroff remarked. “Well I would not fancy that, but I can listen to your request, General Zaroff,” and Rainsford tensed up after what is seen protruding from Zaroff’s pocket. Rainsford’s gaze was met by Zaroff’s gaze as he started to smile. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice here Rainsford,” said Zaroff. “It will be on my terms again, for being the host of all this absolute fun, as we will be playing a game of chess! Rainsford sighed and went along with whatever Zaroff said, as the adrenaline wore off and he became very exhausted from the

After observing, he looked at the automatic pistol for a second, which was mocking him like a mime. His attention was snapped back to the board when Zaroff took the first move, and moved his pawn. “The battle has begun,” Rainsford said to himself. The game has a level of intensity that kills, as each move could decide between life and death for the both of them. Zaroff remembered back to WW1, when the battlefields were raging with people dying, and main assets being taken out. Zaroff thought back to that “the board was a battlefield, with something worse after every minute, until it was all over.” After many hours of playing, the pair were mentally exhausted and felt as if they could not go on, as Zaroff asked if Rainsford wanted a break. Rainsford knew this was a good chance to regain his energy, but also knew that Zaroff may be weak, and make worse decisions than if he was rested. Rainsford politely declined, and said “We will not take a break, as we have gone too far to look

After the majority of the trading of moves was done, Rainsford suddenly realized that he was about to be checkmated! The only way to not lose was to sacrifice his queen, which would mean almost certain defeat! After Rainsford saw that he could also take the queen out, but only after his was taken out. He took a deep look at the remaining pieces of his, and realized that he could turn his pawn into a queen after his was taken out, but Zaroff had the same idea. “A race to the end” Rainsford thought as he made his next move, taking both queens out of the game. The race began as each pawn inched its way forward, seemingly screaming at him to make it a queen. After the rounds of inching their way forward, Rainsford’s pawn got to the end first, as he remarked “Queen me” Zaroff reluctantly gave the queen back, in replace of the pawn. After that round, the queen blasted off towards the other end, to intercept the incoming pawn. The pawn made it to the other side, and Rainsford queened it, but immediately after took it away again by using his queen. A chase began as the king, with nothing to protect it started moving to the other side of the board. Just then Rainsford noticed the pained look on Zaroff’s face, as he had a dull, sad face with a certain look in his eye that could make a grown man feel horrible. This was not enough for the fatigued Rainsford to care, as he