This is a story I tried in a competition but I didnt win it so I couldnt waste it. It acts as the backstory to another one but I can't post that one until I lose the competition that it is in for. Let me know if you like it. TTFN.
Cheers
Wolf

The Century Game

A man and a woman sit at a table in a room filled with flowing sand and water. Partings in the flow outline doors and sculptures giving the room a feel of constant change. The two sit on stone cubes as they are beyond concerning themselves with trifling things such as comfort. They have gathered for a battle of wits and wills to decide the fate of the world for the next century. The outcome of this battle will either bring about a golden age or one of nightmares.

The man has long grey hair and wears flowing robes. The robes have clocks designed into the patterns. Each clock moves to its own time. His face seems old yet he decided to stop ageing a long time ago. His name is Chronos, known to many as Father Time.

She has long, dark hair, the colour of midnight. She wears a pin stripe suit with the back cut out in an oval shape. She also wears a black trilby with two white feathers attached to the right hand side. A permanent smile adorns her pale face. Her skin is alabaster white with blue lines seemingly highlighting veins. Her eyes are completely white, with pupils that look like two beetles climbing a snowdrift. Her name is Death.

On the table before them sits a surprisingly clean chessboard. To the left of Chronos there rests an hourglass that is named “Century.” A thin beam of light illuminates the table, making the sands within Century glimmer in a golden hue. Chronos puts a dusty finger on a white pawn and moves cautiously. He places it exactly where he wants it and turns the Century hourglass over.

“Your move.” He mumbles, mind focused firmly on the game. Death puts a thin finger to her lips, a look of minor annoyance on her face.

“I have a question.”

“What would that be?”

“Why do you always get to go first?”

“I am Father Time. I move first because I always have and always will move first. Just as it should be. Just as I know that one day you will win our little contest. Then you and Darkness will rule over this world for a hundred years until you and I meet once again.”

“Who told you I was going out with him?” Death says in a flustered voice. Chronos smirks.

“Please. I know what is going to happen as well as what has already happened.”

Still smiling Death mutters,

“Stupid, time travelling, peeping tom.”

“It’s hardly my fault I know about it.” Death shrugs and moves one of her bishops into place.

“Tell me something Chronos.”

“How did I start this business?”

“Stop that! You know how I hate it when you finish my sentences. You remember…”

“We spoke about this four centuries ago.” Chronos smirks,

“Yes I remember. I’ll stop now. For some reason I seem to be in quite a playful mood.”

There is a short silence before Death speaks up.

“Well?”

“You want to know of my origins I know, I know. I’m just thinking about the next move. Be patient.” He picks up a knight between his two fingers and holds it there for a moment before placing it on a white square poised to attack. Century was turned once again making a soft thud as the wooden base hit the stone table.

“Believe it or not I was once a paper boy. I was delivering to the usual places on my route. Among these was a small clock shop. The day it all started I noticed something was amiss there. The door was wide open and sounds of ticking filled the air. The owner was a small man named Mr Bradshaw. I remember him after all these years as he wore the strangest pair of home made spectacles.

I remembered Mr Bradshaw caught a chill without much difficulty so I went in to investigate. The room was very dark as it was early in the morning. I called out to Mr Bradshaw but saw no sign of him. There was a strange noise inside the shop. The noise of the clocks was somehow distorted as if someone were sucking the sounds up with a straw. It was a sort of “Suick Suock” noise. I turned the lights of the shop on to see this very hourglass lying on the counter next to a sleeping baby, wrapped in Mr Bradshaw’s long, brown coat. The hourglass had run most of its course before I got a chance to look at it.

It was strange, as the hourglass felt as if it belonged to me. I would even go as far as to say that it felt like a missing part of me. I tentatively reached out to touch the glass and the golden sand that lay inside shifted to meet my finger. I turned the hourglass over and felt the streams of time whirl and shift around me. The clocks ticked properly again. There was an inscription on each end of the hourglass that made me realise my purpose. The language was not one that I had ever seen before but on trying to read it I found that I understood it immediately. One side of the hourglass said “Property of the keeper of order and time.” The other said “From one point in time to all points in time.” After that I began my quest to fulfil the role that destiny had bestowed upon me.”

The two continue playing while talking, letting the conversation run its course. Chronos seems amused as he watches Death move another pawn rather aggressively.

“What?”

“Hmm? Oh nothing. I was just thinking to myself how I used to think that Death was meant to have a cold and stony temperament. No matter. Why don’t you tell me of your beginnings?”

“You know them.”

“Still I enjoy hearing the tale coming from your lips.”

Death’s smile was genuine now.

“Ok. Most people don’t know this but I was born in the Garden of Eden from a large and beautiful tree. My shape was sculpted by an unseen hand to have this permanent smile. Those who know that little secret think I am vulnerable to fire and they couldn’t be more wrong. I was created to need nothing and fear nothing. I still feel though. Anyway while in the garden it was my charge to watch over the trees and animals that resided near my birthplace.

One day, whilst bringing my mother some water back from the Euphrates River I saw a serpent talking to her. Not receiving any answer I gathered that his questions needed much thought before an answer could be given. I busied myself with attending to my mother’s thirst while the serpent spoke.

“I need protection from the sun. Lend me your branches and I will give you the key to all your heart’s desires.”

I offered him my branch in secret until my mother gave answer. He clambered up and hid himself in my dwelling. When I walked to get mother some more water I heard parts of a conversation between the creator and the two humans.

“Why do you hide yourself?”

“…Who told you that you were naked?” When I got back I could not see the serpent and continued tending to my mother. I did not notice the creator arrive with the man and the woman. He saw the serpent hiding in my dwelling and proceeded to pronounce terrible sentences on them.

After they had left our tree in shame and despair the creator spoke to me.

“Did you offer to hide the serpent from my sight?”

“Yes I hid the serpent. He sought protection from the sun.”

“Did you know the true reason why he hid?”

“No but mother was taking a long time to decide to let him stay so I decided to let him wait in my dwelling until she did.” The creator thought for a moment.

“After seeing how capable you are at dealing with the life around you I have a new purpose for you.”

“What would that be Lord?”

“I want you to take spirits from their bodies and bring them to me. From this day you will be called Death and you will take the lives of everyone when I say it is time to.”

“There are many creatures in the garden. Am I to tend to them all?”

“You will be provided with help when it is necessary. You may wait in a land that I will prepare for you until I call for you. Farewell.”

Just like that my world was turned upside down. It has been a strange journey as the more time I spend with the dead, the more interested I become in their lives. My realm is full of stories and the waiting dead with the time to tell them.”

Chronos looks up from his deep thought.

“It makes you think doesn’t it?”

“What does?” He takes one of Death’s pawns with a rook before he answers.

“What would life be like had fate not interrupted. I believe I would have become a clock maker like Mr Bradshaw. Ruling the world is fine but you don’t half miss the quiet life at times. What of you?”

“If I could quit now I would like to own a pet shop. I think I would be good at that.” She moves her queen to take the rook.

“Hah. So Chronos you have been everywhere, how does this all end? Do you know?” He smiles.

“Indeed I do. It ends soon. I beat you in five more moves.” A short while later a quiet “Checkmate” is heard. Death gets up with a thoughtful look on her face. Before she leaves through one of the doorways she turns back.

“You don’t fancy a game of Snakes and Ladders instead do you?” Chronos smiled and shakes his head. Death waves and walks out. Sand flows over the doorway after she leaves.

“See you in a hundred years.” Chronos calls after her. He leaves the room once more to gather sand and dust.