It started as a fun game, seeing they all liked to play chess, but it quickly escalated into something more. They couldn't help themselves, competitism was just in their blood, and it was just a matter of time until all of their friends got involved and were rooting for one or another.
The ones who started it all were Eric Beale and his sister Katherin, but Kat got her wife, Laurel, involved within a day, and soon Eric had Brian rooting for him. Both of the siblings tried to get little Rosamund on their side, but she naturally chose her mom's, and Kat didn't hesitate a second to rub it in her brother's face.
A few weeks later the entire family had chosen their sides, and a seemingly friendly competition turned into one that ended in either alive or dead.
As the days went by the chess pieces moved slowly across the board, and the game became more and more important to everyone in the house. Every single family member was waiting for the climax, some even went as far to move the pieces themselves so their side could win, but were quickly caught and weren't allowed in the bet anymore. Eric and Katherin couldn't hold in their laughs when they heard Rosie tried to take a part, the six year old girl didn't understand the game and was more interested in playing hide and seek anyways. Which got both Beale siblings thinking, and suddenly it was decided that this was going to be a different kind of chess playing. The rules were changed, yes there were actual rules, both had the urge to cheat and this was the only way they wouldn't, and hide and seek was mixed with chess.
If one moved a piece, they were to slam the bell and run away, hide away in some corner of the house before the bell was heard again and it was their move again.
It took three whole days for one to win the game, and it certainly made some visitors glance at them like they were absolutely crazy.
As the final hour chimed, screams and yelling could be heard all around the house, as one celebrated their victory and the other screamed for their loss.
"CHECKMATE! I GOT YOUR KING!"
Katherin Beale had won their chess game, and wasn't afraid to rub it in her brother's face as he moped and complained about his loss around the house, claiming he had 'never lost a game before' and 'this bitch definitely cheated in some way'.
Kat's victory and Eric's loss only lasted for a week though, before they started their both chess and hide and seek game again.
This time, Eric Beale was determined to win.