Tuesday — Four Days Until Rematch

“GIMME AN ‘E’!!!”

I jolted up from my bed, startled by the sudden noise.

“GIMME A ‘V’!!!”

I heard it again clear as day, it was right outside my window.

“GIMME AN A!!!’’

My bleary eyes focused on my digital clock. It was 6 am.

“GIMME AN ‘N’!!!”

I whipped open my blinds, quietly cursing the early wakeup. Right outside my window were all eight members of the cheerleading squad in full uniform. They stared back at me, plastic smiles fixed on their faces.

“E-V-A-N! EEEEVANNN!!!”

Without missing a beat Evan stepped out in front of them to a round of raucous cheers and pom-pom waving. Abby and Denise were wrapped around his arms, still staring up at him adoringly. Evan signaled for me to open the window. Exhausted and annoyed, I did. “Like my new additions, Nathan? They’re my pawns.”

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. “No shit asshole, there’s eight of them. Is that all you came here to say?”

Evan’s smile twitched, just for a moment. “Getting cocky already, are you Nathan? Ladies, please remind Nathan of the pecking order here.” The cheerleaders fixated on me with mischievous grins.

“HEY-HEY, HO-HO, THIS LYING SHIT HAS GOT TO GO!!!”

“HEY-HEY, HO-HO, THIS BITCH CAN’T WIN HIS BRAIN’S TOO SLOW!!!”

“HEY-HEY, HO-HO—”

I rolled my eyes, slamming the window shut and covering my ears as the cheerleaders continued reciting their chant. About five minutes later the cheering came to a merciful stop. Carefully pulling back a corner of the blinds I peered out to see Evan and his entourage leaving, a device clearly visible at the nape of each of their necks. I glanced again at my own set of devices, still sitting unused on my side table. I shook my head before getting dressed. As I was about to head out the door, I noticed a slip of paper laying at my feet. I opened it tentatively, half-expecting a compromising picture of one of my friends. Instead it was a note:

Nate,

I’m going into hiding. He already came for me once and he has the resources to track me down. I can’t tell you where I am, but know that I’m on your side. You beat him once, you can do it again. Stay strong.

Talia

It hurt to know she wouldn’t be here to help me prepare, but I knew Talia was right. I didn’t have time to mope. I struggled to think of what to do next. If I did accept the challenge, as seemed impossible to avoid with Abby and Denise under his control, then I’d need to make a team of my own. That meant enslaving sixteen women by Monday! I sighed, not knowing what to do. I just needed someone to give me advice, someone to help me through this. By this point I was already instinctively walking to Dr. Mallory’s Lecture, as I did every Tuesday. Wait - Dr. Mallory! I may not be able to explain the whole situation, but she might have some sort of idea, right? I stayed my course, heading to my lecture.

The lecture went on as usual, though without Talia sitting next to me like usual. As the lecture concluded and the students began filtering out, I made my way over to the professor. “Dr. Mallory, do you have a few minutes to talk?”

She smiled back at me warmly. “Of course, Nate! Tough problem you’re trying to work through?” I let out a haggard, cynical laugh.

“You have no idea.”

Dr. Mallory sat at her desk across from me while I fidgeted in the chair in front of her. “Tell me Nate, what’s the problem?” I rubbed my hands together feverishly, trying to put together a response that would make sense.

“It’s sort of a logic problem. Someone’s trying to hurt me, and they’re willing to hurt a lot of other people to do it. But I can’t get help from anyone. Not the police, not my friends. Whatever I do, I think I have to do it on my own. Except I don’t know if I can, and if I don’t people will suffer.”

Dr. Mallory’s face grew visibly concerned. “Nate, this doesn’t sound like an academic issue at all. Is this really a hypothetical, or is there something you need to tell me?” I hid my trembling hands under the desk. I must seem incredibly suspicious to talk this gravely while also being so vague.

“I-um-yeah, sorry. I think I might’ve come to the wrong place. Everything will work out in the end, I think.” I felt the panic setting in again, trying my best not to show it in front of the professor.

Dr. Mallory placed her hand gently over mine as it shook on the table. It was warm. “Nate, whatever problem you’re facing doesn’t sound like something you can solve alone. Would you like me to get you an appointment with Ms. Holbrook?” Ms. Holbrook was one of the university’s crisis counselors. I’d never had to see her myself, but I knew some people who did and said she was exceptionally kind. I looked up at Dr. Mallory, meeting her eyes.

“I think that would be a good idea.”

An hour later I found myself sitting in a near-silent, cozy room. The silence was welcoming, especially given my rude awakening that morning. I was able to think clearly for the first time all day. If it came down to it, could I really beat Evan again? When he said my victory was a fluke, I couldn’t help but believe him on some level. He was rated astronomically higher than me, and he had beaten me easily the first two times we faced each other. Maybe he really was having an off day when I beat him. Could I really summon the focus I needed to win twice?

The door opened, and a woman stepped in. She had a full figure, dressed professionally in a pencil skirt, tights, and a button-up blouse that perfectly framed her massive tits. Like, WOW those things were big. She had black framed glasses and blonde hair was done up in a high bun. “Hi Nate, sorry for the delay,” she said, setting down a folder as she took a seat in the soft chair opposite mind.

“No worries Ms. Holbrook, thanks for agreeing to see me,” I replied gratefully, trying not to stare at her chest. She crossed her legs, opening up her file and scanning its contents.

“So it seems like you talked to Dr. Mallory this morning about some anxieties you were having and she recommended you to me. Could you tell me a bit more about that?” Her professional, caring demeanor put me at ease, as did the peaceful environment.

“I’ll try my best to explain," I began, "I’m in a situation where I need to face up to a challenge, and if I don’t a lot of people are going to suffer. I can’t see a way out and… I’m scared. The stress is eating me alive.” Ms. Holbrook listened attentively, jotting down a few notes here and there as I spoke.

“Anxiety is very common among students, especially those under tremendous pressure. Why do you feel so adamant that you need to put that pressure solely on yourself?”

I thought about how to answer that question. It shouldn’t be on me at all, but Evan was an all-powerful sore loser and I was stuck playing his game. He was also responsible for taking away two of my closest supports. “It’s not a fair situation, but for various reasons I’m on my own here. I just need some way to manage the stress.”

Ms. Holbrook nodded empathetically. “We like to build a narrative that everyone should have a support system in place, but the reality is that sometimes we’re forced to cope on our own. Normally I’d suggest putting more confidence in yourself, but I think your situation is a bit unique.”

“How so?” I responded with anticipation. Maybe some professional advice could do some good.

“Well,” Ms. Holbrook began, making careful eye contact with me, “You’re a loser.”

I stopped breathing. That didn’t sound like therapy-speak. “Ms. Holbrook?” I asked, hoping this was somehow just a misunderstanding.

“I mean that, you’re just not as good as your peers. It’s okay to accept that, some people are just better than others. Some people deserve those support systems, while others deserve to be on their own.”

I let out a defeated sigh and gave Ms. Holbrook a dead, cynical stare. “And who do you think is an example of a winner, Ms. Holbrook? What kind of person deserves those good things?”

Ms. Holbrook broke into a wide smile. “Someone like Evan Boltchek, of course!”

With that, the door to the office opened with a start and Evan walked in casually, with Dr. Mallory following right at his heels. “Oh, Evan! We were just talking about you!” Exclaimed Ms. Holbrook excitedly.

“Get your tits out and don’t speak unless spoken to,” Evan commanded coldly. Ms. Holbrook’s smile left her face as she undid her blouse and pulled her enormous tits free from her bra. They sat exposed as she stared wordlessly into the middle distance.

“Did you find therapy helpful, Nathan? It can be really enlightening when it comes to recognizing behavioral patterns.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, I’d strongly recommend you give it a try sometime.” Evan’s smug grin faltered at the corners, just slightly. I remembered the same thing happening this morning.

“Dr. Mallory, I believe you have something to say to Nathan here?” Dr. Mallory stepped forward, a look of grave concern etched on her face.

“Nate, Evan here was telling me about the lies you were spreading about him. I am so, so disappointed in you. Please come into my office next week to discuss your future in my class.”

It hurt deeply to hear these words from my favorite professor, even knowing they were coming from Evan’s mouth, but I didn’t show weakness. I couldn’t, not anymore. “I’ll be there,” I said, deliberately staring down Evan as I did.

He raised an eyebrow, “Finally come to play, huh? Good. You’d better get a start on your preparations. I won’t be giving you any pieces, you have to bring them all yourself.” Evan turned to the two women. “Let’s go ladies, leave the little bitch to his brooding.” Ms. Holbrook stood up eagerly, her massive tits bouncing with matching enthusiasm as she and Dr. Mallory followed Evan out the door. I spotted the telltale red glow from underneath their blouses around the nape of their necks as they left. I fell back in the chair, deeply and truly exhausted. In spite of the loss, the taunting, the cruelty, I was grateful for the quiet in the now-empty office. I found myself slipping into an improbable, but well-needed sleep.

I returned to my dorm room that night with a surprisingly clear head. I thought back to the last time I beat Evan. Granted the stakes of that game weren’t nearly as high, but that didn’t mean my strategies were useless. I’d spent hours analyzing his previous games, observing his tactics, finding out what he does to throw off his opponent. I could do that here as well, outside of chess.

It hadn’t occurred to me until that moment, but the ways he’d been showing up to taunt me had been remarkably calculated. When he took Abby and Denise he walked into the room with the timing of a James Bond villain. He must have put Dr. Mallory and Ms. Holbrook under his control well before I arrived in class, knowing I’d try to talk to Dr. Mallory about my problems. He even knew where my dorm room was and woke me up with cheers in the morning. It was like he was everywhere at once. And that was entirely the point.

For all his power, Evan wasn’t omniscient. Abby and Denise were probably able to tell him all about me, which is how he knew I was close to Dr. Mallory. I hated to admit it, but putting them under his control was a brilliant play. He got two pieces, hostages, and intel on his opponent in a single move. They must have told him which dorm room was mine as well so he could put the cheerleaders outside at 6 am.

6 am… That timing wasn’t just to be an asshole, it was to keep me sleep-deprived! Not only that, for him to walk into the club room and the therapy room with such perfect timing probably meant he was just waiting outside the door the whole time. “Holy shit,” I said to myself. That was… kind of pathetic. I had to admit, Evan’s whole Evil Overlord schtick really fell apart when you imagined him impatiently waiting outside the room with his headset on for an hour just to make the perfect entrance.

I heard a notification sound ring out from my phone, a quick glance confirming what I was hoping not to see. It was another message from Evan, and another video no less. I thought about ignoring it, knowing he was only sending the messages to get under my skin, but I needed every piece of information I could get if I wanted to outsmart him. Reluctantly, I hit play.

The clip opened with Ms. Holbrook, fully nude save for her glasses, holding Evan’s cock in between her colossal tits. She looked overjoyed, sliding her tits up and down his shaft with unfettered enthusiasm. “Do you like this, Ms. Holbrook?” Asked Evan’s voice from off camera.

“Yes I do, Evan, yes I do! Thank you!” Moments later, Evan’s cock twitched as he blasted his cum all over Ms. Holbrook’s face and tits. She closed her eyes and smiled blissfully, reveling in the semen sliding down her naked skin.

“Alright, that’s enough. Footstool,” the cold voice directed. Ms. Holbrook’s face immediately went blank as she pivoted onto her hands and knees, flattening her back. Evan’s bare legs lifted onto Ms. Holbrook’s back, her tits jiggling from the impact while they dangled from her chest. The video suddenly panned to Evan’s upper body.

Abby and Denise flanked him on either side, their naked forms cuddled up against his chest as they grinned into the camera. “I have to say, Nathan, you know some excellent women. I can’t wait to spend more time with them after you lose.” Abby and Denise giggled at this, shifting slightly as Evan groped their gorgeous tits with either hand. I knew it was all a tactic, but seeing him reduce my dearest friends to his adoring slaves filled me with rage and loss.

Evan removed his hand from Denise’s tit and gestured to a figure just out of frame, “Hand me my drink.” The figure immediately stepped into view. Dr. Mallory, like everyone else, was completely nude. I had never imagined I’d see the sight, and I couldn’t help but admire her slim, robust figure despite the circumstances. She was holding a tray with an array of beverages. Evan grabbed on before pulling the mic down again. “Back to the corner.” Dr. Mallory swiveled and stepped off frame, but not before Evan freed his other hand from Abby’s perfect tit to give her a slap on the ass that rippled across her skin.

He returned his gaze to the camera. “Only a few days left, Nathan. I only need three more pieces, so you’d better get started if you want to keep up.” He turned his gaze up to the unseen figure holding the camera. “Now send it,” he commanded, the video cutting off abruptly moments later. I sighed, placing the phone down and collapsed onto my bed.

I hated seeing what he was doing to the people I cared about, the way he used and abused them without a second thought, but I was right. I did get intel. He slipped up by saying he only needed three more pieces, meaning he had one person enslaved that I didn’t know about yet. Did he manage to track down Talia? The thought filled me with dread, but it was better than not knowing at all and getting caught off guard.

He also said something that I had to reluctantly agree with—I was running behind. I glanced over once again at the bag of devices on my shelf. There was no getting around it, I was going to have to start collecting people if I wanted to stand a chance. I hated playing his game, but he’d left me no room to do anything else. As I loomed over the bag I lifted one of the devices up. It had the insignia of the knight. My mind flashed to what Mikayla and Sophie had said to me the other day.

Let us know if you need anything. We’re here to help.