[ENTRY] Bishop to King's Rook

[Jhokur]

Running through the bustling London market, he pushes past early morning shoppers. Merchants' shouts reverberate around the square, their offers ringing in his ears as he runs faster. The Russians are closing in; he sprints for all he is worth, knowing the commotion behind him is doubling as his Russian pursuers push the same path through the crowd. He runs down an alley and hides in an alcove, pulling his phone from his pocket. Young, healthy lungs are racked as he tries to draw breath and wipes the blood from the mobile's screen. He dials.

"Tom? It's Lucas, get me out of here NOW!".

Tom pulls over to the side of the road quickly as he replies.“Lucas – where have you been? You’re 30 minutes late on check-in. Your phone’s been off, Harry’s furious and sent me out to look for you.”

“Sorry Tom, fashionably late and all – seems I’ve pulled some unwanted boyfriend attention here at Camden Lock, and I’d like to be elsewhere if you don’t mind.”

Making a quick turn about, Tom drives towards Camden Lock. “Told you to stop flirting. Right – I’m about 5 minutes away and closing. Chance you can ditch them?” Lucas peers out, noting his pursuers closing in. “Think so – heading Underground.” He hangs up the phone, slipping it into his pocket. The blood from his nose reminding him of the lucky punch Demidov landed before Lucas choked him unconscious with his bare hands. A flash of a grin quickly faded as Lucas tended to his bleeding. “Elizabeta… I need to get her out. They’ll come for her.”

Lucas takes another glance out, noting the Russians beginning to spread out in search. Evaluating his surroundings while his head throbs, Lucas bolts for the nearby exit out to the bridge, then across it.

“Malcolm, Tom – signal trace Lucas’s phone. I need to know exactly where he’s at.” Tom steps it up a bit as he begins rushing around traffic. Petulantly Tom groans at Malcolm over the phone. “Any time now, Malcolm!” Sighing deep, Malcolm replies, “Patience Tom, it’s coming in now – if you’d let me upgrade the phones like I asked this would go much faster… Ah Lucas is on Camden High St., heading south. Ummm Tom, is Lucas alright?” “He should be shortly, I hope. Why?” replies Tom as he takes the next corner at high speed. “Because I count 5 cell signals moving quickly in the direction Lucas is, likely following him. The one conversation I can pick out of the group is in Russian.”

Red light. Tom slams on the brakes, then the steering wheel in disgust. Painfully aware of the situation, he says, “Get Harry, Malcolm. We’re about to lose Lucas.”

Lucas dashes into Camden Town Underground station, only to spot two new tails gesture towards him and begin following. In hopes of shaking them, he makes haste for the disused bomb shelter – 5 had converted it to a pseudo-safe house for times like these, and Tom would know to look for him there.

“Tom, what’s going on – where’s Lucas gone?” Harry’s voice worried Tom even more. Losing someone in the field was bad enough, but to face Harry about it was something Tom was not looking forward to. “Malcolm tracked him to Camden High St. entrance, I’m heading there now,” Tom replied. “Report back as soon as you can, Tom. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Harry nodded to Malcolm to hang up as he paced the Grid. “This is not good at all – someone leaked about Lucas’s operation. I will find out whom, and justice will be swift, but not merciful.” Stopping to survey the Grid and those on it, Harry then turns and makes his way to his office in disgust, where he picks up the phone receiver and glares at his desk. Connie and Tessa give each other sorrowful looks as they return to their prior activities.

Tom appears at the Pods a short while later. Looking very dejected and distraught, he steps onto the Grid, where Connie, Malcolm and Tessa are waiting. Tom musters out “He’s gone,” before collapsing into a chair and dropping Lucas’s cell phone on the desk. Alerted to Tom’s return, Harry hurries out to find Tom holding out a piece of paper for him. Harry’s expression changes from hope to anger as he takes the paper from Tom and reads it. A visible wave of grief washes over him, as Tessa blurts out “Well, what does it say Harry?” Looking up, Harry lets the paper fall from his hands as he mulls the words over in his mouth.

Шах. Ваше двигаться.

Swallowing deeply, and then composing himself, Harry utters the words - “Check. Your Move.”

[Lukyan Lyubof]

Wow, it can't end there, this is so good I was really hooked.
I know this is for the competition but afterwards it would be brilliant if you continued it although you don't have to

[Aria]

Good story. Hope you continue with it.

[HellsBells]

Great story, so full of energy and great details.

[Tea Lady]

Good action writing. Loved the Malcolm parts.

[picard1109]

Nice one. I'd like to read the rest of it, too!