[ WP ] you 're a surgeon haunted by the spirits of the people you could n't save . how do you spend your Saturday night ?

Dr. Kirk Stanley shut the blinds, dimmed the lights, and grabbed some water. He had n't drank in years, not worth having alcohol in his eyes. He walked over to the table that had two boards set up on it: Ouija on the right, chess on the left. He settled down, arranged the pieces on the board - he was black this week - and checked the clock. Twenty seconds until 7:42 pm. Kirk cracked his knuckles, took a sip of water, and place his right hand on the planchette. 
 
 The lights extinguished momentarily, the room went cool, and Kirk had the unsettling familiar feeling he was no longer alone. 
 
 `` Hey Jack.'' 
 
 The planchette vibrated and jerked from letter to letter: H-E-L-L-O- -D-O-C-T-O-R- -S-T-A-N-L-E-Y 
 
 `` Your move first tonight.'' 
 
 The King's pawn jiggled and slowly slid forward two spaces. Kirk answered with his own King's pawn jumping forward to e5. The planchette began vibrating under his hands again: H-O-W-S- -L-I-F-E-? 
 
 `` Not bad. Had a good week this week. No new friends, at least.'' 
 
 THATS GOOD 
 
 King's Bishop pawn to f4. Kirk answered by capturing it and removing it from the table. The King's bishop slid out to c4. Kirk moved his own Queen out to h4. 
 
 `` Check.'' 
 
 Jack made a quick move to f1. 
 
 I DONT BLAME YOU 
 
 `` We've talked about this before.'' 
 
 YOU STILL BLAME YOURSELF 
 
 `` I do n't want to talk about this.'' He moved the Queen's knight pawn to b5, threatening the bishop. 
 
 Jack's bishop captured the pawn, Kirk moving it off the table for Jack. As far as he understood, it was difficult enough to move pieces around the board. When they had first started their games, Kirk offered to move the pieces as Jack directed him, but Jack insisted that he has control over something. King's side knight to f6. 
 
 I DONT HURT ANYMORE 
 
 Kirk took his hand off the planchette and took a drink of water. Of all his patients, Jack had been the worst. There'd been an accident, he was missing both his legs, but the other passenger was in worth shape. Dr. Stanley knew that they both needed surgery immediately, but he was the only one there that night. He made the call, and saved Jack's fiance over him. Jack died painfully at 7:42 pm on a Saturday. In a twist of fate, the deceased forgave Kirk and the living did n't. And he did n't like thinking about it. 
 
 The game continued on for a while, with white gaining control of the center, and black making bold moves into enemy territory. Kirk had replaced his hand on the planchette some time earlier, but the game had continued in silence. 
 
 Suddenly, the planchette shot around the Ouija board: HEADS UP 
 
 The lights started flickering, the blinds shot up, and the window burst open. Blood oozed out of the walls, spelling out: `` DR STANLEY/YOU FAILED ME/NOW COURAGE SHALL FAIL YOU''. The blood started dripping down the walls, and an eerie howl began. Everything abruptly stopped, things were more calm than they had been. Kirk frowned at the wall. Blood was always difficult to get out. Might as well paint over it. A moment later, his hand was led around the board. 
 
 SORRY, I TOOK CARE OF IT 
 
 `` What was his deal?'' 
 
 HERS SHE WAS SHOT BY BOYFRIEND 
 
 Kirk remembered the call. `` Did you talk things out?'' 
 
 FIST FIGHT 
 
 Kirk did n't pretend to understand the afterlife. He just shrugged and moved, taking a Rook with his Bishop. He placed Jack in check a few moves later. 
 
 HAVE YOU TALKED TO NICOLE 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 AND 
 
 `` Still thinks I'm crazy.'' 
 
 A few more moves, and Kirk could tell he was in trouble. He had never been able to gain control of the center. It was going to be over quick. 
 
 `` Have you talked to Lauren?'' 
 
 YEAH 
 
 `` And?'' 
 
 DOESNT WANT TO TALK 
 
 Kirk grunted. The white Queen moved to f6. 
 
 CHECK 
 
 Kirk captured the Queen with a Knight, and the white bishop slid into e7. 
 
 CHECK MATE 
 
 Kirk smiled, or at least did n't frown as much. `` Tell my wife the usual.'' He tipped his king over and he was alone. 
 
 
 
 Edit: The chess game featured in this story in borrowed from Anderssen vs. Kierseritsky: http: //www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame? gid=1018910
