Maya developed her other knight to d2, her position growing stronger with each move. She could see Ted wasn't paying attention to the accumulating threats, too busy grandstanding for his audience.
"You know what the saddest part is?" Victoria mused, examining her diamond bracelet. "She probably actually believes she has a chance. It's that false hope that keeps these people from accepting their proper place in society."
"Their proper place being anywhere but here," Margaret added firmly. "Richard, after this farce is over, we really need to discuss improving our security protocols. If a child can wander in off the streets, what's stopping actual criminals from entering?"
"She might be an actual criminal," Charles suggested. "These street children often work for adult thieves. She could be casing the place right now, memorizing where we keep valuable items."
Maya wanted to scream at them that she wasn't a thief, that she had never stolen anything in her life despite having every reason to. But she knew it wouldn't matter. To them, she wasn't a person; she was a problem, an inconvenience, a source of amusement.
So, she did what Grandma Rose had taught her: she let her chess speak for her.
She pushed her queen's pawn to c4, expanding on the queenside and preparing to launch an attack on Ted's exposed king. The move was subtle but powerful—the kind of strategic planning that separated casual players from serious ones.
Ted Banks, still not recognizing the danger, moved his knight to f6. "Getting desperate, are we?" he taunted. "Moving pawns around randomly won't save you, child. Chess requires intelligence, education, breeding—things you clearly lack."
"Speaking of breeding," Victoria said with false concern, "does anyone know if she's been vaccinated? We should probably call animal control—I mean, child services—after this."
The crowd laughed again, but Maya noticed something different this time. A few of the observers were looking at the board more carefully now, beginning to see the storm that was building. Harrison Vale, who had been watching silently from the back, pushed forward slightly, his experienced eyes reading the position with growing interest.
"Tell me, girl," Ted continued, oblivious to his deteriorating position, "what did you think would happen here tonight? That we'd be impressed by your sob story? That we'd adopt you like some stray puppy?"
"Ted," Harrison said quietly, "you might want to pay attention to your king's position."
"Nonsense, Harrison!" Ted waved dismissively. "I have everything under control. This will be over in five more moves, maximum."
Maya moved her rook to c1, the piece sliding into place with devastating purpose. She looked up at Ted Banks for the first time since the game began, her dark eyes reflecting a depth of understanding that made him unconsciously lean back.