Game Of Chess

The ship sailed quietly; Tyler and Lara had fallen asleep, while Aaron kept guard because he didn't trust the priest.

"Why aren't you asleep, child?" The priest walked to him with a smile plastered on his lips.

"Because God resents me and takes away sleep from me."

"Is that sarcasm?" The priest questioned Aaron, and Aaron chuckled.

"One good thing about humans is that they have the choice to understand words in their way."

"Aaron right?" 

"Yes"

"Things happen for a reason; God let people meet to serve them a lesson or become a blessing."

"So tell me, priest, which one are you? A lesson or a blessing?"

"The ship was to depart at 8 a.m., but I had to return early. I still didn't know why, but now I know."

Aaron laughed out loud. "So God is helping thieves run away?"

"You are his children, so if you come with me, then I could show you the right way."

Aaron stood up and looked around; they would be arriving soon.

"I can sleep peacefully on the ship; I finally figured out what you wanted from us," he smiled at the priest.

**

They arrived in Los Angeles and quickly got on the bus to Reno after they deposited the money in a bank account.

While on the bus, Lara sat next to Aaron again. "I thanked the priest before we left. I told him that if he ever needed a favor one day, then I would grant it to him, but he said you already knew what he wanted from us."

"Do you know why it's hard to breathe underwater?" He asked instead, and she stared at him, confused.

"When you can answer that, then I will tell you what the priest wanted from us."

"You never miss a reason to make me look stupid," she scoffed at him.

"I got it," Tyler exclaimed. He had been working on his brand-new laptop all this time.

They got themselves new gadgets and even exchanged contacts; they were loaded with cash.

His screams made people on the bus turn towards them. Aaron used his textbook to hide his face.

"Don't grab attention, sir."

Tyler smiled at everyone, and once they stopped staring at him, he turned his laptop screen toward Aaron and Lara. 

"I got the apartment; it's in a middle-class community, very populated, and doesn't have fancy restaurants, casinos, or hotels that Martin could go to."

Aaron nodded. "We will lie low there for a while; let's get a normal life, even if it's just for a short period."

They nodded in agreement. With Martin and the organization at their tail, it was hard for them to live a peaceful life, so they had to grab every opportunity they had.

*

After they arrived at the bus station, they hired a cab that took them to their new apartment with three bedrooms, just as Tyler had specified.

"Remember the deal? I get to choose the bedroom first," Lara reminded Aaron, and he nodded.

After all, he didn't care about the bedroom he slept in; he had slept on all kinds of streets.

"And I also need to go shopping," she said, super excited about living normally for a short period.

"The organization is far from here, and Martin won't dare come to such a community, so lie low and not grab attention to yourself when you are out," Tyler warned, and she rolled her eyes.

"You have been lecturing me about that for hours; if you are worried, then let's all go out together for shopping." She suggested, and Tyler stared at Aaron, who nodded.

"What are you shopping for?" Tyler asked Lara as they walked out of the house; they barely got into it. "Maybe a car; after all, we are loaded," she joked, and Aaron glared at her. "I dare you to try."

She burst out in laughter. "I am kidding, for now."

The community was indeed populated, as Tyler had explained, with a lot of kids running across the street and also a lot of teenagers.

"Everyone keeps staring at me," Lara whispered nervously. "Don't fool yourself; they are staring at Aaron." Tyler ruined her excitement.

They both stared at Aaron, who had an earpiece on and just walked behind them, unbothered.

"They might be thinking he is cool, but he is a complete douchebag," she scoffed and pointed at a clothes shop.

"This is my stop." She left them and hurried to the shop. "I will go with her." Tyler followed her, leaving Aaron alone.

He didn't need clothes that urgently; one thing he needed was something he could spend his time on, and that was a book.

After he walked for a while, he spotted the bookstore. The community was very good, as it was easy to spot what you needed after a few steps.

He walked into the bookstore and looked at the shelves. "Novels, comics. Where are the science books?" He frowned and checked the other shelf, but there were no science books.

He pushed a book on the shelf when he saw a face staring at him. The lady smiled at him and said, "Hello there."

Then he used the book to block her view and went to another shelf. "You are unfamiliar; are you new here?" the lady asked, and he scoffed.

"Why? Do you know everyone who lives in this community?"

"Fortunately, yes"

"So you must know a lot of people then; go talk to them," he sneered and walked out of the bookstore and looked around.

"No science book, such a boring place," he scoffed and decided to scan the place. In case of another emergency, he will know which road leads to which.

After he had walked for a long time, he met with a wall; that was the end of the road. Some boys in their eighteens sat there playing chess while drinking and smoking.

"I won," the tallest guy screamed, and the medium-height one frowned.

"No, it's not possible."

"Look here; I have a queen, and it just captured all your opponents. Now your king has no followers; you are out, man," he chuckled, collecting the money with his friends supporting him.

Aaron decided to ignore them and leave. "You," the tallest and "winner," called, and he turned to them before he pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Yes, you, come over here," the guy said, dropping his glass of wine before he stood up and waited for Aaron to walk to him, which he did.

"You don't look familiar; are you from this community?"

Aaron smacked his lips. "What is it with people in this community knowing themselves?" he thought, frustrated, before he nodded.

"Don't lie to us; you are not from here."

"What's it to you?" asked Aaron. This made the guy angry, and he signaled for his other friends to stand up; they aimed to intimidate Aaron.

Aaron held his stomach. "I am starving; we may never catch up next time." He turned to leave when they blocked his path.

"Do you know who we are? I am Tony; I rule this community," the tall guy said, and Aaron nodded.

"Good for you."

"So you need to report yourself to us before you move into this community; there are some dues to pay."

"What did you say was your name again?" Aaron asked, and this irritated Tony. Then Aaron pointed at the chess game they were playing.

"A queen capturing all the members is a win unless the opponent has a king. Then the game doesn't end there, so you announced your victory a little too early," he explained, and the guy who just lost jumped in excitement.

"Exactly. Tony, drop the money; the game isn't over."

"I already won; I won't return any money," Tony scolded before he frowned at Aaron.

"Give me back my money." They got engaged in a fight with their friends, trying to separate it. Aaron left them to it as he had to look for something to eat.