Checkers—Short Story

I love a good short story full of sibling banter XD and that’s exactly what this story is. It takes place about six months after the end When Wings Break. Happy reading!

***

“Just give up.” 

“Never.” 

“Come on,” R rolled her eyes. “You know you can’t win. I was always better at this game.” 

Elias squinted down at the black and white pieces on the board. “But I’m so close…” 

“Um…” She blinked then glanced down at the board again. “Hate to break it to you…but you’re cornered.” 

He stared down at the game for a few minutes and chuckled, shaking his head. “How do you always do this? I come in here with a whole strategy on how to beat you and you always beat me.” 

“It’s called being smarter than my older brother,” R said with a smirk. 

He reached over and pushed his piece forward, watching as she moved her piece, picking up his piece and placing it in her rather large stack of pieces. 

Elias laughed, staring back down at the game. “Do you even have a strategy coming into this?” He asked. 

“Noooo, I just have natural talent.” She took another one of his pieces. “Unlike some people.” 

“Oh really?” He raised his eyebrows as he moved his piece, jumping hers to acquire it. “Take that.” 

“Terrible move,” R said as she gathered two of his pieces. 

“How are you so good at this?!” 

“Had to be better than you at something.” 

He shook his head again, rolling his eyes. It’d been a terrible idea to ask her to play the game. He’d only figured since it had been years since the last time they played…

Elias glanced at her large stack of pieces. His figuring had been very wrong. 

At least I got the back-up card to play…

“Hey, you know what? I actually need to go show you something,” He said quickly, getting to his feet so fast he almost tripped over his chair. Reaching out, he caught the chair and steadied it. 

R stared at him skeptically. “Is this your way of getting out of playing the game?” 

He gave a lopsided grin. “Well, I actually do have something to show you, if that helps.” He limped towards the apartment’s door, almost tripping again. 

Goodness, he hadn’t realized how annoying it was to walk without his crutches. He’d been hopeful he would end up with a fully healed leg at the end of it all…but he wasn’t exactly surprised he’d ended up with a slight limp after everything. 

R slowly pushed her chair back and got to her feet, snatching up her flute’s case. She swung it over her shoulder and stepped over to the door. “So, really, you’re trying to get out of the game by somewhat kinda bribing me?” She raised an eyebrow. 

Elias only turned around and limped out of the door, into the bright hallway. The bright yellow paint on the walls almost seemed to glow when the sunlight hit it. A large abstract painting hung on the wall with the oddest assortment of shapes and colors. Altogether it was obnoxious. He was far more used to calm, dulled colors. That’s all they ever got back in Regnum City. 

I can’t wait to get out of here. 

He glanced over his shoulder to see R lock the door, then he turned again to shuffle to the staircase. 

R skipped ahead of him on the stairs, taking them two at a time. Her bright pink hair bounced on her shoulders.  “So, what is so important that you’re dragging me away from winning?” 

“You’re so sure you would win?” He replied, gripping onto the railing tightly as he stepped out into the lobby area. 

“Uh, yes,” She snorted and pushed her way out of the doors at the end of the room, holding them open for him as he walked out onto the sidewalk. “And don’t think I missed your change of subject. Where are we going, oh Secretive One?” 

“It’s a secret.” He looked over at the busy street where the continual buzz of cars zipping past filled the air before he stepped around the corner of the apartment complex, into the damp alley beside it, practically dragging R in beside him. 

She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms. “Sometimes you’re really frustrating.” 

“Sometimes,” He snorted. “I’ll count that as a compliment.” 

She rolled her eyes. “Well, it wasn’t meant that way.” 

Elias grinned and raised his eyebrows as he felt the familiar weight return on his back. He glanced over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the large pair of black wings behind him. He spread them out, so their tips touched either end of the alley then turned to look at R. 

She gave him a look and rolled her eyes again, but she reluctantly made her wings appear. Their pink glow shone in the sunlight as she fluttered them. 

“Ready?” Elias asked, holding out a hand and giving a dramatic bow. 

R blinked, shaking her head. “You are so irritating.” She began flying upwards, dodging the view of the road and the windows. 

“Ooh I graduated from frustrating,” He smirked, leaping into the air as his wings caught in the wind. 

“Don’t let it get to your head,” She muttered, passing the rooftops of the buildings and rising higher to avoid attention. 

Elias grinned at her. He beat his wings faster, moving past her. The wind pushed his hair out of his eyes, blowing against his shirt. He spun around mid-air to meet his sister’s gaze. 

Her hair blew around her face, but the slightest smile was beginning to form on her face. She glanced at him for a few minutes before setting her gaze ahead and demonstrating a corkscrew before somehow doing a backflip then finally beating her wings faster and soaring ahead of him. 

He flew up beside her. “How’d you do that?” He chuckled. 

“My turn to be the secretive one I guess,” She smirked, nudging him with her shoulder. 

He nudged her back then glanced down towards the city below them. His eyes caught on a familiar building and his smile widened. “Here, R.” Tipping his wings at an angle, he began descending towards the ground. 

There was a rustle of feathers as she followed him. 

Elias fluttered his wings faster as he stumbled through the small patch of trees. He caused his wings to disappear as he tugged on his hoodie again. 

R landed beside him, almost tripping until he grabbed onto her shoulder to steady her. She gave a sheepish grin, her own wings disappearing. She brushed her hair back, tucking it over her ear. 

He grinned a lopsided grin then brushed past the trees hiding them, walking out onto the sidewalk, hoping dearly that nobody saw them. It’s not the most normal thing to come wandering out of the trees…

Thankfully there was nobody around, just the simple, small houses gathered together on the street in a perfect quiet neighborhood. 

R furrowed her eyebrows as she stepped out beside him. “What do you want to show me?” 

“Come on,” His smile grew wider as he walked forward, passing house after house until his eyes caught on one across the street. 

It was on the verge of falling down. Even the for sale sign was chipped and faded. The windows were cracked and quite a few of the tiles on top of the roof had long since fallen off. But as though to make up for the ugly sight of the house, there was a large oak tree in the front yard with bright green leaves. A small bird chirped happily in one of the branches. Bushes full of purple and pink flowers blossomed around the tree. 

“There,” He stopped, almost whispering the word. 

R paused to stare at the broken house. Her eyes scanned everything, her expression shifting every few moments. 

“I know it’s not much, but we’ve lived in worse places. I thought we could fix it up and after that…” He simply shrugged. “What do you think?” 

She pressed her lips together, tugging on her gloves. “Well…I don’t think we can afford a house anyway…” 

Elias rummaged around in his pocket, pulling out a ring of worn metal keys. He smiled softly. “What would you say now?” 

She froze, clasping her hands over her mouth. “Wha…” A smile shone on her face. “AH YES!” She bounded forward and hugged him, almost knocking him off his feet. 

Elias laughed and squeezed her shoulders. “I figured you deserved a proper home. That apparentement is a little cramped.” 

R beamed. “Thanks…I…thank you.” 

He twirled the keys around on his finger. “Now, you wanna go check it out?” He stepped forward, off the sidewalk. 

The familiar smirk returned on her face as she followed him. “Does this mean we can get a cat now?” 

Elias’s expression turned serious as he stared down at her. “I hate to break it to you, but we are never getting a cat. If we ever get a pet, it’s gonna be a dog.” 

“Come on!” 

***

Until next time, 

A.J. Syngraféas