Too Much To Handle

Jonko dealt the cards out. Tren hesitated this time with his cards, something he had not done the entire game. He took a while to put them down before eventually throwing down 2 cards. Chenko believed him. He thought about the strategy that Jonko had played throughout the match. He was messy. He gambled too much. ‘Those were definitely truthful,’ he thought. ‘It’s just now about what other cards he had.’

Chenko’s cards were mediocre. 2 queens, 2 aces, and 2 kings. He didn’t have a good hand, but he thought that he could outsmart Tren this time. He knew exactly what to do and exactly what Tren had.

Chenko: “1 Queen.”

Tren: “1 Queen.”

Chenko instantly yelled out, “Liar.” Tren smiled, knowing he had been outplayed. The card flipped over to reveal 1 ace. He laid down the rest of his cards to let Chenko know. He had 2 jokers left in his hand. The first two were real as well, which he confirmed. That was the only card that was a lie and Chenko had guessed correctly. He got incredibly lucky. Tren loaded a bullet in the chamber and pulled the trigger right away. No bullet was shot.

Tren: “See? Pretty easy, ain’t it? You’re starting to figure it out.”

Chenko: “Tch. Shut up. None of this is easy. Let’s go. Next round. Last round. Hurry up. I got somewhere to be.”

Jonko dealt the cards for the final time. “Queens,” he called out. ‘Queens again, huh. Okay, I got this. Time to gamble.’

Chenko had 2 queens, 1 joker, and 2 kings. He wanted to lay a trap. It was a big risk, but he figured he might as well do it.

“3 Queens,” he yelled out.

The room was shocked by this. Jonko smirked, but quickly turned it into a serious expression. He looked at his dad who was smiling ear to ear and eyes wide open. He knew what the situation was like already, however this was oblivious to Chenko.

Tren decided to not call Chenko out, but called out 1 queen. Chenko’s heart dropped. He messed up. He thought Tren would think he was lying. He couldn’t call him out now. He needed to throw down his 1 bluff card and hope that he can call him out on his next card. He did as he thought and put down 1 card.

Tren: “Hmm…I just…I just don’t know if that’s right. Seems a little fishy. Why are you looking down, Chenko? It’s a card game. Let’s put our poker faces on, shall we? I’m not sure about this one. You seem like an honest man though. I wouldn’t expect you to lie now, would you?”

Chenko looked down at his cards. He made sure he stayed still and his eyes remained down.

Tren: “One can be absolutely truthful and sincere even though admittedly the most outrageous liar. Fiction and invention are of the very fabric of life. For we swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. After all, sanity is a cozy lie, so let’s test how far that sanity goes…You’re lying.”

The card flipped in the air as the king appeared. Chenko shed tears down his face, but couldn’t move a muscle. This was one of the worst possible outcomes. 4 out of 6 bullets in his gun. The odds were above 50% that he would be killed.

Jonko: “That was risky, but I don’t mind what you did. You could’ve played that many different ways, but you jumped the gun a little. Better pray that you survive this. Risk equals risk. You either live and fight a suicide mission or you die here before you can make it.”

Chenko didn’t respond. He held his cards in his hand just staring at them and didn’t speak a word.

Tren: “What’s great about this game is that you have an option of not losing, even though you technically lost. Maybe luck will be on your side. Who knows?”

Chenko finally looked up from his cards slightly and stared at the old man across from him, still shedding tears. He still didn’t speak a word. He held his hand out across the table as it shook. Jonko handed him the gun with 4 bullets inside. He slowly raised it to the side of his head. His whole body shook. This time was different, not like a couple rounds ago. He wasn’t in control of anything. He couldn’t even tell what he was doing at that moment. It was like an athlete going into “The Zone.” The signals in his brain shut off, but it was not for the right reason. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do anything. He was frozen.

Jonko: “Alrighty. I guess I’ll take this into my own hands. You stupid priest. Get your values in place.”

Jonko grabbed the gun quickly and pointed it at Chenko’s head.

Aria: “No! Someone stop him! Stop it!”

The gun went off. No gunpowder left the gun. Death decided to spare Chenko on this day. Jonko looked inside the gun.

Jonko: “An empty slot in between 2 bullets. Wow. Get up pal. We’ll have troops arranged for you on your march to Deceased Paradise. Good work. Luck was on your side today. Don’t expect that there. I’m basically giving you dead soldiers. God will certainly not spare me either. This is the downfall of both of our organizations.”

Jonko walked out of the room.

Chenko sighed in relief, but still couldn’t get over the result of the game. He was still in a shocked state, but the old man laughing across from him brought him back to reality. His eyes gleamed with joy. He wanted to play more. Chenko sat there without moving. Tren stood up and asked the table if anyone else wanted to play, eager about his next match. Everyone stood up in sync to walk out.

Tren: “Hey! Where is everyone going?! Play me!”

Chenko stood up finally and walked out along with them. He looked over his back shoulder. His red aura was pouring out from him. Chenko couldn’t imagine how strong he actually was when he got in a serious fight. This much power over a game was unbearable in his eyes. He wanted to bring him to Deceased Paradise, but could not fathom even asking the question.

Troops gathered outside. Chenko felt responsible for everyone here more than anyone could imagine. He knew that most would die, and the soldiers probably knew this themselves. Jonko motivated them into believing they were going to survive.

Kaedon: “How’d it go boss? It looks like you did good.”

Chenko: “It’s not enough honestly. But…I think you and I can make it with our plan.”

Kaedon: “–Yeah. Our plan…God’s testimony comes today I guess.”

Chenko: “Don’t worry. Just stick to it.”

Kaedon was a friend of Chenko’s in the church. He wasn’t high up like a counsel member, but he had been communicating with him for several years and keeping in touch. He was willing to do anything for Chenko, even this plan that they had thought of. He was the only person he knew that had been close enough to the main castle of Kastor.

Chenko stood before all the men that gathered around and spoke. “Listen. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for serving me, a man that has no say in the church. Today, we march to a barren land. Full of nothingness and deserted. Full of emptiness. God will fill that void. He will help us fulfil our goal and bring back the helpless kids that were taken away from us. I need your help though. Help me, and God will grant us a spot in the eternal lands. Let’s march!”

The men chanted, eager to fight. Chenko led the march forward back to his village. A pillar raised from the ground in the middle of the village. A wheel like structure with 5 chaplet openings. 4 Yellow Egress Chaplets and 1 Blockade Chaplet were inserted in the slots. The Blockade Chaplet was a wooden diamond shape. It looked as if someone had taken a thick branch and carved into it to make it like this. Chenko took all 4 of the Egress Chaplets out in order to transfer this many people to Deceased Paradise. Kaedon stood next to Chenko and chanted out a phrase unknown to the rest. The podium went back into the ground. The chaplets floated into the air and scanned the area before them. Everyone became highlighted in a yellow light and were ready to go.

Kaedon and Chenko shouted out, “Deceased Paradise,” ready for what awaited them.