Good Hand, Bad Hand

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Cesar gazed out the window of his room, the view overlooking the rest of the city. He stayed at the top floor of the fate casino – an eternal citadel that loomed over the rest of the city, watching all those who stood below. He leaned forward in his chair and sighed, his ears ringing as he held the weight of his head in his hands. He looked over at the time on his glimmering gold watch and forced himself standing before he looked behind him one more time.

“I’ll be back Mal” Cesar said as he stood up and walked to the door.

The door opened as he approached, fleeing from his path as he walked out of the room and into the hall that lay beyond. “Vert will be waiting.” He muttered to himself as he walked into the elevator and pressed the button, a few floors down from his room at the top.

They had all played cards together for a while now: Cesar, Vert and Mal. How long had it really been since they had all started working together. How long had it been since they dreamed of power and fame, since the dream of staying at the top floor of the casino seemed so far from grasp. It was funny, those dreams seemed too close for comfort now.

The elevator doors shot open, revealing the gaming room. The room spread wide, encompassing all those who stood within. Large windows surrounded the edges of the room, revealing a glimpse into the dark void that was the night sky. Poker tables built with deep red felt and dark sturdy wood were assembled throughout the room; they stood uniform like an army of soldiers. All the tables stood empty except for one.

“Well, took you long enough!” Vert shouted across the vast room with the same sly grin he always had. His angular, hawklike face contorted for a moment before looking deeply at Cesar. “Mal isn’t gonna be joining us tonight then?”

“No not tonight.” Cesar approached, watching the Vert as he leaned back in his chair. His hands were adorned with golden rings and heavy red gemstones. He looked up at Cesar, his dark eyes staring through him like a beast that finally found its prey.

“A shame.”

“Yeah, it is.” Cesar cringed.

“I’ll deal.” Vert said, cards rippling together in a shuffle.

“You always do it best.” Cesar stared past him at the dark city beyond them.

Vert slid the cards face down across the table to Cesar gently landing under the palm of his hands. The deep red velvet of the poker table guided the cards across to Cesar as if they were his and they were merely reuniting. Cesar bent the cards up and looked at them before letting them snap back down to the table with a light slap.

Vert slapped the three cards from the top of the deck onto the table. “Seven of hearts, two of clubs, and ten of diamonds”

Vert’s voice sounded far, as if the table they sat on was miles long. Cesar stared past him into the darkness of the night as he continued to talk.

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A twinge shot across Cesars face as he snapped out of the daze. Vert’s pointer finger tapped repeatedly against the hard oak wood of the table as he looked at his own cards then across at Cesar.

“Woah, not as great of a hand as you thought you woulda had huh Cesar?” Vert leaned forward with a somber smile. “You never did have a great poker face; your brother was always the better liar”

Cesars balled his hands up together under the table. Strength fleeting from them as he did. He felt the warmth of the room, the encompassing walls now seeming close in on him in an embrace, tighter and tighter still. The darkness from the night sky beyond seemed to reach into the room and extinguish the little light there was. The poker tables surrounding him staring at him with unison, the deep red felt of the carpets underneath fading together like a sea of blood.

“Come on now Cesar, two more cards left. The game isn’t done just yet.” Vert said revealing two more cards onto the table. “Queen and Jack of diamonds.”

Vert flipped over the two cards in front of him with a sigh. “Well, my friend it looks like I got two Jacks.”

Cesar stared down at his cards. Hands shaking as he watched Vert lean over and flip over his first card. A king of diamonds.

“Two jacks are better than one king.” Cesar said softly.

“Very true. But for a real good hand like the one you got, there can only be one king.” Vert reached across the table and flipped over Cesars second card revealing an ace of diamonds. “And looks like that king had an ace down his sleeve”

“A royal flush.” Cesar whispered.

“You win.” Vert said putting a hand on Cesars shoulder. “You always did have all the luck didn’t you.”

“The view down here really is great.” Cesar’s voice crackled out in the silence.

“Yeah, but it’s nothing compared to the king’s suite you got.” Vert patted Cesar on his back. He looked at him deep in the eyes and the smile fled from his face. “That view is what we’ve all been working for isn’t it .”

Cesar stood up, legs scarcely holding him up as he leaned against the table and he began walking towards the door. He entered the elevator again and pressed the button for the top floor.

“He would have if you didn’t Cesar.” Vert shouted from across the room. “Only room for one at the top and you both knew it.”

Cesar looked at him flatly. The words barely seeming to reach him. He seemed so far away now from the man he once knew as family. He watched him as the elevator doors slowly shut, removing Vert from view and leaving Cesar alone. The elevator started slowly climbing up to the king’s suite.

Cesar stepped into his room, his shadow trailing long in the hallway behind him. He stepped forward to the table in the center of the room and reached for the pistol that lay on the table. He felt its cold steel press tight against his skin as he tucked it back into his waistband and covered it with his shirt. He stepped forward to the edge of the room and looked out of the window down at the city below him. He looked at HIS city.

“Not quite the view we dreamt about, Huh Mal.” Cesar looked down at the chair behind him. He looked at his brother’s body sprawled out. Lifeless. A bullet hole through his right eye marred his smooth face. Blood poured slowly down the hole and onto the floor, pooling at his feet. Drip by drip.

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