2-Hero

         Josh and I stepped outside the casino. He was standing there, across the street, next to a black, tinted Lincoln Town car. He looked at us and smiled.

          „Sooo... You did come, hehehe... Listen, I have an offer for the two of you. You do not have to accept the offer. So, do you want to hear what I have to say?“, asked the old man.

          „H-Hold up!“, I started, „Why us? Why did you choose us and what did you choose us for!? Wh-Who are you? How did you win so many times in the casino? We want an explanation!“

          „Hehehe... Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything, Ken... You can call me Mr. G.. I won at the roulette simply by luck. Ken, I am a very lucky man, and I think that my luck is just getting bigger and bigger as I age! The proof for that are you, Ken, Josh... I was looking for a while for people like the two of you...“

          „W-What do you mean??“, I said, creeped out by what the old-Mr. G. told us... All of this is happening too fast... I... I’m not sure what to do nor think...

          „Hehehe... I’ll tell you everything in the car. Come on, it’s starting to rain...“, it really did start to rain, but I don’t know how smart was this... This suspicious old man came out of nowhere and told me that he was ’looking for people such as me for a while’, like, what does that even mean?? Now, I think I’m starting to understand what he maybe meant... As soon as I entered the casino and sat at the roulette table I started listening to what this old man told me to bet on... So maybe he was looking for people who would listen to him, or in other words, people who would do what he says without disobey... But then... Why did he tell me to bring Josh?? Did Josh do the same thing I did, that being did he listen to the old man, but he... lost?? No, no, that couldn’t have been the case... Yeah, I remember Josh telling me that he didn’t listen to Mr. G., so then... what does Mr. G. want from Josh and I??

          „Ken... Listen, man, I don’t know about you, but I’m going inside the car... If he wants us to work for him or something I can’t refuse! I need the money, man!“

          The rain worsened.

          „How do you know the offer will be about a job?“, I asked Josh, even though I thought the same.

          „I don’t, but I sure hope it is... or... at least I hope he’ll offer us some way to earn money... Soooo, are you going inside with me, or?“

          I thought for a second, as the rain got even worse, then I agreed. So we entered the car and sat next to Mr. G.. He was wearing a purple coloured, expensive looking jacket and a golden chain with a letter „G“ around his neck.

          Yeah, I hated how this guy looked. The car, however, looked amazing! The leather seats, the sound isolation, the tinted windows, the chrome details, everything inside was so amazing! This is the most comfortable car I’d ever sat in, even tho all three of us sat in the backseat.

          „Wow, this car is amazing.“, I said to Mr. G..

          „Hehe, thank you. I bought it while I was in the US, back in 2011. I liked it so much that I imported it here when I moved to Australia in 2016. But enough about the car, let’s talk business...“

          „Sir. I’m sorry to interrupt you, sir, but I have to tell you this: While you were in the casino, the boss sent you a message.“, said the driver, a 40-ish looking man with black moustache and a black hat that... he was wearing... inside the car?? Anyway...

          „If it’s not that important, I’ll listen to it later.“

          „Understood, sir.“, said the driver, as he closed the window that separated the driver’s half of the car from our half. „It’s time to tell you why I invited you here...“

          „I want you to join ’The Element Games’... Before you ask, yes, these games are dangerous. You may get poisoned or even die. Therefore you’ll need to sign some papers that free us of responsibility for your safety. In other words, if you choose to participate in these games, we will not get in trouble if you get hurt or die.“

          Silence.

          We had to swallow what we just heard. Why would we agree to participate in these games if we have a chance to die? I was ready to leave the car when Mr. G. continued...

          „Before you leave, let me tell you what you can gain by participating. First of all we pay all participants 5 000 dollars as soon as they sign the papers.“

          „F-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!?“, Josh and I screamed at the same time. That’s enough to erase my dept AND leave me with my 3 grand I earned earlier in the casino. Ok more like leave me with 2.5 grand, but still! I can turn my life around! This man... This man is... some kind of a twisted hero... Yeah... „Josh...“

          „I know. It-It sounds too good to be true... That’s enough money to pay the money shark debt I have... That money will save my life! I will still need 7 600 dollars for my rent debt, but at least that money shark won’t cut my fingers...“

          „C-Cut your fingers? What’s his name?“

          „Noah. Noah Bailey... Why?“

          Holy shit. Noah is the money shark Josh owes 5 000 dollars to... „It’s nothing. Mr. G., I want to ask you, if we... survive those games... will we earn more money or?“

          „Hehehe... That depends...“

          „Depends? On what?“

          „Hehehe... Depends on how many games you win, that is, if you win any... Now it’s time for you to choose: you can leave now, since this is the last chance you got to leave without any cost; or you can stay in the car and drive with me to the apartment these games will take place in... Make the choice... fast...“

          I... I don’t know what to do... I could go outside and keep gambling with the money I currently have, or I could-

          „I’M IN!“, Josh said.

          What?

          „T-Think about thi-“, I started-

          „I have to go, Ken, I have to! If I don’t... Noah will mess me up, man... This will give me a chance... Yes, it’s risky, but isn’t gambling in itself risky already? The only difference between normal gambling and these games is what you bet... Listen... my life will be over anyway if I don’t go... This gives me a chance to live... if I win, I can turn my life around...“

          „I... Good luck, friend...“, I said as I left the car. Betting my life... I can’t do that... I’m... I’m too afraid to do it...

          I saw the car driving off in the distance.

          I was wrong about Mr. G., this man was no hero... He was a monster...

          Good luck, Josh. I hope you win...

                    JOSH’S POV:

          Ken left.

          I understand him... If I was in his place I would have left, too... Afterall he still has a choice, unlike me...

          „W-When will we get there?“, I asked Mr. G.. I don’t like this man... But he gave me the one chance I needed. He opened the gates that lead to a new life, but to get to that new life, I’ll have to go through a hell road...

          „Soon, very soon.“, he replied.

          We were driving for ten minutes, or so, in silence, when the driver opened the thing that separated his from our half of the car. „Sir. The boss sent another message. This one is important.“, he said.

          „I understand. Park the car next to that black honda.“

          When he parked the car Mr. G. asked me to exit the car while he listens to the messages boss sent him.

          After around 5 minutes he opened a window and told me to get inside. He looked nervous.

          „There was... a change of plans.“, he told me.

          „What change of plans?“

          „Before we drive to the apartment, we need to go see someone... Her...“

          „Her? “

          „Linda; Boss’s daughter... Turn the car around, we’re going back to that casino!“

          Before I asked what’s going on, Mr. G. said: „She did it again... She got in some big shit this time... Curse that woman!“

          The driver turned the car around and we started driving back, faster then the speed limit.

          I wonder what did this woman do?