Running With the Devil (SCP Fanfic)

Chapter 15: Queen of Hearts

The door to Jame's and Malo's cell buzzed and slid open. James was pushed harshly through the door and to the ground. The door buzzed again and slammed shut.

"James, are you alright?" Malo ran over to help him up.

"I'm alright," he said as he slowly got up by himself.

"Why don't you let me help you up?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

James went and sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked up and noticed Malo staring at him, "What is it, Malo?"

"Why do you let them drive you around like that?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Fight, James. Why don't you fight! I would have torn them to shreds already, but you... hate that," she gave him a stern look.

"What's that in your pocket?" He noticed a rectangular shape on the front of her jumpsuit.

Malo nuzzled her snout into her front pocket and took the pack of playing cards she received and dropped them from her mouth to the floor with a slap, "Is that what you're interested in, huh? They're just some playing cards for Christ's sake!"

James picked up the deck from the ground and held them, "These are my cards from my backpack. How'd you get them?"

"That prick, Dr. Riser gave them to me."

"Want to play some cards?"

"James, I'm not in any fucking mood to play cards with you. Talk to me, stop trying to change the subject!" She pointed out her cuffed hand.

"I want to talk over a game. We need to calm down a little, I really need to ease my mind a bit."

Malo looked at him defiantly but gave in, "Fine, but I've never played."

"Never? I don't know too many games, I used to only play poker with my Dad. This deck was his in fact. And when I lived with my Grandpa, we'd play almost every night in my dad's memory."

James sat down in one of the corners of the room. Malo joined him, sitting against the wall with a huff.

"I think we should probably get those off first," James motioned to Malo's hands and pulled out a key from his front pocket.

"Maybe. They let you keep those?"

"Yeah, they let you take off your muzzle?" James reached over and unlocked her cuffs.

She took off her cuffs and laid them next to her, "Yeah."

"Feels a lot better," she rubbed her wrists.

"I'm glad, now I just got to teach you how to play," he smiled at her.

"And we'll have a serious conversation then?"

"Yeah," he took the cards out of the paper case. He flipped through the cards and took out the jokers.

"So, poker, is it?"

"Yeah, five card draw is what I like to play," he began to shuffle the cards, "I'll give each of us five cards. You can look at them but don't tell me what you got."

"Ok."

"Here," he handed her five of the paper cards, she flipped them up, and took a look at them.

"You know what order they go in?"

"Yeah, jack, queen, king, ace? After the numbered ones, of course."

"Yep, and you beat me by having a better hand. For example, an ace will beat a king, and the hand you have is determined by the most valuable card in it."