A Devilish Gamble

Paranoid Problems

The usual busy sounds of the night filled the air. To most it was a relaxing way to clear their mind. A way to escape any and all worries.

Dice ,however, was far from relaxed. His whole body was rather tense as he walked towards the alley way to get to all the bars. He looked calm on the outside except from the panicky darts of his eyes at the slightest movement. He feared what lied in the dark. He knew Nicky would be after him but didn't know WHAT exactly Nicky was planning to do. This was his first time out in a long while.

Dice hadn't left his apartment in a week. . He hadn't eaten much either, he didn't have an appetite.  Making him look rather thin and skinny now. He had been too afraid. Afraid of the consequences that waited for him outside. He knew he couldn't face Nicky again. Not after what had happened. Yet Dice knew soon he had  to go out to get more cash. It was coming towards the end of September now. Rent would be due soon, which he didn't quite have enough to afford. Hence why he was outside now.
However he was far too on edge. Knowing Nicky would be most likely hunting him.

Dice ducked down the alley to get to the street of his income. He could see a couple of people around. He was aware that when he walked past them, that they stared. Because of the few cuts he still had over his face. One across his nose, one on his cheek and of course the red and purple welts that accompanied those cuts. He could hear them whisper. The people around him. He didn't care all that much, he wanted to know what they were saying in case it was something to do with Nicky but otherwise didn't care. He wanted to be aware of the people around him were on Nicky's side. He wants to know if they were sent to spy on him.

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The atmosphere at the bars was carefree and cheerful. Dice found himself able to focus on things other then Nicky and the threat he posed.

Dice found himself able to unwind as he gambled and messed with the other members of the bar. The coins easily started to rack up in his side of the table.

Dice was winning. Him and his opponent had gambled the same amount of money, which was only a small part of Dice's collection for the night. Dice went to roll the (literal) dice when something orange caught his eyes. His mind immediately panicking at the thought of Nicky's hair colour. He looked up, flinching in fear as he thought he saw Nicky and accidentally let the dice roll from his hand.

"Sorry mate looks like ya loose that one" his opponent shrugged.

Dice's panicked thoughts snapped his eyes back to the table. Rather rushedly he looked at what score he had gotten and cursed under his breath adrenaline still pulsing through him with the itching paranoia.

"Oh y-yeah. Umm. Here" Dice blurted, picking up the small amount of change he had bet and handing it over. Randomly taking the time to notice how skinny and frail his opponent looked. As if he was an elderly man which the grey hair suggested he was. Yet Dice could tell by the gentlemans face. He was no old man, he looked almost barely even 30.

"You're a good gambler sir. You ever considered going to Vegas?" The other man asked as he counted his coins.

"Didn't think I'd ever be good enough to get there" Dice chuckled honestly, his mind calming slowly and heart rate sinking to normal levels.

"I'd say you're good enough. You might even be a match for Damon himself" the man laughed looking up at Dice again.

The name caught Dice's attention and sparked his curious need. He raised an eyebrow in question and said in a low calm voice.
"Damon? Who might that be?"

"Damon De'vil, they call him the King Of Bets. Owns a big casino down in Las Vegas called 'The Devils Hell'. It's said he wins every game. Rumours say he's Satan and all his employees are his fallen gambling foes who gambled their souls away." The other man explain putting his cash in his pocket. He let out a laugh and gently shook his head with a smile "if you believe in all of that sort of stuff of course. If you ask me, its just a pile of wild theories"

"The Devils Hell huh? If I ever make it down to Vegas I'll be sure to check it out" Dice said, almost promising the stranger he would do so. He remembered hearing something similar, weeks ago when he had stormed off. He remembered hearing those two men in the alley talking about a man like Damon. Perhaps they were the same person. If so Damon sure seemed to have the reputation. The type of reputation Dice wished he had.

"Atta lad, I'd recon you'd do good down there"

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The rest of the night continued. Dice found himself talking that man for hours. They discussed gambling strategies and shared tactics they had both learnt over the years. Dice was a little saddened when the man left. He understood why the other man had to leave though. He said he had a train to catch to get back home. Which Dice had figured it was in Las Vegas by the way the man had talked about it. Instead of going back to gambling; Dice stayed sat in his bar stool, he thought he should at least finish his beer before going home early like he planned. It was his only drink of the night so he wouldn't get drunk or even tipsy for that matter. It tasted too good to just leave there however so he made sure to finish it before walking out into the open air.