I'll Take My Chances... And Lose It All For You

Chapter 9: Twenty One And Running Out Of Time

A couple of weeks later the entire casino had been cleared out, with the help of half of Inkwell it went by faster than expected. It was now being redecorated with the drawings Cherry had completed. King Dice had leaned bits and pieces about Cherry's past from Cagney Carnation, then finding out more from Cherry herself. There bond had gotten stronger over the last couple of weeks. The Devil has been dormant for the last couple of weeks making Cherry worry herself to Hell and back more than once.

A few posters had been posted around Inkwell for new staff being hired. King Dice had some interviews to do in the morning of Cherry's birthday. With Cherry now turning twenty one she has no idea what's about to happen...

Two weeks later in the morning it was Cherry's birthday. King Dice left early that morning to sort some things out at the Casino, leaving Cherry peacefully sleeping. She knew he wasn't going to be there in the morning when she woke up. Elder Kettle, Cuphead and Mugman went into Cherry's room around 7:30 on the morning of her birthday. The door creaked open and all three of them saw Cherry peaceful sleeping for once.

Cuphead and Mugman had each a gift in their hands while Elder Kettle was caring a cake. Both the Cup brothers walked over to Cherry's bed and gently nudged her awake. She turned slightly and fluttered her eyes open to see a hazy vision of Cuphead, Mugman and Elder Kettle.

"Happy Birthday Cherry" Elder Kettle, Cuphead and Mugman all said in unison with a bright smile plastered on each of their faces.

Cherry giggled slightly with a sweet smile on her face. Gracefully she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat on the edge.

"Thank you all of you" Replied Cherry as she held her arms open and hugged all three of them, a smile drawn on each of their faces.

They pulled out of the hug. Cuphead and Mugman sat on the edge of the bed one each side of Cherry. Elder Kettle placed the cake on her bed side table then walked over and sat on her desk chair.

"You guys really didn't have to do all this for me" Said Cherry as she looked over towards Elder Kettle, then at each of her side at the Cup Brothers.

"Come on Cherry you're twenty one... it's just a little something" Replied Cuphead as he playfully nudged Cherry's arm with a slight laugh form each of them.

"Yeah it's just a little something for you" Said Mugman as he wrapped his arms around Cherry's waist and hugged her tightly, Cherry wrapped an arm around Mugman, running a hand up and down his back.

"And I can't thank you enough" Replied Cherry as she wrapped an arm around Cuphead, pulling him closer for a hug with her and Mugman.

"We all got you a little something Cherry" Said Cuphead as him and Mugman as they both hand Cherry a couple of gifts, wrapped with thin silk ribbons.

"Thank you all of you" Replied Cherry as she looked around the room at the three of them, then back down at the couple of gifts on her lap.

Cherry opened the gift Cuphead had given her, when she lifted the lid off the box it revealed some alcohol based markers. She wrapped an arm around Cuphead and pulled him in for a hug, Cuphead wrapped his arms around her embracing her also. Gradually they both pulled out of the hug and Cherry looked down at her lap at the gift Mugman had given her. Delicately Cherry pulled the ribbon off the gift and pulled the lid off. Inside was a set of varied sized paintbrushes. Cherry wrapped an arm around Mugman and pulled him in for a hug, without hesitation he wrapped his arms around Cherry's waist hugging her.

"Thank you all of you" Said Cherry as she looked around the room at the three of them then pulled Cuphead in for a hug along with Mugman.

Suddenly all of them heard a knock from the front door. They all looked towards Cherry's door them back at each other.

"What's the chances that's Cagney?" Said Cherry as she giggled slightly then placed the gifts that were on her lap on the bed behind her.

"Very high... he's always up at the crack of dawn" Replied Cuphead as him and Mugman got off the bed and along with Elder Kettle went to her bedroom door.

"I'll be down in a few... I'm gonna throw some clothes on" Continued Cherry as she gave the three of them a cute smile and started walking over to her wardrobe.

Elder Kettle, Cuphead and Mugman walked out of Cherry's room and went to answer the front door. Cherry majestically opened both the doors to the wardrobe, scanning her eyes over the clothes hanging inside. She picked out a plain white T-shirt, a black pleated skirt which came just above her knees, and a pair of knee high platform boots which came below her knees with black lace ties. Once Cherry put the outfit on she looked in her full length mirror, brushing down her skirt slightly.

"Happy Birthday darling" Said a voice from behind her, she instantly recognised that voice.

Like lighting Cherry spun around to be faced with the Devil. Her eyes went wide and slightly shaking from the fear coursing through her body. Instantly the Devil grabbed Cherry's neck and lifted her a good few feet off the ground. Gasping for air, her legs were swinging slightly trying to get herself out of the Devil's grasp. In a flash the Devil pinned Cherry to the wall, sending her full length mirror tumbling to the ground. Smashing into thousands of pieces, glass exploded like a firework across the floor.

"Looks like I'm finally getting my debt" Said the Devil as a demonic grin became plastered on his face, and his grip tighten around Cherry's neck.

Tears were threading to fall from the corner of Cherry's eyes. Her breathing was rapid, gasping for any air she could get. Steadily the Devil raised his free hand and hovered it over her heart. Suddenly Cherry let out a blood curdling scream as the Devil began to physically rip her soul out from her body. Becoming weaker and weaker by the second her screams slowly started to become quieter.

Out of nowhere Cherry's bedroom door was flung open. Standing there was Cuphead, Mugman, and Cagney. Without hesitation Cuphead and Mugman aimed for the Devil and began to fire bullets from their finger guns. It didn't phase the Devil in the slightest.

"I'll be back for the soul... Debt Collector" Said the Devil as he carelessly released Cherry's neck, making her collapse in a small ball on the floor.

Just as quick as the Devil came he vanished. Quickly Cuphead, Mugman and Cagney all rushed over to Cherry. Cuphead kneeled down on the ground and carefully placed Cherry's head on his lap.

"I'm fine guys...really you don't need to worry about me" Said Cherry as she sat up and placed a hand over her heart.

"Cherry you almost got your soul ripped out by the Devil... I don't think you're fine" Replied Cuphead in a stern tone, he knew all to well she didn't want anyone to worry about her.

"Come on we'll help you get downstairs" Said Cagney as he offered a hand towards Cherry, who took it and lost her balance immediately.

Cagney caught her before she fell to the floor. He wrapped an arm under Cherry's arm as she lent against his body for support. Cuphead and Mugman were walking behind the pair of them making sure Cherry wasn't going to collapse. Cautiously they made their way down the stairs and over to the arm chair. She gradually sat down in the arm chair and swung her legs over one arm and resting her head against the back of the chair. Cagney went and sat down on the sofa while Cuphead sat in front of the arm chair Cherry was sitting in. Mugman was resting on Cherry's torso while Cherry had an arm wrapped around him. Cherry had her other arm hanging down the front of the arm chair, Cuphead held that hand gently rubbing the back of it.

Cagney was looking over at the three of them, he could easily see they meant everything to each other. Elder Kettle came out of the kitchen and went over to the sofa and stood behind it.

"What happened to her up there?" Whispered Elder Kettle to Cagney as they looked over at the three of them at the arm chair.

"The Devil almost ripped her soul out of her body" Whispered Cagney as he looked over his shoulder back towards Elder Kettle, a concerted look on both of their faces.

Elder Kettle sighed and shook his head slightly.

"I'm worried if the Devil gets another chance... she won't make it out alive" Said Elder Kettle so only Cagney could hear, as the pair of them looked over towards Cuphead, Mugman and Cherry.