Jack Valentine, a ginger 1920s gangster ghost, let's out a long string of cigar smoke, his mutilated throat releasing the foul stench as he dragged the cigar from his mouth. In his other hand, his fingers absentmindedly fiddled with a bladed Queen of hearts; flipping the card expertly through between his gloved fingers.
He grins wickedly, throwing the card into a painted target on the wall of the abandon warehouse he called home and says, "Bulls-eye."
—
GraveYard, the decaying but living corpse, had entered the city of Las Vegas some hours before. Since she heard it is a lively city, so wanted to check the city out for herself. She has now has stumbled upon the ginger gangster's "home", curious, the corpse enters inside the abandon warehouse to have a look around.
—
The ginger pauses, snuffing out the cigar as he lets out a chuckle. He proceeded to turn transparent as he fans out his deck of cards. The edges of each were fitted with steel blades and they were good for piercing victims skin and to throw around. "It seems I have a guest." He chuckles under his breath, and levitates off the old poker table he sat on.
The living corpse wonders about the warehouse, looking at dusty objects as she goes by. Grave stops to look at the poker table and proceeded to make her way over towards it to get a better look.
Suddenly the gangster ghost appears, smiling devilishly as he fans out his cards. "Ah, a young woman. Tell me miss...are you the gamblin' type?"
Grave stared at the ginger, startled by his sudden appearance.
She stutters, "What the?...No, I-I don't."
"Oh come now, how about a game, my dear?" The man's smile gets wider.
"Wh-Why should I play a game with a f-floating dead man?", she inquired, feeling uncomfortable.
"Ah ah ah. They call me the Gambler for a reason, my dear zombie tramp."
The corpse's expression looks surprised and slightly mad.
"How do you know that? Plus, that wasn't that nice...", Grave bitterly questions.
"Scent of Death is prominent around you. Plus the rotting flesh is a dead giveaway.", The Gambler snickers, "What brings ya to Vegas?"
She saw that flesh on her wrist was starting to fall off so she tugged her sleeve down as an sad attempt to cover it up.
"I heard this city has lots of people that're not that bright so I thought that n-no one will miss a few...", Grave mumbled.
"Well, welcome to Sin City then!", the ginger grins, "Ya right. People around here ain't smart when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Easy prey!"
Graveyard relaxed slightly, liking the small praise. She noticed that there were three bullet holes in his chest over his heart.
"Like yourself?", the corpse remarks as she points to his bullet holes.
"This?", he questions while pointing to the holes, "Nah, I got pumped with lead after a foul play on my expense. Poker is a nasty game as much as I love to play it."
"Oh.That sound awful. Er..What's poker? A card g-game?", the decaying girl inquired.
"Correct. Want me to teach you?"
She thought about that for a few seconds before answering the dead man's question.
"I don't see why not."
The man flicks his wrists, letting the blades to go within the cards and starts dealing. He then explains how to play, his hands shuffling the rest of the unused deck and gathers the poker chips that were scattered all over with his manipulation abilities. The living corpse watches him in some awe.
"Well. Here I'll make a deal. You do me a favor and in return I do you a favor.", the ginger gangster spoke.
"What's the f-favor you want done then?", Grave inquires with a curious look on her rotting face.
"To deal with a...problem. He goes by Hangman. A ghost like me and he kills men as well as women and children. ", the ginger lies.
"Th-That's horrible...", the corpse asks, believing his lie, "W-Why does he do that?"
"He's from the Old West period. Savages at most. He's in Arizona. Hendrick's Post, Arizona to be precise."
"What do you expect me to do? H-He's already dead.", she inquires.
"Hit him in the soul gem." The ginger then opens his vest and shirt and Grave could see a faint green glow from inside where his heart should be. "Damage it enough that he's solid and then finish him off." The living corpse stares for a bit, still unsure what a soul gem is exactly but got the idea. The decaying Grave nods to agree.
"Simple and easy.", Gambler smiles, "Now, what do you want in return?"
She hesitated before mumbling, "A friend..."
"Then I'll do that, darling."
"Really?...Th-Thank you.", she smiled.
"Now, you must be off. Here's the road map to the town." Gambler tosses her a rolled up piece of aged parchment.
GraveYard catches and glances over it. "Alright, Mr. Gambler..."
"Good, now good luck to yah. You'll need it."
YOU ARE READING
Playing Cards & Tight Nooses
HorrorGravYard Mets two ghosts at different times and different places.
