I would have preferred to remain unconscious and not be the one deciding someone's life or death.
Silence fell again, heavier than ever.
The corpse of our American still lay on the flagstones, his blackened blood slowly seeping through the cracks in the circle. The metallic smell filled my nostrils. No one dared look away, but no one dared stare at the scene for too long either.
[... SECOND ROUND: FRANCE.]
[PREPARE WEAPONS…]
My voice cracked, I had a weight in my hands that I could use.
All faces immediately turned towards me. The Americans, however, remained behind after having slipped their weapons. The tall one who had survived still kept his nervous laughter, shaken by hysterical jolts, while the others tried to regain their senses. But none of them dared to interrupt.
It was no longer their turn.
It was mine.
Viper was still clenching his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. He looked like he was going to bite.
He tried to stay calm, but the sweat clinging to his neck betrayed him. His fingers were shaking. He had nothing left besides a debt.
F-02, on the other hand, held his wrist as if the watch weighed tons. His gaze was fixed on the table as if he were an expert analyzing the game. He didn't seem happy about his victory, not really, or rather he was very afraid of losing everything and sinking. It was as if he was already carrying the burden of his luck...
The French woman, however, remained tense, her mouth half-open, her breath short. Her eyes kept glancing towards the still-warm American corpse. Each time, she paled more.
George, finally, clung to his watch like a lifeline. His lips moved soundlessly, no doubt repeating an inaudible prayer.
[CHOOSE YOUR NUMBERS AND BET]
The DICE
Viper was the first to speak. His voice cracked, loud, sharp:
- Four.
F-02 stared at him, surprised. But he said nothing.
[THE BET]
I asked Viper
-you can bet 0 coins,
He said, smirking as if he had just made a genius deduction.
[YOUR TURN IS CANCELLED]
-WHY? I bet, hey F I don't know what, give me my coins, I'll give them back to you after this round, don't worry I'm going to win, give me the money
-... I I I'm not sure, murmured F-02, tightening his watch
-GIVE, YOU WANTED TO SACRIFICE ME, I REMIND YOU.
howled viper
-but I don't…. I can't….
He murmurs
[CHOOSE YOUR NUMBERS, TIME NOT RUNNING OUT, OR DO YOU WANT TO CANCEL THIS TURN?]
The woman hesitated for a long time, her breath coming out in short gasps. Finally, she said in a trembling voice:
- TWO, I only have 1000 pieces
George, his forehead streaming, hardly dared to raise his head:
- One, for 1 million
[THE HIGHEST IS 1 MILLION, INCREASE YOUR BET, MADAM]
-GEORGE, please… It's all I have… Withdraw some money, do it for me, she whispered, almost pleading.
-I can't, it's not me who decides, sorry
George whispered, looking away.
[YOU CAN EITHER REQUEST OR JUST CANCEL]
Only F-02 remained. All eyes turned to him. He was the only one who could help them.
- Five, he finally said.
-Dude, give me a million, it's you, give me my million, whispered Vipers
-1, for 5 million, affirmed F-05
[HIGHEST BET IS 5 MILLION, ADJUST YOUR BETS]
Viper burst into a dry, forced laugh.
-5 MILLION. YOU'RE BRAIN-SICK, SINCE WHEN DO YOU HAVE MONEY AND WHERE I'M GOING TO FIND THAT MONEY, withdraw your bet while I say so nicely
The woman shook her head
- No… I… can't
George clenched his fingers until they bled.
- Me too… 5 million. No more.
F-02 hesitated again. Sweat could be seen beading at his temples. His lips moved. He was afraid of the viper, but especially of losing all his money, but he didn't really have a choice.
-5 million.
[ARE WITHDRAWN.]
The numbers lined up in the air. Viper had just lost his bet, as had the woman.
- let's get this over with
No one answered.
*[you are very mean to them, I LOVE YOU EVEN MORE]
My arm rose.
the die shone between my fingers.
It was up to me to decide, so let's do it right.
I throw it.
CLANG.
It bounced, rolled, and finally stopped.
[ … 4. ]
Viper clenched his fist in victory, but unfortunately, he hadn't bet.
A gasp rippled through the circle. The woman stepped back. George closed his eyes. F-02 clenched his jaw.
[LET THE WINNER CHOOSE THE LOSER OF LOSERS.]
[THERE IS NO WINNER, SO THE OLD LOSER WILL BE THE NEW LOSER]
Viper burst into rage.
-What do you mean! You were joking, weren't you?
He slowly turned around, staring at the others and especially me with his malevolent gaze.
His gaze flicked over to George, who was trembling. To the woman, who didn't dare breathe. To F-02, who barely met his gaze.
-You…
Viper stopped on him.
-It's you, it's your fault
[DRAW WEAPON, LET'S NOT WASTE TIME OR YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED, AND REALLY ELIMINATED]
The viper's face froze. But he said nothing.
[ APPROACH. ]
The compartment opened. The nine pistols appeared, perfectly aligned.
Viper took a deep breath, then chose a weapon, without hesitation.
[ADD A BULLET.]
He opened the cylinder. The click sounded like a funeral bell. The bullet rolled into the steel.
*[there are only two empty spaces, plus one there is only one empty space left…..you know it's still a murder]
[ TURN. ]
He spun the cylinder slowly. The grinding noise made the whole circle shudder.
[ PULL. ]
Total silence.
Viper raised the weapon and placed it against his temple. His face remained stone.
Silence
[ PULL]
Silence
[ PULL]
Silence
[SHOOT OR YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED… NOW]
CLICK.
No shooting.
Just that dry, almost mocking sound.
Viper released the weapon. His legs were barely shaking. But his eyes were hard, sharp, fixed, and wide open.
-ha aha aha haaaa ahaaa ah AHA HAAA HA HAHAHAHA HAHAHA
Then he burst out laughing
[ SURVIVOR. ]
[WINS ARE AWARDED TO THE WINNER.]
[BUT THERE IS NO WINNER SO THE GOODS ARE VOIDED]
My watch lit up, now showing 15 million.
I didn't know it could work like that too.
The woman breathed, relieved, but not for long. George lowered his head, unable to understand.
In the invisible buyers' room, murmurs rose. Some seemed amused. Others, intrigued.
Only one remained silent.
[So, I didn't understand anything... Ki-Moon... do you see this?]
[Do you understand?]
I picked up the die again, ready for another game.
[SECOND ROUND]
[AMERICA.]
The whole circle seemed to tighten.
Every breath resonated louder, every heartbeat hammered in my ears, can I up the ante?
It wasn't just a game of chance, it was my game of chance
And the worst part was, I didn't know what he wanted in return.