The Deadly Gamble

Part 1: The Professional Gambler

Rowan was seriously playing poker in a big casino with his friend Bert. They have been friends since childhood and both are professional gamblers. They are good with what they do and this has made them rich. But tonight was different.

Bert sighed, “This casino is no good for us. It’s not letting us win. Perhaps we should call it a night Rowan.” Rowan frowned, “I am not ready to surrender yet Bert. Our luck has to change soon. We have been playing for hours. Gambling logic states that according to statistics, we should win soon.”

“Okay Rowan if that’s what you think, then go ahead. I am not here to stop you, but as for me I am giving up. Logic also states that gambling losses can go on forever if the games are not rigged but are entirely random.”

“Bert, I have thought about it as well. But my experience tells me that my luck is about to change soon. Soon, lady luck would smile at me and give me winning cards. I can feel it. My luck would change soon.”

“Okay Rowan, but I’m not standing around wasting my time seeing if you continue to lose or finally win. I’m going to the bar. See me there when you have lost all your money already.” “Okay Bert. But don’t ask me for a handout if I win.”

Bert laughed, “Win first Rowan. Win first. Then speak of giving money away.” Bert just smiled as he left to go to the casino’s bar. Rowan then looked at the card dealer and motioned him to deal him cards.

Part 2: Rowan’s Casino Gambling Result

The gambling night of Rowan proceeded on. Then he finally joined Bert in the bar. Bert was a little surprised when he saw him. “Rowan, I’m surprised you’re here. Aren’t you still gambling?”

Rowan did not answer Bert but sat on the chair of the bar and ordered a drink of whiskey. As soon as the whiskey was served to him. He drank it and then ordered another one. As soon as the next glass of whiskey arrived, he again drank it and again ordered another glass of whiskey.

“A bad night Rowan? I bet you haven’t recovered your losses.” Rowan looked at him angrily, “Stop teasing me Bert. Now is not a good time to be teasing me. So please stop!”

“Whoa Rowan, I’m just asking. I didn’t mean to tease you. Lost big?” Rowan sighed, “Yes…very big in fact…” “How much did you lose Rowan? 10 thousand? 20 thousand?…” “Rowan looked at him seriously, “100 thousand…” Bert’s eyes widened, “You lost 100 thousand dollars in a manner of hours? What happened to you Rowan? You’re a professional gambler! You don’t lose that kind of money, ever!” Rowan bowed his head, “I don’t know what came over me. I haven’t won a single time so when I got a good deck of cards I thought my luck has changed, so I bet big.” Bert consoled him, “It’s not so bad, we can make up for your losses some other day, but preferably not in this casino. Let’s leave.”

Part 3: The Asian Gambling City

They walked out of the casino and strolled around in the city they were in. They were actually in a vacation in a town foreign to them. They were in a country in Asia and in a city known for its night life and gambling establishments.

Bert touched the shoulder of Rowan, “Don’t take your gambling loss in that casino let you down. We haven’t lost much. We can still have a good vacation in this city. Perhaps we should forget about gambling for a while and just enjoy ourselves.”

Rowan smirked, “Bert, we are professional gamblers. We cannot sit still while this city especially that casino beats us. What do you think would happen to my reputation if anyone finds out that I have lost a very big amount of money in that casino?”

Bert laughed, “There’s a first time for everything Rowan. At least now you wouldn’t have to worry about keeping your reputation spotless. It’s good also now that you have experienced your first big loss. At least you’ve learned your lesson.”

“We have been gambling at the biggest and most famous casinos in the world Bert. Don’t tell me that you would just let a small casino in a remote part of the world beat us. I don’t know about you Bert, but I can’t simply let it pass.”

Bert became serious, “Let me give you sound advice Rowan. We’ve been friends since childhood and I know you inside out. Rowan, please don’t let your pride get to you. It’s dangerous. It might spell your doom one day.”

Part 4: The Small Gambling Den

Rowan smiled, “You’re right Bert. Forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve lost more than 100 thousand dollars and it’s getting to me. I just want revenge in this small town, that’s all. All I want is to recover a bit of my money.”

Bert smiled, “Hmm. See that small gambling place. I bet we can still gamble there with the small change we have in our pockets. Maybe our luck would change there. Probably help you to get your revenge in a small way with this city as well.”

“The gamblers there are probably amateurs as well, Bert. Look at the people entering that small gambling place. Look at the way they’re dressed, you wouldn’t think that they have money in them. Let’s go beat the players in that place.”

“I know you would like my idea, Rowan. Now you have something to smile about. Maybe you could recover some of your losses in there. Perhaps you just might recover all that you have lost tonight.”

Part 5: The Gambling Prizes

They approached the small gambling place. The gambling place looked so seedy and dirty on the outside that they stopped short of entering it. They were about to leave when they noticed something.

Bert’s eyes widened, “Whoa! Look at that beautiful woman walking out with that ugly guy. That woman looks like a supermodel. I wonder what a beautiful girl like her is doing with that ugly old guy?”

“Look Bert, here comes another one. She’s even more beautifuler than the last one, but she is also walking out with an ugly guy. Do you think this gambling place is full of these beautiful women?”

“Let’s look inside Rowan. There’s no harm in seeing what’s inside this gambling place. Perhaps we might even meet other beautiful women here that also looks like supermodels.” Rowan smiled, “What are you waiting for Bert, let’s go inside.”

Once Rowan and Bert were inside the small gambling place, they can’t help but feel amazed at the sheer number of beautiful women inside who look like supermodels. Then a casino staff approached them.

He smiled at Rowan and Bert, “Good evening sir, I believe you are here to gamble?” Rowan smiled, “Yes we are here to gamble. But more than this, who are the beautiful women here?”

“They are the main prizes for the gamblers here. If a gambler wins over 100 thousand dollars, they are able to choose a woman out here and take her home to do as he wishes with her. Would you like to win one of our beautiful women?”

Part 6: The Gambling Room

Rowan smiled, “Honesty, could you please tell me. Are these women prostitutes?” The gambling staff laughed, “You mistake our esteemed established for an ordinary gambling den. Perhaps this place is not for you. I suggest that you should leave this place.”

“Oh, I don’t mean to offend your esteemed establishment. It’s just that it is the first time me and my friend here have entered such an establishment as yours. In fact, me and my friend here are professional gamblers. We gamble for a living.”

“Oh really sir, I am delighted that we have in our establishment two people who gamble to live. I assume that you know the risks of gambling and I don’t need to remind you that gambling could be dangerous for you?”

Rowan laughed, “You don’t have to tell us that gambling could be dangerous. We know it already.” “All right sir. I think you are now ready to gamble in our establishment.”

Bert rubbed his chin, “But could you please tell me what sort of gambling is done in this place? I see no people gambling in the tables here.” “Oh sir, you mean you don’t know what sort of gambling is done in this place?”

“I and my friend only know this is a gambling place based on the sign which says: Gamble your life here and win big prizes.” “Oh sir, I seriously suggest that you leave. This place is not for you. Gamble somewhere else.”

Then a beautiful woman walked up to Rowan, “Hello there, would you like to win me tonight? I am the next prize in the game.” Then she entered the gambling room before any of them can speak.

Rowan grinned at Bert, “Whatever game it is they’re playing, I’m playing it. It might be poker, dice, roulette, coin toss, I don’t care. I just want to win that woman tonight!” Then he looked at the gambling staff, “How much is it to play your gambling game?”

“All you need is yourself. You just enter this room and play the game. I must warn you sir, once you enter this room, you must play the game. There is no backing out. Please sir, I recommend that you leave our establishment now.”

Part 7: The Gambling Game

Rowan was about to enter the gambling room when Bert stopped him, “Rowan, I suggest that we leave this establishment immediately. I don’t think that whatever is the game they are playing in the room is for us.”

The gambling staff also warned Rowan, “Please sir, I think you are not familiar with our game. I think it is not right for you.” Rowan growled, “Nonsense you two. What is so special about the gambling game inside the room?”

“Sirs, I know you are professional gamblers, but you are playing a game that you have not probably played before. I want to tell you the game, but it is forbidden. I don’t even think you are good at playing our game.”

Rowan became angry, “So, you think that we are no good for your gambling game? What makes it so special?” Then the gambling room opened and the beautiful woman who talked to Rowan appeared.

“Hello there handsome. We are still waiting for players. When are you coming inside? I’m waiting for you to win me.” Bert interrupted the woman, “Lady, could you please tell us what sort of game is played inside the room? Your gambling staff here says it’s forbidden for him to tell us. Maybe you could tell us the game instead.”

The woman laughed, “The game is simple, You play against an opponent. All that each of you have to do is to roll the dice over and over again. If you select the unlucky number you lose. It’s that simple. If you win, you get $100,000 plus me for the night.”

Bert and Rowan smiled at each other. It was Rowan who spoke, “My friend and I are willing to play the game. You said you have no more players. I think both of us volunteer to play the game.”

The beautiful woman just laughed and then signaled them to enter the gambling room. The gambling staff wanted to say something to both men but was given by the beautiful woman the signal to go away.

Part 8: Rowan And Bert Against Each Other

When they entered the gambling room, they noticed that there were plenty of spectators inside it. All of the spectators clapped and cheered as they went inside. The beautiful woman then escorted them to the table in the middle of the room.

They were ordered to sit on the chairs which are opposite to each other with the table in their middle. The table has a small wooden box which looked liked a cigar box but elaborately adorned with engravings.

Then mean looking men surrounded the two of them as they sat on the chairs in the middle of the room. There was silence in the gambling room as the beautiful women opened the small wooden box.

The mean looking men were enough to scare the two friends, but it was what’s inside the box that really scared them. Inside the box was a gun. It was actually a revolver. The woman took the gun and put a single bullet in it. Then she rotated the cylinder of the gun repeatedly.

Rowan protested, “There must be some mistake. We did not come here to play Russian Roulette. You never told us that the game was Russian Roulette.” The beautiful girl grinned, “But you agreed to the game. Besides, you can’t back out now.”

Then she handed the gun at Rowan, “Since I like you. You get to play the game first.” Rowan closed his eyes as the beautiful woman put the gun to his head and then pulled the trigger.

It did not fire. Then the beautiful woman put the gun to the head of Bert who was by now crying. She pulled the trigger and Bert collapsed to the floor with a gunshot wound to his head. The spectators were shouting with joy as Bert laid in the floor dead.

The beautiful woman smiled at Rowan, “Congratulations handsome. You just won me and $100,000.” Rowan was crying at the death of his friend, “You can’t get away with this. I’ll report you to the police!”

The beautiful woman eyes widened with surprise, “You’re really a stranger out here are you? Don’t you know? Russian Roulette is legal in this city.”