Gamble

Gamble - Sophia Mu (Newark Academy, Tenth Grade)

Celeste is perched atop the bar stool, swirling the amber liquid inside the shot glass. The

effervescence stings the back of her throat as she takes a sip, burning through her nostrils.

But it isn’t enough to erase her image – the golden swoopy locks, piercing glacial blue irises, and

that flowy sundress that did not belong in the squalid room of the underground – from the recesses of

Celeste’s addled brain.

It was Sadie - there was no doubt.

“I would like to do business with you.”

She had been foolish to think that such a large part of her could be blocked out by her normal

means of stress relief. Normally, when she held her opponent in her blood-soaked glory, the victory tasted

of copper in the back of her throat as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Her opponent had fallen to the ground, and she was declared victorious.

She had gotten enough cash to buy some extra fancy paraphernalia, yet the grin usually etched on

her face would not remain. Though it was sharp enough to pierce her expectations, Celeste wondered if it

would melt right off when met with the revolting violence underground.

She doesn’t even recognize you, idiot.

And yet, those piercing eyes traced over each swing of Celeste’s fist, as if entranced by her

dexterous movements carving her way to victory.

Sighing, the mercenary takes another swig as a figure approaches. Her vision is blurring as the

squeaking of stool leg against the wooden floor grates against her ears.

“Whatcha doin down here so early?” His dumb face has a shit-eating grin, the one that he only

decides to let out when Celeste wants to scream at the world for cursing her with everything that has led

up until now.

“Shut up, Kyle.” Celeste didn’t even bother looking at her best friend. Peals of laughter echoed

through the dimly-lit area. They were the only two in this quiet corner as Celeste was drinking her misery

away.

“Soooooo, you know that beautiful madam who visited your match tonight?” The obnoxious

eyebrow waggle he gave was met with the nastiest glare she could muster.

After basking in Celeste’s predicament for a few moments longer, Kyle tugged the glass from the

frazzled boxer, taking a sip. Celeste slumped over the table. They sat together in silence for a couple

minutes.

“She’s asked me about my other services.” Celeste began, not lifting her face from the table.

“A friend... of hers was murdered and the authorities aren’t investigating. Ruled out to be suicide.

Something to do with corporate covering up some shit.” Each word felt like chunks of bile tumbling out

of her esophagus.

“She’s got the detective side handled, apparently the victim’s sister is planning with her or

something.”

“I want you to kill them.”

Sadie...

Those eyes once filled with inviting warmth and empathy were now sharp with an unwavering

determination, guarded and iron-clad with years of sculpting.

Years that Celeste ceased to be by her side.

Would it have turned out differently? If that day, flames didn’t ravage everything between them,

only fanned by Celeste’s own selfishness?

Since when did Sadie get into gambling? Or even know how to come down to the underworld?

Does she have problems at home?

Does she miss me?

Questions piled up high, until Celeste pulverized each letter in the hopes it would fall to oblivion.

Once again.

“So, are you going to take up the offer?” Kyle asked, slowly enunciating each syllable.

Celeste dug through her pockets, producing a coin. Its luster oscillated through the smooth

emblem running both sides as she rolled it between her knuckles.

The metallic sound echoed through her ears, suspended in time itself.

It landed on the back of her hand, a blank circle indented in the middle.

“Yup.”