The Gambling Match.
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Chris was more than just a common lowlife and drug dealer in his neighborhood. He had many aspirations and wanted badly to be able to get out of the drug game and go clean. Despite the fact he was also good at what he was doing in the criminal enterprise as well. However, the man who runs his block told him if he were to leave he would kill him.
They called this man Ghost because not a lot of people knew his true identity. One of the reasons Ghost was so illustrious was because of the rules and regulations he had set in place. One of those regulations was only entrusting his identity to the younger workers because he believed they are easier to control. Due to that fact, only Chris and a few other close associates knew of his true identity, which is why Chris could not just go to the police and snitch.
Chris had been plotting all kinds of ways to get out of his situation without facing repercussions. He even contemplated murder but knew of the consequences he might face. Chris knew was truly in a tough state of affairs. Then, one of his best ideas had surfaced as he remembered that Ghost was a known gambler and a big fan of gambling. Chris also remembered his uncle was a big-time gambler and somewhat of a finesser out on the streets. His uncle could finesse his way out of any situation and he was well known for it where he’s from. They called him Mr. Finesse on the streets. It did not matter the circumstance, whatever challenge he was faced with Mr. Finesse like his name could finesse it. So Chris had orchestrated his plan knowing that he would call upon Mr. Finesse to help win a potentially life or death gambling match for his freedom from Ghost. Mr. Finesse played with a loaded dice which is Chris’ ace in the hole.
Then it began and Chris called up Ghost and demanded that he play a dice match for his freedom. After laying out the stakes of the match Chris also told him that his Uncle would be the one to throw the dice. Ghost thought this peculiar and was not a common fool, despite the fact he knew something was up his pride forced his hand. Then the dice match began and immediately Ghost figured out what was going on, but again his pride clouded his better judgment. Then just like that Ghost had lost, but the dice match did not end there. Chris had already gained his freedom but continued to up the stakes. Chris was so engulfed with greed his whole idea of going clean had dissipated. Chris continued to up the stakes until he had won all of Ghost's territory and men. Chris was not the same as he took full advantage of the situation and decided that he would be the new Ghost. Now running the streets he decided to make Mr. Finesse his second in command.
Authors Note: For this story, I decided to adapt the story of The Gambling Match. The original story was about Duryodhana overcoming the Pandavas by winning a gambling match. He did this by using Shakhuni who plays with loaded dice and renowned for his skills and intellect as a gambler. Although, Yudhishthira was privy to the fact that the game was sketchy he still went through with and lost all he had. I adapted this story by changing the characters, as well as an added plot twist towards the end; Chris is essentially Duryodhana and is trying to win his freedom by a gambling match against the infamous Ghost. Chris pleaded for his Uncle also known as Mr. Finesse to help him in his efforts. This is where I decided to take the story in a different direction from the original and let my imagination tell the story. I decided to make a plot twist where Chris takes advantage of the current situation between him and Ghost’s gambling match. Knowing he will win because of his uncle Mr. Finesse's loaded dice he let his greed take over and actually completely forgot his main objective was to go clean. Again, the main plot of the original story of the “Gambling Match” is there but I really decided to ramp it up and make the story my own.
Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata, The Gambling Match