180!

"You think you're so good, don't you?" The drunk was in Rob's face.

"Come on, mate! It's just darts! I was lucky on the doubles was all!"

Rob ducked to avoid the drunk's fist. Luckily, he was quick.

"All right, you!" Bill the landlord said, as he took the arm of the belligerent loser. "That's enough of that! Time to go home!"

No-one messed with Bill.

In the shadow of the snug, a dark stranger watched the commotion with a view to adding more mischief to the night.

As Bill was unceremoniously heaving the drunk into the street, he stepped forward.

"Evening," he said to Rob who was about to take a drink but instead felt compelled to turn.

"How do," Rob said, grinning. His winnings poked out of his top pocket.

It was lucky Rob had had a drink as it acted like a filter, a veil, muting his intuition or he may have been more wary.

"I wonder, would you care to play me at darts? I'm quite good with sharp points."

Rob swigged and shrugged. "Ah, why not? I'm on top of the world!"

"Indeed you are, so how about we play for it?"

Rob had no idea what he meant. The wind started whistling and the lights flickered.

*

The mood was tense. It was the last game of three. A small group had gathered around the two players, the devil-may-care youth and a man who looked suspiciously devilish.

A storm raged outside and the windows flashed.

It was 1-1.

First to the oche, the man.

180, matched by Rob.

Second throw, 180 matched by Rob.

Rain lashed the windows. No ribald shouts of "180!" were given. Rob was still smiling, playing his best darts ever.

The opponent, however, was sweating. He suspected divine intervention.

3 darts to win. Treble 20, treble 19, double 12.

He threw. Missed on the double.

Rob's turn. The thunk as each dart hit its target was met with a muted gasp.

As the last sank into the double, the crowd engulfed Rob and cheered with his victory. Rob looked round to commiserate but the man had gone. All that remained was the smell of sulphur.

***

366 words

180 stories! I had to do something with the 180 that was darts related. It would have been churlish not to.

Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.

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