Shadow Takes All

I'm a gambler, its an addiction to most but I consider that to be loser talk. Its only an issue if you lose, and I don't lose. Cards are my game. Blackjack and Texas Holdem. I've bested most of the local casinos here in Cripple Creek, CO. If you have ever been there then you know how small the community is. it's an old mining town that was turned into a small gamblers paradise.

Within this community there is a local museum that tells the history of the town, going from a coal mining town to the gambling haven. The history is very shaded and mysterious. The town is very small, majority of it is a stretch of road roughly a mile and a half long. The Museum sits at the far end of town in its own little building that seems to have been devoured by time. Once you enter the museum you will be greeted by a man in timely garb resembling an old prospector. As he welcomes you with his toothy grin you will also notice a cloudy haze in the building, like an atmosphere of despair. there are many relics within its walls that you can read about, like the old canary bird cages used to help detect methane or the lamps used to light the dark and dank tunnels. The one relic you want to see is the black card box located in the back surrounded by glass. The small item is pure obsidian and emits its own vibrations. It was calling to me.

When I made my way back to the box i noticed an inscription on old tattered parchment. "Be Forsaken To The Treasures Of Ones Own Greed"

One hell of a anti-gambling PSA. I noticed more writing on the bottom of the parchment "Play me and win you will be granted mass fortune beyond all time itself, but if you lose you shall be damned to all pain and suffering". What is this crock of shit, i thought to myself.

the thought of untold wealth sounded too good to be true. I went to ask the attendant about the little black box but he was nowhere to be seen. I turned my attention back to the glass case and the box was gone. That kind of weirded me out so i decided to leave that old dingy establishment.

As I corralled myself back to the main strip i noticed all of the lights were out, The casinos don't close. Ever. as i pass by windows I still see patrons at tables and slot machines but something was off. There faces showed pain and malice. like an endless void of suffering within their beings. mindlessly gambling their hearts away, literally betting with their body parts instead of chips and coins. I attempted to enter one of the buildings but none of the doors would give way to my strength as if they were locked or barred on the other side. That's when i noticed the pulsating light on the far end of town.

From a distance it looked like a massive fire had taken half the town, but as I came closer I realized it was not flame. It was a casino.

Grotesque figures guarded the doors. to describe them would only cause an immense and painful eruption of vomit. I was ushered inside, as if I was expected. the entrance of the building had femur carvings on the threshold with bright red neon lettering that said "desperantibus" I'm no scholar but it seems to be Latin. As I crossed the threshold into the main hall there were creatures all around playing what I would assume are games. not like the normal ones you get at casinos, no. These were horrendous, bodies splayed on a rack betting on life and death. Dealings of demise. I thought to myself, this must be hell.

Once I gathered myself I was greeted by a large beast of a man? "Come this way, Mr. Morningstar would like to have a word with you"

I had no choice but to oblige. As the thing guided me through the main hall and through what seemed like a restaurant, we stopped at a set of gold and crimson elevator doors. as we sit their waiting for the elevator I was forced to take in the agony around me. helpless souls screaming for reprieve from this dastardly place. Their agony echo's through the halls and have left a permanent scar in my mind. The Elevator doors open with a surprising ding and we enter. The elevator music was just that standard elevator lounge music. You would assume that Hell would have more torment and suffering but this, this is just ridiculous. As the elevator ascended the large man thing just kept eyeballing me, like he thinks i slept with his mother. it was filled with malice and hatred, a gaze that would render flesh if the ability to do so was there.

The Hellevator came to an abrupt stop and my knees buckled out from under me. As I regained my balance the doors opened to a brightly lit hallways reminding of palace like walls and marble flooring. the hallway led to a set of double doors with another phrase above the wall. "stellam matutinam" as we approached, the doorway seemed to fade as if they were never there allowing us entrance. "Ahhhhhh, Mr. McQuade what a pleasure it is to finally meet you" The beast said with a sly grin. He stood tall and buff. imagine Vincent Price on steroids and a cleanly pressed pinstripe suit. "I do hope Gertrude wasn't too harsh with you, He had just quit smoking" The large man thing made his way out of the room while giving me a singular snarl.

"I'm sure your wondering why your here, its simple. the box had brought you here." Without having to even speak the beast seemed to know my every thought. "well your actually inside the box, this is one of several pocket dimensions of mine and from time to time I like to, vacation. but of course your not looking for a time share, no. you have always dabbled in greed haven't you my boy. that is why your here after all. no your soul isn't damned to hell, yet. the parchment was not lying. We will play a game and if you win you may leave". And if I don't I thought. The beast just smiled a sinister toothy smile.

So the stakes were made. My blood for freedom. its already apparent he can read my thoughts so its no use, unless. "I get to choose the game" i announced.

Mr. Morningstar snarled, "You dare speak you insolent fool, I am the prince of pain. The Duke of Deranged. Your soul will be mine." Old Scratch sighed. "Fine, Choose your game. Just know that its played in my house, we will use the souls of the tormented as fodder. Pain is inevitable." he shot that grin again.

"give me a minute to think" i said trying to buy some time. "Of course, play while your here, get a feel for the suffering you will endure". He vanished in a cloud of black smoke reminiscent of the smoke of a cigar.

As i make my way back to the main hall to see what games were offered in this palace of malice, I notice a glass trophy case. It was filled with disfigured faces and placards. As I read the label above the case I got a sense of dread. It read " nemo vincit ". Maybe I'm in over my head, I thought to myself. I shake off the dread and make my way to the elevator, as it opened I was greeted by some monstrous couple that appeared to have eloped like couples do in Vegas. "uhhh, ill wait for the next one". I said sheepishly. what I think is the demon equivalent of a male said " Suit Yourself" and promptly closed the elevator doors. I finally get into the elevator and make my way down into the hall.

I do my best to keep my bearing as I step onto the main floor. I start to browse the selection of what I would assume are games. there is a Craps equivalent game but instead of dice there using teeth. I spot a roulette wheel across from me, and instead of a little white marble, their using what seems like a petrified eye. I continue to browse and notice the slot machines are made of bone and flesh. Screams are echoing from everywhere and i feel my stomach wrench as I let a steaming pile of bile slop onto the floor. I Rush out of the main hall towards the card gallery.

As I enter the darker portion of the casino the screams of the tormented cease. Finally some peace and tranquility. I gaze over the tables and notice the pin striped suit sitting at a table with John Wayne Gacy, Jeffery Dahmer, and Hitler. Here's a chance to see how he plays. I stay far enough away so I'm not noticed and watch. the game was Texas Holdem. This Morningstar fellow was definitely familiar with cards, winning every hand dealt until Dahmer lost all of his chips. Immediately he was engulfed in flame and his skin charred like an over cooked steak on a grill and just as fast as the fire appeared, the flame and Dahmer were gone. "Well that's some rotten luck there Jeff, maybe next time I let you out of the cage for good behavior maybe you'll learn. I never lose". just then Hitler and Gacy were left. Gacy decided to pull out of the game. that angered Morningstar. "SIT!, YOU FINISH WHEN I SAY YOU FINISH. NOW PLAY YOUR HAND!." He plays with the souls he owns, is that for practice. I thought. Just when I finished that thought he looked over his shoulder and noticed me. "Ahhhhhh. Mr. McQuade, come join us. Hitler was just finishing up". With a flick of the wrist Hitler exploded, just fucking poof. gone. like he was force fed C4 before the game and Ole Scratch was holding the trigger. "uhhh, I haven't decided a game yet" I said hesitantly not wanting to become the new wall paint myself. "being so sheepish now Mr. McQuade?. Tsk tsk tsk. you didn't seem so sheepish when you've ruined the lives of those around you, the families you have ruined due to your excessive gambling. no care in the world but for your own selfish wants. How many fathers killed themselves because they couldn't look their significant other in the eye after losing the house because you took it from them. how many mothers live on the streets because of you. you care not for your fellow man and that is why you are here. now, SIT!". He commanded.

There was no choice but to join him. "Deal" Mr. Morningstar said. Gacy was still at the table so at least I have someone to fall on for whatever the currency is. The cards were pieces of hardened leather, I'm just going to go out of my way and assume its human skin. it seems to be par for the course around here. As I look at my hand I have a standing pair. sevens to be exact. I noticed the suits on the cards were heretic symbols, Goat heads, upside down crosses, pentagrams, and the Leviathan Cross. I play it safe and keep the hand dealt and wait for the anty. Mr. Morningstar grins "Playing it safe McQuade? lets see about that". The poker chips on the table where old copper and silver coins looking to have faces embedded in the center, they were moving in agonizing pain. Gacy bets first, two copper and a silver. Morningstar calls, as do I. The flop shows a nine, a king, and a four all off suit. my bet this time. knowing Morningstar he will call a bluff, I toss in three copper to get a feel for the bets. Gacy calls, but Morningstar had a different idea. he raised it to three silver. Reluctantly I had to call. Gacy did the same. here comes the burn and turn. The dealer flips a seven onto the table. that's it a three of a kind. all I need now is another pair on board and I have a full house. Morningstar bets a single silver, no doubt baiting us to the river. I call. Gacy on the other hand folds. as if he knows something I don't. another burn and then the river. Another King. that's the second pair on board. I play it easy and toss in a single silver, seeing if he raises it at all. to my surprise he calls and we flip. That bastard had a full house Kings and fours, it beats my sevens and Kings. he was toying with us on that round. "C'mon now McQuade, your not going easy on little ole me now are ya". Whatever this beast is trying to pull I wont let it. "Deal the cards" I said sternly. "seems to me you might be in over your head McQuade" the beast grinned. The cards were dealt again. I'm sitting on a three and eight off suit. The beast bets in two silvers. I know he can read my thoughts so I'm going to have to play this foolishly. not this hand though. I call. Gacy seems to be contemplating a fold, however I don't think Morningstar would like that too much. Maybe I can use this to my advantage. Even in Hell he still has that fucking clown makeup. Gacy also calls. The flop reveals a six, Jack, and a Five. I'm not getting anything on this hand whatsoever but if i can get Gacy to squirm a bit that may buy me some time. "I go all in" I say with a tinge of confidence. The beast looked surprised. "My dear sir, do you want to die. you must be bluffing". "Only one way to find out" I say holding on to that speck of hope. Gacy here was sweating bullets as now it seems he has to anger his master or bet the farm. Gacy folds. Just then the beast rose out of his chair and strangles Gacy "this is the last time I invite you over for a game of cards you maggot" just then Gacy started to melt in the beasts hands and within an instant he became a puddle of clown makeup and what I can imagine being a milkshake of innards. With a sigh Mr. Morningstar stated "Fine, I fold" Revealing our cards, he was sitting on a six and a three. once he noticed my cards he gave out a hearty chuckle " HEH, you were bluffing. nice try McQuade but you cant pull that off again".

As the dealer was prepping the next hand. I dared not take my eyes off of Mr. Morningstar. "this will be our last hand" I stated. without looking down at my cards "All In" I say with as much determination I could muster. You stupid son of a bitch, I thought to myself. your serving yourself up on a platter for this monster. Mr. Morningstar just smiles and calls. The flop, the turn, then the river. we reveal our hands. he was sitting on two pair sevens and nines. I look down at my hand and in disbelief I was sitting on a flush. The beast gave out a heavy roar in anger. "YOU GOT LUCKY THIS TIME MCQUADE BUT I WILL HAVE YOUR SOUL EVENTUALLY". Just like that I was engulfed in black smoke, and I pass out.

Waking up I see myself in the Museum again. After regaining my bearing I notice that the glass case is gone. I had beaten the beast at his own game. I had expected my fortune to be vast like the parchment had told me. I guess the gift of returning to the land of the living will suffice. I make my way out of the museum and walk down the stretch of town. Feeling I had one of those silver chips in my pocket. I hold it up and give it a flick into the air and catch it. "I never lose".