“HANDS IN THE AIR! THIS IS A ROBBERY!”

“Oh god! Please don’t hurt me! I have a sick wife at home!” 

“D-Do as the man says, kids, and stay close to Mommy!"

“O-Oh man, this is it; I’m going to die…” 

Christ...I can’t believe I’m really doing this… Is this really happening?

Heavy breaths left me as I held my gun high, head feeling hot under my balaclava as I gazed into the horrified eyes of everyone cowering in the store, tempted to abandon this heist and get out of here.

No... I’m in too deep to turn back now! 

With careful steps, I made sure to keep an eye on everyone, praying no one would try to play hero and force me to do something I would regret. 

As I approached the poor teenage cashier, who’s eyes sprung wide open in true terror, her skin pale as a ghost as she looked to me no different than one would a monster… 

“...Open the register and put the money in this bag!” I threw her an empty sack, which she quickly caught and frantically opened the register, placing the money inside. “Hurry up, or else someone is gonna get hurt!” I caused the poor thing to cry as she did all in her power to place the money inside as quickly as she could. 

I felt like a demon causing this girl so much ire, but I needed the money more and didn’t want to give the cops ample time to arrive. 

“H-Here y-you g-go! I-It’s all in there!” she holds the bag out to me, which I quickly snatch and cause her to flinch and raise her hands once again. 

The deed was done, and I finally had the money. 

All that was left was to get out of here with no one needing to get hur-

“Jimmy don’t!” 

“H-hu-OW!” before I could comprehend what happened, a pounding pain ran through my leg, causing me to quickly retaliate by aiming my gun down at the one who dared strike me. “WHO THE HELL DARES TO…” my heart felt like it came to a stop once I saw who had been behind this. 

It was one of the mother’s kids, a little boy who looked no older than eight who had escaped his mother’s grasp. 

The kid had frozen in place once he saw the barrel of my gun aimed square at his forehead, just now comprehending the danger he had truly put himself in. 

My sights rested on this boy for what felt like an eternity before shifting focus to my gun, coming to the horrible realisation that I had almost blown the brains out of an innocent child. 

“P-PLEASE DON’T HURT HIM!” breaking me out of my trance, the mother rushed over to her son and wrapped him in her arms, her back aimed towards me to act as a human shield. “HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING! PLEASE SHOOT ME IF YOU MUST! JUST SPARE MY KIDS!” 

This spiralling chaos had caused my breathing to become even more erratic, to the point that I was losing air and couldn’t keep my aim straight as everything became a blurred mess, sound of everyone yelling only made things worse. 

Before anything else could go wrong, I quickly rushed out of the store and ran away as fast and as far as my feet could take me. 

Wondering how my life turned out this way

-

Getting as far away from that store as possible, I duck into an alleyway and rest my back against one of the walls, taking this time to not only catch my breath but also try to calm my nerves. 

It was only then that I realised that I held onto my gun during the whole run and couldn’t help bashing myself on the forehead with the handle over such a stupid mistake. Thankfully, it was late into the night and I had my balaclava on, so it was unlikely anyone was going to recognise me. 

Even so, there was still that unease lingering over me that the cops were going to track me down and throw the book at me. 

It wasn’t good to keep up that mindset though; for now, it was best to tuck my gun into my coat pocket along with taking my balaclava off and tucking that away since wearing it now would only garner unwanted attention. 

Just grateful that I managed to get out of there with some cash and no one having to get hurt. Though the sack was light, I was hoping that there were at least a good amount of $50 or even $100 notes awaiting me inside.

I dig through the bag and begin counting my spoils. “120...130...135...143...150…Shit.” 

$150 

Going through that hell to rob that store...Putting myself and everyone else in danger...All for a measly $150 bucks…

“Crap crap...CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!” 

In my rage, I start pacing about, unsure what to do with myself, before seeing a group of trash cans not far from me, the perfect targets for me to stomp over to and give them a powerful kick, sending them flying along with the poor cat who was enjoying a meal in there. Thankfully, the little guy landed on its feet, hissing at me before booking it. 

Settling myself down, I reach down and pick up one of the trash cans and place it upside down so I can sit atop it. 

With a sigh, I pull my black hair back and look to the night sky, wondering what the hell I was going to do since this wasn’t going to do shit to help with my debts... 

“...Quite the hectic heist you pulled off back there.” 

“W-Wha!” Suddenly, an eerie voice came from the shadows at the other end of the ally. I quickly jumped off the trash can and grabbed my gun, pointing in the direction the voice had come from. “G-Get out of here and forget what you saw! O-Otherwise I’ll shoot!” 

“Ho-ho! I bet you feel like quite the big, tough man pointing that little gun at me.” The more I heard whomever this was speaking, the more the voice sounded so uncanny. “Quite the basic little weapon, nothing special, but the perfect tool to carry around nice and easy to keep one safe... or, in your case, a very useful tool to threaten others with.” It sounded like both the voice of a man and woman came from this person, yet at the same time it didn’t, like some unnatural creature that my ears just couldn’t comprehend.

Heard rumours and read news articles about people running into a person that could fit with this strange person’s description, but this couldn’t be them, right?

I could barely see their figure in the shadows, but from the looks of it, they’re tossing something shiny up and down in the air, making me wonder just what the hell that object is.

Didn’t have long to ponder it though, as the figure had approached me and slowly reviled themselves from the shadows. “D-Don’t come any closer! O-or I’ll shoot!” I had no idea what this person’s problem was, but they didn’t even flinch from my threat. 

“Go ahead and shoot, doesn’t bother me. In fact, I need myself a good laugh.” 

My hand began shaking, unable to keep my gun pointed straight, wondering what the hell was wrong with this person and why they didn’t run away! 

It was then that the figure finally stepped into the light and could finally see what they looked like, or at least what they had been wearing. 

This figure wore a navy blue hoodie along with a black pair of pants and a black pair of shoes to match; he even wore a dark green pair of gloves. Not a single bit of this guy’s outfit exposed any bit of skin or any sort of identifiable marker.

The shiny object itself was a silver coin that the figure had been flicking, freezing on the spot, realising that I might have truly encountered the myth itself. “W-Wait...Y-Your not…”

The Dealer 

An unholy laugh left whatever the hell this...Thing was. “Seems my reputation proceeds me,’ much to my horror, the thing began to approach me with not a hint of hesitation.

“W-What are you doing!? S-Stay back or I will shoot!” Even with my gun pointed at its forehead, the creature just wouldn't stop getting closer and closer, leaving me little choice but to step back. 

Why can’t this thing believe my bluff and walk away? I really don’t want to be forced to take a life…

“If you already know about me, then you must know about fate’s little game, right?” 

My mind was drawn a blank to this creature’s question, more worried about what would happen if this thing got to me. My heart felt like it could burst right out of it’s chest with each step it took closer towards me. 

It was then that I decided it was not worth it to find out and turned away from this creep and booked it the hell out of here… Only for the unbelievable to happen.

“Hm...I’ll take that as a no.” 

“W-Wha-” n-no way in hell was this possible; somehow the creature appeared before me, almost as if they teleported right in front of me. “Y-You couldn’t have…” t-this had to be a trick! 

There must have been another guy waiting in the shadows, and I was just being fucked with! The other weird person has to still be behind me, so I quickly turned around to catch them before they got away...Only no one was there. 

“Having fun there, friend?” 

I was too horrified to even scream when the creature whispered into my ear... It’s breath sending a shiver down my spine.

With my breaths growing more intense, I slowly turned around once more and saw they were only inches away from my face...Allowing me to peer into the hood to see... I peered into the hood. 

Nothing. 

There was no face to be seen, only complete and utter darkness, as if I were staring deep into an empty, never-ending void. 

“W-What the fuck are you?”

“It doesn’t matter what I am,” the creature said with an unnervingly calm tone. Continuing to flip that coin over and over, my chest felt heavy, the rest of my body was basically paralysed, terrified of what the creature wanted to do with me. “What’s important is what Lady Fate is going to desire for you.” 

“F-Fate?” The creature kept mentioning fate before, yet I still have no clue what the hell this thing was on about. 

A joyful chuckle left the creature, making me more uneasy about what it was going to do. “You see this coin here?” The creature catches its coin and holds it up to me, reviling that it is a silver coin with one side having a silhouette of a head with an X crossed scratched over it, while the other side had a picture of a little fox running free in a field. “After that stunt you pulled at the convince store, Lady Fate decided that you would be the perfect subject to play my little game and really test your luck.” 

“W-What I-I don’t understand?” W-Was this creature there the whole time during the robbery? “Who is this fate you keep talking about? Is this my punishment for me robbing the place?” 

“Never said this was a punishment, chief,” the creature resumed, flipping the coin as it stepped away from me. “Don’t care if you walk away a free man or not; that’s for Lady Fate to decide; I’m just here for the game and to see its outcome.” 

None of that explained anything and only left me with more questions. “...W-What is this game? D-Do I die if I lose?” 

“I’m not telling you that; after all, isn’t it more thrilling to play and find out for yourself?” There was a jovial tone in the creature’s tone, as if it were getting sick pleasure from all this.

I’d rather not be involved in this creature’s demented game, but I doubt this monster would listen to my protests, nor do I think there is anything I can do to avoid taking part in whatever game it had in mind.

“Think we wasted enough time chatting; let the game begin.” It was then that the creature allowed the coin to land and rest on its thumb. 

Tails: You’ll walk out of here one lucky lad

With that, the creature flipped the coin high into the air. 

Heads: A great tragedy shall befall you 

I had no clue what either choice would entail; only that tails sounded like it would free me from this creature’s grasp...If said creature can even be trusted to keep it’s word if the results land in my favour.

Either way, it didn’t matter, though...The game had started, and apparently whatever the outcome will be is all in Fate’s hands now. The only thing I could do was just watch as the coin landed in the creature’s hand as they flipped it over to its wrist. 

Praying to God above, I’d be able to leave this ally alive. 

Fate had decided…

…

…

…

Tails 

The coin had landed on the side with the little fox running in the field, a result that sounded good from the way the creature described it, but I still couldn’t help but feel afraid that there had to be a catch. “I-Is that a good thing?” 

“Now that’s entirely up to you to decide,” the creature then put it’s hands in it’s pockets, leaving me feeling uneasy as it watched me with its empty face, feeling like it was staring right into my very soul. “Either way, the fact of the matter is, Lady Fate has decided you should be victorious tonight.” 

“S-So that’s it? I-I’m free to go home?” 

“That’s right,” the creature nods. “Congratulations on your victory; it seemed Lady Fate smiled upon you tonight.” With that, the creature turned its back to me and began to make its exit out of the ally, only to come to a sudden halt. “Of course...Lady Fate can be quite a fickle thing, so if you keep going down this path you built for yourself…” It was then that the creature glanced my way; even without a face, I could still sense its sinister intent radiating from them.

Then we’ll be playing another game together real soon

That was the creature's final words before making its exit. The wind suddenly grew more intense, forcing me to rub my eyes, only to see the figure had completely vanished once I had opened them once more. 

No mere mortal could have disappeared like that in such a short amount of time; there was no doubt now in my mind that what I had just encountered was the real Dealer itself. 

Once I was positive that it was gone, I attempted to make my way out of this ally, only taking a few steps before falling over in a panic once everything set in, catching onto one of the bins to save me from crashing to the cold, dirty ground. 

My breathing became erratic and heavy, sweat poring from every part of me, trying to make sense of whatever the fuck just happened! Was that creature even real, or did I just lose my mind and imagine that whole encounter!?

It was then that I noticed the bag with the pitiful amount of money I had stolen was just ahead of me, realising how much of a piece of shit I am for robbing the place and traumatising those people for life to get this money. 

Even if I had managed to walk away with a million dollars, it didn’t excuse my crime nor the fact that my actions had almost cost the life of an innocent child.

I don’t know if that creature challenged me to that game to give me that much-needed wake-up call or if it just truly didn’t care and wanted to mess with me. 

Regardless, I took this as a sign from above and picked up the sack of money from the ground, making my journey back to the convenience store to turn myself in and return the stolen money. 

I can’t ever take away the torment I put on those poor souls, but I hope seeing me hauled away will give them at least some peace of mind.

It was the only way I could make amends 

-