Chapter 1 (Phoenix)
Seeing the lights that stand far away from me, the only thought that runs through my mind is
money.
The casino is the talk of the city ever since it opened up. I mean you don’t even have to go there to know, simply hearing the noises says all of it. The laughter, the dancing, the fun.
The glitz and the glam were never my element but in desperate measures gambling is my only choice.
. . .
My neck cranes back so far that it might as well fall off if I keep seeking to look higher. The black night sky shimmers with the lights of the tall building. The Rolling Dice Casino the high rise, luxury gambaling site that is the heart of Las Vegas. The thing is though I’m not here for fun, I'm here for quite the opposite.
I brush away all of my thoughts as I enter the building. The first thing I notice is how exclusive I appear to everyone else. My baggy t-shirt and denims definitely don’t fit the dress code. The crowd emanates a classy feel with their velvet dresses, black suit and tie, and faux fur scarves.
Mixing in the crowd the best I can, a man looks over to me. His receding white hair line gives his head a shine. The man's stomach pokes out and his shorter height doesn’t compliment his larger figure. His eyes wander shamelessly over my body and all of a sudden I feel more uncomfortable trying to hide far away from the intense stare.
I look away when I hear screams from the table that stood across from me. Walking a few steps closer to the crowd, I look side to side trying to catch a glimpse of the commotion. With slight luck, I see cards in such skillful hands being shuffled in the most intricate ways then being passed out in just a second.
Waiting to watch the next game the two people in front of me part ways and I get a glimpse of the dealer. Her wavy brown hair grazes her hands as she effortlessly begins the game. “Alright folks, the game is poker. It's a competitive card game where players bet against each other to whoever has the better cards.” Her deep velvety voice catches me off guard. “Without further ado let the game begin” Her smile appears almost malicious.
The game starts as the dealer sets one card to her left and three other cards in front of her open side up. Cheers start to escalate around a lady with blonde hair and silver gloves. She takes in a puff of her cigarette after she flips one of her cards earning a groan from the other players. “Well wouldn’t you look at that darling, I just won again” She grabs onto the older gentlemen next to her who warmfully smiles at her. “Once again my darling you always come out on top” her seemingly date says.
The dealer looks up at the couple with a grin, but her eyes tell a different story; they glint with something I can’t make out.
The lady with her cigarette in the air alongside her cocktail laughs with the dealer. “I always win with you V”
“Well I can’t do anything about that since you're my best player Val” V starts to brush off her suit, although I notice she does this often. With my intense gaze I just noticed that V was looking at me. A smirk latching onto her face and her dark eyes burn right through me.
Realizing what was happening I quickly avert my eyes feeling hot all of a sudden. I turn around walking away from the spot I was in, not forgetting to take one last glance. I mindlessly walk forward trying to weave through people to leave. I see that I’m closer to the exit so I pick up my pace not noticing the person who is standing in my way. I walk straight into them.
“Oh gosh, sorry, that was my mistake” The guy was in a perfectly tailored suit custom to his large shoulders and small waist. The silk gray fabric compliments his dirty blond hair.
“It's ok” he smiles and walks away. My eyes follow the man as he gets swallowed by the crowd. I only raise my eyebrows before quickly walking out of the casino. Everything here intrigued me and I want to know more.