Our second story in the experiment will be a thriller. At this time there is only a beginning prompt to start people thinking. I want the comment sections to help drive the rest of the opening scene. This is tough as there is little to work with, however, this is the fun in an experiment such as this… anything is possible!
–Prompt–
as of 6/6/2017
Louis scanned the table, looking for a sign that they would make it through unscathed. Fearing the worst, he placed the 4 and the 10 on the table. He held up 2 fingers to the dealer and received his new cards. Slowly lifting their corners he revealed a pair of queens.
Full house. Queens over 8’s. Was this enough though? It would have to do. They were out of chances.
Julie struggled again in her chair to try to show disapproval of their situation but it was futile. The bindings clenched against her chest and thighs tighter than she usually enjoyed. Her wrist began to sting with pain. She began to feel the warmth of trickling from her wrists running into her palm. Just enough to let her know the wire around her wrist was digging deeper so any continued struggle would hurt even more.
The dealer handed out the remaining cards to the other two players. The betting started again. The man in the tie checked his bet, passing it to the guy in the green jacket. This stranger also checked, bringing it to Louis.
He sat for a moment contemplating his odds. If he raised, and lost, they couldn’t pay. Her bindings were already too tight. If he checked and the others raised, she might not handle any more. On the other hand, If he didn’t raise they wouldn’t dig out of the hole they were in. The pressure mounted.
“Tick Tock, Louis, Tick Tock…” Woodman pressed coldly and staring at Louis.
As he stared at him waiting for his move, he nodded to the captor behind Julie who ever so carefully dragged a blade across her cheek. Her tears smeared across her jaw line as he did.
“Raise a quarter”
“a quarter WHAT Mr Jensen?” The dealer asked condescendingly.
“a… a quarter-inch.”
One of the other girls broke down sobbing through her gag creating a muffled moan mixed with whimpering. The third girl was still unconscious from the last round involving repetitions and not inches.
Louis turned slowly to Julie and looked her in the eye. He mouthed the words ‘I’m sorry’ to her as best he could. it didn’t matter. he was in a unwinnable situation.