Husk hasn't had enetered the story yet, but I'm working up to it!
You step out of the office you worked out with a sigh, relieved the day is finally over. Stretching your muscles to get rid of the cramps from sitting for eight hours straight, you begin walking home.
You sling your bag over your shoulder as you mindlessly follow the path you take everyday to and from work. You don’t even have to think to walk anymore, your muscles have memorised it.
You barely notice your phone buzz in your pocket. You fish it out to see an email from your landlord, reminding you rent is due soon.
“Shit. Oh shit.” You whisper to yourself, knowing well that your landlord wouldn’t accept another extension on payment. “What am I gonna do?”
You’re engrossed in your phone, still walking. You absentmindedly step off the curb without looking up, not noticing the light change to red.
There’s a split second where time seems to freeze: The screech of tires, the blare of a home, and the sudden realisation you’ve made a mistake.
Before you can react, the car hits you. The impact is swift and brutal. The force of the collision sends you flying, and everything becomes a chaotic blur. Your phone slips from your hand, spinning in the air before smashing onto the concrete. The world around you starts to spin as pain courses through your body. You try to breathe, but your chest feels heavy, and your breaths are getting shallow. Darkness begins to edge your vision as a cold numbness spreads through your body.
You hear the driver exit their car, but fail to look up from your neck hurting too much. For a brief moment, you hear the frantic shouts of the driver, grabbing you by the shoulders and telling you to stay awake, but everything begins to dim. The hard concrete is the last sensation you register as your consciousness slips away.
It had been a few months since you first arrived in Hell. You had just woken up here seconds after your death. You weren’t expecting it at first; you thought you were a decent person, so it took some time accepting your eternal fate. Months upon months of just moping around, wondering what you could have possibly done to deserve damnation. But after a certain time crying yourself to sleep while asking questions about your life back on Earth, you begin to notice that most sinners in Hell don’t seem to be constantly in pain, or crying (like you), they were… having fun?
Hell was similar to Earth in a lot of ways, it had raves, drugs, clubs, it was a party head's dream.
You’d never been into those kinds of things back on Earth, but it was a good way to distract yourself from the constant depressing thoughts you were having.
At first, you didn’t go too hard, just some parties, maybe some raves, and a joint every so often. Gradually, you began partying and indulging in drugs more often. It got to a point where you would party every day, wake up hungover, and distract yourself from it with more substances. Here you are now.
You’re walking down the streets of Pentagram City, drunk off your mind with another sinner by your side.
“Y/N..!” Your friend, whose name you’ve already forgotten, calls out to you, his words slurred. “I know a place..”He mumbles drunkenly, his breath reeks of alcohol.
“Ya do? What is it? Another shitty club?” You shoot a glare at him, he had already taken you to three clubs, all of which you had not been able to enter because of the bouncer.
“Gee, calm down. And no, it’s a casino. ‘S called ‘Full House’, belongs to the gambling demon, that cat guy.”
“Gambling? Never tried that before.” You hiccup. “Oh fuck it, I’m already dead, let’s make some money baby!”
You follow the sinner to a huge building with flashing lights.
“Here we are!” He says with a smile, bearing the little teeth he still has left.
He stops in front of it. The casino stands like a grand palace in the heart of Pentagram City, a towering monument of luxury and fortune.
The building’s exterior is an architectural marvel, covered in glass panels that reflect the numerous lights of the signs. Just over the two sliding main doors is a sign with the name of the casino, Full House, written in bright red light bulbs; the sign is decorated with two suites of cards, each one meticulously crafted out of polished metal, their surfaces catching and reflecting the vibrant lights of the city.
A majestic archway frames the front doors, encrusted with jewels, it casts a war, inviting glow, almost pulling you in like a magnet.
You notice a lush, red velvet under your feet, leading to the door, and without even realising it, you begin to walk towards it.
Your friend follows you in.
The moment you step into the casino, you’re enveloped in an atmosphere that is both electric and opulent, as if you had just entered a world where luxury and excitement intertwined. The entryway led to a grand, circular, main room, its high ceiling decorated with hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades, all set in red and black with gold detailing.
The heart of the casino was this main gaming hall, the centrepiece was a large, also circular, elevated stage, framed by burgundy curtains that swept up. Tonight, the stage is alive with the smooth rhythms of a jazz ensemble. The pianist’s finger danced over the keys, while the trumpeter’s melodies fill the air, weaving a tapestry of sound that is both lively and intimate. A singer, her voice rich, sings into a microphone, you immediately notice the beautiful black satin dress she’s wearing. It drapes over her body, revealing just enough to draw attention, but also enough to leave everyone wanting more. Surrounding the stage are dancers with vintage- inspired costumes, they’re all covered in sequins and feathers, moving with effortless grace to the music and singer’s voice.
To the left of the stage, a sea of slot machines stretches out, their screens full of colours and symbols.The machines sing out with a symphony of beeps and jingles, it was like a siren’s call to all luck seekers, including you. Patrons, some wide eyed, and some seemingly seasoned with experience, pull levers and push buttons, their faces illuminated with the glow of the machines’ screens. The cacophony of sounds created a constant background noise, like the heartbeat of the casino itself echoing through the walls.
To the right of the stage, roulette tables are sprawled out. The sleek, polished surface glimmering from the casino lights. Some tables are swamped by players, their eyes darting between the croupier and the little rolling around the edge of the wheel as it spins rapidly. There are also blackjack tables, along the right side walls. Each table has a dealer of its own, playing against patrons.
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