“Between me, you and the wall, I don’t know what to do!”

Marcus pulled Jacob closer to him in the corner of the garage, lowering his voice so the others couldn’t hear. He grabbed a drink from the table, and they both walked back to the game.

What started as a fun Friday night had turned into a heated life-or-death game.

There was over $56,000 in crumpled bills, stacked in the center of the folding table.

More money than Marcus had ever seen in his life.

Ethan didn’t answer right away. He just stared at the cards in his hands like they would give him advice.

Marcus had chased every loss, thinking he could win it back. Now all he had left was $500 worth of chips and $34,000 of debt.

Across the table, Alex tapped his fingers, a sign to tell Marcus it was his turn.

No one spoke. Chips stopped clinking. Even the buzzing of the garage light seemed louder than before.

Marcus swallowed and pushed the last of his chips into the center.

Alex didn’t hesitate. “Call.”

He placed down his cards carefully: Ace of spades. Ace of hearts.

Pocket aces.

Marcus showed his hand: king of clubs, queen of diamonds. Strong hand, but not strong enough…

“That’s it,” Alex said, “You owe me.” His eyes bulging out of his head full of rage.

Marcus stood up quickly, knocking his chair over. “YOU CHEATED,” he said. The words came fast and recklessly.

He didn’t even know if it was true, but it felt better than admitting he had gambled away money he never had.

Alex stood too. The others now backed away as the tension accelerated.

“You’re lying,” Marcus snapped.

“Sit down,” Alex shot back, his jaw tightening.

“You stacked the deck.”

“Prove it.”

Marcus shoved Alex. Alex shoved back harder.

The table flipped over, cards and money flying everywhere.

The fight didn’t last long. Fists thudded against bone. Someone grunted. A chair scraped across the concrete, screeching like nails on a chalkboard.

Marcus threw the chair over his head and swung it, slamming the chair across the back of Alex’s head.

Blood sprayed across the pale garage wall, sliding down slowly in uneven streaks.

A thick drop hit the concrete and spread, oozing into the cracks of the floor.

Then there was silence.

When he opened his eyes, Alex was motionless on the floor with blood gushing from his head.

The walls seemed closer now. The air felt heavy, hard to breathe.

The single overhead bulb flickered, casting long, trembling shadows.

No one said anything.

No one reached for the money.