Futures bet

Tap Tap

Akira Mori drummed his fingers twice on the large wooden table, signaling his “call.” His eyes flicked lazily around the room, betraying nothing.

Famous paintings, gaudy awards, decorated pieces and gold-trimmed furniture adorned the room, showcasing the owner's wealth and status. To Akira, it was noise. Only one object caught his attention, a golden phoenix statue, no bigger than a human head. Its wings were elegantly spread, displaying its eternal majesty, while its beak pointed directly at Akira.

The dim lighting of the room caused the phoenix’s eyes to glimmer, and its exquisite craftsmanship made it appear to be almost alive.

There was no other light source except lamps that were lavishly ornamented. Far underground, Akira was playing high-stakes poker with four other males, blocking out all natural light.

They were not permitted to leave until they had either lost everything, or won it all. The players were given one restroom break every three hours, while attendants provided food and drinks.

The game also didn't have a human dealer, everything was controlled by a computer, installed by an outside party, to make sure no cheating was involved.

Not that Akira cared, he hadn’t played for money in years, only toying with other people could entertain him. The thrill of seeing his opponents' shocked reactions after losing to him is something he never wants to lose.

‘Ah.’ He'd forgotten his cards after studying the room. For a moment, he considered looking at them again.

Who cares? Perhaps Lady luck is on my side today.

Akira motioned for the attendant to pour him a new glass of whiskey, before giving the current open cards a look.

Never mind, what's the point in calculating my odds if I don't even know my own cards? I'll just go along with whatever these airheads offer.

Calling them airheads was actually generous, according to Akira, they had no clue how to see through his lies and manipulate others to your will. The only other person with some form of intelligence besides himself was Rikuye Tanabe, one of his oldest “friends”.

They had known each other since they were kids. Tanabe had always followed Akira like a lost puppy, it was exactly because of this that Akira tolerated him, even introducing him to his own business and extreme wealth.

It was only recently that Tanabe had become independent, and it seems to have helped him grow. He was the one who invited Akira for this game of Poker, maybe to get revenge, or prove himself.

If so, he was in for a disappointment.

As Akira received his whiskey containing a single block of ice, he looked at the current standings. The old man to his right was on his last legs, going all in, sweat rolling down his forehead, while the other one to his left had been playing it safe, only losing slightly, but even he was betting a lot on this round, his wrinkled but dignified face a mask. Lastly, Tanabe seemed very calm, his green eyes staring at Akira, perhaps trying to figure out his hand.

Jokes on you, how could you possibly figure out my hand if I don't even know it myself! Ha!

After some deliberation, Tanabe also called, shoving one fourth of his chips to the center. And as Akira took a sip of his drink, he thought back on his fathers advice.

It made Akira chuckle, eliciting confused and irritated looks from the others. His father had always told him to spend his money wisely and be conservative. What made him laugh was that, as soon as his parents passed away on his seventeenth birthday, he had lived his life the exact opposite.

He had spent his time gambling, drinking, and partying, spending the money inherited from his rich parents. Not that he regretted it, definitely not. As soon as he heard things like “investing and saving” he'd leave, scared it would bore him to death.

No, no regrets for Akira, except maybe not convincing that one beauty from the computer library to go on a date with him.

The game had progressed, and as Akira mindlessly bet more money he glanced at the phoenix statue. For some reason, it annoyed him, its eyes boring into his, it seemed as if it was the only thing in the room actually capable of seeing through him.

He could also still feel Tanabe's cold gaze focused on him, Akira even felt sweat forming on his temple, something unusual for him.

As the game was entering its last moments, Akira tugged at his collar, feeling like he was suffocating.

And as the last round ended, the gents revealed their own cards.

And as they looked at each other's cards, the computer loudly declared: 'Winner of the current round, Akira Mori!'

'Shit!' The man on Akira's right shouted, as he jumped up from his chair and stormed off to the bathroom.

The man on his left, was silent for a moment, before sighing, giving Akira and Tanabe a polite nod, and heading to the bathroom as well.

Akira smirked as he stood up, Who would've thought, winning without trying? I really am a lucky bastard today!

But the satisfaction didn’t last, his excitement from his opponent’s reactions disappeared and his body stiffened. And as he fell back into his chair and slumped, his pupils dilated, What- what's happening? My body?! It isn’t doing anything!

Suddenly, he heard laughter, the playing cards on the table had formed eerie mouths as they laughed at him. His colorful chips started dancing with each other as a fiery light took over the room.

The golden phoenix statue had come to life and blazed with fire as it flew straight to him.

Akira wanted to scream, badly, he needed for someone to hear him, for someone to help him! But his mouth had disappeared! And just as the phoenix was about to hit him, it tilted upward and flew over him, leaving flames in its wake.

Soon, the flames twisted into two oddly familiar shapes, they were his parents!

As his father looked down on him, he was once again reminded of that disappointed look he had tried so hard to forget. That look of pity, even a hint of disgust.

Seeing his mother pained him, even though a soft smile played on her lips. It wasn’t a happy smile, it was sad, she was sad while looking at what he had become. It was here that Akira finally realized that there were indeed things he regretted.

He wished he had spent more time with his parents in his youth. 

A tear formed in his eyes, and rolled down his cheek as his parents disappeared. Everything was quiet, the only one remaining in the room was Tanabe, who was calmly looking at Akira.

It was you! You did this to me! You poisoned me, you bastard! You piece of shit! Rage took over Akira’s mind, the thought of his regrets gone already. 

Tanabe walked toward him, and as if Tanabe could read his mind, he said: 'Devil’s breath, a drug mostly used in South-America, but I just added a bunch of other stuff.' He squatted, looking Akira in the eyes.

Akira’s face started flooding with tears. No way… I can’t just die… Fuck! I don't want to die, I can still do so much shit. Fuck! What did I ever do to you?

'It's good to see you cry, Mori.' Tanabe’s words conveyed strong hate, but Akira could see it in his eyes, pity.

'Fuck…. You.' Akira spat with his last breath, hate and fear evident in his eyes.

Tanabe gave a sad smile in response and left.

…

…

…

It was dark, very dark.

What the-? Where am I?  Akira panicked when he could see nothing.

There was darkness in front of him, darkness above him, and darkness beneath him. The last one was strange because he could feel the solidity of something underneath him.

Even though there was no light source to be seen, his body seemed to be visible. He could see his own legs as he sat cross-legged.

Weird… Am I dead? Recalling his final moments, Akira pondered. I don’t feel anything, not even the rage or fear from just now. It’s like every emotion left my body just a moment ago.

Sometimes, an occasional ripple in the darkness could be seen, spreading all around him until it just disappeared.

All of a sudden, he was blinded by intense lights surrounding him. He attempted to shield his eyes with his arms, but that didn’t stop the bright light from burning his eyes. "Gah!" He yelled in agony.

He opened his eyes slowly as the blinding ceased and the anguish subsided, a shocked expression plastered on his face. All around him a swarm of lights had emerged. They all had different colors and shone like stars; the sight reminded him of nighttime sky gazing back when he was "alive," if you can call this death. But instead of only seeing stars in the sky, he was surrounded on all sides, even below, and there were way more stars than you could see on earth. 

A brilliant yellow-red fire then materialized as the "stars" converged in one spot. The flame grew larger as the light fell on Akira's eyes, transforming into a fiery, red-gold creature looking at him.

His jaw dropped. This is a fucking phoenix! Either I’m really dead or still hallucinating! Akira exclaimed in his thoughts, his mouth gaping. 

The phoenix expanded its magnificent wings, but when it spoke, it didn’t roar-- instead, it spoke in a serene yet majestic voice that reverberated around Akira through the emptiness: ‘Indeed, Akira Mori, this is your afterlife.’

Akira blinked. ‘It is? Am I really dead?’

'You are dead.' the phoenix concurred, 'Poisoned, suffocating on your own arrogance in a room filled with cheaters and liars.'

‘Right’ Akira mumbled, still unsure whether this was real or just his imagination, ‘Dead? Just like that? And you coincidentally bring me here? To do what? Wallow in self-pity? Become your plaything?’

The phoenix tilted its head, embers raining from its feathers.

‘No, I want you to do something else, and before you will truly be accepted into the beyond, you will have another try.’ It said with some sort of power, the energy around Akira changing, almost oppressing him. 

‘A-another try?’ Akira fumbled, ‘You mean you can bring me back and allow me to live my life as long as I do your bidding?’ His eyes lit up for a moment.

The flames rippled, and it was only now that Akira noticed how deep the flames seemed to go. They looked unending, there was no point of origin. 'Reincarnation, if you will. A new world, a new game.'

Akira’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Reincarnation…’ he fearfully looked up at the beautiful phoenix when it spoke again.

‘But I do not give without taking. To return, you must play by my rules, you will gain extraordinary powers, but there will be a price.’ The void around it pulsed as the flames disappeared and it changed into a new form.  ‘A price you won’t be able to avoid.’

It changed, it kind of looks like a dealer at a casino, but with a top hat and no, huh, no face? Akira’s expression twisted and he reeled back in horror. ‘What even are you?’ 

‘A god.’ An amused voice emerged from the creature with no face nor mouth. ‘Do you accept my deal, boy?’

Akira's heartbeat quickened, he knew this was just another gamble, and he knew that thirty minutes ago, he would have accepted such a deal without thinking twice, even though he knew his life was at stake. Fortunately, Akira wasn’t that different from thirty minutes ago. ‘I do.’ He said as he stood up. And for the first time in his life(or better said his two lives), he felt nervous and unsure of what would come. Still, a smile formed at his lips. ‘Sounds like fun.’

‘Good.’ The faceless dealer flicked his wrist, and before Akira disappeared, he could’ve sworn a smile appeared on the god’s face.