Winner

“I’m gonna pass out…”

Frankie had exerted herself more in the past twelve days than she had in her whole life up till now. An intense shootout (albeit against toy targets) was just another crack of life’s heavy whip at the end of the day. Watching her sweat hit the sand as she gripped her knees below her lowered head, she dreamt of how good it would feel to sleep on her own bed just once more. Katie was fine.

After the competition, the four of them dawdled by the center of town, next to a few bars and restaurants. It wasn’t an easy place to be for any of them, who either hadn’t eaten all day or were pretty close.

Cheryl handed back over all thirty Moon Token she’d won the night before, and Katie took them gratefully.

“Fifty-two… ah, much better.” The traveler breathed.

“I wasn’t actually gonna take your money. Just wanted to up the stakes. Probably.”

“Uh… thanks.” Frankie wiped the heat off her forehead. “I’m just glad to get our tokens back.”

Cheryl chuckled.

“Well, you won it back this time. But listen… if you ever lose everything for real, will you be able to take that? I mean, you two act pretty risky, how I see it.”

Katie shook her head.

“I couldn’t take that. No.”

“Yeah… yeah.” Frankie agreed. “That’s why we gotta play it sa-“

“That’s why I have to win.” The older of the sisters declared. “So I don’t break down… I’ll keep winning.” She formed a smile on her face below darkened eyes- as determined as they were gnarled and sad.

The gunslinger shook her head.

“Winning” won’t always prevent that. I mean, what if you can’t win in the first place?”

“I’ll. Win. Anyway.”

It was no use talking to her. Cheryl smirked.

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Big Sis? I’m… uh, hungry.”

“Oh, here.”

Watching the young woman feed her brother more stale fries, the Pop sisters felt pretty bad.

“Uh… Cheryl.” Frankie spoke up, but she did it so slow as to not have continued unless she got a reply.

“Yeah?”

“We can… uh. We can take you two out to eat, if you want. I’m hungry anyway.”

“That’s okay. I couldn’t possibly waste your money. You’ve got grander prospects than I do, by the sound of it.” Cheryl handed a few more fries to her brother.

“No… we don’t spend money on food. It’s no waste, really.”

“You don’t… what?”

“We got a Food Card as a gift… and… well, I’m just saying it’s no problem. We can eat for free. All of us.”

“We… can?”

“I’m sorry if I’m being presumptuous. Uh-“

“No, we’ll eat with you. I’m not passing up a free meal. Come on, Saint.”

Frankie breathed her millionth sigh of relief for the day.