The Bluff

“Hold on, hold on,” David said. He looked over at Jim Bones and narrowed his eyes. “You’re bluffing.”

“Am not,” Jim said shaking his head. His left hand nervously tapping at the table, a little too obviously considering it was bone, and was quite loud to tap with.

“You know for someone without any facial features, your poker face is terrible,” David shook his head, and slid two more chips into the pile. “Raise it up buddy.”

“I’m. Not. Bluffing.” Jim slid his two chips in.

“Hmmm…” Dust said glancing between the two of them, and then he glanced over at Rayne, who was casually adjusting her glasses, and looking at the two cards in her hand. She looked up, and glanced at the others.

“Is it my turn?” She asked.

“We’re raising,” David explained. “You gotta toss two in if you wanna keep going.”

“Sure,” she said with as much of a smile as Rayne could muster. “This is rather enjoyable.” She slid two chips in.

“Fold,” Dustbunny said flipping over a couple of threes. “I’m dumb, but I’m not crazy.”

“Ha!” David yelled triumphantly and tossed a pair of tens on the table. “Take that Skelly Boy!”

“Jokes on you David, this is what I call, ‘Karma for my breakfast coupons!’” Jim tossed down a king and same suited queen. He pointed a skeletal finger in David’s direction jeering in satisfaction.

“Okay,” Rayne said, “so now we’re at this part, what do I do? Do I just…”

“Yeah, just show us your cards.” David smirked. “It’s okay, Maralyn, this was your first game so—”

She put down a pair of aces. The other three just stared.

“What?” Rayne asked. “What does that mean?”

“It means you win.” Dustbunny explained. “And not just win, like you absolutely wiped the board with their entrails kinda stuff.” He glanced at Jim. “Metaphorically speaking of course.”

“You know what,” David said, “it’s cool, just a dumb game anyway, I didn’t really even wanna play. I’ve always preferred—”

“No, no,” Rayne said, and a wide, sinister smile began to spread across her lips. “I won.”

“…yes.” David said, physically wincing.

“I won.” Rayne said with a sickening gleam in her eyes. “I won. I beat you.”

“I mean, yeah congratulations,” David was trying to play it off, to be cool, but his eye was twitching.

“Muahahahaha!” Rayne cackled. “Victory is finally mine! MINE!”

“Oh no,” David and Jim shared a nervous look. “She’s the real villain here.”

***