Chapter 9: One Last Gamble..
May 13th 2026
'Boutrika fell to his knees with a heartbreaking thud.
His head hung low as tears fell freely from his eyes, each droplet hitting the floor silently.
The green fog around the area had grown thicker, swallowing the entire place. But that was the last thing on 'Boutrika's mind.
Aboutrika began getting flashbacks…
A few years ago…
It was late at night, near the end of the month, when barely anyone had money left to spend.
A younger version of 'Boutrika stood in front of a slot machine.
Along with 6 other people.
The casino was eerily quiet. The only thing that could be heard was the repeated sound of buttons being clicked.
…
Click
…
Click
…
Aboutrika stared at the slot machine without blinking. He wore a black cap, his overgrown hair covering most of his face, making him look unsettling.
He had been standing there for hours.
He hadn't left the place in an entire week.
A nearby casino worker noticed his condition and gently reached for his shoulder.
Aboutrika didn't respond.
He looked like a statue.
"Hey.. um.."
The worker spoke quietly, the words nearly dying in his throat. Even he looked intimidated by Aboutrika's presence.
After getting no response, the worker tried pulling him back with a bit more force.
Suddenly—
Aboutrika shoved him away with the back of his hand, sending him to the floor.
"Don't even think about stopping me now."
Aboutrika spoke coldly, not even looking at the terrified worker.
…
Click
…
Click
…
Then—
The clicking stopped.
Aboutrika's eyes locked onto the screen.
The 6 other people nearby slowly turned toward him.
The slot machine displayed:
"Game Over."
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Then—
Aboutrika slammed his hand into the machine, turning it into weak plastic with his Disposition before tearing straight through it.
(Stupid.. FUCKING RIGGED MACHINE.)
The world around Aboutrika darkened as his mind completely collapsed.
His eyes slowly shut.
For what felt like forever.
Then he opened them again—
The 6 people around him now looked like dark shadows.
(I lost everything…)
(My house.. my furniture.. my dignity.. everything…)
Another tear rolled down his face.
(To think.. I was actually gonna win it all…)
(I was such an idiot.)
(What did I expect after gambling my entire life savings on a rigged slot machine..?)
(I'm just… a loser.)
Then 2 tall security guards rushed over after hearing the machine being destroyed.
"Unfortunately for you, sir. You used to be a regular here… but that'll have to change now."
The guard's words cut through Aboutrika's mental breakdown.
"Think about kickin' me out… and things are gonna get real messy."
Aboutrika finally turned toward them.
His eyes were bloodshot red.
A yellow, unsettling smirk stretched across his face.
He slowly pulled out a steel penknife from behind his pocket.
The guards immediately tensed up.
Aboutrika had clearly lost his sanity long ago.
Both guards rushed toward him to restrain him.
Aboutrika stood still.
Completely fearless.
One of the guards leapt first.
Aboutrika moved instantly.
His penknife slashed across the guard's chest and face repeatedly before stabbing directly into the center of his brain.
His smirk widened.
Then he shoved the guard's face down to the floor with his palm.
Blood splashed across Aboutrika's face.
The second guard rushed him immediately after.
Again—
Aboutrika stood perfectly still.
Until the guard got close enough.
Then—
Aboutrika slammed his palm into the guard's throat, stunning him instantly as saliva flew from his mouth.
He followed with a barrage of punches to the guard's face without mercy.
The guard tried reaching for Aboutrika—
But failed.
Out of nowhere, Aboutrika pulled another penknife and slashed it across the guard's throat in a half-circle motion.
His throat split open instantly as blood exploded outward.
The guard remained standing for only a moment.
Aboutrika planted his foot against the guard's torso before kicking him backward onto the other corpse.
Aboutrika stepped forward, placing one foot on the fallen guards while the other stayed grounded.
"I was a man of my word."
"And I always will be."
He slowly raised the penknife toward himself.
Ready to end his own life.
Then—
The sound of footsteps rapidly approached.
A strong hand grabbed Aboutrika's wrist just before he stabbed himself.
Aboutrika looked up.
It was Harith.
"Don't do it, please."
Harith spoke firmly, though there was desperation in his voice.
"Oi, you. Let go of me."
"Else I'm makin' sure to drag you to hell with me."
Aboutrika suddenly kicked Harith hard in the groin.
Harith's eyes widened from the pain.
Yet he still refused to let go.
Aboutrika struggled violently, even grabbing Harith's hair harshly.
Then Harith spoke.
"This is for your own good."
Without hesitation—
Harith headbutted Aboutrika directly in the forehead.
Aboutrika collapsed unconscious with a loud thud.
The other 5 people gasped in shock.
Harith stood silently over him, his hair shadowing his eyes.
⸻
One day later…
Aboutrika slowly woke up on a bed.
His eyes had returned to normal.
Groaning, he gently touched the sore spot on his forehead from the headbutt.
Then he noticed Harith sitting nearby on a chair, holding a plate of freshly sliced fruits.
…
Silence filled the room.
Then Harith extended the plate toward him.
"Eat."
Harith commanded, clearly not taking no for an answer.
Aboutrika stared at the plate for a moment before crossing his arms.
"Tsk. Who the hell are you?"
"The guy who stopped you from killing yourself yesterday."
Harith replied bluntly.
The words struck Aboutrika deeply.
"I…"
But for once—
The dangerous, furious Aboutrika had no words.
"Eat."
Harith repeated.
Aboutrika quietly reached for one of the fruits—
But Harith suddenly pulled the plate back.
"Just take all of it."
He extended the plate again.
This time, Aboutrika quietly accepted it.
"The name's Harith Khraba, by the way."
An awkward silence passed between them before Harith leaned slightly forward.
"So… what happened?"
Aboutrika slowly explained everything, including who he was.
"Oh…"
"Wow, that's… tragic."
"Really tragic."
"Man, what kinda half-assed reply is that? Is your sense of empathy just as shitty as the way you cut fruits?"
"Hey, I just don't know what to say, okay?!"
"But… I guess things are better now."
"Yeah and that's—"
Aboutrika suddenly stopped after Harith gently raised his hand.
"First of all, say thank you."
"Second… you sold your house just to gamble it all away."
"So you're living with me until you get your life together."
"And promise me one thing."
"Drop gambling for good."
Aboutrika stayed silent for a moment before quietly speaking.
"…Thank you."
That single sentence alone carried all his gratitude.
⸻
Weeks turned into months.
Harith and Aboutrika gradually became best friends.
One day, Aboutrika was driving a Tuk Tuk with one hand while his other arm rested lazily over the seat.
"So, Harith… what were you doing at the casino that day?"
"Well… honestly, I was interested in gambling too."
"I had some money saved up for it."
"Then I saw you acting like a complete madman."
Aboutrika looked into the front mirror with his usual small smirk.
"Harith… you wanted me to promise not to gamble again, right?"
"Then don't let me catch you anywhere near a casino either."
Harith nodded.
"And one more thing…"
"I don't think I would've been the same if you actually killed yourself."
Harith spoke in a low, pained voice.
The smirk slowly disappeared from Aboutrika's face.
Then—
The flashback faded back into darkness.
The only thing remaining in Aboutrika's mind were Harith's words.
("Promise me one thing… drop gambling for good.")
("I don't think I would've been the same if you actually killed yourself.")
He remembered Harith's face.
The concern in his voice.
The sincerity behind every word.
Aboutrika slowly rose back to his feet.
Standing tall.
Proud.
"I can't let Harith down now, can I?"
Without even looking at the ghost, Aboutrika pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips.
"Hey, dickhead."
"I said it once."
"And I'll say it again."
"I'm a man of my word."
He lit the cigarette.
"And I'd never be one if I broke my promise to Harith."
The now fully demonic ghost stared at him in confusion—
Then panic.
"Wait, boy! Think about it!"
"You already saw how easily I can multiply the money!"
The ghost released all the money from the cage, letting it scatter everywhere across the ground as the fog weakened.
Aboutrika calmly grabbed the lighter again and flicked it open.
"اولع انت وفلوسك بجاز وسخ."
(Burn with your filthy money in the deepest pit of hell.)
His voice was cold.
Completely emotionless.
His cap shaded over his eyes while the cigarette burned quietly in his mouth.
Without hesitation—
Aboutrika threw the lighter onto the money.
The flames spread instantly.
The ghost let out a distorted scream of agony.
"NOoOOOoooOOO!!"
Its body slowly burned away.
Then—
The fog disappeared.
The money vanished.
Everything returned to normal.
The wounds on Aboutrika's body healed immediately after the ghost died.
That was simply what happened when a Disposition user was killed.
Aboutrika looked down at the gun he had dropped during his breakdown earlier.
He bent down and picked it up carefully.
"I already knew that bastard was messing with my head."
"And I know for a fact…"
"I didn't kill Harith and Tariq."
The gun transformed back into a small toy before he pocketed it.
Aboutrika walked over to the spot where the ghost once stood.
He stared at it with pure disgust.
Then spat the cigarette onto the ground and crushed it beneath his foot.
Finally—
Aboutrika walked away with his hands in his pockets.
His back turned completely.
To be continued..
Character Spotlight:
Gambelreno:
"Just an ordinary ghost that loves gambling. This entity has no Disposition, as it was created—or perhaps accidentally born—by Mutakamel."
'Boutrika:
"The goat himself. He put it all on red for the sake of our entertainment. His Disposition allows him to turn objects into weak, pocket-sized toys that can later return to their original forms. Just… what could possibly go wrong?"