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It was just Sailor, Sandbag, Vega, and Eddie left. Damnit Eddie.
Benny wishes he could hear the conversation Eddie and Sandbag were having.
Eddie was going to make it out alive, right?
Not that Benny cared that much. Did he?
Eddie was just some criminal that had also joined Bet and Forgive. Maybe he was the only one that Benny actually talked to, but what does that matter, he was probably going to die anyway.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt if he stayed around a bit longer.
Benny watches as Vega and Sandbag walk up to the front of the stage.
Why didn’t Eddie go?
Then the doubts came in. Benny wasn’t good at math but he knew Eddie had a high number, and all the low numbers were gone.
Then Eddie just stands there. What was wrong with him? Did the bastard not care?
Eddie looked strangely somber but calm from what Benny could see.
Then the timer goes off and it all happens in a flash.
Sandbag pairs with Vega.
They go up to the gallows.
The dealer draws a nine.
Vega and Sandbags cards are revealed; an 8 and a 7
They hit.
Sailor is chosen.
Wait. No. No they can’t do that. What about Eddie? What about-
Sailor walks up to the gallows.
It’s a Blackjack.
No, but Eddie-
Benny doesn’t pay attention to Cupid saying something to the group as their collars release.
He only focuses on Eddie who has a blank expression on his face.
“You bastard! Why aren’t you doing anything?!” He yells at the screen.
Then the chain tightens causing Eddie to fly upwards.
Then he goes still.
Still as the leaves on a tree on a breezeless night.
Still as an unbothered lake.
Still as a statue as a silent wind passes by.
Still as a glass of alcohol left untouched.
Still as a corpse.
Benny feels sick. He is sick.
He runs out of the backstage area as he catches a glimpse of Vega, Sailor, and Sandbag stepping into the room.
He runs into the gambling hall and immediately makes his way to the back.
He sits down at the bench breathing heavily.
Eddie is dead. He was gone.
It was fine though. Right? Benny didn’t need him, Benny didn’t need anybody.
Despite himself, tears started spilling from Benny's eyes.
“No… no, no- no— NO!” He wipes the tears away.
He’s perfectly fine. He didn’t need this guy. He was just a distraction. Just someone to make conversation with. No one important.
He didn’t matter.
No matter how much Benny told himself that the tears kept pouring.
He looks around. No one could see him like this.
Luckily no one was looking to gamble at the moment so Benny was fine.
“That dumbass! Why didn’t he care?! He didn’t even fucking try anything!”
Benny curls into himself, bringing his legs to his chest. “He left me.”
He looks to his side and remembers talking with him at this exact spot.
Benny needed a drink.
Benny slams down another empty glass. He lost count maybe… three cups ago?
“Bartender…. Another one please~”
The masked employee lets out an annoyed sigh before pouring him another cup.
“Damn Bens, really letting yourself go tonight, huh?” A sly voice says beside him.
Benny turns to Bones. “Can you just leave me the fuck alone, I’ve seen enough of you today.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
The bartender sets down Benny's drink in front of him.
“Don’t you have your own lil ‘pussy posey’ to hang out with.” Benny says, his words slurring together before taking a sip from his new glass.
“God you’re drunk.” Bones says. “You only ever got that drunk after you got a particularly bad beating from your dad back then, something must’ve really ruffled your feathers this time.”
Benny freezes, glaring at Bones. “Fuck off, Bones.”
“Oo, or that time you tried running away from them but immediately started going broke.” Bones continues antagonizing with a grin on their face.
“What is it this time? That bull boy dyin’ really fuck you up that bad?”
“Don’t you dare bring him up!” Benny suddenly launches himself at Bones, tackling them to the floor.
“Still is that easy to rile you up, huh?” Bones says holding Benny's fists back.
“And you still don’t know when to shut the fuck up.” Benny says pushing against Bones grip.
“So what, you were planning to hook up with the bull or something?” Bones drawls.
Benny successfully pulls one of his fists away but before he can bring it down on Bones he feels a sharp pain in his wrist then he blacks out.
‘You still owe me that drink next time, ‘kay?’
‘…Next time, huh?’
Next time was never going to come, was it?