Four

Since having finished school, Scott’s addiction to making a quick buck grew and he did a lot more than just dip his toes into murky waters.

Scott hung out with some of the more dangerous crowds associated with moneymaking. People that placed bets. But it wasn’t just bets on the big sporting events; it was on just about anything. And the people Scott knew, were the kinds of people that would make those events happen. If it was something people agreed money could be made or lost, it was done.

Jimmy was led through a maze of back alleys, each one less inviting than the last. Scott finally brought him to an alley Jimmy was certain nobody could know existed. A singular rusted metal door was all that broke up the monotonous brickwork.

Scott reefed Jimmy’s arm from its socket and banged a curious pattern with his fist.

“You’ll want to remember that, and this next part, if you ever wanna come in and I’m not around to help you out.”

“Yeah, alright.”

A small hole opened up on the door and Scott leaned in as he spoke.

“Through smarts or pain, I don’t care how I make my gain. I need the money so I can get the honey.” Jimmy snorted back a laugh and Scott snapped him a mean look.

The whole slid shut and after a few moments the door opened. Scott motioned for Jimmy to follow him and the two entered a dimly lit hallway.

Jimmy turned to look at the bouncer, who was the meanest looking person he’d ever laid eyes on. His neck bulged in muscle Jimmy didn’t think was possible and his odour reeked of cigarettes and iron. The door slammed shut behind them.

Raucous shouts and screams and a knockout, pungent reek of blood and sweat graced Jimmy before they even reached the room. He felt his pulse race as the deafening bellows of excitement slowly possessed him.

“Brace yourself Jimmy. You’re about to step foot into a wild world. You might not like what you see. But just know, there’s money to be made.” Scott ended his sentence with a banging crescendo of exhilaration and sprinted into the room ahead without a care of leaving Jimmy behind.

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Jimmy awkwardly trotted into the room and was immediately smacked with a spike of energy he didn’t quite understand.

The room was huge and filled with more comfort than any pub he’d ever seen. Ostentatious rugs and rudely loud tapestries lined the room, doing their best to distract any visitors from noticing the dark and stained cement walls and floors. Mismatching stools and high-backed chairs were arranged in countless ways and an immaculately hand carved bar stood in a corner of the room. A mezzanine level surrounded the room with a chain and guard blocking the stairs. Loud lights, countless candles and frightful fires lit the room well, adding to the relaxed feel that undermined the shattering energy of the people that filled the room.

And the people. From what Jimmy could tell, people from all walks of life filled the room. Men and women of a wide range of ages scuttled about. Jimmy watched in awe as a man in a dapper suit with a golden-chained pocket watch handed money over to a woman covered in a pair of mismatching shoes and sweat stained clothes.

A jaunty band played on a small handmade stage in another corner where some people danced a whirling jig with one another.

A roar erupted from a gathering of people and Jimmy watched as they parted, a bloody person in a pair of shorts staggered in puppet-like movement and fell to the floor.

“And the winner is, Jackknife! Everyone, pay who you owe. You know the rules, if you don’t, you won’t come back.”

“Nope. No way. Ain’t gonna happen. I’m out!” Jimmy looked to another crowd where a wave of boos crashed through the crowd. Jimmy pressed in to have a look.

A crude looking table with a bottle of alcohol, was set with a single chair, where a man now stood away from the furniture. Jimmy’s jaw flew open when he realised a scorpion was sitting on the table.

“He pulled out altogether. You know the rules, pay who you owe. You know the rules, if you don’t, you won’t come back.”

A yelp, bang, and clatter caught Jimmy’s attention and he snapped around to look at the stairs for the mezzanine level. A young woman in an eccentric dress and an eclectic hat was being helped up from the ground by a bouncer.

“This poor young lady was the first sloshed person to fall down the stairs today. Drunk as a skunk and its only early morning.”

“I’ve been here since last night.”

“There you have it folks. An absolute party animal. Pay who you owe. You know the rules.”

Jimmy jolted when Scott slapped him on the back.

“What do they bet on here?”

“Pretty much anything. I just made a little extra because I also bet on the age group of the first person to fall.”

“I don’t know if I can do any of this stuff.” Jimmy gulped in fear.

“The beauty of it is, you don’t have to do any of it. Just bet on someone, or something else. And hope you win.”