Magician

As part of the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge month, I’m writing a 500 word (or fewer) story every Monday. Here’s the story for today…

MAGICIAN

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Matt shot up in his bed. The cloaked figure sat at his desk, tapping his fingertips on the surface. Matt’s heart started to pound.

“So glad you could join us, Matthew,” said the man, his voice barely above a whisper.

Matt slid from the bed.

“Come, Matthew,” said the man.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Matt’s feet caught the rhythm. He stumbled over himself to get to the desk. Reluctantly, he took the chair opposite the man. Matt was half blinded by the desk lamp pointed toward his face.

“Do you like your dwelling?” the man said.

Matt was silent.

“Well?”

Matt nodded.

“And your vehicle? What is it you call it, Matthew? A B.M.W.? That was what you requested, correct?”

Matt nodded.

“Do you like being a ‘corporate executive’?” the man said. “You are paid much currency for minimum effort, I understand. Is that not what you wanted?”

Matt managed a “yes.”

“And the females you wanted,” the man continued. “They satisfy you?”

Melissa. Beautiful, blonde Melissa. She was still asleep in Matt’s bed.

“Y-yes, yes,” said Matt.

“You know the deal, Matthew,” said the man. He lifted his right hand; three cards appeared. He laid them face down in front of Matt. “This is your last chance. The best of three, you said. This is three.”

Matt felt his throat tighten.

“How–?”

“Simple,” said the man. “I will remove your heart. Quickly. You won’t feel it.”

“Why?” said Matt. Tears trickled down his cheeks.

“That was the deal. You get your heart’s desire. I get your heart. It’s time to make good. But I am generous; I give you this chance to escape. Just locate the card I name.”

The man’s hand hovered over the cards.

“But I will allow one last request. A cigarette? Intimacy with the female?” He was toying with him.

Then Matt remembered something Melissa said, half-mumbled as she drifted off to sleep. It made as little sense then as it did now, but he suddenly felt compelled to repeat it.

“I want the card I choose,” said Matt.

The man shifted his body. Matt flinched, expecting a hand to shoot out toward his chest.

The man reached over. Matt pushed back into his chair.

The hand fell upon the cards.

“One of these cards,” said the man, moving them around, “is the King of Diamonds. Select it, and you live.” He pushed the cards toward Matt.

Matt gazed at the cards. They all had the same unmarked red back. His tears flowed freely as he placed a shaking finger on the middle card.

Matt fell from the chair.

 ***

“Matt? Are you okay?”

Heaven? Hell? Matt slowly opened his eyes. Daylight lit the room.

“Matt! What happened?” Melissa knelt beside him, stroking his face.

Matt started to move his hand and felt something with edges digging into his palm. He held up a red card.

He turned it over.

The Ace of Hearts.

But the picture in the middle was missing.