Roulette (Part 3)

KayZee was standing in front of the television in the living room, feeling a wave of panic rise in her chest. She’d heard stories like this one in campfire stories before. Usually ones similar to the urban legend of the hook. But, as she listened to the news anchors talking about a woman who escaped a psychiatric hospital where she was being held, KayZee couldn’t believe what she was hearing was real.

            “What’s wrong, KayZee?” Harper asked. “Did something happen?”

            Harper stood next to her friend trying to figure out what happened to put KayZee in a near catatonic state. Unfortunately, Harper only caught the end of the report. She didn’t hear anything about the escaped patient. Only the anchors urging watchers to call the police if they saw a woman, whose picture was superimposed on the screen next to one of the reporter’s heads.

            “No, seriously. What?” Harper prodded KayZee.

            “Oh, nothing. Just something on the news that’s kinda creepy.”

            “What? Did something happen back home?”

            “Not there… Somebody escaped a psychiatric hospital about fifty miles from here.”

            “That’s only creepy if they were in for committing a crime,” Harper wasn’t concerned about someone escaping a hospital. Fifty miles away? What were the odds that they would end up anywhere near the cabin? Besides, Harper had learned through experience that people with mental illnesses weren’t all scary murderers as society would have everyone believe. In fact, her own older brother had Borderline Personality Disorder. He was still a pretty great guy.

           

***

            Mateo placed his duffel bag on the bed, making sure not to damage some of the things he’d brought. Most of the contents were his clothes, which he obviously wasn’t too concerned about. However, he’d had an idea for what he and his friends could do during their stay in the cabin. Mateo wasn’t expecting there to be much to do. He wasn’t even expecting there to be electricity. It was in the middle of the woods. Just in case this trip turned out to be the real-life version of the stereotypical slasher movie he brought his zombie knife. To be honest, it was more of a machete with a green handle. The tip of the blade of flat instead of pointed and the back end of it was serrated. His second most prized possession. His first being the bottle of vodka he took from his parent’s liquor cabinet. Sure, he’d be blamed for it later, but as long as this trip was in any way interesting, he was fine with that.

            Pulling out the bottle by it’s neck, Mateo held the bottle of clear liquid in front of his face, inspecting the contents.

            “How fucked up would it be if my Mom or Dad replaced the real vodka with a vodka bottle full of water. Wouldn’t be surprised. They have to know I’ve been taking shots of their good shit for years.”

            Mateo heard laughing coming from upstairs. It sounded like Miles. He’d know that deep bellowing chuckle anywhere. This reminded Mateo of a time when he went camping with Miles and few classmates in Junior High. One of the older boys in the class brought a flask full of whiskey and about five kids played a game called Roulette. That was the first time any of them had been drunk. One of the kids in the group, Vanessa, became more paranoid the more she had to drink giving them all away.

            “That’s a solid idea. A full bottle should be enough for a few games of roulette. Maybe more than enough. It all depends on how quickly we get wasted.”

            With his bottle of vodka in hand, Mateo walked back up the stairs to join his friends. It was already late—about eight in the afternoon. This would be the perfect time to play. Mateo hoped it would be as interesting as the first time.

***

            “Your parents are gonna be so mad you took that…” Jenna shook her head at Mateo. But, she was glad that he’d brought some liquid courage. Luka was going to need it. She couldn’t get him to relax around all of her other friends and it was starting to bother her.

            ‘Maybe I really shouldn’t have brought him along. But, he was invited. I guess he’s just really shy about being in other peoples’ houses.’

            “Yeah, they probably will. But, it wouldn’t be the firs time, nor will it probably be the last. Who cares about that? I brought it so we could play a game.” Mateo held up the bottle as if he’d one it on The Price is Right. “It’s something Miles and I played while we were on a school camping trip in Junior High!”

            “No…” Miles said, excited at the thought of playing what had since become his favorite game, despite only having played it once. His eyes widened as he thought of the fun he’d had the last time. Or, at least, what he could remember from that night. Miles had fewer shots than some of the other kids but reached a state of drunkenness faster because he was small for his age at the time.

            “Oh, yes, my friend!” Mateo had a look on his face that was borderline maniacal. It’s time to play… Roulette!”

            The others in the room who had never played Roulette before looked around at the others waiting for someone to explain Mateo’s rambling.

            “Oh, and you have to take straight shots. None of that pussy shit, chasing it with orange juice or whatever!”

            KayZee raised an eyebrow, “Pussy shit?”

            “Yeah, whatever. You gonna explain what we’re supposed to do?” Jenna asked. She was totally on board, feeling that getting Luka drunk would be the only way he would loosen up.

            “But, pussy shit, though?” KayZee rolled her eyes. “I’m gonna have to drink you under the table for that one…”