The rain pounded heavily against the windows of the small apartment, where four friends had gathered for their monthly card game. The air was thick with the scent of damp fabric and the tension of an old, unspoken rivalry among them.
As they shuffled the worn deck of cards, they noticed a peculiar card had been added: a black card with a white skull. Intrigued and slightly unnerved, they decided to incorporate it into their game. They called it “The Death Card,” assuming it was a harmless prank by one of them.
Hours passed as they played, the atmosphere growing increasingly sinister with each round. At midnight, the clock on the wall struck twelve ominous chimes, and Paul drew the Death Card. His friends laughed nervously, but their amusement quickly turned to horror when Paul clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
Panic set in. They tried to leave the apartment, but the door was mysteriously jammed, and their phones had no signal. Desperation led them back to the table. They believed they had to finish the game to escape.
Next was Clara. As she drew the Death Card, her face went pale. She tried to throw the card away, but it clung to her hand. Within moments, her breathing stopped, and she fell to the ground.
Only Luke and Ava remained, their eyes wide with terror. They whispered frantic prayers as they took their turns, each dreading the next draw. When Luke inevitably pulled the Death Card, a ghastly wind filled the room, extinguishing all light. Ava could only hear Luke’s choking gasps before silence fell.
Ava was alone, the sole survivor. Trembling, she drew the last card, praying it wasn’t the Death Card. It wasn’t, but the rules were clear: she had to continue. The next round, her luck ran out. The Death Card was hers.
In her final moments, Ava heard a whisper in the dark: “The game never ends.”
When the police found the bodies the next morning, the cards were gone, but the Death Card remained on the table, waiting for its next players.
Gareth Ellis - Author 