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Ever since signing up for Bet and Forgive, Sandbag couldn't stop thinking about what kind of criminals he would be stuck with. And now that he was here, standing at a roulette table, waiting for his partner to appear so they could begin this god forsaken game, the thought was even more prominent.
Sandbag knew that he hadn't meant to kill that guy. Hell, he barely even remembered the fight. It was just a blur of punches, blood, and sirens. But the person that would walk out of that hallway in probably only a few minutes could be an actual psychopath. After all, you had to be either insane or desperate to sign up for a show like this.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of light steps coming from the corridor. Sandbag lifted his head to see his partner and his eyes widened at who he saw.
Because out of all the possible things he thought could emerge from that hallway, the one thing he never expected it to be was a child.
——
In the few minutes Sandbag knew this kid, he could already tell how fucked it was that he was here. The kid, who had introduced himself as Sailor, couldn’t be older than eighteen and no one that age should be in a killing game. Sailor was also awfully cheerful for someone who just joined a show that would most likely kill them. He spoke like a rubber hose cartoon and had eagerly introduced himself as a ‘captain’ to Sandbag. A huge smile was plastered on the kid’s face, even as they secured the shared handcuff around their wrist. How did a kid end up in a place like this, anyway?
After reading the rules plastered on the wall in front of him, Sandbag was filled with an immediate sense of dread.
The rules said nothing on how to ensure both contestants moved on.
Sandbag looked down at his fellow criminal, trying to gauge the kid’s reaction, only to find Sailor looking at the poster as if it was written in gibberish.
“Hey, Sharkbag,” the kid looked up at him, “do you understand what the rules are?”
The older blinked and did his best to explain everything.
“Oh… so what do we do about the person who has the least?” Sailor pointed to the rule on the poster.
Sandbag’s throat went dry, “I- uh… I’m figuring that out now.”
The younger grinned, “Aye-aye, Sharkbag!”
Sandbag nodded and turned back to read the rules again. There was no way he was letting this kid die. What kind of shit show were they running that they would let a child enlist? Even if Sailor was a criminal, that was still fucked up.
After reading the rules two more times, Sandbag caught the loophole.
——
Sandbag placed his final chip on the board and instructed Sailor where to place his. As he watched the wheel spin, he bit the inside and prayed that his hunch was right and they could both get out alive.
During roulette, the kid had told him how he got here in the first place. Selling of illicit goods. Just another thing about this situation that was fucked up. A kid should never have to feel like they're only option is a killing game.
Sailor had asked why Sandbag was arrested. He probably hadn't seen the new report, might've been arrested before. Sandbag had just told him not to worry about it.
The ball landed nowhere near where they had placed their chips and as a gun lowered from the ceiling, the older felt his shoulders tense. When the gun fired, Sandbag instinctively went to reach for the kid only for the bullet to break the chain connecting their cuffs. He looked down at the broken chain on the table, then looked up at the kid.
He looked fine, but that doesn't mean much does it?
“Hey, kid, are you ok?”
Sailor quickly looked himself over. “Yeah, I'm alright.”
The underdog nodded. “We should figure-”
Sandbag was cut off by the screeching sound of the gate moving.
He whipped his head around and saw a corridor that the gate had been guarding.
The goon gasped and started down the hallway. “C’mon Sharkbag!”
——
Sandbag had just caught up with the kid when he spoke again.
“Sharkbag, what role did you get?”
The older grimaced. His role was such bullshit. Based on previous behavior my ass.
“The Crybaby Underdog,” he forced out.
“Crybaby?” Sailor raised an eyebrow “but you were so levelheaded during roulette! And you have to be brave to sign up for this show!”
Sandbag laughed, this kid got it.
“Thanks kid,” he paused, “What's yours?”
“The Dappy Goon! I think it fits. More than yours at least.”
“Yeah no kidding”
——
The two convicts reached twin elevators, presumably leading to whatever shit these bastards would throw at them.
He looked back down at Sailor. This kid was going to get massacred here. In a place full of thieves, criminals, and murders he was just a kid. A kid that sold weapons but still a kid nonetheless. And Sandbag was going to make sure he lived. Whatever bastards let him sign up deserved to be here more than the Sailor did. He would have this kid’s back, even if no one else would.
“Sharkbag!”
Sandbag looked at the goon as he walked towards one of the elevators.
“As your captain, I order we should keep helping each other out!”
Sandbag raised an eyebrow. “As my captain?"
“Yeah!” Sailor turned back to him.
“You're my first mate now!”