The Marvelous Elijah's Return

Over my dead body 

In the left corner of the casino, at the red leather couches, Elmer Hayes sat with his table covered with expensive wines and snacks. 

A couple of young girls sat on his right and left side as he and his old friends sat around a mahogany table in front of him, drinking and Elmer took the deck of cards in his hand. 

“Okay... this time, I am going all in!” He laughed loudly, slapping the cards together on top of each other before pushing them into the center of the table, “I bet five million dollars on this 

one...” 

Immediately an awkward silence circled among his friends and he instantly noticed their disturbed and hesitant gazes toward him. 

“Don‘t be such a mood killer and place your bets!” Elmer smiled, trying to diffuse the tension around him. 

“I don‘t have that kind of money to bet on cards....” His friend Lucas said looking at the cards and Elmer could tell he was lying by the expression on his face. 

“Come on man we‘re all good here… just make your damn bet and play, no need to be shy” Elmer smiled widely, nudging Lucas‘s arm. 

“No. I don‘t feel like this is a game, but a cocky move to rob us of our money...” “What?!” 

Even though he knew Lucas hit the nail right on the head, and he was right about him cunning them to get money, he screwed his face in annoyance as soon as he heard it. 

acting like sour grapes? Come on, just chill your asses down and play some cards” Elmer laughed again, taking a swig from his champagne glass and throwing his head back as

and they were still staring at him like he lost

what that boy... Elijah... Did to you, and how you lost the company to your dead step–brother daughter because of him... You are broke, ain‘t you?”

Lucas sighed, “You have never bet this high before... Do you even have five million to

against him, and how they were talking down to him left Elmer pissed off, and he glared at his friends, saying, “That lowlife day is numbered on this earth! Do you think a Hayes like myself will allow a punk shit all over me and continue to have air in his lungs for more than a week?!” “Is that so?” Mr. Bamford‘s voice startled the group, he came

raised his

Elmer felt rage and annoyance towards the chief constable‘s presence and he blurted

you in this deep,

by the chief response, Elmer hit his glass on the table and lashed out, “What the hell is an honorable man like yourself doing in a casino when you should be playing some

be the superhero for a company that is dying because of the accounting fraud you and the board of directors committed!”

of the policemen

table causing the glasses to rattle as fear gripped his heart, not letting it go and leaving him restless. “Well, they might not be rich enough because that didn‘t stop you from getting into this mess.” Mr. Bamford let out, matching Elmer‘s energy. “What the

the gravity of what happened and all of its consequences. “Who is behind this absurd accusation, Bamford?! Where is the proof?!” Elmer yelled, his voice growing louder. At this point, everyone‘s attention in the room turned to Elmer, watching the scene unfold in front of them, and knowing who he was, they were shocked at the fact that such a humiliating situation happened to him, which stunned many, including his friends. “Elijah Darius, and as I said, he has great evidence to back his claim... if he didn‘t, I wouldn‘t be poking a bear with a stick... So stay in Syldavia, and make our job easier, okay?” The name, “Elijah,” hit Elmer like a hammer right in his chest, it felt like being struck by a truck at full speed, knocking every breath in his lungs along with the last drops of air as reality settled in and he went quiet immediately, his eyes freezing open. Seeing the look of doom on Elmer‘s face, Mr. Bamford shook his head before walking off with his men, and just like that, the five young girls and Elmer‘s buddies stood from the couch, hurrying off like he had become a taboo and they should have no business with him anymore. As Elmer watched them leave, everything about his life felt like it was crumbling in slow

a bottle, and threw it at the wall, screaming, “That fucking bastard!!” Rage consumed him, his whole body shaking as

turn around slowly, and he realized he was surrounded by five robust bouncers, standing tall behind him, one of them hand gripping his shoulder. “Mr. Hayes, you are scaring other customers, please pay up and leave.” The beefiest bouncer

of dollars I have spent in this damn casino!! And now, you are kicking me out for smashing a bottle!?”

stay here now and

book, Elmer hesitated, but the presence of these men was getting to him, and he snatched it from their grab and opened it, letting out a moment later, “Those backstabbers left their debt

were the one paying, so please don‘t make this an

of –” “Achoo!” Another sneeze left Elijah‘s lips