Evil Author's Day: M7 Song Fic Drabble by samsas

Author's Chapter Notes:

Author's Disclaimer:

I do not own any of the characters, movies, TV shows, companies, books, comics, photo's, anime, cartoons, music or other copy righted materials not listed. Used in the writing of the fan fiction posted here. I only claim ownership of original characters and plot.

No money, jewels, gold or other monetary assets were gain from the writing of this fan fiction. All works have not been edited by individuals other than myself, expect spelling errors, grammar errors and possible random rants in odd directions.

The author is also not a profuse writer and suffers from Adulting and ADD, she really misses her sanity some days. This would be author has mostly-retired.

Written: 4 Oct 2004/revised Mar 2025

Dust billowed around the car as he pulled off to the side of a dirt road leading into the main thoroughfare of an abandoned ghost town. He didn't know what had made him come this way, a pull he couldn't seem to ignore. Slowly he walked down the desolate road; on the ground, a weather-worn sign carved with the words Four Corners could still be seen. A cold breeze wrapped around his body as the derelict and tattered buildings seemed to flicker in front of him with the shadowy echoes of lives long past. The faint din of horses and the sound of long-forgotten voices whispering on the wind.

Turning a corner, he found himself before the doors of what had once been a saloon. At one of the few remaining tables, the shadows wafted into a figure of a man in a red coat. His head was bowed as his hands, moving elegantly, shuffled a deck of cards one at a time through his fingers. Gracefully flipping them into the air to land in a tidy pile before him.

"He deals the cards as a meditation."

"And those he plays never suspect."

"He doesn't play for the money he wins."

"He doesn't play for the respect."

"He deals the cards to find the answer."

"The sacred geometry of chance"

"The hidden law of probable outcome"

"The numbers lead a dance."

Looking up, their eyes met and Xander could hear his voice floating softly across the room to him.

"Know that the spades are the swords of a soldier."

"Know that the clubs are weapons of war."

"I know that diamonds mean money for this art."

"But that's not the shape of my heart."

Looking back down, the man's nimble fingers continue to pull cards randomly out of the deck. Only pausing briefly to rub a thumb along the front of each one before gently laying them down face up.

"He may play the jack of diamonds."

"He may lay the queen of spades."

"He may conceal a king in his hand."

"While the memory of it fades,"

The apparition went back to his game but the words he spoke earlier seemed to echo.

"Know that the spades are the swords of a soldier."

"Know that the clubs are weapons of war."

"I know that diamonds mean money for this art."

"But that's not the shape of my heart."

The other's soft whispering pulled him back from the depths of his own thoughts.

"I lived my life by never letting others see the real me, wearing a mask on top of a mask. Never letting anyone close, never letting them within my walls. It was all I knew; all I had ever been taught."

"And if I told you that I loved you"

"You'd maybe think there's something wrong."

"I'm not a man of too many faces."

"The mask I wear is one."

"Those who speak know nothing."

"And find out to their cost."

"Like those who curse their luck in too many places."

"And those who fear are lost."

The spirit looked up; his green eyes catching and holding his visitor, hard-won wisdom shining from within their depths.

"Depending on no one but yourself is not a life; it is mere existence and a lowly one at that. What has happened in the past can not be changed, but the future is still unwritten, my friend. Staying on the path you're on will only lead you into further darkness and despair."

As he slowly faded from view, his voice lingered for a moment.

"Every time we open ourselves up, we risk being hurt, but without that risk. You will never know what joys life also has to offer."

Walking back to the car, Xander slipped behind the wheel. Leaning back, he rubbed his hands across his face, thinking over the words the ghostly shade had spoken. He had been hurt so many times by people who had told him that they loved him. By others who said they were friends but had let him down over and over again. It was so tempting to stop trying, to protect himself from more heartache. With those thoughts weighing heavily, he cranked up the car and turned back around towards the main road.

Behind him, unseen, the figure of a gambler in a red coat watched him go. Around him the air shimmered until the figures of six other men slowly appeared. In silence they lend him their support until finally a blond man dressed all in black steps up and lays a hand on his shoulder.

"You've done your best, Ezra; now it's up to him to pick his own path."

Sighing, Ezra can only nod and cast a grateful look back at his six companions; a genuine smile graces his face at their concerned looks. Walking forward to join them, the seven slowly faded from view but not before the sound of the gambler's voice could be heard teasingly asking who was up for a game of poker. Amidst the sounds of fading laughter.

End.

Group: Sting

Song: Shape of my heart

The End.

samsas is the author of 37 other stories.

This story is part of the series, Into the Void: Evil Author's Day and Drabble Collection. The previous story in the series is The Test.

You must login (register) to review.

Evil Author's Day: M7 Song Fic Drabble by samsas [Reviews - 0] Table of Contents - Text Size + Author's Chapter Notes: Author's Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, movies, TV shows, companies, books, comics, photo's, anime, cartoons, music or other copy righted materials not listed. Used in the writing of the fan fiction posted here. I only claim ownership of original characters and plot. No money, jewels, gold or other monetary assets were gain from the writing of this fan fiction. All works have not been edited by individuals other than myself, expect spelling errors, grammar errors and possible random rants in odd directions. The author is also not a profuse writer and suffers from Adulting and ADD, she really misses her sanity some days. This would be author has mostly-retired. Written: 4 Oct 2004/revised Mar 2025 Dust billowed around the car as he pulled off to the side of a dirt road leading into the main thoroughfare of an abandoned ghost town. He didn't know what had made him come this way, a pull he couldn't seem to ignore. Slowly he walked down the desolate road; on the ground, a weather-worn sign carved with the words Four Corners could still be seen. A cold breeze wrapped around his body as the derelict and tattered buildings seemed to flicker in front of him with the shadowy echoes of lives long past. The faint din of horses and the sound of long-forgotten voices whispering on the wind. Turning a corner, he found himself before the doors of what had once been a saloon. At one of the few remaining tables, the shadows wafted into a figure of a man in a red coat. His head was bowed as his hands, moving elegantly, shuffled a deck of cards one at a time through his fingers. Gracefully flipping them into the air to land in a tidy pile before him. "He deals the cards as a meditation." "And those he plays never suspect." "He doesn't play for the money he wins." "He doesn't play for the respect." "He deals the cards to find the answer." "The sacred geometry of chance" "The hidden law of probable outcome" "The numbers lead a dance." Looking up, their eyes met and Xander could hear his voice floating softly across the room to him. "Know that the spades are the swords of a soldier." "Know that the clubs are weapons of war." "I know that diamonds mean money for this art." "But that's not the shape of my heart." Looking back down, the man's nimble fingers continue to pull cards randomly out of the deck. Only pausing briefly to rub a thumb along the front of each one before gently laying them down face up. "He may play the jack of diamonds." "He may lay the queen of spades." "He may conceal a king in his hand." "While the memory of it fades," The apparition went back to his game but the words he spoke earlier seemed to echo. "Know that the spades are the swords of a soldier." "Know that the clubs are weapons of war." "I know that diamonds mean money for this art." "But that's not the shape of my heart." The other's soft whispering pulled him back from the depths of his own thoughts. "I lived my life by never letting others see the real me, wearing a mask on top of a mask. Never letting anyone close, never letting them within my walls. It was all I knew; all I had ever been taught." "And if I told you that I loved you" "You'd maybe think there's something wrong." "I'm not a man of too many faces." "The mask I wear is one." "Those who speak know nothing." "And find out to their cost." "Like those who curse their luck in too many places." "And those who fear are lost." The spirit looked up; his green eyes catching and holding his visitor, hard-won wisdom shining from within their depths. "Depending on no one but yourself is not a life; it is mere existence and a lowly one at that. What has happened in the past can not be changed, but the future is still unwritten, my friend. Staying on the path you're on will only lead you into further darkness and despair." As he slowly faded from view, his voice lingered for a moment. "Every time we open ourselves up, we risk being hurt, but without that risk. You will never know what joys life also has to offer." Walking back to the car, Xander slipped behind the wheel. Leaning back, he rubbed his hands across his face, thinking over the words the ghostly shade had spoken. He had been hurt so many times by people who had told him that they loved him. By others who said they were friends but had let him down over and over again. It was so tempting to stop trying, to protect himself from more heartache. With those thoughts weighing heavily, he cranked up the car and turned back around towards the main road. Behind him, unseen, the figure of a gambler in a red coat watched him go. Around him the air shimmered until the figures of six other men slowly appeared. In silence they lend him their support until finally a blond man dressed all in black steps up and lays a hand on his shoulder. "You've done your best, Ezra; now it's up to him to pick his own path." Sighing, Ezra can only nod and cast a grateful look back at his six companions; a genuine smile graces his face at their concerned looks. Walking forward to join them, the seven slowly faded from view but not before the sound of the gambler's voice could be heard teasingly asking who was up for a game of poker. Amidst the sounds of fading laughter. End. Group: Sting Song: Shape of my heart The End. samsas is the author of 37 other stories. This story is part of the series, Into the Void: Evil Author's Day and Drabble Collection. The previous story in the series is The Test. You must login (register) to review.

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