Gacha Gacha Hero

Tasha scooted her way around a laundry cart.

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Eins asked.

“I’m usually pretty good with directions. If we keep going this way we should make our way back out into the main lobby.” said Tasha.

Tasha came to a branching path in the service corridor. She peeked around the corner. A Bouncer was standing at the far end of the hallway.

“Okay. Maybe not this way.”

Tasha turned and walked in a different direction. She peeked down another hallway. There was another Bouncer at the end of that one too.

“Security tightened up recently.” Tasha said to herself.

“Does that man with the panama hat really want to rob this place?” Eins asked.

“He wants to try.”

“That seems like a bad idea.”

Tasha reached a cross corridor. There were Bouncers at both ends.

“We should just walk out. We haven’t done anything wrong. They have no reason to stop us.” Eins said.

“Not yet.” Tasha frowned.

*Ding*Ding*

An elevator opened at the far end of the corridor. Two Bouncers opened the doors of the elevator. Light spilled into the hallway from the elevator’s arc lamps.

Eins whispered.

said Tasha.

A heavy hand landed on Tasha’s shoulder. Tasha looked behind her to see a short, broad shouldered woman with pink hair. She was wearing the same dark suit as the other Bouncers. Despite the woman’s smaller size Tasha could feel her shoulder sagging down under impressive weight.

“This is for you.” The pink haired woman held out an envelope. “It’s an invitation.” She scowled.

“Thank you?” Tasha took the envelope.

The Inflexible Bouncer *Grunted* and shoved. Tasha ducked and rolled down the hallway under the sudden force. She slammed into the elevator.

The two Bouncers shut the elevator gates and hit a lever on the wall. The elevator started to climb.

The Inflexible Bouncer stomped away in the other direction.

“Now I’m delivering letters. Today has been nothing but trouble.”

#

The elevator stopped with a *Ding*. The elevator shutters clattered open.

Tasha stepped out of the car into a splendid ballroom.

*Whistle* “That is some layout. It looks like we missed the party.” Tasha said.

Eins peeked out of her clothes.

“Look at all of those banquet tables. Look at all that food! See if they have any cheese.” Eins’ tail flicked back and forth.

“Is this what the invitation was for?” Tasha said to herself.

Eins hopped out of Tasha’s pocket and landed on the nearest banquet table. “Who cares. Let’s eat.”

Tasha turned the letter over in her hands. Using a fingernail she tore it open along one side and removed a folded piece of paper from inside. She unfolded the paper and started to read it.

“What does it say?” Eins asked from inside of a punch bowl.

“Nothing?” Tasha replied.

“You can’t read it?”

“No. There’s nothing on it. It’s blank. Except for an ink stain.”

Tasha turned the note over. There was an ink stain in the shape of an animal’s paw on the page.

“Keeebleeehbleheee!” Eins spit out his punch.

Forks and spoons tumbled off of the table as Eins leapt back over to Tasha and burrowed into her overalls pocket.

“Let’s go. Right now.”

“But what about the invitation? The food?”

“I’m not hungry.” Eins barked.

“What does this mark mean Eins?”

“We all have someone in this city we don’t want to meet.”

“Einnns…” A voice echoed through the ballroom.

Eins and Tasha froze.

*Clatter*Clatter*

*Pitter*Patter*

An enormous cat, as wide as a trashcan lid, stalked across one of the banquet tables at the far end of the room. The cat’s steps made no noise. But the feline’s bulk pushed glasses and plates to the edge of the table where they fell onto the ground.

*Gulp* An entire roast ham disappeared into the cat’s mouth before Tasha could blink.

“What are you doing here Eins?” purred the cat.

“Ah, Zestal, nothing, nothing at all, only passing through.”

“Is that right? A coward like you? In the largest tourist attraction in the entire Kingdom? I don’t believe it.” Zestal purred.

*Munch* An entire platter of sweet yams was gobbled up in an instant. The cat kept moving, circling towards them.

“You, uh, you’re looking well Zestal. Very, healthy.” Eins said.

“I’ve been enjoying my time here Eins. Savoring the good life. The rewards that were promised to us.” The cat’s delicate pink tongue daintily licked at a saucer of cream.

“Well it was nice catching up. Thank you for the invitation. We should be going now.” Eins nudged Tasha’s shoulder.

“Don’t lie to me Eins! Something is going on.” *Crunch* A smoked salmon was swallowed whole. “I saw that accursed Llama in the city earlier. And now you’re here, in my own Gambling Hall? It is too much of a coincidence.”

“Llama? What? I haven’t heard anything like that?” Eins said.

“DON’T LIE TO ME!”

The cat leapt off of the table. It soared four meters through the air and landed on a table closer to Tasha and Eins. A platter of steamed carrots was crushed under its weight.

“You’re plotting something aren’t you! You and your little human.” Zestal growled.

The cat stalked towards them. Goblets and crystal carafes were shoved aside.

*Clatter*

*Shatter*

Sweat ran down the back of Tasha’s neck.

“No, no, no. Nothing like that. It’s all a coincidence. I promise you.” Eins yelped.

Eins dropped to the ground. The dog quivered but held its place in front of Tasha.

Zestal reached the end of the table and faced them. The cat’s claws gouged long lines in the hardwood.

Now that Tasha was facing the cat head on she could get a good look at the feline’s mouth. It was much too wide, much too deep, and had much too many teeth.

Zestal suddenly stopped. The cat’s face parted with a cheshire grin.

“Meowh, meowh, meowh.” Zestal laughed. “Did you think I was angry at you Eins?”

Eins steadied itself on its paws. “Hah, uh, maybe?”

Zestal reached out with a paw. It extended a slender claw, stabbed a glazed pear sitting on the table, and slowly raised the fruit to its mouth.

*Crunch*

“The truth is I’ve grown bored lately. My human provides me with everything I could ever want or need. They are very attentive.”

“That’s nice.” said Eins.

“But it is also terribly dull.” Zestal sucked the last of the pear’s glaze off of its claw. “I want a challenge. So what do you say? Let’s make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“That’s right. This is a Gambling Hall. A palace of fortune. I know you’re up to something. You and that Llama. It is perfectly natural to make a wager, don't you think?”

“I don’t know. I never liked games of chance.” Eins pawed at the floor.

The cat’s eyes flashed, green as envy. “Come on Eins. Let’s make a bet. Who’s human can trick the other. What do you say?”

“What if I say no?”

“THEN I’LL EAT YOUR LITTLE HUMAN!” Zestal growled.

Eins winced.

“What do we get if we win?” Tasha interjected.

Zestal grinned. Too wide. Too deep. Too many teeth. “That’s the spirit! Hmmmrowww. Let’s see. How about anything? Anything you want?”