Fall Rise Repeat - Matthew Schneider

 Chapter 1

Ivan glanced around to his peers. He studied their faces closely and looked for weakness. He was a master of psychology, could see past lies, and knew exactly when to strike.

There was a humid, uncomfortable tension in the air. The table shook lightly as someone tapped his foot; his knee hit the table leg.

Ivan knew whoever was tapping his foot must have been anxious –fearful even, that he was the one to be eliminated. Someone was going to go home a king – another with nothing.

It was almost a matter of life and death. He looked for sweat on their faces, twitching in their eyes, fidgeting fingers…

Ivan turned over his cards – a Royal Flush.“Oh! How the hell does he do it?! He wins every blasted time!”shouted Xavier, Ivan’s roommate. He stood up and slammed his hand against the table. “I swear, one day your arrogance will get the best of you and you’ll lose it all.”

Ivan smiled bleakly. “But that not today,” replied Ivan in his slightly Russian accent. “It is all about the eyes!”Xavier shook his head and slid his chips forward. He chugged the rest of his ale and slid on his coat, which was loosely hanging on the wooden chair. “Zav, don’t be a sore loser, my friend,” Ivan said cheerfully, and pat Xavier on the shoulder. “One day I will teach you all of my secrets.” The two began to shuffle through the busy bar towards the exit. Ivan glanced up at the television as he was passing and came to a sudden stop.

His sharp cheekbones stuck out as he clenched his jaw, and his eyes  stared at the TV. Xavier spun around and saw Ivan. He looked towards the TV to see what was holding his attention so firmly.

They were not the only two staring. Several other people moved closer to read the text across the screen. The warm chatter in the bar came to a halt as everyone began to watch the televisions. There was a deathly silence in the room. Beyond that, there was silence in every home with a television tuned into the local news.

Ivan lifted his hand to his mouth and bit his palm to make sure he was not dreaming. The blue of the screen reflected in his eyes, and he reread the white text sprawled across the TV.

The bartender pushed open the swinging door between his workspace and the restaurant. He pushed past the mob that had gathered and viewed the message for himself.

His face scrunched into a nasty expression and his mouth hung open.

He cupped his hand over his forehead to block the reflective light. Breathing in, he read aloud: “Emergency broadcast. This is not a test. As ordered by the United Communist States Congress, a nuclear war has been declared against the Russian Empire and its allies. It is advised all persons seek a fallout shelter immediately.”

Ivan let out a gasp and shoved Xavier to the side. He sprinted towards the exit, then skidded to a halt. He looked at Zav and shouted, “What are you waiting for? We’re all going to die!” Zav began to run after Ivan, who was already running down the sidewalk.

“There’s nothing we can do Ivan! How do we even know it’s real?”Ivan stopped and faced Xavier. He took a breath in and puffed out his chest, then yelled, “We must gather our family and leave!” Zav jogged towards Ivan shaking his head. “Don’t you see? We..... 

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