High Stakes
by Ayanna Wimberly
help me.
what?
help me.
who is this?
help me.
ok, I think you have the wrong number.
HELP ME.
stop texting me.
Dave, please.
ok who is this
how do you know my name?
help me, please.
help you what?
I don’t even know who this is
I’m trapped
I’ve been taken
taken?
by who?
I don’t know them.
ok is this Mark?
this isn’t funny, man
It’s not Mark
then it’s Tito
very funny Tito
nice fake number and everything
it’s not Mark or Tito
ok
who is it then?
I can’t tell you
oh you can’t?
why is that
They’ll hurt me
who’ll hurt you
I don’t know them!
what do you expect me to do?
please just help
this is so silly
how am I supposed to help
you’re not telling me anything
please don’t ignore this
I don’t know what I can do
they’re asking for you
what?
they’re asking for you Dave
why?
only you can help me.
these people know me?
yes.
ok, do you know where you are?
I’ll send the police
please no police
then what?
I can’t save you.
I’m not a superhero
they’re only asking for you
they said you’ll know what it’s about
just tell me what’s going on and I’ll try to help
they said they’ll give you a hint
they’re “all in”
…huh?
that’s the hint.
all in.
oh…
do you understand?
is this…Jeffy?
who?
who’s with you?
two men
a big tall one
and a skinny bald one
that’s Jeffy.
who’s that?
he’s a bookie
this is about my debts isn’t it?
what debts?
my gambling debts.
I owe him money
did he take you for that?
I don’t know.
all they said is only you can save me
ok whoever this is
tell Jeffy I’ll pay him back
there’s no need to do anything crazy
he says it’s too late
he’s given you enough time already
just tell him that I can get it to him
honest
it’s too late
can I just talk to him?
he says you have 2 hours to find me
or they’ll hurt me
jeez...
please dave
ok
crap
how am I supposed to find you
I don’t even know who you are
they said I can give you hints
ok, hurry
“go far into the sunset”
into the sunset?
what does that even mean...
think.
my life depends on it.
sunset…
sunset boulevard!
yes!
I just go down sunset?
until you find the next clue
ok.
driving down sunset.
what am I supposed to look for?
keep going
“into the sunset”
headed for the strip
is that where the next clue is?
“into the sunset”
of course!
there’s a bar there called the sunset bar!
yes!
ok what’s the next clue
“a music box with your next destination inside”
ok, I’m going in
don’t see a music box
please just keep looking
the jukebox!!
that’s it!
alright I’m flipping through
don’t see any destination
just keep looking
Redondo beach!
yes!
heading there now.
please hurry!
what am I looking for there?
I’ll tell you when you’re there
please hurry
don’t worry
I’ll save you
trust me
I hope so
ok, in Redondo beach now
what am I looking for?
“a big blue house near the ocean is where your journey ends”
a big blue house near the ocean…
wait
on beryl?
yes
my girlfriend Tessa lives in a big blue house on beryl
then that’s the house you’re looking for
that’s where your journey ends
I don’t understand
this is Tessa
yes.
what is all of this?
are you in trouble??!
no, Dave.
so this was all a lie?
yes. because you lied to me.
about all of your gambling.
that’s what this is all about?
I waited for you to come clean, but you didn’t
so I had to do something extreme
this is really crazy Tessa
why didn’t you just bring it up
it’s your job to tell me
you could have gotten both of us killed
well obviously I didn’t!
it doesn’t matter now
it’s over between us Dave
come on Tessa
no
I’m tired of your lies
I’ve had enough
just give me one more chance
no Dave. I’m done
I hope you get everything in order with Jeffy
Tessa please!
goodbye Dave
Tessa!
Dave?
I just heard car tires screeching outside, was that you?
are you still out there?
I can see your car parked, Dave.
I’ve got him now
if you ever want to see him again you’ll get me what I want
you’ve got 2 hours
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