Fear?
Acid coursing through my veins and somehow pooling into the pit of my stomach. Muscles, electric but yet dead weight across my back, my neck rigid, locked into place. I dare not move my face. No twitch, nothing that could betray me. I cannot let it leak from my eyes. But at the same time I cannot be seen to struggle.
His eyes bore into me, searching for fear. Does he find it?
Yes.
He pushes forward, grinning broadly.
I feel it is time to lay my cards on the table.
“Aces,” I say, smiling, “four of ‘em.”
Calm.
