The Stranger's Game

Rain hammered against the cracked windows of the old tavern, its wooden frame groaning under the weight of the storm. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and whispered conversations. In the corner, by the hearth's dying embers, sat a man cloaked in shadows. His face was obscured, but his presence demanded attention. A deck of worn cards lay on the table before him, edges frayed by time.

No one knew when he had arrived. Perhaps he had always been there.

Elias, a wanderer seeking shelter from the storm, pushed open the heavy door. His boots squelched on the damp floorboards as he approached the bar. The innkeeper, a stooped man with wary eyes, barely acknowledged him.

"Ale," Elias muttered, shaking off the cold.

As the mug slid toward him, Elias's gaze drifted to the figure in the corner. The stranger motioned subtly to the empty chair across from him. No words—just a gesture. Curiosity gnawed at Elias. He approached.

"Care for a game?" the stranger's voice was smooth, ageless.

Elias hesitated. "What's the wager?"

A thin smile. "A truth for a truth. A dare for a dare. Simple stakes."

The tavern seemed to quiet, as if leaning in to listen. Elias sat, fingers brushing the cards. They felt... heavier than they should.

The game began.

Cards turned, questions asked. At first, they were trivial.

"Where are you from?"

"Nowhere worth mentioning."

"Why did you come here?"

"To escape."

But the questions deepened, became sharper, cutting closer to secrets Elias had long buried.

"Who did you leave behind?"

"No one."

A raised brow. "A lie."

The air thickened. Elias's pulse quickened. Yet he played on.

Then came the dares.

"Steal the knife from the bar."

Simple. He complied.

"Speak a truth you fear."

Harder. His voice trembled.

And then—"Hurt someone who trusts you."

Elias froze. "No."

The stranger's smile widened. "Then forfeit."

A cold dread seeped into Elias. He understood now. There was no leaving the table. Not without finishing the game.

"What happens if I lose?"

The stranger leaned in, shadows twisting around him. "You join me. Another player waiting for the next storm."

Elias stared at the cards. His reflection stared back—but the eyes were not his own.

Lightning split the sky. The game continued.

No one noticed when the stranger left the tavern that night, or how Elias remained behind, cloaked in shadows. His fingers idly traced the edges of a worn deck of cards, waiting for the next curious soul to walk through the door.