Three of Hearts

The car rolled up, gravel flying everywhere. Gripping her shopping bags, she crunched her high heels on the path then made the brief journey up her driveway. The driveway she had shared for many years, with her husband, her soul mate. She produced her electronic car remote control and locked her car, the familiar beep echoed through the drive. She retrieved her key from the bottom of her Mulberry bag and stepped inside her spotless house, she sighed. Kicking her shoes off, she promptly slipped her sore, blistered feet into her favourite pair of soft cherry-red slippers. She then walked into the kitchen, put the shopping down and then carefully removed her name badge 'Natalia Hunt-Manager'- she was at home now, people knew who she was.
That night they had Joe's friends coming for dinner, so everything had to be perfect to impress them. Especially Penelope, Natalia had to impress Penny.
Joe was not due back from the office yet, well not for at least an hour anyway, so Natalia had enough time to start preparing the dinner and in peace. She walked over to her Gorenje refrigerator and reached down to the fruit and vegetable draw and fetched out carrots, potatoes and onions. She placed them down on her granite work surface, straightened out her dress and got to work. She grabbed a packet of tomatoes from the small cold cupboard. Organic of course, the packet read 'Ruby Red Tomatoes', "This must be some kind of sign!" she exclaimed not meaning to speak out loud. She sliced them into thin slithers, sprinkled some black pepper, put them in a salad bowl and placed them back into the cold cupboard. Good riddance. Sharpening her knife she chopped the potatoes and then diced the onions. As strong as they were, they did not make her cry, she was used to it by now. She put a pan onto the Aga, drizzled in some oil and tossed the potatoes and onions in. She shook the pan then left the ingredients to simmer and brown off. She decided that she would cook the croutons and chicken fillets later on. nearer the time.
"Hey Honey, I'm home! Good day?" the calming voice of Joe made Natalia shiver.
"Er, yeah, great thanks yours?" He stepped in, immediately warming the room. "Okay I guess, although Vanessa is driving me mad! Seriously why can she not just accept the fact that she actually has a job and move on?"
"Oh, I'm sure she will get over it eventually she just has to make a drama out of it first, besides, I made coffee, you want one?"
"I'm good, going to go and get ready for the arrival of Matt and Penny. It's important you know."
Natalia was shocked the he had denied her fresh black coffee but then it struck her mind at just how much it meant to Joe to impress Matt, after all, this was it, now or never. Joe returned downstairs in a fresh shirt and tie but suspiciously in the same jacket, something he never did unless Matt and Penny were coming.
"Ready for tonight?" he asked concisely. Natalia froze turning crimson. Of course she wasn't how he could ask such a thing was beyond her. "Sure," she replied "Why do you ask?" Natalia hardly ever questioned Joe but she was furious. "Just wondering, I mean you seem pretty flustered!"
"Stupid man," Natalia turned and muttered under her breath.
Everything was set and ready to go. Both Natalia and Joe were dressed in their best clothes. The table was set with their finest crockery, china and champagne glasses. Their best, limited edition Dom Perignon champagne stood glimmering on the mantle piece. Natalia's famous Frivolous Fudge desserts were cooling in the refrigerator. Joe leant over and kissed his wife on the cheek. The doorbell rang and Natalia anxiously rushed off to answer it, leaving Joe in the kitchen arranging fresh chicken fillets.
"Oh it's so lovely to see you both, how have you both been keeping?" Natalia asked determined to keep a straight face and not to get upset. "Very well thanks, and you?" Both Matt and Penelope replied, in perfect synchronisation, how embarrassing Natalia thought. A series of kissing on the cheeks followed before Natalia bustled everybody through to the dining room and began to serve dinner. Natalia couldn't help noticing Matt's scarlet tie and Penny's ruby red pumps; this was certainly going to be a battle to remember.
Joe began to clear up the plates and stacked them neatly in the dishwasher, he then switched it on and slowly returned to the dining room. Matt was dealing cards and Natalia was shaking, her legs tightly crossed, Penelope had a smirk on her face; she was ready. Joe sat down on the edge of his seat and giving Natalia a sympathetic smile, picked up his cards. The game commenced, it started off very well with Joe and Natalia both earning ten points each for getting a run, but then Joe produced the three of hearts. Natalia froze, tears running down her face.
See the truth was matt and Penny had created this game about ten years ago. Many people had lost their lives to this so called game including Natalia's brother and Joe's father. If you had the three of hearts in your hand, you had your hand cut off and promptly died because of blood lose.
Matt grabbed the sword from his briefcase. He raised it up high in the air. Joe screeched with pain. Claret blood was everywhere. Natalia screamed.