Ordinary Man to the Fastest Alive

Chapter 3: GAMBLE 

Ethan stood in the shadow of an alley, his eyes fixed on the pawn shop across the street. 

The sign above the door flickered faintly, the letters "Gold & More" glowing in the dim morning light. 

The shop was open but right now the cashier was tending to a customer so the registry was left open.

He'd spent the last hour scouting the area, memorizing the placement of every security camera and the rhythm of the occasional pedestrian walking by. 

He couldn't afford to be seen—not even a blur on a grainy surveillance tape. 

'Speedsters generate lightning when they run fast enough,' he thought, recalling what he'd seen on The Flash. 'But if I run just fast enough to avoid the cameras, yet slow enough to not generate lightning, I won't leave a trace. Security cameras aren't designed to track a speedster.'

It was a delicate balance, but Ethan was confident he could pull it off. He'd spent the last hour practicing, testing the limits of his speed and control.

'Now for extra measures,' he thought, closing his eyes and focusing. 

He began to vibrate his face, the features blurring and shifting at a high frequency. It was a trick he'd seen the Reverse-Flash used that was surprisingly easy to do. 

'This is easy enough,' he thought, stepping out of the alley. 'Go in and out, take some money, and leave. I can return it before the day ends, so hopefully, they won't even know it's gone.'

The reason Ethan had chosen a pawn shop instead of a luxury brand or a bank was simple: 

security. He didn't know what kind of high-tech measures those places had in place, but a small, rundown pawn shop in this part of Brooklyn? It was the easiest target. 

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. 

'Alright, Ethan. Let's do this.' 

…

Ethan moved. 

The world slowed around him as he darted across the street, his body a blur.

He reached the pawn shop's door in an instant, he opened the door as he made his way inside.

Inside, the shop was dark and cluttered, the shelves lined with everything from old electronics to jewelry. Ethan's eyes scanned the room, landing on the cash register behind the counter. 

'Perfect,' he thought, moving toward it. 

Inside of the cash register was a modest stack of bills—nothing huge, but enough to get him started. He grabbed a handful, careful not to take too much, and stuffed it into his pocket. 

'I'll return it later,' he reminded himself, closing the register. 'This is just a loan.'

He moved back to the door, pausing to make sure no one was outside. The street was still empty, the early morning quiet undisturbed. 

Ethan took a deep breath and stepped outside.

*"Alright,"* he thought, his heart still racing. *"Now to get out of here."* 

He focused again, the world slowing as he darted back across the street and into the alley. Once he was safely hidden, he stopped, his face returning to normal as he let out a shaky breath. 

"I did it," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "I actually did it." 

He shoved the bills into his bag and took off, the world blurring around him as he ran. 

…

Ethan stood outside a casino, the neon lights casting a garish glow over the sidewalk. He'd chosen a smaller, less flashy establishment—one that wouldn't draw too much attention. With $400 in his pocket, courtesy of the pawn shop, he felt a mix of nerves and determination. 

'This part is fairly easy.' Ethan thought as he looked at the entrance of the casino.

After all, it isn't gambling if you know you're going to win.

He took a deep breath and walked inside, the noise and chaos of the casino hitting him like a wall. 

Slot machines chimed, dice clattered across tables, and the low murmur of conversation filled the air. Ethan scanned the room, his eyes landing on the blackjack tables. 

He made his way to an empty seat at one of the tables, slipping into the chair as casually as he could. The dealer, a middle-aged woman with a bored expression, gave him a polite nod. 

"Buying in?" she asked, her voice monotone. 

Ethan nodded, pulling out a stack of bills and sliding them across the table. "Four hundred." 

The dealer counted the money and handed him a stack of chips. Ethan picked one up, rolling it between his fingers. 

As the dealer shuffled the cards, Ethan focused, his eyes narrowing. The world around him seemed to slow, the noise of the casino fading into a low hum. 

He watched as the dealer placed the deck into the shoe.

With a burst of speed, Ethan reached into the shoe, his hand moving so fast it was invisible to the naked eye. 

He rearranged the cards, ensuring that the next few hands would be in his favor. 

The world snapped back to normal, and Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking casual. 

"Place your bets," the dealer said, her voice cutting through the noise. 

---

The next hour passed in a blur. 

Ethan played carefully, never betting too much at once, but always winning just enough to keep the dealer and the other players from getting suspicious. 

With his superspeed, he was able to peek at the cards before they were dealt, adjusting his strategy on the fly. 

By the time he decided to cash out, he had over $2,000 in chips stacked in front of him. 

'That's enough, he thought, glancing around the casino. 'Any more, and someone might notice.'

He stood up, nodding to the dealer as he collected his chips. 

'Leaving so soon?' she asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Ethan shrugged, forcing a smile. 'Lady luck's on my side tonight. Don't want to push it.' 

The dealer nodded, her expression unreadable, and Ethan made his way to the cashier's cage. 

…

Ethan's first stop after leaving the casino wasn't home—it was the pawn shop. 

He moved quickly, his speed making the trip across Brooklyn feel like a blink. As he approached the shop, he slowed down, making sure no one was around before slipping inside. 

Hopefully no one got into trouble for him taking this money…

---

Ethan's next stop was the opposite side of Brooklyn, far from the first casino he'd visited. He'd chosen this location carefully, making sure it was far enough away that no one would connect the two. 

He took his time getting there, using public transportation to maintain the illusion that he was just an ordinary guy. He sat on the bus and watched the city pass by outside the window. 

'Can't be too careful,' he thought, glancing at the other passengers. 'The last thing I need is someone noticing a pattern.' 

When he finally arrived at the second casino, it was late afternoon. The place was busier than the first, with a steady stream of people coming and going. 

Ethan blended into the crowd, his hoodie and jeans making him look like just another guy trying his luck. 

He made his way to the blackjack tables, his $1,600 burning a hole in his pocket. 

The process was the same as before. Ethan used his superspeed to peek at the cards and rearrange the deck, ensuring he'd have the upper hand. 

He played carefully, never betting too much at once, but always winning just enough to keep the dealer and the other players from getting suspicious. 

By the time he decided to cash out, he had over $5,000 in chips stacked in front of him.