Squid Ink

Let the Games Begin

The Squid game didn't make it into commonplace British culture like some other children's games did. Games like tag seemed universal, across all continents. But Vincent Phantomhive, the son of Old Money English aristocrats, saw the world before the tender age of ten. And on his father's business trip to South Korea, he played a game he'd never forget.

~~~

"Do you remember what today is?" Claudia looks at her son across the kitchen table. In her hand is a glass of cheap wine. After his husband Cedric lost his stocks and savings in the financial crash, he killed himself. Vincent was only 20. It left her son desperate to keep the family afloat. That's when he turned to pool and arcade machines. Then it was football and rugby bets. Just a line at the bookies, nothing wrong with that, he'd told her. 'We're going to win big money someday, then you'll thank me'.

But now they have nothing. Vincent spent every penny.

"Today..." he looks into his cereal. All he can think of is today's football match. It's Man City vs. Liverpool. Man City are the obvious choice, Liverpool have been doing better in the league recently. Who to bet on?

"It's the twins' birthday," Claudia takes a sip. "Did you forget?"

It has been in the back of his mind. He just hadn't thought about if. "No, I didn't,"

His mother tosses him a mere fiver across the table. "Take your sons out for their birthday,"

"This won't get then anything," he sneers at it.

"They like KFC. Get them KFC,"

"It's not enough," he holds it in his hand. The glorious note. "I need to get them a present as well,"

"That's all I have right now, son. Take it or leave it,"

When she goes to refill her glass, the thirty-two year old slips across the dining table and frantically searches her purse. In its own little section, with a hidden zip, is her bank card. He slips it out and rushes for the door. Can't get his sons a birthday present if he doesn't make money. And to make money, he needs to bet money.

*

Diedrich stands by the door while Vincent types in Claudia's PIN number.

Incorrect Pin.

"Huh?!" He blinks. "My birthday should be it..."

"She must've changed it," Diedrich sighs.  He was always annoyed by Vincent at school. Impulsive and careless, he wasn't surprised to hear about his friend's debt and gambling addiction. Vincent tried rehab - oh, how he tried rehab. But nothing could dispel his obsession with money.

"Fuck, what did she change it to?"

"Her birthday?"

"Her birthday..." Vincent blinks, confused by the numbers.

"You don't know it," Diedrich sighs. "Why don't you just-?"

"Wait!" Vincent claps and jumps as high as a kangaroo. Diedrich flutters his eyes in awe. "I've got it!"

"Ciel and Leic's birthday! Todays date..." he types 1412 and the card lights up green, flashing different amounts.

"Yes! Haha!" He claps once again and selects £50. He could select £100, but his mother would definitely miss that.

At the race track, Vincent selects horses 14 and 12. Why not, right? It's his twins' birthday, his lucky creations can be his lucky numbers.