The Adaptive Game

"BROWN CARD"

- Emilia

Why am I working retail right now?

It gets harder out here all the time. Halcyon never tells us anything and we can't do anything to make them say anything.

I'm being kicked out soon by the landlord. I need to start a new life.

It's not gonna be that easy. Finding some Hail Mary tactic isn't easy either.

"Hello? Can you..."

As I snap back to reality, a significantly taller man stands in front of me.

He wears a fur hat, he has black hair, a really sleek white button up shirt with a tie - and he's 6 feet.

"Yeah I'm sorry about that. I'll hurry up."

6 feet isn't that tall, but I'm literally 5,2. 

Everyone teases me about being short, and I guess that's how it goes. I'm used to it now though.

"That's $7.30."

He hands me a couple bills, but then he drops a brown card over the register by accident.

By instinct I go to grab the card for him, but I see a logo on the card that I recognize very vividly.

It's Phoenix?!

"Hey, I really need that back..."

I flip the card over and find a phone number and a message.

6.9 MILLION USD TO ONE LUCKY WINNER

CALL PHONE NUMBER

ONE CHANCE

"What bullshit..."

"Huh?"

I frantically get up and slide the card across the desk. I start to round up all the change and give him it all. He starts putting his chips in a paper bag.

I can't stop looking at that card.

The number is printed over and over in my head.

I can't stop thinking about the cash prize.

And I only have one chance...