Game of a Lifetime

Page 21

You can't explain it. But something in the universe is telling you to pick Twenty-one. For some reason, it just sounds like a really good number. Maybe it is Lady Luck herself whispering alluringly into your subconscious.

The click of the roulette wheel clunks through the dimly lit casino. As the ball spins, your heart is clenched with dread and anticipation.

You lean in.

Eyes locked on the numbers.

Silently willing the ball to land on twenty-one.

The whole table is suffocating in nervous energy. You hold your breath as the ball closes in on its fateful drop.

The ball slows, bouncing between the numbered slots before finally settling into place. You stare at it, hearing your heartbeat in your ears.

The croupier calls out the winning number, "Red! Twenty-one!" You feel like a puppet that just had its strings yanked up. You actually jump off your stool and throw your hands into the air! No way! You can't believe this has happened, but you are so thrilled that it did. It doesn't even feel real! You can feel your energy returning to you. Not a lot, but most of it. You aren't sure how much you regained but you are just thankful you did!

You ease away from the table to find a slot machine to swipe your card in. It will tell you on the counter how much more you have to win. Hearing the dings and sobs of people you pass along the way; you find your machine.

You give your card a swipe and your eyes grow wide. You only need to earn ten cents. Earn a single dime and you will be free! You waste no time on spinning the reels one more round. Soon you will be the one rushing out the door singing and dancing. This could be it, baby! One more win!

Those reels spin and spin until they finally come to a stop. The kind of stop that makes your heart stop as well. Not aligned and further into debt. How is this even fair? You were so close! You try again. And again. And again. Bouncing back and forth. Gaining some. Losing some. Never able to clear your debt. Except now you have accrued ten dollars' worth. Ten years. And you feel the life leaving your body. It is physically painful. The most debt you've ever been in concerning your life. Well, second highest compared to your student loans. Those will haunt you for the remaining years you have left, no doubt.

You hear the Hat Man a few machines down talking to another patron. Rather, sucking up their lifeforce entirely. They look like a mummy by the time he is finished with them. He drops their corpse to the floor and steps over it while two women rush to scoop up the withered husk away to wherever they take the bodies.

The Hat Man notices you looking at him and he smiles his wide, toothy smile. "Ten delicious years. Mine all mine." He is clearly mocking you.

You feel a swirl of panic and anger clashing inside of you. You aren't sure if you want to punch this guy in the face or throw yourself at his feet begging him to let you go.

To swing at the Hat Man - Select page 25

To beg him to let you go - Select page 26