The All-Hallows' Eve Stake
The power was out on Halloween night. With only my laptop's battery for light, I found myself on "Fate's Spinner," a stake site with a special $1000 All-Hallows' Eve pool. I needed that money.
I joined a table called "Phantom Roulette." The users had names like SoulHarvest and FinalBreath. I put my last $50 on black. The wheel spun, the bone-white ball clicking... and landed on red 13. A chill filled the room. FinalBreath typed: "The house always collects."
Desperate, I entered the "Haunted Hold'em" poker room. My final hand was a king-high flush. I went all-in. My opponent, VeilWalker, revealed a royal flush. A perfect, impossible hand.
As my balance hit zero, a new message appeared from the house: "Payment accepted. Thank you for playing."
The screen went black. But in the reflection, I saw a figure standing behind my chair. Its hand, cold and solid, rested on my shoulder. I hadn't just lost my money. I had won a permanent seat at their table.
HALLOWEN-STAKE.
Id : Aydoox