Today it would work. His infallible instinct told him that the moment was in his favor. Great luck was within reach, the signs pointed to victory. He just needed to be there.
With a perfect image of himself in mind, he slowly entered the casino hall: his hair immaculate, the suit tailored, a new fragrance freshly applied: “The Game,” the name said it all.
In eager anticipation, he approached the table. As if by magic, the ladies and gentlemen of the illustrious circle stepped aside and immediately recognized one of the free seats for him. Charisma, he thought to himself and smiled quietly. But here he was mistaken, and fate took its course.
Had he given more weight to the gazes of those present, he might have noticed that the polite stepping aside was less due to his charm and more to an unbearable, sweet top note that threatened to suffocate everyone in his immediate vicinity.
In the belief of certain victory, his bets increased and he felt the excitement in every fiber of his body. Everything was going according to plan. However, as the evening wore on, it became increasingly difficult for him to fully concentrate on the game. Something was different than usual. This cloying, heavy scent lingered in his nose. His throat was scratchy, and a constant urge to cough troubled him. The “noble woods” of “The Game” turned out to be a deception. Instead, a biting synthetic mixture ruled, slowly robbing him of his senses.
Now the tide had completely turned. Individual lapses became regular mistakes. His hope that “The Game” would soon dissipate was unfortunately disappointed. With merciless persistence, the base held on, and he was plagued by throbbing headaches. He only vaguely noticed as the croupier took his last chip. It was time for him to leave.
On the way out, he noticed some jingling coins in his pocket. Good enough for a few slot machines at the gaming hall by the train station, he thought. His fragrance, in any case, would surely be better received there than in the casino…
Jpg153 12 years ago
Yatagan 12 years ago
