The Games That Led Me To You

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•~Chapter 1~•

Jake Wheeler was running like he was the track star of the wheeler family. He wasn't but his life kinda depended on how fast he could get away from the man chasing his with a knife. The man was also threatening to shoot him but Jake didn't see a gun. He wasn't going look for one either.

He needed a place to hide and the streets weren't crowded enough. He spotted a set of stairs leading to the train station below and immediately ran towards it. He hurriedly raced downstairs into the busy crowd. He weaved his way around person after person, getting farther & farther away from his problems while doing so.

He checked behind him multiple times before finally allowing himself to stop running and to settle his aching body on a bench. He spends a moment (almost two) catching his breath before shoving his left hand into the pocket of his thin jacket and fishing out the money he had just stolen from the crook who was chasing him.

When he finished counting he had stopped at the number 212. It wasn't a bad haul for someone who wasn't on the streets and had people to look out for them. Sadly that wasn't the case for Jake and was hoping for at least 300. The motels around here weren't exactly pricey but they could be easily broken into and money burns quick when you need it for multiple things, which he does.

Jake stuffs the money back into his pocket with a huff and an eye roll. He needed money and he preferred to have it as soon as possible. (Are you sure about that gay boy?) Suddenly a man with a suit and briefcase came to sit next to him. Jake paid him no mind before he started conversing with him.

"Hello sir, can I talk to you?" He asks politely, voice chipper as hell. "I don't believe in Jesus" Jake says trying to get rid of the man he assumed was another church commissioner who made conversation with just about anyone to spread the word of their oh so sacred church.

The man continues, "It's not that. I want to interest you in a amazing opportunity to-" though he doesn't finish due to Jake pulling out a gun from his right jacket pocket and pointing it at the bothersome man. The man in question immediately raises his hands in surrender and shock.

Jake pulls the trigger and the only effect it has is showing the man that the gun is in reality just a liter. The man chuckles anxiously while Jake keeps a straight face. He removes the gun from it's place in the air and instead puts it back in his pocket. He motions for the man to continue speaking.

He figures why not? It's a shitty day and maybe he has stupid things to say that'll weirdly humor them both (or mainly just Jake). The man lowers his hands before continuing, a bead of sweat traveling down the left side of his sharp clean shaven face.

"Sir...would you like to play a game?" The unknown man asks Jake. He in return scoffs before questioning him instead. "What are you? A salesman huh? I swear you people have all sorts of tactics nowadays."

"I'm sure you're just doing your job but I'm-" Jake doesn't finish his sentence. While he was speaking the man had opened his briefcase and just like magic money was there like he had wished. When his eyes caught sight of if his first thought was whether or not he would be able to successfully steal it.

He shook of the thought as the man started to speak again. "Sir, have you played ddakji before?" He asks. Jake didn't but he wouldn't let him know that. He needed that money and if this game was somehow connected to it then he'll sure as hell do what's needed.

He nods but the man seems unconvinced. He shakes his head and the man smiles before explaining the game to him. The man gives him the chance to choose his color card and Jake chooses blue. They play a practice round that Jake loses.

He shakes it and plays again. He loses yet again. Defeat is his most hated emotion so he plays again, after getting slapped in his face for losing. He plays again and again and again losing each time and getting slapped over and over, the hits getting harder each time.

Eventually both of his cheeks are bright red and marked from the pained hits. "One more round. For real this time." Jake demands. The man simply smiles before obeying his wish. Jake takes a deep breath before throwing his card again, finally flipping the man's card over for the first time tonight.

His face immediately lights up. "Yes! I won! Okay my turn." He rejoices before going to slap the man. The man instead catches his hand, ruining Jake's winner spirit. "Hey what the hell?" Jake questions angrily.

The man just smiles harder before placing 100 dollars in his right hand and cupping it in place. "Your money, sir" the salesman tells him. Jake sits down and counts it. The man following his action. "You know there are similar games like this one that you may play to win very large numbers of cash. Don't tell me you're not interested." He coaxes.

Jake gives him a look before shaking his head. "Is this a new pyramid scheme? This was fun but that's not happening." He replies before counting his money again, in shock of how fast he just got 100 bucks without having to steal or risk his life for it.

The man stands up. "Your name is Jake Wheeler, you're 19 years old, your birthday was 3 months ago. Earlier you snuck into your cousins house to see him, checked up on your abusive dad. You watched a boy named Devon for 15 minutes, and just stole money from a gangster who ripped you out of your money 2 months ago after you worked with him for 5." He recites to Jake.

Jake stares at him in shock. "You desperately need money as well as a home and you should play the games." He finishes. "Who the hell are you? How the fuck do you know so much about me?" Jake asks standing up to man face to face, now angry at how much he knew.

He smiles happily before reaching into his left suit pocket and handing Jake a card. "We don't have many spots left. Just think about it." He says before getting onto the train that just arrived. Jake watches him.

Jake heads home to his abandoned flat in the slums. He stopped at a convience store and got himself some quote on quote dinner that he eats on the way to his home. When he arrived to his flat he immediately falls onto his mattress on the floor. He doesn't sleep however. He can't.

His thoughts won't stop racing, making sleep unachievable for the night. He reaches into his jacket for the card he was given earlier. He then thought about Devon. Jake doesn't have any future. He never did and that wasn't changing. Devon however did and his future would require money. He could also give some to his cousin. He grabs his dying phone and looking at the card one more time.

Jake sighs before his fingers begin to dial the exact same numbers on the card in his opposite hand.

"Hello? Who's calling?"

"I want to play." Jake says...not knowing how wrong he was.

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FIRST CHAPTER!!!!! sorry Jake was the only person appearing but that's kinda how show went. I'll try to have the rest of the first episode done by tonight. I was going to add it on here but the revision history is getting full and then it'd would tell me to restore stuff and that's very annoying and a hectic process because it never works for me on the first try.