HANDLE NAME: UNKNOWN

Chapter 4 - HACK THE WORLD

Coins continued spilling out of the Coin Slot Machine with such force that their landing clanked piercingly against Emelia's eardrums. She could read the digital words GRAND WINNER but still couldn't process it. She had only put in one coin. ONE. How was this happening? The odds of this being possible?

But yet it was happening. Spilling out onto the coin collection tray. Overflowing it. The whole machine was making a huge ruckus; lights flashing, words glowing, music playing, and of course, the clamoring of gold that wasn't missed by any around. Em's hazel eyes stared hesitantly at the words. $10,000. It felt like a joke. Again, like a studio audience would jump out and say, "Just kidding!". Luck like this wasn't possible for her.

"Wait! Wait!" someone's rough voice hissed towards her, at first too muffled to hear but slowly getting louder. Dumfounded, Emelia forced herself to look away from the slot machine, her gold hair loosening a bit from the simple bun tied to the nape of her neck. Through the crowd that had begun to gather around it was Seymore who broke through. His eyes were large, glancing between the screen that said GRAND WINNER and the coins that were still spilling out.

His mouth hung open slightly, he jerked it closed then open again, at a loss for words, before finally pointing an accusing finger at Emelia. "Wait! That was my coin. That was my coin you used! It was mine, not yours!"

"What?!" Em shook her head and looked around as more and more people applauded, oblivious to Seymore and his angry words.

"This is theft! These are my winnings. I found that coin. I handed it to you but its sill mine. This is rightfully mine!"

He was now by her, his aged boney hands touching the machine, the lever, the gold protectively, as if to show ownership of it. He held onto to it so closely, he must have thought it made it look like he was the one who was playing and had pulled the lever. Emelia hadn't been expecting to win this, hadn't even processed it yet, but she now found herself angry at this man for yelling at her; for being so greed-full he was accusing her of theft in front of everyone.

"Get away from me," Em stood up- forcing Seymore, who had been leaning towards her, to step back. What happened to the man from before? What happened to "lucky you, I'm honest"? Sure, he was stingy, but he had been normal? Approachable. Even made her laugh. As she stared into his panicked, desperate face- her anger dissipated. Greed. This is what Daphne had warned her about. This is what gambling did to people.

Em didn't know what to say to him at the moment, but she never got a chance. Two casino managers had steadily pushed through the crowd, they carried a soft red velvet bag to hold the coins in. One smiled at her, polite, but not warm. "Please come with us. We are happy to work with you on your winnings."

Seymore let out a cry of anger, but they paid him no mind. Emelia looked between them and the old man, again to the dozens of faces that had surrounded her and felt suddenly overwhelmed by the sudden attention. So many hopeful eyes; if she won maybe so could they.  So many jealous faces; why was it her who won when they could not?

"Emmy." Daphne was by her side, gently pulling her arm into her own. "Come on sugar, let's talk with the nice manager and then be on our way." Emelia took one look into Daphne's eyes and realized; this woman could see her overload. Probably because she knew Em was so broken down yesterday. Seymore's angry gaze burned into her back. Her raised heartbeat caused the bruise on her cheek to ache in response. Her nerves felt wracked, her emotions drained. Daphne smiled assuring.

"Okay." Emelia let in a deep breath on steadiness. "Let's go."

.

.

What Emelia thought would be a simple transaction of counting gold casino coins and rendering them into real US currency was not what happened. Instead, they politely brought Emelia and Daphne back to a plain cold room; steel tables, hard cushioned seats, a water jug in the corner of the room. And very soon they began questioning Emelia about the win.