You decide to go look around. There has to be something out there for you that you stand a better chance on. To your right, the roulette wheels are spinning as players chew their nails and pull their hair, eager for the tiny ball to land on their chosen number. The crisp snap of cards being dealt sounds from the blackjack tables, where a mix of fear and frustration is painted over the faces of the gamblers sitting in attendance.

The only card game you have ever really played is solitaire. And you weren't even good at that. You already know you don't stand a chance trying the card table. You'll have to try the roulette. At least that concept seems easy enough. Just pick the right number. Or is it color? Or is it both? You'll figure it out.

The vibrant green felt of the roulette table beckons you over, the polished wood rail smooth under your fingertips as you approach. Sliding onto one of the plush leather stools, you watch intently as the croupier spins the wheel, the small white ball dancing along the numbered slots.

After the briefest explanation from the attendant, you take a deep breath. Studying the layout of the table, you consider your strategy. Will you play it safe with inside bets on single numbers?

Reaching across the table, you pull on a stack of chips, the colorful discs glinting under the grim casino lights. Placing a few on the number 7, you lean in, heart pounding with anticipation as the wheel slows to a stop. The ball bounces and tumbles, finally settling into a numbered slot.

"Number 23, red!" the croupier announces, and you can't help but feel a rush of terror as your chips are swept away. But you can't be deterred, you reload and try again, methodically covering the board with your wagers.

Each spin of the wheel sends a jolt of horror through you, your focus narrowing to the spinning red and black slots. Lady Luck seems to be a real pain tonight, bestowing small wins and losses in equal measure. Still, the need of the game keeps you coming back, driven by the hollow pain from within you.

As the night wears on, you find yourself alternating between moments of triumph and defeat, your stack of chips rising and falling like the tide. But win or lose, the allure of the roulette table remains, a siren's call you can't resist. Your big break has to come. It just has to. What number will you bet on next?

To bet on 6 - Select page 20

To bet on 21 - Select page 21