GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

IT'S A NEW LIFE

It has been two years since Denton won the game ‘Rule of Cards’ and there have been a lot of changes after he won the game. First of all, he won the twenty million prize money which he used to pay for his daughter’s medical expenses. His daughter, Denise, who had a chronic kidney disease, was successfully operated on, and was already recovering that year. Denton was really thankful that Denise woke up almost two weeks after her surgery and had been back to what she was before. Denton was really grateful to see his daughter back to life after all that he underwent during the game.

The prize money was really helpful to them, especially that it brought Denise back to life. If it was not for the prize money, Denton must still be working his ass off just to pay for the hospital bills. The prize money was also used for the building of their house. From a small house where the four of them stay to a big mansion-like house now. Denton also used some of the money to make a production house of casino materials and products. Denton was really attached to gambling, in a good way, that he made a company out of the idea.

The name of the production company was dedicated to his two daughters, which is the sole reason why he entered the game and had the best dedication to win. The company is the one who leads the factory, where the workers are the family of the players who unfortunately died during the game. He told himself that those players have the best contribution to his victory. He is also feeling guilty of letting them die without doing anything. However, it was a game and only one must win the game. As it was a competition, he had no choice but to do his best and win the game, even if it meant that everybody else would die on his behalf.

Four months after he requested to make his dream house for him, it was sturdy standing in front of him and the memories of his late wife dreaming of their dream house suddenly reached his head. “You are the mere reason why this house was made, honey. You may not be here but you are always in my heart. This is your dream house, this is our house, still,” he said as he caressed the picture of his wife before he put it back on the table. The house was really grandiose and anyone who enters this house would know that a rich man owns it.

The house was a bit big for a family of four but it has its own reason. The house was divided into three sections; each section having rooms for each family member, comfort room and their necessities. These three sections have doors, for privacy. These three sections are for Denton, Paul and Sandra’s family. They decided that they will just live under the same room, as per Denton’s suggestion. Jannah was under Denton’s section, since Jannah is alone and has already lost both of his parents. She has her own room under Denton’s section.

Aside from the grandiose design of the house, they also have six cars all-in-all now. Denton knows it is kind of excessive but it is his new addiction now, much better than gambling. The three cars have their own drivers while the other three are for him, Paul and Sandra. Both Dennise and Jannah are also learning how to drive, so they can go elsewhere without a driver with them, as they insist they are already old enough.

He walked towards the dining area and he was served food by the maid. “Please do my coffee too, with milk and fifty percent sugar,” he told the maid who just nodded as per his request. He also has workers inside his own house. Knowing Denton, he cannot eat bitter foods and drinks. He called the other maids who immediately followed him. “Please wake Denise and Donna up already. Let Dennis and Jannah sleep first, as they stayed up late for their projects. The other, call the other people and tell them to eat breakfast already.”

After being called, Paul and Sandra came to the dining table, together with their family. For Denton, their family are his family too. He has grown close to both of the two’s families, so that it may look like he’s the son of each family. They all eat in the dining room like they are real families. “Why are you being so quick, Denton?” Paul asked Denton who was furious. He was eating his food, slowly munching each part of the food. “Is there an error in the company? Let the workers do their job.”

“No, I was just looking for the game, which we once participated in, on the internet,” Denton replied. Paul and Sandra nodded, as if waiting for Denton to say that he found something about the game on the internet. “Sadly, there is nothing about the goddamn game on the internet. It looks just like it does not even exist, though we know that it does exist. If it was only me who experienced it, I would have given up finding that.”

“I was really interested in what you will tell us, and it turns out that there was still no news about that game,” Sandra replied as she chewed on her own food. “It has been two years since you were looking for the game and the game master and you have found none at all. I think I might suggest you stop looking for it already. You are not going elsewhere, Denton. I know that you want to take a vengeance for all the souls that were eliminated but… I think you might be unable to see them again, especially that they think you are the only one alive in that group of contestants. They will be looking after you, since you have the most risk to tell the police and the authorities about them.”

“I know that and I am aware of that, but I still want them to know that even though I won that damn game, there was a part of me that was not happy, knowing that after I won the prize money, I left the people who competed me there, dying without justice,” Denton mumbled. He knew that there were a lot of people there on the table, and that is why he told Sandra and Paul in a low voice which only the two could hear. “However, I will not stop looking for them. I mean, I have already started on finding out who they are but I unfortunately was not able to find that out in such a short time. This is my best way to find them in the outside world. They will never let their identity be known, and knowing how they made the game, they must be influential and rich enough to cover their identities. Whatever tactics may they use, I will still find a way to unravel their identities and let them pay for whatever they have done.”

“You know that they would not let you know him, right? And, for sure, they must be spying or tracking on you, knowing that you have made a name in the industry that you are in… anytime now, they might be looking at us,” Sandra mumbled. “You can’t secure our safety here, what more if you try to get in front of them. You know, Denton, if they want to reveal themselves to you, do not find a way for you to identify them, they will find a way to unravel themselves to you.”

Paul nodded. “Sandra is making a lot of points now, Denton,” Paul muttered. “However, I think you must focus yourself more on your family and your business, now that your business is already getting known to the masses. Your family and your business needs you more. Do not direct your sole focus on that. If I were to be asked, I think it is better if you do not put your nose on their business. Just focus on your own. Be thankful enough that they made their promise to the winner and did not eliminate you instead, I think.”

“You know what, Paul and Sandra, I think there is a little possibility of them watching us real-time. You, three, are contestants of the game and you were eliminated, they thought. If they see you all inside my house, then they must have made an action to eliminate you, three. However, they might have considered letting you live, especially when you, three, do not have any intention of telling the authorities about them,” Denton explained. The two were just agreeing with what Denton was saying when a phone suddenly rang, which surprised them all at the table. Denton immediately grabbed his phone and answered the phone call. It was from an unknown number. “Hello, this is Denton Mayfly. This is from a number not registered in my contacts, so I am wondering who is calling this?”

After what Denton had said was a deafening silence. It was more than a minute of silence before the speaker from the phone started talking. “Hello,” he said. Denton knows, for sure, that it was a voice that he heard from back then. “Denton Mayfly. Player M-22. Winner of the last Rule of Cards game. This is the speaker talking. The game master is inviting you to a talk. May we ask when are you free?