Flashing lights and retro techno music, these were the sounds that greeted me as I strolled into the local arcade. I was here to meet my friend Sean as we decided to play some games after school as we do every Friday. I looked around, trying to find my friend amidst the flashing lights and the crowds of people, I spotted him over by the newest Triminator Bullet hell game. It was a pretty fun game and I had played it a few times, but my friend Sean liked it more than I did, he was pretty addicted to it.Â
I walked over towards Sean and tapped him on the shoulder, he turned and noticed me. "Hey Connor how's it going" I smiled and replied "I'm doing alright man, are you still trying to beat your high score on Triminator?" His expression soured as he replied, "Don't even get me started on this damn game. It has been nothing but junk today, I can't even get past the 3rd stage".Â
I laughed and slapped him on his back, "Damn man, better you than me, haha" As I was looking around, I noticed a new machine in the far corner of the arcade, no one was paying any attention to it, they kept walking right by it as if it wasn't there. I was curious about the machine, so I told Sean, "I'm going to check out this weird machine, I'll be right back"Â
As I made my way towards the machine through crowds of people, I kept thinking to myself that this machine looks very odd. From what I can see, a person or head of a person is inside of it. It looks kind of like a genie, and as I got close to the machine the lights inside of it lit up. The eyes of the head inside glowed a bright red. I got a little spooked but I wanted to see what the machine was about. In the corner, I noticed words that read.
-Only the chosen will I empower with riches beyond compare-
-Place your arm inside, and be judged-
For some reason I had a feeling like this moment would change my life forever, it was scary but at the same time I couldn't help myself. Slowly my arm went inside the hole, seconds went by and nothing happened. Just when I was about to pull my arm out thinking it was all just a huge prank, the machine started to vibrate. The eyes of the figure inside the machine got very bright, turning a golden color. Looking into it's eyes, my vision blacked out. After around ten seconds, words began to appear.Â
-Congratulations chosen one, all your desires are yours for the taking-
The words faded away, and my vision slowly returned. My head hurt, and I didn't understand what just happened, it felt like a freaky dream. I looked at the machine, and all the lights were off, the figures eyes were black, was it all just my imagination?Â
Suddenly I was patted on the shoulder, turning my head I noticed it was Sean. "What are you doing over here Connor?" still unsure, I replied, "I was trying this machine, It's so mysterious"Â
Sean looked at the machine and then turned back to me, "This one? it appears to be out of order I think" Confused, I told him about what happened earlier, he then proceeded to place his arm inside the machine and nothing happened. "Well it's not doing anything now, so I don't know what to say man"
Now feeling a mix of emotions, I decide to forget about the freaky machine and go with Sean to the Token Changer. I dug out a twenty dollar bill from my wallet, and placed it into the slit on the machine. My money was sucked inside and tokens began to dispense from the bottom. As the tokens came out, I heard a ding in my head, then right in front of my eyes, a transparent screen appeared. On the screen it showed a few lines of words, surprised I read what was written.Â
-Transaction Successful-
-Payment: 20$
-x2 Rebate Multiplier Awarded.Â
-Funds deposited: 40$
As I started at the words wondering what they Mean't, my phone vibrated inside my pocket. Reaching in and pulling it out, I noticed a new notification from my banking app. I tapped on the notification and it expanded, it explained that a 40$ deposit occured, and my new balance was 120$Â
This week I had saved up 100$ from my daily part-time jobs to use today at the arcade. On the way here from school, I had stopped at an atm and withdrew 20$, so my balance was supposed to be 80$. This new notification thought is saying my balance is 120$. Confused, I tried to understand how that could be. Suddenly, I remembered the screen that appeared after I paid for my tokens, it had said something about a rebate and a deposit of 40$.Â
Shocked, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. "Did I just get money back!!?"Â