Jack tapped his fingers nervously against his phone inside his pocket, glancing around him for any movement.
He was in the middle of a very dodgy looking industrial estate, with many dark high warehouses either side. There were plenty of places that people could be watching him concealed in the shadows. He felt exposed, just standing awkwardly, outside a rusty fire escape, spray painted with the number 57. He began to wonder if this was a big mistake.
He had first stumbled across the video on Reddit. A woman brandished a wad of cash and a big grin as she gazed straight down the camera.
"I'm a millionaire!" She cried gleefully.
Curious, he began to research the validity of the woman and the video, and soon found thread after thread of conversations and theories about the 'game'. A card game, that seemed to vary from player to player, for money. At first he struggled to see the catch, until finally one particularly conspiracy-keen theorist posed his evidence of the game being run by a prestigious and mysterious hypnotist.
Initially he had rolled his eyes at the claim, but soon he began to question whether they were right. All the people who had won the game had gushed enthusiastically about the process, and how lucky they were to take part. It was almost too grateful. Too excited. Something about them was... off.
But the more he read and watched and researched, the more he desperately wanted to experience the game himself. Partially to win the money, but also to solve the mystery, to experience it himself. He posted obsessively on various chatrooms, commenting and posing theories and questions.
One day, he was checking his inbox and saw a message from an anonymous account.
"Do you really want to play with us? Come to Unit 57, Jordan's Industrial Estate, Hensley, Tuesday at 6pm."
So it was that he now stood outside the door marked 57 at 5:58pm, beginning to feel like he was being pranked. He hadn't set his hopes high, and yet it was still frustrating to stand in the cold and rapidly darkening night.
He took out his phone again, checking the time, and glancing around. What if it was all a hoax? And then... what if it wasn't? He didn't know how to feel, but the excitement about maybe coming close to finally uncovering the mystery, his obsession for months, was enough to make him hope and wait for the final few minutes.
When it hit 6pm, and the streets were still deserted and dark, he sighed. He knew it was a high possibility that nothing would come of tonight, but he couldn't fight the disappointment. Not only did he want to solve the mystery, but he desperately needed the money.
He was about to walk away when the door behind him suddenly opened with a creak. His heart began to beat faster as he glanced in through the door to see a dimly lit corridor. At the end was another metal door, lit by a flickering yellow light over the top of it. To the right were a set of stairs leading up into pitch black nothingness. It looked like something out of a horror movie, and he began to feel uneasy.
Maybe this was a mistake. He didn't need to step inside. He could leave. And yet... he couldn't. He couldn't leave without at least looking, not after all these months of work. He walked inside, closing the door behind him, glancing up at the flickering light. Slowly, he headed for the second door.
He stood in front of it, his hand shaking slightly as he raised it, pausing for a moment. He held his breath, and knocked.
"Come in," a male voice said, and he turned the handle, pushing the door open.
Inside was another dimly lit room, with a table and chairs in the centre. On the table, beside the only source of light, a small lamp, were a ruby red set of cards. The chair nearest him sat empty, but on the far side of the table sat a man.
The man was sat casually in the chair, watching him. He was dressed in a smart grey suit, with a crisp unbuttoned white shirt. He was definitely at least ten years older than Jack's own 19 years, and looked taller too even though his was sat down.
He leaned across the table, eyeing him with a small smile.
"Good evening Jack, I'm so glad you could join me. I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time. Please," he said gesturing to the chair, "sit."
He sat down slowly, taking in the man across from him. His hair was jet black, and his eyes seemed to be even darker, shining in the dark.
He seemed equally intrigued by Jack, and leaned back on his chair, examining him.
"So, you have been quite interested in me for a while haven't you?"
"If you are who you say you are," he said stiffly and the man smiled with a shrug.
"Ah true, guess you'll have to find out when we play. You may call me Si. You know how this works don't you? After all, your posts online suggested you have spent a considerable time trying to find out about me."
"We play a card game?" he said uncertainly and Si nodded.
"Correct. We will be playing Higher or Lower, do you know that game?"
Jack nodded, he had played this game as a child many times, a game of probability more than particular skill, but at least it was a game he knew.
"What happens when I win?"
"If you win, I give you one hundred grand."
Jack couldn't stop his eyebrows raising, "each round?"
"Each round. But if you lose, I get to hypnotise you."
Jack couldn't believe it, the conspiracy theorist had been right on the money.
"I don't believe in hypnosis," he bluffed cooly.
"Then it shouldn't be an issue for you, but," he added, "just to be fair, let me explain my rules. At any point, you can say no and end the game. I will tell you what I intend to hypnotically implant and you have to agree to it. If you feel it is too much, or you decide against it, you can walk away. However if you do, you lose all the money you have earned so far. Sound fair?"
"When does the game end?"
"At one million, unless you choose to keep playing for two..." he smiled darkly, his eyes boring into Jack who fidgeted under the intense gaze.
He weighed up his options, it sounded like a fair deal. He could leave at any point if he liked, and be no worse off, or he could end up a millionaire over night. And if the hypnotic suggestions were too much then he could refuse. He tried to search for the loophole, but it sounded clean cut.
"Okay," he said and shook the man's extended hand.
"Take off your coat, get comfortable," Si smiled warmly as he began to shuffle the cards. Jack took off his coat and scarf, draping them on the back of the chair and watching as the man placed the first card. He felt slightly uneasy, that perhaps he shouldn't have started this game, that Si was clearly far more clever and experienced than he, but he pushed the thoughts aside. He could do this, he just had to focus.
The first card was a 4 of clubs.
"Higher," he said. Si smiled, laying down the next card, an 8 of diamonds.
"£100 grand in the bag," he said smoothly and Jack felt a jump of excitement, £100 grand already, just nine more and he'd be a millionaire.
"Next guess?" Si asked
Jack eyed the cards, an 8 was tricky, it could go either way. "Lower," he said slowly.
7 of spades.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and buoyed by his progress he guessed quickly after, "Higher."
The five of spades was placed and Si smiled.
"Uh oh. You lose. Guess it's time for the first suggestion."
Jack braced himself as Si seemed to consider his words, playing with the card in his hand thoughtfully.
"Let's start slow," he said, leaning across the table, "you cannot tell anyone about what happens in this room."
He had expected this. Despite his extensive research, the details of what actually happened once the game started were near impossible to conclude. It was likely this was the first step in every game. The fact that it was so clearly a calculated move made him uneasy, but at the same time it was a sensible one. He would have probably suggested this too in Si's position.
"Okay, that's fair. I agree."
Si nodded and pulled out a small tablet.
"Look into the patterns," he instructed. Jack watched, feeling rather silly as the colourful patterns undulated and swirled on the screen. After what felt like at least a minute of this, he was about to speak, to say it didn't seem to be working when suddenly he blinked and the tablet was gone. He looked at Si who was watching him with an amused smile.
He felt the hairs go up on the back of his neck. He had no memory of Si even speaking, or the tablet being moved. He felt like he had only been watching it for a few seconds.
"Did you...?"
"I did. Now," he said, his eyes glistening with amusement at his shock. He gestured back to the cards on the table, "higher or lower?"
Jack pushed down the sick feeling in his gut and looked down at the card again. It was hard to focus on it, the jittery feeling returning as he wiped his sweaty palms on his legs. He closed his eyes, and breathed out slowly.
A five, so theoretically higher would be the better choice.
"Higher."
Three of diamonds.
"Ooh unlucky, two in a row," Si said. "Okay, so my next instruction is that you feel calm and happy here. Your fidgeting is getting on my nerves."
Jack immediately stopped twisting his fingers, that he hadn't even noticed he was doing, and bit his lip. Okay, another suggestion that seemed fair. Besides, if he was calmer he would be able to think clearer, so this could be a benefit to him.
"Okay," he agreed and once again Si brought out the tablet. This time he really tried to concentrate on the swirls, watching the patterns move and determinedly staying present, staying aware, staying...
Once again, he blinked to find nothing but blank empty table. This time though, it did not concern him so much. He felt good. Better than good. This was fun! He was finally experiencing the game he had spend so long reading about. He felt the smile spread across his face, and Si smiled back.
"How you feeling?"
"Great," Jack said, hearing the excitement in his voice. There was a faint buzzing in his ears, but it didn't bother him, it reminded him of how he felt once when he'd got high with some friends at a party. "Let's keep playing!"
Whether it was the positive attitude, new focus or just plain luck he went on to win another three rounds, taking him to £500,000. But on the fourth round, he guessed incorrectly again.
"Ok, my next instruction. You trust me."
Jack's eyes narrowed, this could be a problem. It could bring his guard down for future suggestions.
And yet, the happy part of his brain argued, trusting someone doesn't make you an idiot. He trusted his older brother, but if he was a jerk he'd kick him in the balls. Trust wasn't the be all end all, and besides he didn't want to stop playing yet, not when he was feeling so buzzed. Not when he had already earned half a million in only a few minutes. How long had it been?
"Jack?" Si asked, and Jack blinked and grinned. He felt that buzzing happiness ringing in his ears seem to get louder as he nodded.
