The goal of Blackjack was to get the number 21. The cards go from 2-10, aces equaling either 1 or 11, while Jacks, Queens, and Kings are 10. I knew this since my dad and I used to play blackjack all the time when I was younger. At first, it was fun to play with him. He taught me how to figure out if someone's bluffing, all different types of bluffing, and also how to lie. Then, when I was beating everyone, I stopped playing since no one could beat me. It's not a tragic backstory, but it did make me rethink other card games, too. Like Poker.
"3,000 kids left. 1,000 of you need to leave for us to begin." That's Danvers. I have no idea who he is. This was the first time I met him. He just stood there wearing baggy clothes. I didn't need to worry about him. He looked harmless. Weak and unintelligent. I know not to judge people, but he seems that way. He miscalculated something so easily that my sister could get it, and he just stood there. He looks like he's forced to be here.
"Yo, Regan, you good?" That was the child prodigy, Christopher. He was called that since all his achievements were extraordinary. It was like I was talking to God himself with how many times this kid did something no one should be able to do. He was on a pedestal that I wasn't near, and yet, he was talking to me.
"Look, dude, whatever this game is supposed to be, it isn't what it might seem. There's something bigger at play here. If we lose, we're out of this place, back to our normal lives. If we stay, then there might be something we can't fight against."
"I'm staying. I'm here to ensure my education, not to give up and go back to being normal." He just stared at me. "That's what I want to hear. Let's get through this together, 'kay?"
He held out his fist, waiting for a fist bump. I looked at him and realized he was being serious. I was, too. We were a team. We were in here to win this. The game was easy, but winning was the point of it. I wanted to win.
"Everyone here, I have a surprise to tell you. One more person needs to leave the facility. 2,001 kids is an extremely odd number. I will call up two kids. The first kid is Michael Moore. The second kid is Christopher Whitlock."
"Looks like I'm up next. Wish me luck, Regan." I didn't want him to go up there. He could lose at any moment. I just met him today. The child prodigy, Christopher Whitlock. "Oh, and Regan, call me Chris." He was heading up to win."
"Let's have a good game, 'kay?"
"Screw yourself, Whitlock! I'm going to win!"
"Round 1, Kids. Having fun?"
"Not really, Danvers."
"C'mon, Christopher."
It was an intense game of blackjack. Chris was almost making it. Getting a max of 19 or 20 each round. His opponent did the same thing as Chris, but more discreetly. Then, the 5th round came.
"This hand sucks." Yep. This is what Chris decided to say. That he had a bad hand. The opponent was confident and drew his card. It didn't matter if he went over the limit; the game would continue. "23. It looks like it's another round." Michael was confident he was winning. In that instant, he lost. Christopher Whitlock had bluffed. He had 21 in his hand. He lied and made sure he could win. Christopher Whitlock had won. 2,000 kids can move on to the main facility now.