The night air outside the Ember Room felt thicker than when Luke had walked in, every breath weighed down by the echo of Ace's words. You're chosen. They'd been delivered with a smile, but the kind of smile that concealed sharp edges.
Beside him, Gordy shoved his hands deep in his hoodie pocket, eyes narrowing as they walked down the cracked sidewalk toward the car. "That was… something," Gordy muttered. "Who the hell was that guy?"
"Marcus," Luke said quietly, though the name tasted false. Ace. The man had worn it like a title, like a suit of armor. "Said people call him Ace."
Gordy snorted. "Yeah, I bet. Guy had the vibe of a casino floor dressed as a person."
Luke tried to laugh, but it came out strained. His gaze swept the street. Every shadow seemed longer, every car's headlights too sharp. His ribs ached, but it wasn't the injury that made him tense—it was Lucky Instinct. The buzz hadn't stopped since he left the table. A quiet pressure against his nerves, like standing too close to a live wire.
When they reached Gordy's old Corolla, Luke paused, hand on the passenger-side handle. His eyes flicked down the block. A figure stood under the orange wash of a streetlight—hood up, posture casual. Too casual.
"Gord," Luke said low.
"I see him," Gordy replied.
The figure didn't move, didn't look their way, but Lucky Instinct twisted like a warning bell. Luke's pulse spiked. He opened the door and slid inside, eyes never leaving the shadowed man. Gordy climbed in, muttering, "If that guy follows us, we'll know."
The Corolla coughed to life, headlights cutting through the night. The figure stayed put as they pulled away, shrinking in the rearview mirror until the streetlight swallowed him whole.
Luke didn't relax. Neither did Lucky Instinct.
---
They drove in silence for a few blocks, the city thinning into quiet residential streets. Finally, Gordy blew out a breath. "Alright, Walker. Spill. What the hell's going on with you? You don't just walk into a bar full of hustlers, win your first hand, and walk out with your heartbeat steady unless there's more to the story."
Luke stared out the window, watching houses blur past—rows of small porches, peeling paint, the occasional glow of a TV in a darkened room. He wanted to tell him. He wanted to pour everything out—the system, the Survival Task, Lucky Instinct, the way the universe itself seemed to be dealing him cards.
But the memory of the warning still hung sharp in his mind.
[Warning: Observation Detected]
Unknown Entity has taken notice of the host.
Future events may escalate.
Talking was a risk. But silence carried its own weight.
"I don't know how to explain it," Luke said finally. "But things… have changed. Since the accident. Since I got hit." He hesitated. "It's like luck doesn't work normal for me anymore."
Gordy glanced at him, brows drawn. "Like, you're… luckier?"
"Luckier," Luke repeated, voice flat. "And unluckier. Both. It's like everything is on a knife's edge. Crowbars. Fires. Cards. Everything's a roll now."
For once, Gordy didn't crack a joke. He just gripped the wheel tighter, knuckles pale. "Then we need to make sure the dice land your way."
Luke blinked at him. "You believe me?"
"Walker, I've seen you shoot pool. You don't make bank shots like that on accident. I've seen you live on four hours of sleep for a week and still sing like a man whose throat's been kissed by whiskey and angels. I believe you." He smirked faintly. "Doesn't mean I'm not freaked out, though."
Luke's lips twitched into a small, weary smile. "Me too."
---
By the time they pulled into Maryland and David's driveway, midnight pressed heavy across the neighborhood. The house looked smaller somehow, its porch light glowing like a fragile candle against the dark.
David sat in a lawn chair on the porch, mug of coffee in hand despite the hour. He raised a brow as the Corolla rolled up. "I figured you'd either come back or I'd get a call from the county jail," he said dryly.
"Close call," Luke muttered, climbing out.
David's gaze flicked over him, sharp and measuring. "And yet here you are. More lives than a cat."
Maryland appeared in the doorway, robe cinched tight, worry etched into every line of her face. "Luke Walker, if you keep scaring me like this, I'll wrap you in bubble wrap and roll you into the basement."
Luke managed a tired grin. "You and David keep saying that. I think you're serious."
"Try us," she said, ushering him inside.
---
Upstairs in the guest room, Luke dropped onto the bed fully clothed, staring at the ceiling as Gordy dozed in the recliner by the window. The house creaked with the weight of old beams and settling heat. The kind of sounds that should've been comforting.
But Lucky Instinct hummed quietly, never still, never silent.
The system stirred, as if sensing his unease.
[Daily Task Cycle Reset]
New Tasks Generated:
- Train Body (Push limits despite fatigue).
- Pursue Passion (Music: share with others).
- Social Bonding (Strengthen ties with Gordy).
Luke let out a shaky laugh. "You're relentless," he whispered.
But deep down, beneath the exhaustion, a spark lit. Because for the first time in years, his days weren't empty. Every sunrise brought something to fight for, something to earn.
Still, the other message pulsed faintly, refusing to be forgotten:
[Warning: Observation Detected]
Somewhere out there, in the shadows beyond Midland's quiet streets, something was watching. And Luke knew with bone-deep certainty: his luck had put him on the board of a much bigger game.
Luke woke to the sound of rain pattering against the windowpane, the gray morning filtering through thin curtains. His ribs protested as he sat up, but the ache was sharper now, more alive than deadened. It reminded him that he was still here—still playing the game. Gordy was slumped in the recliner, snoring softly with his hood pulled over his face, his legs sprawled out like he owned the room.
The system pulsed the moment Luke rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
[Daily Tasks Active]
1. Train Body (Push limits despite fatigue)
2. Pursue Passion (Music: share with others)
3. Social Bonding (Strengthen ties with Gordy)
Luke exhaled through his teeth. "Alright, fine. Let's dance."
He pushed himself out of bed, every step a negotiation between stiffness and determination. Downstairs, the house smelled like butter and cinnamon rolls. Maryland had been busy again. David was at the kitchen table, newspaper folded to the crossword, pencil tapping in thought. He looked up as Luke shuffled in, his gaze sweeping over the younger man with an expression between appraisal and quiet pride.
"Morning, champ," David said. "You planning on sitting all day or are we keeping that skinny frame of yours in fighting shape?"
Luke cracked a small grin. "System beat you to it. Said I've got to train."
David raised a brow. "System?"
"Gut feeling," Luke amended quickly.
"Mm-hmm." David stood, drained his coffee, and jerked his head toward the garage. "Good. Let's get to work."
---
The garage smelled faintly of oil and rain-soaked concrete. Tools lined the walls, neatly arranged in the kind of order only a man like David could maintain. A heavy bag hung in the corner, its leather cracked but solid, waiting like a challenge.
David tossed Luke a pair of old wraps. "You're not swinging heavy with those ribs, but you can move. Footwork. Light taps. Breath work."
Luke wound the wraps around his knuckles, the fabric rough and reassuring. He stood before the bag, fists raised awkwardly. His body remembered little, but Lucky Instinct stirred, whispering faint adjustments—shift the left foot, keep the guard higher, exhale with the strike.
He tapped the bag. Then again. His rhythm found him slowly, each strike guided by something more than muscle memory. He was clumsy, but he wasn't blind. The system hummed like a coach just behind his shoulder.
Sweat beaded his brow after ten minutes. His ribs ached, his arms burned, but his strikes grew sharper. He circled, jabbed, breathed with focus.
The system chimed.
[Task Progress: Train Body]
> Complete.
Reward: +5 LP
Current LP: 150
David whistled low, folding his arms. "Not bad for a dishwasher. Not bad at all. Keep this up, you'll put meat on those bones yet."
Luke's grin was breathless, sweat dripping down his temples. "Guess we'll see."
---
Later, Luke found Gordy awake in the living room, strumming his beat-up guitar like it owed him money. Gordy looked up, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "Finally. I was about to write a whole song about how long you sleep. Title track: Walker the Snoozer."
Luke laughed, settling onto the couch. He reached for his own guitar, the wood worn but familiar. His fingers found chords almost by instinct, sliding into the melody he'd been working on the night before. Gordy raised his brows and fell in, harmonizing with a rasp that always gave his voice texture.
The two of them played, voices overlapping, chords meshing in the air like threads weaving a stronger fabric. Luke's chest tightened—not with pain, but with something warm. This was real. This was him.
The system pulsed again.
[Task Progress: Pursue Passion – Music]
> Complete.
Reward: +3 LP
Current LP: 153
But it didn't stop there.
[Hidden Reward Triggered]
> Shared music creates resonance.
Bonus: +5 LP
Current LP: 158
Luke blinked, caught off guard. He strummed softer, his gaze drifting to Gordy. "You ever think we're onto something?"
"Onto what?" Gordy smirked. "Bad habits and good hooks?"
Luke chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I mean… like it's worth something. Like we could make this bigger."
Gordy leaned back, twirling his pick between fingers. "Always thought so. Problem's never been the songs. It's the roll of the dice. Right place, right ears, right time." He shrugged. "Luck."
The word sat between them like a lit fuse. Luke swallowed. If only Gordy knew just how right he was.
---
The afternoon drifted into easy conversation, laughter spilling between chords. Luke felt lighter, though the shadow of the system never left. The last task blinked faintly in his vision:
[Social Bonding – Strengthen ties with Gordy]
Progress: Incomplete
He frowned slightly. What else did the system want? Wasn't this enough?
As if answering, Lucky Instinct pulsed—sharp, insistent. Luke's gaze flicked to the window. A black sedan crawled slowly down the street, its tinted windows glinting under the pale Michigan sun. The same kind of car he'd seen outside the Burgies' yesterday.
The system chimed coldly:
[Observation Alert]
Entity remains in proximity.
Risk Level: Rising.
Luke's chest tightened. This wasn't over. Whoever—or whatever—was watching hadn't lost interest.
The sedan lingered just long enough for Luke's pulse to quicken. Then it rolled past the Burgies' house, slow and smooth, like a shark gliding under the surface. The tinted windows betrayed nothing. No driver's silhouette. No hint of license plate glare. Just darkness behind glass.
Luke's fingers tightened on his guitar, the chord he'd been holding buzzing out into a flat drone. Gordy stopped mid-strum, his brow furrowing. "You good, man?"
Lucky Instinct flared hot in Luke's chest—an itch under the skin, a pulse that screamed danger still here.
"Yeah," Luke said automatically, though his voice was tight. His eyes followed the tail lights until they disappeared at the end of the block.
Gordy wasn't buying it. He set the guitar down with a thump and leaned forward. "That wasn't just a car, was it?"
Luke hesitated, words clogging in his throat. The system's warning hovered sharp in his vision:
[Observation Alert]
Entity remains in proximity.
Risk Level: Rising.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've seen it before. Same kind of car. Sitting too long, moving too slow."
Gordy's jaw clenched. "You think it's that Ace guy?"
"Maybe." Luke's eyes flicked to the corner of the room where the system's text pulsed faintly. "Or worse."
---
The day dragged on like a storm cloud. Maryland bustled through the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she baked bread, unaware of the tension curdling in the living room. David came in from the garage smelling of oil and sawdust, his hands scarred with the marks of a thousand projects. He noticed Luke's unease immediately, though he didn't press. He just sat at the table, sipping coffee, watching through the window like a hawk that pretended to nap.
Lucky Instinct didn't quiet. It kept humming, a constant low buzz at the edge of Luke's awareness. The sedan didn't come back, but the absence felt worse than its presence. Like a hunter who'd slipped behind the trees.
By late afternoon, Gordy stretched and stood. "I'm not just sitting around waiting for creepy cars to cruise past. You and me, Walker—we're hitting the hall tonight."
Luke blinked. "The pool hall?"
"Damn right." Gordy's grin was sharp, reckless. "Haven't hustled a table in weeks. And if someone's watching you? Good. Let them watch you win."
Luke hesitated. His ribs still ached, his body begged for rest. But the thought of sitting in this house while shadows circled made him feel like prey. Maybe action was better than silence.
The system pulsed its agreement.
[Optional Task Generated]
Play a game with Gordy.
Reward: +5 LP
Bonus Reward: Chance to unlock "Precision Edge" (synergy skill with pool/games of accuracy).
Luke's lips quirked despite the tension. Of course the system would turn a game of pool into a mission.
---
The Rack House pool hall was a second home to Gordy—dim lights, worn felt tables, and the sharp clack of balls echoing like music through the smoky air. A neon sign hummed above the bar, casting everything in green glow.
As they walked in, a few regulars raised their hands in greeting. Gordy smirked, soaking up the attention. "See? This is where we belong. No shadows here. Just games."
Luke wasn't so sure. Lucky Instinct twitched at the edges of the room, not screaming, but alert. He let Gordy rack the balls while he scanned the crowd—college kids in hoodies, a pair of older men nursing beers at the bar, a woman with bright red hair bent over her phone in the corner booth. Nobody obvious. Yet the hum remained.
"Break," Gordy said, handing Luke the cue.
Luke exhaled, stepping up to the table. The stick felt steady in his hands, wood worn smooth from years of play. His ribs tugged when he bent, but Lucky Instinct hummed, nudging him subtly. Tilt left. Adjust grip. Breathe.
The cue struck. Balls scattered, a clean crack splitting the air. Two solids dropped.
The system chimed:
[Optional Task Progress]
Pool Game Started.
Probability Tilt Active.
Luke smirked. "Guess I've still got it."
"Guess so," Gordy said, eyes gleaming. "Now let's see if Lady Luck's riding shotgun."
---
They played, laughter and banter flowing as easily as chalk dust in the air. But every so often, Luke's eyes drifted to the door, to the corners of the room, to the reflection in the bar mirror.
And then it happened.
Lucky Instinct flared hard—like ice water dumped down his spine. He turned sharply toward the door just as it creaked open.
The black sedan's driver stepped inside. Hood down now, face shadowed but sharp, his eyes scanning the hall before landing directly on Luke.
The system pulsed:
[Observation Escalation]
Entity has entered close proximity.
New Risk Level: High.
Luke's grip tightened on the cue. His breath stilled.
The game wasn't just about pool anymore.