[ WP ] A man down on his luck realizes he has psychic mind reading abilities . He improves his life by playing poker . Everything goes really well for him until one day he comes across another psychic at the tables . Epic mind games ensue .

`` Full house, congratulations... once again,'' the dealer remarked, not even trying to hide the suspicion oozing in his tone. 
 
 The mound of different coloured chips was practically pushed into Todd's lap, to the sound of frustrated sighs coming from around the table, and one chair scraping across the floor as yet another frustrated player went broke. `` What am I going to tell my wife now?'' the man named Pete remarked as he gathered the pieces of his pride. `` Good game fellas, someone beat this guy. He must be psychic or something.'' 
 
 Todd grinned as he watched Pete walk off. `` It's a dog eat dog world partner, sorry about that.'' Apparently, Pete was practically a pro, competing in circuits across America, Canada, England, Germany, and even Brazil. He did n't even know they played cards in Brazil. But now the famous Pete was heading home empty handed, and Todd, the nobody, the poor laid off mechanic, was swimming in little plastic chips. A week ago, he could n't pay his rent. Now, he could buy the entire apartment block. 
 
 And he was n't even close to done. 
 
 As the dealer gathered the cards and began to start another round, a odd woman came to the table and sat in Pete's old spot, across from Todd. She was a pretty thing, if a bit on the thin side. Her chin was sharp like a knuckle, but other than that, he face was pleasant to look at, especially the eyes; a bright hazel with a hint of green. Todd assumed she was just another rich dumb broad, the kind who liked to spend her rich husbands money. He sat back and smiled. This was going to be fun. 
 
 `` Would you like in?'' the dealer asked the woman. She had n't said a word. 
 And still she said nothing. Only pushed a lock of jet black hair behind her ear, nodded, and slapped down about ten-thousand dollars worth of chips. The dealer whistled. `` You get lucky somewhere else tonight already? That's quite the buy in. 
 
 She just shrugged. 
 
 The next round began, and Todd received his cards. An ace of hearts and a 2 of spades. Not the greatest. He looked at all of his opponents in turn, reading their faces. 
 
 There was five of them, including himself. He started at the first man, an elder with round glasses. `` I'll raise.'' *Bad move. You only have a 4 and a 6 old man. * 
 
 The next young man called. *Double 3's? Are you kidding? * 
 
 The next person called, having equally pathetic cards, and then it was the girl. Todd looked at her face, and discovered... nothing. What the hell? He narrowed his eyes, staring at he like he would some freak at a carnival. Was she that dumb? Was her head so empty he could n't see anything? 
 
 **Wrong** 
 
 `` Who said that!'' Todd yelled. Everybody looked at him like he was an idiot. 
 
 `` I do n't believe anyone said anything sir,'' the dealer said, as suspicious as ever. `` Are you okay?'' 
 
 `` Yes. I meant to say I'll raise a thousand.'' Everyone except the old man and the girl folded. When he looked at the old man, it was like being in a crowded gym.'My knee is acting up again, but I ca n't rub it. Maybe I can get this girl to do it for me. Oh, how I wish I was young enough to charm her. Oh, blast these cards, I should not have folded.' 
 
 Todd shook his head, then looked back at the girl. *Nothing? How? * 
 
 **Because you're an amateur** 
 
 The voice! He heard someone that time for sure. The girl? No, she has n't spoken this entire time, it could n't be...'' 
 
 **Hehehe** 
 
 `` Sir?'' the dealer said, not for the first time. `` The lady has raised. Are you going to call or raise?'' 
 
 He looked at the girl. *You think you scare me? * 
 
 **Yes** 
 
 `` Well you...'' Todd caught himself. The dealer raised an eyebrow. `` I'll call. How much?'' 
 
 `` Sir, the lady is all in. You would need to raise nine-thousand more.'' 
 
 That was almost half his winnings so far. Considering he started with one-hundred bucks, it was n't too bad. But he had no idea what her cards were. He'd been wreaking havoc on the minds of all his opponents all day, but this girl... he could n't get a thing. 
 
 **You scared? ** 
 
 *Shut up* 
 
 `` I'll match her bet.'' Even if he lost this round, it would n't be the worst thing ever. 
 
 **Oh, but you are going to lose this round** 
 
 The dealer flipped the river card, and to Todd's dismay, there was no aces, nor 3's in sight. The lady plopped down her cards with a satisfied grin. She had triple 7's. 
 
 It was fine. Todd still had a good ten-grand. He should just cash out now and get as far away from this witch as possible. 
 
 **Witch? ** 
 
 *Stop that* 
 
 **Ca n't take your own medicine? ** 
 
 *I do n't like you* 
 
 **Too bad** 
 
 Despite a fiery internal debate, Todd decided he would play just one more round. The cards were dealt, and he saw two kings in his hand. He put them down right away, cool as a cucumber. 
 
 **Nice cards** 
 
 Todd scowled at the woman. She was bluffing, she could n't see his cards. 
 
 *You too* 
 
 **Nice try. I know you ca n't read me** 
 
 *And why is that? * 
 
 Nothing. 
 
 The girl raised, as did Todd and the others. This happened for the next two rounds, and the pot grew to well over forty grand. Todd's mouth was getting watery. He was so close to earning over a years salary in a night. Everybody's cards were garbage compared to his; a 9 high for the old man, pair of threes for the other. The only thing standing in his way now was the woman. She looked a him slyly, silent as a fox, and grinned. 
 
 **You should fold** 
 
 As soon as he heard her wispy voice in his ear, she raised ten-thousand dollars, knowing full well the only way Todd could match that is by going all in. 
 
 **What will you do I wonder? ** 
 
 *My cards are better than yours* 
 
 **Then go all in** 
 
 `` All in,'' Todd said to a flurry of gasps. 
 
 `` Good luck to the both of you,'' the dealer said. `` This is the biggest pot of the day.'' The final card was shown. A King! A beautiful king! Triple kings, how could he... 
 
 `` And triple aces for the lady!'' the dealer shouted. `` Congrats. Sorry sir, but you seem to have run out of chips.'' 
 
 Todd was staring at her cards. Three... damn... aces. Was this a joke? 
 
 **Nope** 
 
 `` Stop that! She's a cheat! She's been reading my mind the entire time!'' 
 
 The dealer gestured for security right away. `` Sir, you must calm down.'' 
 
 `` I am calm god dammit! She's a cheat! A dirty psychic cheat!'' Two powerful security guards grabbed him by each arm. `` No, get her!'' he yelled as he flailed around, slowly being dragged to the Casino's back door. `` She's a mind reader! I'm telling you.'' 
 
 `` Yea,'' huffed one of the guards. `` And I'm the president.'' 
 
 `` No! You do n't understand!'' 
 
 She looked at him one last time. **Sorry Todd, it's a dog eat dog world** 
 
 
 
 
 

