[ WP ] Write the third episode of non-existant series . Make us curious about what happened before episode 3 , and what happens after .

Stephen ’ s mind raced through the events of the last week, silently cursing to himself. Fuck this curse! Fuck this bad luck! Despite what he had experienced, Stephen deep down knew that his recent string of less-than-fortunate events had to be the result of observation bias, the placebo effect, something! It had to be something other than the intricately carved praying-mantis shaped USB drive now burning a hole in his pocket. And there was a way to prove it. 
 
 He had successfully broken his gambling habit seven years ago, and had not put even a penny at risk since. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Stephen started up Ol ’ Blue, with the mantis dangling from his keychain next to the steering wheel. Before he even drove out of the parking lot, old feelings and wishes started to bubble back up. Maybe he could win a new car and not have to deal with the backfiring engine, faded and cracked interior, and rust damage. Maybe he could get out of the soul-crushing pile of debt he was in. Or maybe a vacation to get his mind off of recent events. Or he could ‘ reinvest ’ it at the casino, with the thrill of winning the jackpot. Stephen shook his head to clear it of tempting thoughts, mentally switching the subject back to what had been consuming him. That lunatic on the train. Why had she singled him out? As a matter of practice, Stephen never even gave cash to the homeless, and certainly wasn ’ t going to shell out money to someone like her. Yet she singled him out. Forced him to take the mantis shaped USB drive. Why him, when there were plenty of other people she could have picked? Yet the praying mantis was beautiful. Whether she had made it herself or stolen it, he wasn ’ t sure, but he figured if he gave her a couple bucks for it she would leave him alone and stop pestering him about it. He certainly hadn ’ t anticipated her response, or the feeling of dread that had developed after he got off of the train. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Stephen cranked the radio and drove to the casino. 
 
 The dusty old interior that he knew with a mix of love and hate was completely gone. New brightly colored and intricately patterned carpet, new fancy machines with digital displays and flashing lights, and a new bouncer that didn ’ t recognize him. One that ID ’ d him, despite being clearly of age. Despite the hassle, it made him feel a little better to get carded – he couldn ’ t even remember the last time it had happened. However, one thing that hadn ’ t changed in the casino was the clientele. Desperate, gross, sad people. It reminded him of who he used to be. Stephen knew just the type of person who he needed to sit next to in order to blend in. At the row of slot machines around the corner from the entrance, he saw her. The chain smoking, saggy skinned, don ’ t-give-a-damn lifetime member of the casino, spending what little of her retirement remained at the old-school penny slot machines. Ones that were run on gears and pulleys, mechanically designed to give set odds. Slinking down into the chair next to her, Stephen inserted a crisp $ 20 that he had picked up at the ATM on the way over. Minimum bet. That should last him a while. He mindlessly fiddled with the mantis in his pocket as he pulled the lever. 
 
 This luck was incredulous! Not a single win. He was already down to $ 5 when the old hag next to him started cursing under her breath. His ears perked up as he tried to decipher what she was saying. But all he could make out was a string of profanities and the occasional racial slur, nearly inaudible under the clinking of the machines. At that moment, he realized that it may be because of him. And the curse. As he thought back, he realized that she hadn ’ t had a single win that he had noticed. He pulled the lever, now more certain than ever that he was cursed. A sharp pain caused him to yelp unexpectedly, drawing the attention of the old lady away from her bad luck. He quickly pulled his hand out of his pocket - it had bit him! He stuck his bleeding finger in his mouth instinctively. It must have just been a nasty pinch. Damn praying mantis! He looked around to see if anyone else in the vicinity had noticed. And that ’ s when he saw her. The homeless lady from the train.
