{Boom! Boom!}
The machine played a rip-off of the Dance Dance Revolution opening. Dim lights, games, and giant machines whose screws creaked to the sound of their music—not to say the music was loud; the speakers seemed to be hanging by a thread—the arcade with only six guests seemed like a place deserted by time.
This was where Emily had brought us. A run-down arcade that looked more like a pawn shop with a taste for antique games.
"We came here to write a story, Emily," Eric said. The four of them were standing a little further ahead while Sebastian and I kept two paces behind.
"I know the owner," Emily responded. "She's a pretty lady. Let's just have fun here, you know stories write themselves, right?"
The owner walked past us just then, lightly bowing to Emily. She was an old woman of a small frame; this was clearly a shop being kept open out of sentiment and not for profit.
"What do you think?" Sebastian asked me, our volume low enough to not interrupt the others as they picked which song they were going to dance off to.
"I think…" I looked around. The question Sebastian had posed was quite grave, to be honest. It was a very important matter. After a few seconds of deep consideration and contemplation, I finally spoke up.
"We should start with the bike racing game."
"Move on to the hammer," Sebastian continued.
The two of us then, at the same time, almost as if we had rehearsed this, said, "End at the claw machine."
Yes. That was the perfect way to go about things. While the others continued their tirade on the Dance Dance Revolution machine, the two of us headed straight to the old-looking bike-racing game next to the wall of the building. It was a little small, obviously, but was also quite interesting.
A coin went in. The music played. We both got on the bikes.
"All the best, Abel. You're gonna bite the dust today."
"Sure."
[On your cars!]
[Get Set!!]
Why was I doing this again? Eh, whatever. I guess it was a little fun. Now then, to not be too suspicious, I was going to hold back.
[GO!!!]
The screen started and the bikes zoomed past. We both turned left and right, and I took the chance to drive properly—Wait.
The bike went straight out of the road and crashed into a crate. This was nowhere close to how real driving worked! I quickly sat up straight again and tried to adjust according to the movements of the character on the screen.
Sebastian was already far ahead, snickering back at me.
"Use that button for a boost," said he with a grin. I looked down; there was a button right next to the handle. I tapped it and the character zoomed ahead again. The race was a neck-to-neck battle; my lack of experience with games was a factor, and in the end…
[You lose! 2nd Place!]
Come on…
I felt a little irked about this. This was just fun and games, but still. Sebastian and I got off the bikes. The others had moved to other games already. It seemed Lia had dragged everyone to a horse-racing game. Gamblers, these kids were, gamblers.
Sebastian and I headed to the hammer game next. A giant meter reached the ceiling of the arcade with numbers from 0 to 100 at the very top. At the bottom was a circle and a hammer resting next to it.
"Since you won, take the first try."
"Alright," Sebastian said and grabbed the hammer. I was a little interested in this now.
—BANG!
It was then a crashing sound filled our ears. Almost instinctively, Sebastian and I both moved away from the machine and peered down the lane of arcade machines to see the old lady at the counter. Three men, dressed in strangely patterned shirts and loose coats, were banging on the table.
"Hey hey, you fogey. Just how long are you going to hold us off like this?"
The man at the front with a buzz cut was getting his nose too close to the lady, who uncomfortably moved away.
"P-please… How many times will you come here?"
"Tsk. You don't have any customers in this shit hole anyway."
Saying that, one of the other men with the buzz cut man kicked the counter. Another loud noise rang out through the arcade.
I noticed a subtle moment. My eyes snapped down; Sebastian had clenched the hammer tighter and was about to take a step ahead when I grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Wait," I said.
From behind, the other four had also rushed over, not saying anything but observing the situation. Eric, much like Sebastian, was about to walk straight ahead, but Emily raised her hand and shook her head, stopping him in his tracks.
Right. Interfering right now, without knowing anything, would only cause more trouble for the lady.
I could make a lot of inferences. From the fact that they were talking about customers and 'holding off' to the lady asking them how many times they would come here. It made some things clear, but we couldn't say anything without talking to her first.
The altercation between the men and the lady continued. I noticed the others getting a little frustrated.
"We can't just keep watching…" Lia said.
I sighed and reached into my pockets, taking out my phone. With the camera pointed at the counter, I spoke out loud.
"Wow. This. Is. So much. Fun. I am. Going. Live. Friends. Haha."
The others behind me gave me a bunch of awkward stares at my sudden loud words, but it worked. Lia, too, quickly understood and pulled out her own phone.
She stepped ahead, next to me, and whispered. "That was terrible acting."
What could I say? It was a little awkward doing this in front of these people.
The message was sent clearly thanks to my voice, though. The ones at the counter all turned our way. They clicked their tongues when they noticed Lia moving around with her front camera on, taking everyone in the frame and showing them.
"Damn it. We'll come back later."
"Stupid kids… This generation is rotten…"
With a creak, the main door of the establishment swung open and the goons walked out.
Emily grinned as we all saw them leave.
"What did I say? Stories write themselves."