High Stakes Rolling

The universe quickly made it known what sort of time it had in store for James, with the day starting having to hunker down in a strange novelty store to avoid the ever increasing rate of rain outside. When he opened the door to the establishment, the smell of the place seemed to punch him in the face, that strange waft of old books and even older carpet not the best first impression. Blinking rapidly to dissipate the dust he could almost feel, his eyes wandered around the macabre store, seeing strange curios and unique antiquities.

The first thing he noticed was a glass tube running into the roof on the far side of the room, the cylinder containing an amber-ish liquid. What set it apart from all the other novelties in the vicinity was the presence of a creature inside of it.

Peeking left to right first, James slowly tip toed over to it, seeing that the creature was a large worm about a foot in length, but not a small line of muscle like most of its evolutionary cousins. Instead, this worm was as large as a basketball and its three green eyes golf balls. Although suspended in the liquid, James couldn't help but feel that the creature was staring down at him, judging his soul from a place outside time.

Shivering, James turned away to the counter of the store, inspecting more strange trinkets as he walked. Before he could ring the bell to ask a clerk if he could weather the storm, a man appeared behind the counter without warning.

With his face covered fully by his scarf and a trench coat obscuring all his skin, James was unsure what to think of the man, or say to him. Luckily, he didn't need to say anything-

"Quite the weather yes? Terrible terrible weather. I was about to close up shop when you walked in hm? But now I must wait in this place of mine for the water to face ground as its destiny is."

James started to wish he had walked through the rain a few extra seconds to hide at the McDonalds across the street.

"I'm so sorry, I can leave if you wan-"

"No no no no, unlike a pen there is no point. But these walls cost more than you know to build, and to stay you must pay"

James eyed the door.

"I don't have any money, I should really go-"

"Green paper? No you shall pay in your answer to this question coming. There are but three words that begin with the letters 'dw', what are they?"

Always a problem solver, James pursed his lips and stared at the ground raking his memory.

"Dwarf"

"Marvellous yes"

"Dwell"

"Of course"

Squinting in concentration, James reached for the word that lay on the very edge of his tongue.

"I shall throw in an extra prize for your incentive" The strange man behind the counter said "Give me the word and I shall give you potential, I shall give you all the potential of the universe in your hand, I shall give you chance in your pocket, I shall give luck, good and bad, in your palm."

Too lost in his thoughts, James simply mumbled a thanks, not realising what the... thing? was offering.

"Be quick now James, for your chances are starting to-

"Dwindle, the third word is dwindle."

"Yes! Good sport I speak! Now for your prize..."

James looked up in time to catch an object flying at him, taking a step back he opened his palm to see a single dice.

Looking up, he saw a faint swirl of dust behind the counter, but nothing more.

"Where did he..." James mumbled, his mind a tangle from all the confusion of the shop.

Sighing and pocketing the dice, he noticed that the storm had cleared and the suns rays shone through the partially concealed windows, illuminating the particles of ever-present dust.

Walking outside into the fresh air, James took a look back at the shop, and realised he had never told the man his name...